It is not just the 234.5 km distance which will make this stage hard to control. There will be two tough climbs in the run-up to the finish. The gradient on one of them, five kilometres from the line, hits 8%. With this course, will the sprinters’ team take the reins of the race and risk seeing their leaders blow up on the last slopes? It remains to be seen. With two weeks of racing left, some teams may have started dosing their efforts by the time we reach this point. All in all, I expect to see quite a tactical stage culminating in a thrilling finale. The peloton should reach Nancy in pieces.

I’m not a huge fan of Greipel (probably due to him being Cav’s and Sagan’s main rival in the past), but he’s a good rider, and has had a terrible time so far in the tour, hardly even being seen, so it’s great that he’s got a win.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOaS-8G5uE8[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kraUlCIx_Iw[/video]

Couldn’t find a picture of Tony dribbling unfortunately – Martin suffering is simply the best thing ever.

Photos from stage 6.

Today is a tricky one – I’d like to see Sagan do it (obviously), especially as he hasn’t had a win so far. Pretty tough climb with a descent to the finish, could suit Nibali as well if he wants to take some more time. Maybe Contador might fancy something too. Should be good to watch, no matter what. Break might even stay away.

A few useful links

Live Cycling News Text Updates
Steephill
Official Tour Live Feed App
Classifications
Withdrawals
Fantasy League Standings
Loser League Standings

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert-millar/robert-millar-team-sky-must-get-their-confidence-back

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/porte-ready-for-tour-de-france-leadership-role-at-team-sky

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-de-france-tech-special-gear-for-the-cobbles-of-stage-5 – back to cables for Garmin

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-horror-day-for-fdj

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/vincenzo-nibalis-power-output-tour-de-france-cobbles-129915 – everytime you mention doping just because someone rode well, a carbon frame somewhere snaps

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th9ivq2ph-I[/video]

Also here’s Simon Yates bike, he’s rocking the drop.

I reckon Lotto will be trying to get Greipel another win today, he can get over the punchy climbs when on form. Depends what happens on the first climb.

what is going on with Lotto’s aero helmet? are the teams in a competition to see who can have the worst design?

OGE definitely win on that front.

Every time I see an OGE rider in an aero helmet I think of this little feller…

It is PISSING it down around here so I think they’re going to have an awful day packed with more crashes.

Not good, been an absolute massacre so far.

G’s video blog if you’ve not see it, talking with Porte about today:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RpJOHFoCjU&list=UUjvv0ciZyPnVsdWzoZLDDJA[/video]

I’d put my money on a breakaway suceeding today.

I can’t see Kittel getting over the climbs after his performance yesterday. He looks ****ed. So his team won’t ride on the front all day. Astana won’t mind loaning yellow out for a few days so won’t be that keen to control things enless the gap gets silly. Lotto might do some work as Greipel can climb and Canondale might try to set it up for Sagan but I still fancy the break.

Unless it’s small and crap again. 6 guys and they have a chance.

The break has already gone, and is exactly 6 guys. Doubt they’ll do it though.

I wonder if the the GC boys will keep their heads down today and rest up for the weekend. May be an opportunity for Nibali to get rid of the yellow jersey before the big stuff.

This has got to be Sagan’s. Short punchy climbs, descent then slightly uphill finish. Cannondale will control an early break. Sagan will attack with Nibali on the last climb, smash the descent, Sagan sprinting to glorious victory.

Can’t see that break making it.

Oh dear, Andy Schleck…

After pulling out of the race, Schleck travelled to Basle, Switzerland. An MRI scan and test revealed the full extent to his damaged knee with a rupture of both the collateral and cruciate ligaments plus a tear in the meniscus and bruising.
On top of that was damage to the cartilage behind the knee cap. Schleck underwent surgery almost immediately but understands that he faces another long road back to full fitness.

I think Gerrans for today…

Astana won’t mind loaning yellow out for a few days

May be an opportunity for Nibali to get rid of the yellow jersey before the big stuff.

😕

I think Gerrans for today…

It did sound like OGE are planning something, but I’m not sure what sort of form he’s in.

