The group from which Robert Gesink escaped tried to reach him, but finally it will be in vain. Too late effort from Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Doimo; SKV) who will finish second, Maxime Monfort (Team HTC-Columbia; BEL), Haimar Zubeldia (Team RadioShack; ESP), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel; ESP) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions; CAN) who will finish third.