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Roll up, roll up, we're out of the mountains for the time being and I'm sure Cav is absolutely overjoyed. So what have we got?
Besides Paris, Bordeaux used to be the sprinters' preferred hunting terrain but in recent years, Montpellier has taken over, especially in the past ten years since Robbie McEwen took one of his twelve Tour de France victories in the capital of the Languedoc back in 2007. Mark Cavendish claimed one of his first victories in Montpellier in 2008. As he remembers every single detail of each of his successes, he'll be inspired to make it four near the Yves-du Manoir rugby stadium where the last Tour de France winner was André Greipel in 2013. Cavendish is hungry for more but Greipel hasn't won yet. Marcel Kittel can't be satisfied with only one victory (stage 4). Neither Lotto-Soudal not Etixx-Quick Step have ridden to cancel the breakaway on stage 10. Katusha did it for a while for Alexander Kristoff who also hasn't won yet at the Tour de France this year but the Russian outfit gave up quickly. It means those three teams won't let another occasion go. The first part of stage 11 is suitable for a breakaway but two category 4 climbs won't disturb Thibaut Pinot in his quest for the polka dot jersey. The GC contenders have already set their focus on the Mont Ventoux on Bastille Day and the time trial of the day after.
And the terrain, well, it's flat:
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As ever, a preview from [url= http://inrng.com/ ]Inrng[/url]:
Mark Cavendish has won in Montpellier in 2011 (pictured) but that doesn’t make him any faster today. His condition seems good but how has he fared in the Pyrenees? Marcel Kittel is the other obvious choice, a dragstrip finish for him and his team.
Next comes a second pairing of sprinters led by André Greipel. The German champion ran close on the opening stage but since then he’s been struggling, complaining about a loss of power along the way. Still he won here in 2013 and when German champion too so if you see him celebrate in Montpellier it’s déja vu for real. Bryan Coquard is still hunting for that stage win and his Direct Energie team are almost trying too hard, wasting energy in dud chases and deploying their train prematurely. Both get two chainrings but just.Don’t write off Dylan Groenewegen, he’s going to win a stage of the Tour someday but whether it’s today or in three years’ time remains to be seen. He’s got the power and leg speed but Lotto-Jumbo are not a force to be reckoned with in the final. The stealth pick is Alexander Kristoff, almost forgotten in this Tour but he can’t be ignored and his Katusha team tried to chase yesterday, a clue he wants to contest the finish? Meanwhile the likes of Dan McLay and Edward Theuns will try but a win seems a shock. Finally Sam Bennett’s recovering from injuries but surely still an outsider for the win?
And finally, a couple of pics from stage 10:
Froome up to his old tricks again.
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Bling
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Sagan did get the jumper though, not sure what he's grasping for though
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Sprinters day anyway, might even see Cav hit the intermediate with some fire as it's still close up there but missing Renshaw will be on his mind so maybe using the others.
As for the GC maybe another cafe stop?
I will be at the start today in my Eddy Merckx T-shirt. Wave if you see me.
Will do, best get running as coverage starts about 2hrs in...
C'mon Cav!
A day for heading into the office today! Shall be tuning in for the last 20k.
Shame for Sagan not to get the win yesterday but he did pretty much all the work to get the break going and keep it out there. Job done for the green jersey though.
Sprint stage, Kristoff. Easy.
More likely, Sagan to be in the top three but not on the top step, Kittel or Greipel to win it I think. Easy.
I am probably being a bit simple, but why is Quintana in a yellow helmet? Thought the Movistar kit was blue helmet with green stripe?
Are they leading the team classification?
I'd LOVE Cav to get another, on paper looks set for either Kittel or Greipel, but Greipel hasn't shown any form at all really so far, and Kittel isn't as dominant as he was. Hopefully Dan Maclay can feature again too.
I just read on Twitter the wind is blowing quite hard.
Yes they were, its BMC today. Thanks
@David even French TV doesn't cover the start ! Carcassone on a TdF day must be fun, lunch and an afternoon in a bar watching on TV ?