After pulling out of the race, Schleck travelled to Basle, Switzerland. An MRI scan and test revealed the full extent to his damaged knee with a rupture of both the collateral and cruciate ligaments plus a tear in the meniscus and bruising.

i did that at bikepark Wales!! Not had me cruciate done yet though.. need Shlecks health insurance!!

With Cannondale in control 4 minutes back..

Yeah can’t see why Nibali would want to give any time away.

Crappy break and Cannondale look like they want to control things. Looks like they will get caught after all unless the peleton make a mistake.

Yeah can’t see why Nibali would want to give any time away.

He won’t want to give time to any of his rivals but if someone who can’t climb but was well placed had gone up the road then that would have suited Astana as it could have removed their obigation to control the peleton for a few days.

As it is it seems Cannondale are willing to do the work so they will be happy either way.

Cannondale and Astana are very chummy both being based in Italy and their goals are alligned over the next few stages so I can see Cannondale doing a lot of work over the coming days.

Don’t forget that Nibali and Sagan are mates (at least racing mates) after their years as team mates. There’s no sprint threat to Sagan at Astana and no GC threat to Nibali at Cannondale so why not make a super team

Clement abandons, looks nasty.

Don’t forget that Nibali and Sagan are mates (at least racing mates) after their years as team mates. There’s no sprint threat to Sagan at Astana and no GC threat to Nibali at Cannondale so why not make a super team

Yep and if Cannondale merge with Garmin then a lot of Cannondale riders will be looking for a job and Astana is an obvious choice for that.

Great work as usual Realman, must take a chunk of time each day to put it together.

Though I’m not sure that is much of a drop from the saddle to the bars on Simon Yates bike as you think, the stem does have quite a drop but the back wheel is off the deck on a stand making it look bigger, it’s probably because it’s such a tiny frame.

Some of the taller riders do have a huge saddle to bars drop, I’m 6’3″ and my road bikes have about 3”-4” drop and would have more if my gut didn’t get in the way 😉

Drops pretty much on level with the tyre = winning IMO 🙂

Porte’s body language looks like he so does not want to be in this situation. Maybe it’s just being in the spotlight?

RealMan – Member

Drops pretty much on level with the tyre = winning IMO

Do that with a 60cm frame & I would be impressed :p

That does look a small frame, google tells me he’s tiddler at 5’8″. Good drop though and a nice old school bend.

Edit… google also tossed up this photo of Yates… the bars are down there somewhere!

Not much going on today. Cannondale keeping the break on a tight leash.

Edit… google also tossed up this photo of Yates… the bars are down there somewhere!

on a track, mind (it looks like)

Eurosport commentators are now talking about jam making 🙂

They aspire to be a bikey version of Test Match Special, dear old thing.

But are not; by a significant margin.

there ought to be some nice off-roading in those hills

They aspire to be a bikey version of Test Match Special

“And Sagan is determined to be the first to enter Nancy” (smirk, snigger) ?

mrblobby – Member

Eurosport commentators are now talking about jam making

They should get Terry Wogan to present it, to take us on a gentle meander through his brain every time it gets boring

there ought to be some nice off-roading in those hills

There is. The whole area is pretty good, more XC oriented natural trails than anything built tho

@atlas can you be more specific (towns will do I’ll look at IGN), need to find some reasonably accessible riding for when I’m in Paris.

So, Team SKY, I just don’t see them. Are they playing a smart tactical game, staying in the peleton, doing no work and waiting for the mountains ? Or are they really in some trouble decimated by crashes and just hanging on ?

Nice looking area, but god this is a dull stage!

Oh dear, Van Garderen down.

jambalaya – Member
So, Team SKY, I just don’t see them. Are they playing a smart tactical game, staying in the peleton, doing no work and waiting for the mountains ? Or are they really in some trouble decimated by crashes and just hanging on ?

Porte’s in a pretty good position, no need for heroics today. I think they’ll be shadowing Saxo in the mountains as Bertie needs to work a lot more than Porte does.

commentators blaming the movistar rider for that crash, dont think he knew much about about it, TJ was forced over by a team mate.

Saxo, Katusha, BMC, Belkin, Trek all 1 rider down. Sky with 2 so ‘decimated’ is a bit strong too.