Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence - Montpellier
The pancake-flat race into Montpellier was always destined to come down to a sprint finish, and it came as no surprise to see the sprinters' teams take control of the peloton and drive it towards the finish. These flat stages have a tendency to be one's of transition for the overall contenders in the general classification, as they offer no opportunity for the riders to put time between them and their opponents. However, it was on a similar stage in 2009 that Contador was caught out by the vicious crosswind and found himself at the back end of a fractured peloton. The wind was set to blow again on this stage, and the main contenders had to be alert to the danger of a split in the peloton, placing themselves near the front at all times on the stage. In the end, the peloton rode to this finish unbroken and the overall contenders were safe. It was left to the sprinters to fight it out for the stage win, and Andre Greipel came out on top.
Grepiel's team, Lotto-Belisol, suffered a major blow yesterday when team leader Jurgen van den Broeck crashed out of the Tour in the final kilometre of the stage. It was a nasty crash that saw Maxime Bouet retire from the race last night, and Nacer Bouhanni and Frederik Kessiakoff abandon the race during today's stage because of the injuries they sustained.
Yesterday's lead out of Mark Cavendish by Omega-Pharma Quickstep must have had an effect on the riders from Lotto-Belisol as they responded with a near-perfect lead out of their own. With just over a kilometre to the finish, Lotto Belisol had taken complete control of the peloton and proceeded to carry Greipel smoothly to the point at which he was able to launch his sprint for the line. It was a sprint that left nothing to chance - perfectly timed and executed - leaving the other sprinters to scrap for second, while Greipel comfortably rode clear. Lacking a proper lead out, Cavendish's charge for the line faltered before he was even able to draw level with Greipel and he faded to take fourth place on the stage. Peter Sagan's challenge to Greipel never saw him leave his slipstream, and he had to settle for second, crossing the finish line just behind Greipel's back wheel. In the last 50 metres, Marcel Kittel sprinted past Cavendish to claim third on the day, but it was too late a move to challenge Greipel's burst for the line.
Greipel's win on today's stage has moved him into second in the green jersey classification, ahead of Cavendish and Kristoff. Sagan still leads the classification, but his lead is becoming somewhat more tenuous. However, it is consistent finishing that wins this jersey and Sagan has definitely been the most consistent of the contenders so far.
Montpellier has been good to South African cyclists over the years. South Africa's first ever stage win in the Tour de France came on a finish in Montpellier in 2007, when Robbie Hunter won a bunch sprint to the line. Today, history was made once again, as Daryl Impey became the first ever South African cyclist to don the maillot jaune. The Orica Greenedge rider, who is the lead out man for sprinter Matthew Goss, has been a stalwart for the team in the final phases of the stages so far, often outperforming the very man he is leading to the sprint. Impey finished thirteenth in today's stage, but, importantly, finished 5 seconds ahead of his teammate Simon Gerrans. The gap between the teammates meant that Impey, who was tied on time with Gerrans before today's stage, took the lead in the general classification.
Daryl Impey's efforts for his team have been rewarded, and he will likely wear the coveted jersey until the Tour enters the Pyrenees on Saturday. Impey is the fourth rider to wear yellow in this year's Tour.
A bumpy transition
Tomorrow's stage is the final 'flat' stage before the race enters the high mountains of the Pyrenees. The course takes the riders to Albi over 205 kiometres of rolling terrain. The stage features two category 3 climbs, a lone category 2 climb, and finally a single category 4 climb 30 kilometres from the finish. It is a stage that should bring back memories of Corisca for the sprinters. Memories, I'm sure, that would rather be forgotten.
Cavendish has overcome his bronchitis, and should be in better shape for tomorrow's stage, but if the peloton turns up the pace on the hardest climb of the day, I wouldn't be surprised to see him slip off the back. Kittel and Greipel each had a tough time on the Corsican mountains and tomorrow could give them a taste of the same. Matthew Goss had an equally tough time on the Corsican roads, so it may fall to Impey to be the lead out for Simon Gerrans once more - or perhaps Gerrans will return the favour. Sagan has finished second on three stages of this year's Tour so far, and must be desperate for a win. Tomorrow's stage is the perfect opportunity for him - if the day does come down to a bunch sprint, and I believe it will, then Sagan's contenders are unlikely to be involved (and if they are, they will probably be in much less fine shape than Sagan).
