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This was supposed to be Orica-GreenEdge's stage with a finale absolutely suitable for the characteristics of Simon Gerrans, Daryl Impey and Michael Matthews. The latter is still in the race but he's creeping, dead last in the overall ranking. His courage has been awarded in stage 5 by the price of the most aggressive rider. He's injured but keeps racing as long as he can, waiting and hoping for better days. Gerrans and Impey also crashed on stage 3. They went home with a broken wrist and a broken collarbone respectively, two years after passing the yellow jersey to each other. They had targeted stage 6 to Le Havre because of the new finale in the coastal city in Normandy. The road leads to the fort of Tourneville, 140 metres above sea level. There's a 900 metres long hill with an average gradient of 7%. The top of the hill is 500 metres before the finish. It's perfect for Peter Sagan to end a long drought. He hasn't won a stage of the Tour de France since 2013 in Albi. Second again behind André Greipel in Amiens, the Slovakian champion is hungry for more but the German in the green jersey is also likely to pass the obstacle, so are Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb, the stars of the classics who are yet to win a stage this year. Before they can dream of winning, they have to overcome the hiccups that might occur due to the expected side wind all along the English Channel as another eventful stage is around the corner. It's again not a typical one for sprinters in a flat part of France.
Another day on the coast
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/3003796
Light winds and no rain might make the day a little more pleasant out there.
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3 Cat 4 climbs might mean a change in the KOM Jersey today if there is a break
1. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joachim 91 TEAM KATUSHA 2 pts
2. SUISCHÄR Michael 67 BMC RACING TEAM 1 pts
3. POLMAJKA Rafal 45 TINKOFF-SAXO 1 pts
4. BELDE GENDT Thomas 73 LOTTO-SOUDAL 1 pts
5. GBRFROOME Christopher 31 TEAM SKY 1 pts
If Lemoneysam can add the list of the GC contenders overall as I can't find it 🙂
Quick look round puts Martin as fav to retain Yellow, Sagan 2nd Favourite. Sagan Needs 33s to Take Yellow... might be on his mind.
Back to Yesterday
The Gorilla made it over the line ahead of Cav and Sagan
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and here is what he said
“I had the power in the sprint,” said Greipel. “Two stage victories is unbelievable. I didn’t expect that coming into the Tour de France.“With 350 meters to go I didn’t look so good. I was a bit boxed in. But when I got more space, I gave all I got. It was a tough finish, the kilometer before the last five hundred meters wasn’t completely flat, and there was a headwind. I think it was a pure sprint. There was no lead-out for any of us, it was man to man. Sagan moved up quickly at the left, I hadn’t seen him, but it’s the result at the finish line that counts.”
But yet more crashes and abandons added to a long list of casualties
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[/img]This was one of the sketchier moments with the Police rider nearly wiping out the Sky Team
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For those who are wondering about the GoPro's here is Sky's compilation so far
and for those who need their fix
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So off we go, add anything else and lets see how it goes
Thanks for taking this up Mike.
lol only when I can... just as I'm on the other side of the world and not busy at work so if anyone doesn't see one please feel free as I'm probably working or away 🙂
Good post, thanks.
I am hating being in Aus this year. I work early so can't keep my eyes open past 9pm, frustrating!
Cheers mike, good thread.
My tip, well before that this is a bumpy stage. Anyone whose ridden Normandy knows that this isn't flat at all. There are some deceptively short sharp climbs and some frustrating false flats too. I've ridden a lot over there and I like the rural ruggedness.
Tip (s).. I reckon Cav,
But...
Sagan could be there..
But my heart says a break will stay out with FDJ's Demare/Roy or Cofidis's Soupe or AG2R's Van Summeran/ Bakelants.
I am hating being in Aus this year. I work early so can't keep my eyes open past 9pm, frustrating!
Between this and the cricket I'm struggling in the mornings... Was hoping to be over west where the timings a little better but no chance at the moment.
Excellent work, cheers.
I can't find the list of main GC contenders either today but since I believe they were all in the group, here's the list from yesterday. 😉
2 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky (-1) 0:00:12
3 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team (-) 0:00:13
7 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step (-) 0:00:34
8 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo (-) 0:00:36
12 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Factory Racing (-) 0:01:32
13 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team (-) 0:01:38
14 Robert Gesink (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo (-) 0:01:39
16 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team (-) 0:01:51
17 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team (-) 0:01:56
18 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha (-) 0:02:00
19 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale (+2) 0:02:07
20 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team (+3) 0:02:39
21 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale (+5) 0:02:54
30 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr (-3) 0:06:18
49 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar (+11) 0:10:02
54 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo (+8) 0:24:24
edit: missed Kelderman having a bad day, have adjusted his time
the rate sagan closed into second yesterday was epic, just shame he didn't go slightly earlier, but then his sprinting doesn't work like that
Tony Martin said of his Tuesday night... (after he took yellow)
"I couldn't sleep so well last night," Martin said in a team press release. "I fell asleep maybe at 2 o'clock in the morning and woke up early again, but it was OK for me. I woke up feeling well, thinking directly about the yellow jersey. It gave me a lot of power and morale today in the race. I hope I can find more sleep in the next nights, or else I won't see Paris (laughs)."
