Stage 6 is targeted by the sprinters as the finale has no difficulty. It'll be another occasion for the warriors of the road to pay tribute to the soldiers after Mark Cavendish was full of praise for them when he won on Day-1 at Utah Beach. Stage 4 started in Saumur in front the French most famous cavalry school. In Montauban, the race will be won in front of another barracks: the tenth dragon's regiment. However, it might as well be a solo win or a small breakaway group like the only time the Tour de France previously stopped in that city on the shores of the Tarn. In 1998, Jacky Durand outsprinted his five breakaway companions including Andrea Tafi and Joona Laukka. In its first half, stage 6 is contested on a lumpy terrain, very suitable for breakaways to take shape. Five points are up for grabs in the King of the Mountains competition. Thomas De Gendt who now wears the polka dot jersey might be eager to break away again to defend his position but as far as the overall ranking is concerned, Greg Van Avermaet made clear that only one day in the yellow jersey is already a huge achievement for him. Since his BMC team has other targets in the mountains with Tejay van Garderen and Richie Porte, the door is open for other opportunists. It'll be a hot day in the South West of France
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The contenders from Inrng:
The Contenders: there’s a sense that in each of the sprints so far you could run them again in some kind of real life Monte Carlo simulation and the results would keep varying as teams and individuals change their tactics and plans. There’s still no top dog.There is a clear top four though. Mark Cavendish has two stage wins yet doesn’t feel like the certainty to win again. Marcel Kittel was good in Limoges on an uphill finish that didn’t suit him but this only puts him back among the others after two earlier disappointments. The nearly man so far is André Greipel so today could he his turn. Peter Sagan can place well but beating everyone is a tall order.
Outside of this top four Bryan Coquard has the speed for a flat finish too, see his second place on the Champs Elysée last year. Dylan Groenewegen was very fast two days ago as he surged past many in the uphill finish and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares with some mountains in his legs. Alexander Kristoff hasn’t been the certainty we expected but don’t write him off.
Then comes a third wave of riders like Edward Theuns, Dan McClay and Christophe Laporte but the win seems elusive.
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Dan McLay, as a surprise
Degenkolb, needs to sell more shampoo
It's not a straightforward sprint stage though is it, going to be difficult to call this one. Depends a bit on the riders in the breakaway as well and who is on the hunt for KOM points.
So far, Etixx seems to have had the most visible lead-out train but for some reason Kittel hasn't been able to capitalise on it - guess there are too many other trains getting involved and it all gets a bit mixed up. No-one is really dominant in that area any more, it's interesting to see how all the teams have taken up the idea and they're all largely very similar in ability.
And now for Lunge's ever inaccurate prediction.
Flat stage, bunch sprint, easy yes? Well, maybe, could this be another day for the breakaway as the bunch take another rest before the mountains?
So, if the break sticks it will have French riders in it of course. So, whilst I'd love it to be Cummings I suspect he will be on team duty for Cav so I'll go with the unimaginative suggestion of Thomas Voeckler.
However, it's s sprint day and there aren't too many more of those left and the finish will suit the big men. Tradition dictates that I go for the foolhardy suggestion of kristoff and I won't deviate from this but that pan flat finish has Kittel's name written all over it.
Kittel but would love another Cav masterclass. Be nice for Dan McClay to show more prominently too.
Cav would be great, but Greipel will win it.
First proper mountain stage tomorrow with d'Apsin so I reckon there'll be enough interest from the big sprint teams to keep a break in check.
Wonder what Etixx will do, work hard for a Kittel stage win or hold back for tomorrow to support Alaphilippe? I doubt BMC will bother with any chase to hold on to yellow. Reckon Lotto-Soudal will be most eager to work to get Greipel a win before the mountains.
a little off topic but this bar tape seems to be all the rage in the peloton (well I've seen it on several bikes anyway)
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anyone know the type ? found it now
A day for a pro-conti baroudeur. One from Fortuneo, one from Direct Energie, Bora Argon and probably an IAM. Sprinters teams will sit tight, teams of GC contenders will sit tight, saving legs for the Pyrenees, so it'll only be a few in the break. I'd love to see Chavanel hold off the peloton.
That bar tape is hideous.
Lizard Skins camo isn't it? [url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lizard-skins-dsp-camo-bar-tape/ ]here[/url]. See also old skool Cinelli Splash stuff [url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cinelli-marco-splash-cork-handlebar-tape/ ]here[/url].
If the bunch stay together the last 5km contain an old railway line section so a high speed finish between Cav, Kittel and Greipel. Heart says Cav to win but the Cat 3 climb beforehand may well leave him short of go at the end.
so I'll go with the unimaginative suggestion of Thomas Voeckler.
My imagination is no better.
Just catching up on the coverage of yesterday's stage. I'm quite tempted to stick a few quid on Contador for the Vuelta.
Contador would do well to climb off asap, I am sure he can find a feasible excuse.
I am sure he can find a feasible excuse.
Sorry I read that as feeble.