Post us a photo 8)
Cav McLay one two I reckon!That would be brilliant, with Sagan third.
Wish I was there at the finish today, Montpellier is absolutely lovely, my eldest was there for a year whilst at uni a couple of years ago, we thought it was like Barcelona but more relaxed, a lot less tourists and slightly longer to get to the beach, but nicer beaches. And free/v cheap 'Boris bikes' too.
I am probably being a bit simple, but why is Quintana in a yellow helmet?
Leading the team classification?
I'll be at the roadside somewhere near this sign
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Sunt lacremae rerum
Cav is currently 38 points behind Sagan in the green jersey competition but I can't find a breakdown of number of points avaailable for positions in both the intermediate and final...
I'd like to see another Cav win but I think he struggled too much in the Pyrenees to be on form for this.
I'm going to say Greipel. Cav will be there or thereabouts but Sagan will retain green for now.
big_n_daft - Member
Sunt lacremae rerum
Try pronouncing Touat. It's actually mildly amusing
It was a comment on the stage not the sign, benefits of a classical education (well failing Latin o level anyway)
Ah, I thought it may have been due to sad gits posting roadsigns. It's equally applicable 🙂
Well I was going for an early night but the forecast is strong winds and big splits... typical for down there. Bunch sprint with 2/3 of the main contenders the rest to be split by not paying attention.
Sky not to cock up but at least 1 of the top 10 to be out of contention tonight.
Break have 2 minutes, FDJ and IAM, no GC threat, 90km to go. Pace looks quite high actually, 53kph, higher than I thought it'd be.
And the Pelton is breaking
Stanndard on the front bringing the pain. I used to want to ride like like Boonen but as I've got older it's Stannard who I'm drawn to. Humble, hard as nails, loves pushing hard on the front and, by his own admission, too heavy to climb.
Lots of action a day a crash going to be a messy day
Froome is trying to get into the break, now that is an interesting move...
Clever move, great idea
Wow, Froome is really racing smart this year. Some great improvisation to get into that move there. If that stays away, you can guarantee Sagan will win the stage and CF will gain even more time on GC.
You can see the panic in the peloton.
Cav's been caught out there too, he's screaming for a bike change right at the very back of the peloton.
That's a strong looking group too, they'll work together.
What a move
5km to go, 20 seconds, this is very tight.
Here was me thinking this would be a dull stage. What a group of 4 to get away
Dr Hutch has just Tweeted that Froome clearly thinks Ventoux won't happen tomorrow so is making time today. Clever move if that's the case.
It's coming back, slowly, but it is coming back.
Now that's a break! Proper race nous there.
Sagan deserved that for yesterday
It's a race for 2nd
What a cracking stage finish!
Cleverly done there, that was a class ride. Shame about Cav, he's normally pretty aware of that sort of move but whatever mechanical problem he had was at the worst possible time.
Class. Froome and Sky have really got their racers head on this Tour, clever, clever stuff.
G, Froome and Sagan in a break, not one you want to see go down the road without you. The kind of move that makes you realize the rest of your day is racing for the minor placings.
Good to see Sky trying some tactics beyond pacelines up mountains. Forcing people to race. Mountain finish will be interesting - Quintana has to do something so this doesn't slip away from him. TTs still to come as well so he needs a buffer over Froome.
I'm liking Sky's tactical flexibility and improvisation, it seems to be working well and given Froome 35s over Quintana without killing himself going uphill. It's a great idea and shows real split second race skill, and it keeps all of them guessing. Nicely done!
Does indeed make a change from the Sky train, and from Quintana sitting on Froome's tail like his ever present shadow - which is getting tiring to watch.
Froome is just doing the basics of road racing really, really well. Both his moves are text book examples; attack over the top of a climb and follow the World Champ when he jumps are obvious and simple moves. The real issue is the lack of awareness from any of his rivals, Movistar in particular...