Is it just me or as you have read that, has Big Tony's voice in your head morphed into the Terminator 🙂
Cracking work Mike, really appreciate it.
I wonder what the odds are that the top 3 in GC stay to same to Paris?
Surely, surely this is Kristoff's stage? Bit lumpy, hilly sprint, it's him or Sagan for me. 5 years ago you'd have added EBH to the mix as well but his days are behind him I fear and with Matthews done as well it's a 2 horse race I think.
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Excellent!!
GVA vs Sagan today! Sagan for yellow? Bit extreme but maybe, just maybe...
And please, please let Voeckler be in the break, is that too much to ask?
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It appeared Cav was simply out gunned yesterday, hopefully he finds some more in him next time, would be awesome to see him get a stage this year. Sagan had huge speed at the end, just seemed he picked the wrong wheel and Greipel got away from him. Through the stage seemed he to be bouncing up and down the field as he pleased, I hope today is his day, I think the hill at the finish will favor him over the other sprinters.
Right, I'm going to officially write Cav off now, too old and no zip left in his legs.
Hopefully that'll guarantee him a stage win today 🙂
Sorry guys, I put an optimistic couple of quid on cav to get the green jersey. Seems I've jinxed him completely!
Degenkolb's stage today. Won the bunch sprint behind Martin on Stage 3 and is a better climber than most sprinters. If he can hang onto J Rod's wheel, he'll win.
Details of the run in:
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Strava segment of the final climb: http://veloviewer.com/segments/5915978?referrer=Embed_
I'm backing Degenkolb too btw.
Quéméneur, Van Bilsen and Tickle-a-ham-or-not, who'll be after the spotty jumper tonight, in the break. Can't see them staying away all day.
So Uran. Chance of being up among the big guns at the end?
Degenkolb's stage today. Won the bunch sprint behind Martin on Stage 3 and is a better climber than most sprinters. If he can hang onto J Rod's wheel, he'll win.
Not someone like Kwiatkowski? I'm thinking more of a punchy climber, someone who can hang in a sprint train then go as it gets steeper. Sagan maybe as well, he's a handy enough climber and the speed he came through the final sprint yesterday was incredible.
Maybe even Bryan Coquard (bit of a leftfield call that one...)
Well normally I'd be thinking Sagan or Degenkolb but the way Griepel s been riding it could be him. But it will be a tricky finish as a few hopefuls are going to attack up the last climb. Valverde maybe. Hmm hoping its Sagan but think it may be Griepel.
Greipels Strava from the last km yesterday
https://www.strava.com/activities/341907174/analysis/17496/17570
Not someone like Kwiatkowski?
I don't think the final climb is long enough to dislodge a sprinter in form. Degenkolb won a stage at Dubai (Hatta Dam) with a 17% finish this spring. Dubai's not the Tour but I think the leveling off at the finish should allow the fast men to catch any climbers who sneak off the front.
Well, this has gone a bit meh hasn't it 😆
Ok, so break out front at 4 mins, still the (now tiring) 3 as before but Bilsen's just had some Go Juice sprayed on his knee, a rub and a kiss from the Medic's.
Giant and Etixx on the front digging in harder now to bring back the break.
The coast is looking rather nice has to be said and all's well in the world.
dirtyrider - MemberGreipels Strava from the last km yesterday
Don't be daft, everyone knows strava's for wannabes that don't actually race
Ohh, Valv went for a piss about an hour ago then slipped off his bike..
#criticalinfo
"Have you ever tried to find water with a water divider Sean?" "Ive tried it.......without success! "
Wonderful.
Annnd Tommys off, to chase his team mate Perrig down...
#labradorstongue
I tried to maintain interest but went and got my hair cut instead. It's quite short.
I've changed my mind btw, Kwiatkowski FTW - unless he crashed out whilst I was at the barbers.
great horse
Been away from my desk all afternoon, I take it nothing exciting has happened?
Yup you've missed Valverde having a piss then falling off, Tommy on a half spirited punt to catch his team mate, a seagull shat on the road, but really it's probably about Teklehaimanot since he's the first African to take the KOM jersey.
Oh and lemonysam had his hair cut.
TBH, we could all have gone to the same barbers and had a trim too... theres only three of us chickens here. 😆
That Voeckler lad, I bet he's popular with the Chicks!
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Hang on a minute, we have sprint trains forming, this may yet get faintly interesting.
True, the breaks been caught.. Bilsens still out there about 15s in front...
5k marker...
Hold on to your pants.
They've caught Bilsen at 4k...
😕
Should start to get interesting from about 2km to go...
Quick Step and Giant on the front
nibbles taken out by martin!
Crash! Eh, who, what,where?
Martin holding his shoulder. Hope he hasn't broken anything
Martins down so too Nibbs, Etixx on the front...
Ohh ek, a CX'er takes it 😀
Stybar FTW