There’s too many I think that could have a chance at this, and a lot more want it. I don’t want to completely rule out Cav either. Riders start in about 10 minutes.

is it sunny?

No prologue this year? Ah what; I always enjoy the prologue. Loved it when it was here in That London a few years ago. Fantastic atmosphere, great spectacle.

Why they not do the prologue?

Reckon Cav will have a crack at the intermediate sprint.

Why they not do the prologue?

They’ve mixed it up for a while now, sometimes had a road stage first, sometimes the prologue. Bit of variety.

Well I don’t like it. I think they should start with the individual TT as the prologue. It’s a great way for loads of people to enjoy the Tour in a smallish area, and have a bit of a party too.

It has been a kind of tradition since 1967 that the Tour starts with a prologue. But, as in 2008, we will start with a road stage. We wanted to shake up the teams’ plans a little bit and change the way they operate. Only 10 riders can realistically contend for victory in a prologue. But each one of the 198 riders could win this stage and pull on the yellow jersey.

Sunshine today! And 22°C to 15°C – sounds wonderful!

I like the prologue too, there’s more then enough flat stages to keep me entertained.

First crash of the tour already 😯

Reckon Cav will have a crack at the intermediate sprint.

I think he only bothers with stage wins.

I think he only bothers with stage wins.

Changes to the way the points are allocated means he’s going to HAVE to go for intermediate sprints or he’ll never get anywhere near the green jersey.

The police seized and searched the Quick Step team bus, but according to team manager Wilfried Peeters, it was just a normal control.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-soigneur-implicated-in-drug-investigation

Ouch, another big stack! Who was that, Van de Walle was in there I’m sure…

Jeez that street furniture looks well dodgy”…”…….

Ouch

I always thought the Prologue served a specific purpose – it gave every single rider a different time.
The race will start tomorrow with well over 100 riders sharing exactly the same time.

Shibboleth – Member
I always thought the Prologue served a specific purpose – it gave every single rider a different time.
The race will start tomorrow with well over 100 riders sharing exactly the same time.
POSTED 19 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

The prologue didn’t even count towards the time in years gone by. It’s still a great spectacle though.

The race will start tomorrow with well over 100 riders sharing exactly the same time.

But that’s what makes it exciting. Pretty much anyone could win this stage, it’s not a pure sprinters stage, it’s not one for the climbers, it could literally be anyone.

The TTT tomorrow will sort out all the times properly. 37km to go and the break is at 1’30” so that’ll be pulled back, it’s going to be interesting at the finish.

I don’t understand Cavs thinking today TBH. He isn’t going to be anyway near the front at the end of todays stage, so why not use the HTC train for the intermediate sprint? if he loses the green jersey by 10 points he’ll kick himself

Should be an interesting finish

Cav has said he’s won on worse but been dropped on less, let’s see…

Haze, I was under the impression, and I think Matt Goss is too, that stages like todays are his to contest, flat stages are Cavendish’s

OOOOHHH! Big stack – some muppet spectator hanging too far into the road.

Edit: Christ it’s carnage, blown the peloton to pieces. 🙁

Woolly what a crash! Big split for some of the big names to make up

Sounds about right Warton, just passing on what the man himself has said!

Bloody hell it’s getting nervous down there, they’re absolutely motoring! Some really near misses around that roundabout too.

They’re doing about 55kph!

Contador lost 34 seconds. A lot of time at this stage.

Contador was in the stack?

Yeah, his number is all ripped so he obviously came down. Big ripple effect right across the peloton.

He’s currently in a group about 35 seconds down.

Another crash!

Yep another.

Caught behind and now out to 40 seconds. Another crash to the second group. I reckon Gilbert.

Geraint Thomas is still in that front group! Another big crash though – total carnge!

Gilbert.

Brilliant finish.

impressive.

Contador loses 1’20”.
Great ride by Geraint Thomas – if Sky win the TTT tomorrow as they’re favourite to do, it’ll be G in yellow.

What a great last 10km. 🙂

Brilliant attack and death from spartacus.

Third place to Hushovd apparently.

Anyone see Bassos adjustable seatpost?

http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/tour-de-france-tech-adjustable-seatposts-and-funky-graphics-30831?img=2&pn=tour-de-france-tech-adjustable-seatposts-and-funky-graphics&mlc=news%2Farticle#1

Great weather out here for the Tour today 😉 didn’t get many of the riders today, looking to get them tomorrow in the TTT

Clicky for more

by sheldonattwood, on Flickr

wtf was going on with cancellara? – he can’t have blown up in that distance, surely

looked like he was scared of losing out to gilbert and didn’t want to drag him further away just to get trashed on the run in

(should’ve turned the motor on 🙄 )

if Sky win the TTT tomorrow as they’re favourite to do, it’ll be G in yellow

Geraint Thomas in the crys melyn ? The Western Mail will go barmy !

Highlights just starting on ITV4 now.