Now that is bad luck on my behalf, I am in Paris 20-23 Jul visiting the good lady, I would have like to have seen the final sprint in Paris
Eurostar will be breaking down on the 23rd July, so you will be unable to get back. Just a suggestion.
Did you watch it? A BMC rider crashed very near where to Cav was, completely slowed him down. Also HTC had their tactics completely wrong, were leading out from 5KM out, they're much more used to doing it from 2KM so were pooped by the end of it. Cav made 35m on the guys in the last 500m which is very impressive. You'll see him well up there at the next sprint, mark my words.
Thought it quite a strange race in several ways, but the tactics over the last 5km left me really puzzeled.
Stage 4: Lorient -Mùr-de-Bretange: 172.5 km This stage provides some innovation with a finish on the summit of the Mûr-de-Bretagne, which comes at the end of a beautiful but very tough two-kilometre climb. The road rises in such a straight line that even from the bottom the finish is almost visible. It’s going to be impressive, with steep ramps right from the bottom. But even before getting to that point, there is a series of hills in central Brittany where the twisting roads can be a real slog. The riders will have to be on their guard because these could lead to splits in the peloton and, consequently, a surprise or two. What is for sure is that there won’t be any sprinters in contention. Look instead for riders in the mould of Philippe Gilbert or Thomas Voeckler.”
This is when the tour hots up with those killer climbs. I love watching the tour and always used to follow on channel 4 with Phil Liggett and paul Sherwin. I prefer the coverage these days on Eurosport. Phillippe Gilbert was class and i expect him to be up there again on stage 4.
Stage 5: Carhaix - Cap Fréhel : 164.5 km “Like the previous stage, this one takes place entirely within Brittany with the setting on this occasion in Finistère and the Côtes-d’Armor. The stage heads from Carhaix to Cap Fréhel through spectacular countryside, with the final 70km alongside the sea. So, once again, the riders will keep an eye on the wind and be aware of the possibility that echelons might form. It will all depend on the weather, but there might be some surprises today. All things being normal, like the stage into Redon, this stage should be won by a sprinter.”
Fantastic stage win by Cavendish! An uphill sprint finish so I think a bit unexpected and I doubt many of the usual sprinters were in the top 10 but I don't know?
Well done to the Isle of Man lad can't wait to see the highlights and two other brits in the top ten its been a great start to the tour.
Yes, a really good win for Mark. He came from almost nowhere to snatch the stage. The French commentators were quite certain that this was one that he would win, yet again the last 5kms were all over the place. Pleased to see David Millar holding such a high postion, how long for though remains to be seen.
Stage 6: Dinan- Lisieux :226.5 kms The Tour’s longest stage is not flat. Because we are in Normandy, the route is rolling. We will have to wait and see what happens with any breakaway riders. Although it’s not ‘a wall’ of 10%, there is a decent climb 1.5km from the finish in front of the basilica in Lisieux. Some good riders are sure to lose contact there because the peloton is bound to split apart. If a breakaway group is still clear, not all of them will be able to stay with the pace at this point. A stage profile of this type does not suit the Tour’s favourites, and certainly not a pure climber such as Andy Schleck, but will suit a puncheur. Once again, just like the finish on the Mûr-de-Bretagne, the qualities of a rider in the mould of Philippe Gilbert will come to the fore on a stage like this.