Tomorrow's stage will be the last real chance for the sprinters to gain points before the Pyrenees. The transition to the Alps will offer them more opportunities, but the leader in the green jersey classification after tomorrow will be wearing the jersey for some days to come. Rolland's lead in the King of the Mountains classification should be safe for another day. While enough points are on offer tomorrow for either Simon Clarke or Blel Kadri to take the lead, Rolland will be certain to respond to any moves by those riders by either going by himself or sending a teammate up the road. Voeckler has been rather quiet since his attack on stage two, and will probably be the man to head up the road to defend the polka-dot jersey should the attack come.
Daryl Impey should be the yellow jersey wearer after tomorrow's stage. He was able to make his way over the Corsican hills relatively comfortably, and still had enough energy to be the lead out man for Simon Gerrans in his stage win. He should be able to produce a similar ride tomorrow, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him finishing in the top 20 once again. The closest rider to him in the standings is Edvald Boasson-Hagen from Team Sky. Incidentally, tomorrow's stage could suit the Norwegian rider and could provide an opportunity for him to win a stage for his team. Impey will have to make sure to watch him closely and not allow a gap to form in the sprint for the line.
Daryl Impey's efforts for his team have been rewarded, and he will likely wear the coveted jersey until the Tour enters the Pyrenees on Saturday. Impey is the fourth rider to wear yellow in this year's Tour.
A bumpy transition
Tomorrow's stage is the final 'flat' stage before the race enters the high mountains of the Pyrenees. The course takes the riders to Albi over 205 kiometres of rolling terrain. The stage features two category 3 climbs, a lone category 2 climb, and finally a single category 4 climb 30 kilometres from the finish. It is a stage that should bring back memories of Corisca for the sprinters. Memories, I'm sure, that would rather be forgotten.
Cavendish has overcome his bronchitis, and should be in better shape for tomorrow's stage, but if the peloton turns up the pace on the hardest climb of the day, I wouldn't be surprised to see him slip off the back. Kittel and Greipel each had a tough time on the Corsican mountains and tomorrow could give them a taste of the same. Matthew Goss had an equally tough time on the Corsican roads, so it may fall to Impey to be the lead out for Simon Gerrans once more - or perhaps Gerrans will return the favour. Sagan has finished second on three stages of this year's Tour so far, and must be desperate for a win. Tomorrow's stage is the perfect opportunity for him - if the day does come down to a bunch sprint, and I believe it will, then Sagan's contenders are unlikely to be involved (and if they are, they will probably be in much less fine shape than Sagan).
Tomorrow's stage will be the last real chance for the sprinters to gain points before the Pyrenees. The transition to the Alps will offer them more opportunities, but the leader in the green jersey classification after tomorrow will be wearing the jersey for some days to come. Rolland's lead in the King of the Mountains classification should be safe for another day. While enough points are on offer tomorrow for either Simon Clarke or Blel Kadri to take the lead, Rolland will be certain to respond to any moves by those riders by either going by himself or sending a teammate up the road. Voeckler has been rather quiet since his attack on stage two, and will probably be the man to head up the road to defend the polka-dot jersey should the attack come.
Daryl Impey should be the yellow jersey wearer after tomorrow's stage. He was able to make his way over the Corsican hills relatively comfortably, and still had enough energy to be the lead out man for Simon Gerrans in his stage win. He should be able to produce a similar ride tomorrow, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him finishing in the top 20 once again. The closest rider to him in the standings is Edvald Boasson-Hagen from Team Sky. Incidentally, tomorrow's stage could suit the Norwegian rider and could provide an opportunity for him to win a stage for his team. Impey will have to make sure to watch him closely and not allow a gap to form in the sprint for the line.
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