Poor old Bertie, I'm impressed he's keeping up at all. Obviously tough as boots. I'd like to see him in the mountains but if it's a lost cause he may as well pack it in and do the Vuelta as suggested.
Speaking of Tinkoff - how come Majka lost 7 minutes on Stage 2?
Slow day so far, 2 in the breakaway, nothing to report.
Anyone else think that, compared to the last 2 years, it's been a very quiet first week?
Despite the whole steak thing and all that surrounds it, it would be a shame if Contador quits, he is good value for money. Maybe he will slack it off and go for a stage in week 3. However I do have a faint tinkling that he will try something in Andora - isn't that where he annoyed LA and won the stage in '08 or whenever it was?
2 person breakway is being reeled in quickly.
Yes quiet start, less crashes apart from first day.
1:45 now for the break. They'll probably try and let them dangle out there till it all kicks off with 20k to go.
Starting to quite enjoy the Boulting/Millar commentary.
Changed my mind. I've never seen a Barta break succeed but bloody hell, he's persistent. Cav for the win. He likes the finish.
They're just being allowed to hang out there.
Coquard must really fancy his chances. [s]Cav FTW[/s]. Actually scratch that, it's a tricky finish, lead out critical, so I'm going for Lotto Soudal and Greipel.
Break caught with 21k to go. The peloton have been making the calculation 🙂
They've slightly misjudged this, I think they've caught the break a bit too soon and now it's stalemate - all trying to leave it as late as possible.
Starting to crank it up now 6.3k to go
Coquard FTW. He's been SO close, I reckon he can do this.
Cav 🙂 didn't see him till the very end, must be the bar tape !
Cav!!!!!!!
Kittel will be worried about that one.
Cav from a long way out (in sprint terms). Should have rung my turf accountant and had the courage of my convictions.
OK, so I was massively wrong!
Brilliant ride from Dan McLay getting 3rd.
get in!
Cav will be going to the Champs at this rate.
Kittel will be worried about that one.
Indeed, the overhead just shows him getting buuuurned
#legend! If only be hadn't had those couple of off years he'd have smashed Merckx' record by now.
Even so, 29 pure sprint wins-unbelievable.
Just brilliant.
Ooof should have stuck with my gut!
Cav will be going to the Champs at this rate.
I still don't think he will given his stated season goals. Be nice to see him win on the Champs though.
Another superb win! Thought he wouldn't stand a chance this year, but happy to be proved so wrong.
'Should have rung my turf accountant and had the courage of my convictions.'
Ditto.
The track training is paying dividends. Given he started his TdF career with such a bang having come from the track, I wonder if Cav regrets leaving the track for so long in the middle?
Another superb win! Thought he wouldn't stand a chance this year, but happy to be proved so wrong.
+1. I thought with Kittel, Greipel etc on the scene that Cav's time had gone.
teamslug - Member
Kittel but would love another Cav masterclass. Be nice for Dan McClay to show more prominently too.
Well called. Well very nearly.
It appears his worst years were at Quickstep when we was told not to ride track. Interesting.
I still don't think he will given his stated season goals.
his team boss seem pretty sure he would be riding to Paris yesterday.
Cav - Paris ? He really does need to have an eye on Rio, not sure when the cycling is but the games are only 30 odd days away. Clearly I am no conditioning expert and Wiggins won both but it has to be better to err on the side of caution, he's delivered 3 wins already for the team.
I don't see Cav going any further from here despite the rhetoric from the team manager. Three big mountain stages to come then the rest day.
Another Cat 1 mountain to get over on Tuesday and a sprint stage on Wednesday. Then the Ventoux followed by the ITT and slim pickens for sprinters over the next 14 days.
Why would he put himself through all that just to get to the Champs Elysees with the Olympics so close?
Well I have to say, I thought his dominance was over, but happy to say I was wrong.
We are lucky to be watching the greatest sprinter in tour history.
Still think he won't get to Paris though.
I think only in the uk would this discussion about olympics versus tdf happen. This is the biggest race bar non. Even if it happens every year.
True, but irrespective of whether the TdF or the Olympics is bigger if you're making a choice between them then you do it before doing all the Olympic training and taking a slot on the team. If he wears himself out in the next 2 weeks and lets the pursuiters down in Rio, that would be tough to understand.
I think only in the uk would this discussion about olympics versus tdf happen. This is the biggest race bar non. Even if it happens every year.
It's not really a choice between the two though. Cav's goal was win the first stage and wear yellow. Job done. TdF objective achieved. And as a bonus he's also won a couple of other stages too.
Next goal, Omnium medal at Rio, then a pan flat nailed on sprint finish World Champs road race (... and with that in mind he may be better off calling it a day now while he has the psychological upper hand on Kittel and Greipel.)
Cav's goal was win the first stage and wear yellow. Job done. TdF objective achieved. And as a bonus he's also won a couple of other stages too.
It depends whether the people paying his wages agree with that.
It depends whether the people paying his wages agree with that.
I think part of the deal of moving to DD was that they accommodate his Rio ambitions. It's almost unthinkable at this level for there not to be an agreed plan in place.