Christian Vande Velde dropped out in the neutral zone yesterday, but he was at the start today, literally on the road in Farmington.

The attacks came early and often today, here a Bissel rider tries a jump up the left...

Friedman and Frischkorn have made it away. Friedman is asking the car how far back another rider is, as Will looks to see...

...that it is Matthew Wilson from Team Type 1 who is charging across to them.

Is this yesterday or the day before? Three up the road and Columbia are setting tempo on the front...

Sticking with the script - the break built up their lead to about four minutes...

...and there is another silly crash back in the pack. Ouch sums it up pretty well. Brad White was able to finish today.

George, last in the Columbia line before Cav. Just a few more days for this pair to work together before George leaves for BMC.

Pretty relaxed now, as the pack rolls along through the Mark Twain National Forest.

Here they lead the peloton across the Huzzah river.

Thor decided stretching might break up the routine of the pack...

...while Andy Guptill used a bit of cyclo-cross to liven up his ride.

Time to pick up the pace as the peloton crosses a one lane bridge.

Michael Barry is the tip of the spear as Columbia brings back the break. They found no allies today.

As a catch was now certain, the riders relaxed a bit. Perhaps even enough to join the group on the porch.

Frischkorn has already been absorbed by the pack, now they have their quarry in sight...

...and make the catch with about 8k to go.

It was a hilly, slightly uphill finish today, but without any turns.

It suited Hushovd well, as he easily took the stage over Haedo and Cataldo.

Cavendish retained only the Young Rider's jersey after today's 7th place finish.

Hushovd has garnered green...

...as well as the overall race lead, after a tie break with Cavendish based on finishing position thus far.