Team Sky's Peter Kennaugh remains in contention for a podium finish at the Tour of Poland as the race heads in to its final two stages.
Manxman Kennaugh currently lies in sixth overall, just 23 seconds off current leader Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), but crucially only six behind third-placed man Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM) at the start of today.
Sagan took over the race lead on Wednesday's stage into Cieszyn, following a blistering attack on the race's final climb, which also saw him win the stage. Kennaugh came home in 11th, conceding just three seconds to Sagan.
The Slovakian made it back to back victories in Zakopane yesterday, with his impressive sprint finish once again proving he's one of the most complete riders in the peloton.
Kennaugh's sprinting abilities are less pronounced; nonetheless he crossed the line in fifth.
Today's stage - the longest of this year's race - is a 207.7km circuit around Bukowina.
Three first category climbs - the Zab, the Bustyk and the Gliczarow Gorny - could well provide a springboard for an attack on the final laps of the course.
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The race finishes on Sunday with a sprinter-friendly stage in Krakow.
Fellow Brits Ian Stannard, Chris Froome and Steve Cummings are riding alongside Kennaugh; this is Cummings' first top-level race since being struck down with pneumonia after Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April.
Kennaugh will return to the England after racing in Poland, and is scheduled to take part in the Olympic test event, the London-Surrey Cycle Classic, on August 14.
Peter Sagan pulls on the leaders jersey in Poland
Last years winner Dan Martin
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Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
