16-07-2019, 20:10
Back on here for the last time until this coming Sunday. After today's rest day, it's a fairly innocuous return to racing tomorrow on a generally flat, slightly undulating 167km course from Albi to Toulouse (interesting to note that one of the sponsors is E.Leclerc - slightly tenuous - and the 2nd placed team is Trek Segafredo - just as tenuous). Moving on swiftly..........
This stage is tailor-made for Peter Sagan, who was caught out of position at the big wind-up by the sprinters yesterday and only finished 5th. He will be annoyed by that and shouldn't make the same mistake again. The last 4km is downhill and should see all the sprinters featuring again. The GC contenders shouldn't be affected by all the jostling and hoo-ha from the sprinters and cruise in en masse. The only problem for them will be if a top 20 rider gets into a big breakaway, which should be closed down quickly by everyone else.
Then the mountain men will come into their own in the Pyrenees on Thursday, then Saturday onwards. The sprinters will be happy to just hang on to their own positions, making sure they don't go over the time limit. There is a time trial in Pau on Friday, where Geraint Thomas might come into his own in the race for the GC leadership. Watch out for Tony Martin (perhaps past his best), Rohan Dennis (current World Champion) and Jonathan Castroviejo.
This stage is tailor-made for Peter Sagan, who was caught out of position at the big wind-up by the sprinters yesterday and only finished 5th. He will be annoyed by that and shouldn't make the same mistake again. The last 4km is downhill and should see all the sprinters featuring again. The GC contenders shouldn't be affected by all the jostling and hoo-ha from the sprinters and cruise in en masse. The only problem for them will be if a top 20 rider gets into a big breakaway, which should be closed down quickly by everyone else.
Then the mountain men will come into their own in the Pyrenees on Thursday, then Saturday onwards. The sprinters will be happy to just hang on to their own positions, making sure they don't go over the time limit. There is a time trial in Pau on Friday, where Geraint Thomas might come into his own in the race for the GC leadership. Watch out for Tony Martin (perhaps past his best), Rohan Dennis (current World Champion) and Jonathan Castroviejo.
Cabbage is still good for you