00:02Emerald Mountains tumbling down to a sapphire sea.
00:05Diamonds dancing upon the waters.
00:08And of course gold up for grabs.
00:11The Midnight Sun Jersey.
00:12Surely it would be at least partially decided on this great day.
00:17The Queen Stage. Destination the Stohir Climb.
00:23Two intermediate King of the Mountains to be dealt with.
00:26An intermediate sprint as well.
00:27All action ultimately.
00:30But first a poignant start to the day.
00:34Thoughts of Finlay Tarling.
00:35Who lost his life on the Volta Portugal yesterday.
00:40NSN team leading the applause in tribute to the young 19 year old.
00:47Our thoughts turning to the task at hand.
00:51146.5km. Destination Melbourne.
00:54The mighty climb that would define the race surely.
00:58Waiting for us at the end.
01:00This was going to be a battle for the breakaway.
01:03How hard fought?
01:05Almost decided immediately.
01:08Mountains points up for grabs.
01:10Backcess, of course, in the Northern Lights King of the Mountains jersey.
01:14And its nearest rival.
01:15Erik Vang was up there too.
01:17Joined by Ericsson from Linnahammer CK.
01:21La Force from Ringaraika.
01:24And Axel Karlberg, teammate of Backcess to help out.
01:31The weather wasn't the kindest to start us off.
01:34It did dry out through the day.
01:36But a white hot battle raged in that King of the Mountains competition.
01:40While teeing up was Karlberg.
01:42But then Backcess broke for the horizon.
01:45Duking out with him Erik Vangash.
01:47Who rested up on stage two.
01:49And now took advantage.
01:51Cutting this gap down.
01:53Another climb still to come, of course.
01:55Could this gap be even narrower heading for the final day?
02:01Two points set to 80 in the King of the Mountains.
02:03Another climb to come.
02:04Then an intermediate sprint.
02:06And then the biggest test of this race.
02:08Laying up ahead.
02:09Could the breakaway break the hearts of those who were chasing?
02:13Modern Adventure Pro cycling set the pace on the chase.
02:17Setting the pace ahead of the second climb of the day.
02:20Karlberg, the Finnish champion, set off.
02:21But he'd gone too early.
02:22He was on the radio saying,
02:24Where are you, my friend?
02:25And supposed to be leading you to these points?
02:28Well, he accidentally took all three.
02:30But behind him, that big throw to the line.
02:34And Erik Vangash closed the gap in the mountains competition.
02:37To just one point.
02:39With one day remaining.
02:41Big points up for grabs, of course, on the all category test.
02:44At the end of the day.
02:45But really those in the mountains competition would not feature.
02:48This was going to be about the GC men.
02:51And after two days of sprinting.
02:53It was to come down to the big test.
02:55An intermediate sprint notwithstanding.
02:57Lying on the road up ahead.
02:59It was pin-pull time for those who'd done their duty on the day.
03:03Bangas resting up.
03:05He went back to the peloton.
03:07He'll go again on stage four.
03:12Bangas joined Babakshas back in the peloton.
03:15Left three up the road, ultimately.
03:19And so it was that we headed towards our final destination.
03:23Glorious scenery, yet again.
03:27So many riders on these narrow roads wanted to be up towards the front.
03:31That was the best place to be.
03:33You had to get to the foot of the last climb.
03:36In a decent position.
03:38There was no room to manoeuvre at all.
03:42And so sprint had been dealt with.
03:44Absorbed by the three riders up the road.
03:46They ultimately would, of course, be caught.
03:50Onto the double bridges that had started the day.
03:52We were returning back to our almost starting point.
03:55Before heading up on the climb itself.
03:58The peaks rising.
04:00Who would take flight?
04:02That was the big question.
04:04The speeds were high on the approach.
04:07They were about to dissipate almost entirely.
04:09By the time we got to the cruel ramps late on.
04:12Last man standing from the break would be Kalberg.
04:16He picked up a combativity award at the end.
04:19And the jersey was about to be handed over.
04:23Leonardi had fought so hard to stay in the Midnight Sun jersey.
04:27But we knew it was going to be on somebody else's shoulders by the end.
04:31They were lining themselves up for glory.
04:34Big run in for NSN Cycling.
04:36Ethan Vernon himself getting involved.
04:38Others getting out of shape.
04:40Total Energies found the gravel.
04:42Got themselves back sorted out.
04:44They would hope to be a feature by the very last.
04:47It was about energy preservation.
04:49And then spending it wisely once you got, of course, to our run for home.
04:55The young jersey was about to transfer.
04:57But to whose shoulders young men were coming to the fore?
05:00You had to be on your mettle.
05:07A check over the shoulder from Sebastian Beric.
05:10He'd been out of position on the first significant incline that we had.
05:14But he's doing an amazing job at the moment.
05:16Staying planted is the German champion in about wheel six.
05:19But it's the red jersey you need to look at here.
05:21Lelevan Evel.
05:22And here he goes.
05:23Oh, he picks it up and says, I'm out of here.
05:25See ya.
05:26Silva's the man that goes with him.
05:27Staying with him as Rob Dolt as well.
05:29And it's going to be between those three.
05:31That's the decision.
05:33Who's going to get that first hit?
05:35And nobody knows.
05:36Big click here coming from Alessandro Pinarello.
05:39As he vessels to get back on, onto the back wheel of Rob Dolt.
05:42And then goes straight back into the saddle.
05:43Can't actually make it stick.
05:45He might go again.
05:46But Silva picks it up and goes.
05:48Leonard van Evel will try and stay with him.
05:50But Silva looks like he's in stealing mode here.
05:52Absolutely superb.
05:53Roads running out for everybody.
05:55And Silva looks like he's going to get here.
05:57He's been so busy when it comes to intermediate sprint bonus points.
06:02Can he bring this home?
06:03Van Evel's now going to start sprinting.
06:05200 metres to go for van Evel.
06:06A little bit less than that.
06:07The man in front of him.
06:08It's going to be a sprint from the line here.
06:10And it's going to be a minor place for just about everybody else.
06:12Van Evel still with work to do.
06:14And Silva looks like he might well have made a steal.
06:16What an amazing finale.
06:18This is going to be 100 metres to go now.
06:22Silva checks over his shoulder.
06:24Van Evel is still not giving up the ghost here.
06:26And he's coming back at him as we get to the haunted section.
06:28A two-up sprint here.
06:30Silva looks magnificent.
06:31But so does Van Evel.
06:32Who's going to get there first?
06:34Oh, Silva makes the steal.
06:35It's gold for Silva.
06:42Obviously, I feel very good.
06:44The team believes in me and can be able to respond in this way.
06:47We knew that maybe it wasn't the best final for me.
06:49But we were going to try it as well.
06:52And I'm really happy to give him a new victory.
06:56And now, as a leader, try to defend him tomorrow.
07:15What a winner we had.
07:17What a battle.
07:18And it's going to rage on them the final day.
07:21Silva taking it ahead of Van Evel.
07:23They one and two overall.
07:25Pinarello close.
07:26Levant.
07:27And, of course, Engelhardt.
07:30There can only be one leader.
07:31And we've got it for now.
07:33He's confident for the final day.
07:35He leads ahead of Van Evel by ten seconds overall.
07:39Have a great day.
