The last Breton stage. The riders will be delighted to see the back of it. Even flatter than yesterday, it’s likely to be another one for the sprinters. However, with the peloton in bits and the time trial tomorrow, this may be the first opportunity for a breakaway to sneak in. It would be wholly dependent on the sprint teams miscalculating and with FDJ, Alpencin Fenix etc it should still be brought back. No reason to think Tim Merlier can’t make it two, but it will be much closer. He and Cavendish were inseparable at the Baloise Tour.
C'est grève! The peloton is on strike or at least having a protest. Race at sedate pace. Merlier is to ride for Philipsen so changing my prediction to Demare.
Inbetween insert video and the save command. But maybe the thread should just say 'may contain spoilers'. It's hard to suppress the excitement after a finish like that.
TT tomorrow, so who do we think will win? No Ganna, Cavagna or Rohan Dennis, and Roglic is a bit battered and bruised like Thomas. Alaphilippe or Pogacar perhaps? Tony Martin to roll back the years?
I think it’s wide open. We just don’t know who is battered and bruised and who will try their hardest. My guess is Wout Van Aert, Bissegger and Kung, but Alaphilippe was really good in his last ITT and will be pitching for yellow. If Roglic is fit he may beat them all and MVDP may try harder than usual in a TT to try to keep yellow. If pushed, I’m loathed to go against WVA, but Bissegger.
About a quarter the way through the TT and the rain is falling. That's an advantage to those like Mikkel Bjerg who went earlier and a warning to Geraint Thomas's wobbly shoulder. Someone is going to push it too hard and fall off their bike and with G's luck, it could be him.
Another stage that should be for the sprinters today. Just one 4th category climb of minimal steepness. The long straight finish should suit the sprinters with maximum power like Merlier and so far off form Demarre but who would bet against Cav today? Sneaky outside chances for Bouhani who has so far arrived too late for each sprint and old war horse Andre Griepel.
Fabulous stuff... longest stage for 21 years tomorrow, no idea what will happen... been a fantastic race so far
Forgive my ignorance on this. I understand Cavendish is a legend of the sport and might well take the record of stage wins, but is there really any chance he could win the whole thing?
No, not a chance. Sprinters go for the "points" jersey in Grand Tours (in the TdF this is green), but you need to be a good all rounder and climber to win the overall.
No. There are a number of different competitions going on. The Yellow jersey is for the rider who does the overall 3500km in the quickest time. However each stage is a prestigious race in its own right. The green jersey is for the rider, usually a sprinter, who has the most points from those finishes. Cav may win that, but will lose hours in the mountains.
Absolutely fascinating today - a breakaway of the highest quality, MVDP, WVA, Nibali, Yates, etc etc even Cavendish. All to put pressure on Pogacar. A very long stage, but if they stay away it may well be MVDP v WVA for the yellow jersey tonight.
The fan who was arrested for causing a massive pile up has been released without charge and the TDF organisers have abandoned plans to sue her. This follows some riders expressing their disquiet at harsh action being taken against her. Seems right to me. She has received a tough lesson and it's in no one's interest to ruin her.
That is a high quality group... will ignore this thread now and look forward to playing back the live Eurosport coverage tonight.
The guys have answered the question but he is just a sprinter really. Not an all round cyclist like a Wiggins or Froome. It does seem there are more and more who can time trial, do well in the mountains and compete in a long hilly but not large mountain stage.
That’s good for the viewer. TDF contenders have been a bit samey in the recent past, good TT riders, in great teams, who can climb. It’s meant that great climbers who can’t TT don’t win. The GC looks much more volatile now and will draw others in.
