Some good racing breaking out. It's a shame this is the hilliest stage really, a proper Limburg stage like they have had for most of the last few years would balance out that TT. Reusser being dropped and fighting her way back on as SD Worx and Canyon-SRAM put the hurt on. Koster leads on the road but with the pace on in the splintered away favourites group she's probably doomed, she's already lost the virtual lead, and I suspect she may be asked to drop back for Vos before long.
The péloton is now split into four and we have some proper Classics racing going on. The weather sucks, which of course because we're racing in the Benelux, on narrow roads with punchy climbs and with a gazillion twists and turns that make it difficult to keep other groups in sight, is a good thing.
Marty says the words "Kasia Niewiadoma attacks on the climb" as though this is a novel thing.
Van den Broeck-Blaak has been collecting bonus seconds and now we have a lead quartet, Koster has been joined by Vos, VDBB and Niewiadoma and the group behind is needing Reusser to defend, VDBB is only 5 seconds behind on GC now vand looks like the favourite as they have all 4 riding up front, although Koster hasn't got too much left it seems, whereas Reusser only has Bastianelli for support.
Lack of cohesion behind now, though, Jackson attacking that group because she doesn't want to ride on for Reusser's lead, but does want to preserve her high GC, as the quartet have now established quite a nice advantage as we're inside 30km to go. Reusser not happy with the lack of cohesion and tries to attack on her own, this gets pulled back and they lose momentum and Bastianelli gets back on the front.
Inside 25km, and Anouska is done, she's simply run out of support that she can give. Reusser is now alone, Bastianelli is hanging on to the rear of the group on the uphill - suspect her aim is solely to stay there long enough to be able to catch back on and give some more support. However group 3 is about to make contact. The good news for Reusser is that Laura Tomasi is in that group giving Alé a third rider so another helper for Marlen. The bad news is that means that the lead trio have got a gap in excess of 30 seconds now.
As we pass 20km to go the gap is almost up to a minute, and riders look like they've been going through an early 00s Roubaix. Tomasi helping Reusser on the front and now Team DSM helping on the front now they've got some riders up there with Georgi for assistance, which is pegging the escapees at around 50 seconds. Anouska Koster now falling out of the péloton. The road goes uphill, and as sure as the day is long, Niewiadoma gets out the saddle and accelerates. Time gap is fluctuating around 40-50 seconds now, a bit less work up front and van Dijk, well placed in the GC, is hovering around near the front without pacing. The third group joining brings Vollering and others with it too.
At the 14km remaining mark the gap hits a minute...
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