No erruption on Etna

It's a rare day when the locals of Sicily are looking for an explosion on Mount Etna and are disappointed when it doesn't arrive. Yesterday was one of those days...but all because of cycling, not the flow of lava. Blame it on the headwind or the stage coming too early in a race that will end with some brutal climbing, but those who we looked to to ignite the race kept their powder dry.

At one point the winds were strong enough that an echelon formed containing the favourites on the slopes of Etna. It looked out of place but it also looked as though each favourite for this race was riding alongside the other, daring someone to move. Pierre Rolland did move at one stage but they reeled him back in. Later the home island boy, Vincenzo Nibali, put in a dig, but it was as much for the locals than anything else. When he noticed that nobody had come with him he sat up and allowed the shrinking pack to swallow him up again.

The final major kick out of the pack came from Ilnur Zakarin. He went late on the climb and they let him go. When he seen nobody come with him he kept on going. He had lost a few seconds a few days before and so this was as much a make-up effort than taking time on the rest.

And yet, he didn't win. None of the favourites did. The last remnant of the days early break -- the ones that never survive on a flat day, but who can, through miscalculation or self indulgence of a smaller group of GC contenders far enough back, stay away -- ran out the winner. His name was Jan Polanc and this was by far his biggest victory. He did it with 19 seconds to spare. On a day in which 19 of the big-names arrived at the line together, 10 seconds behind Zakarin, it was fitting that someone who went clear in the first two kilomeres should survive to win. He can thank the fact this stage came early and that the winds were blowing. He too was blowing near the top of the mountain, but the lack of an eruption from the pack behind allowed him breathing room to survive.

Geraint Thomas led the group in and moved up to second overall, 6 seconds behind Bob Jungels. He who took the pink jersey by way of being the best placed on GC of that group of 19. The reigning pink jersey of Fernando Gavaria was much further down the mountain.

Today is the final stage on Sicily and it finishes in Messina, the home town of Nibali. A sprinter will win but the day will belong to The Shark of Messina as thousands turn out to catch a glimpse of their hero and the reigning champion.