Today's stage: Long hilly stage with a sure bunch sprint at the end considering the downhill finish
Who won the stage? Andre Griepel (Omega-Pharma Lotto) shockingly beat Mark Cavendish (HTC-High Road) to win his first career Tour de France stage. It was also vindication for him. Last year Griepel and Cavendish were teammates who disliked each other and Cavendish famously said Griepel could only win “little shit races” when Grieple complained of not getting opportunities in the bigger races.
What matters in the GC race? Nothing much changed. Over half of the race was dropped from the peloton but none were GC contenders. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) continues to lead over Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank). Among the favorites, Cadel Evans (BMC) who is third overall is the leader as he has been from the start of the race with the Schleck brothers (Leopard-Trek) next. Also, Andreas Kloden (Radioshck) did take the start though teammate Yaroslav Popovich did not leaving Kloden with just five teammates to help him.
What matters in the other competitions?
Green Jersey (best sprinter): Philippe Gilbert (Omega-Pharma Lotto) scored more points today but lost ground to JJ Rojas (Movistar) and Cavendish by deferring to teammate Griepel at the finish.
Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) finished the stage after his horrible crash on Sunday. He very well may not finish the race and there is no way he holds the jersey once the high mountains begin considering his lack of pedigree as a climber and his injuries. Yellow jersey Voeckler is second and the only rider even close to Hoogerland right now.
White Jersey (best young rider): Still no changes as Robert Gesink (Rabobank) continues to lead and feel better after his early race crash.
Biggest surprise: Other than Griepel winning the stage over Cavendish, the late attack by Gilbert and Voeckler was shocking. Late in the stage, those two attacked and briefly got a gap on the peloton. Considering the yellow jersey and green jersey are pretty much never allowed in any sort of breakaway, it was surprising to see them go together as attackers and even more surprising for them to get a gap of any sort considering their status in the race right now.
Biggest disappointment: We had another breakaway is doomed stage. I'm all for sprints, some of the time, but the sheer number of non-sprint stages along with the new green jersey competition has also had the effect of killing breakaways even more than normal.
Other items of note: Two more riders dropped out of the race today. The aformentioned Popovich came down with a high fever in addition to his earlier crash injuries while Alexander Kolobnev (Katusha) was ejected for doping after being caught with a banned diuretic in his system... Today's finish in Carmaux was the first there in Tour de France history... There was an early crash including a few riders, but there were no serious injuries and nobody abandoned during the stage.
What is coming tomorrow? Flat stage (there are a couple of categorized climbs though the cat 3 is early and late one is a cat 4). Bunch sprint (Only way breakaway stays away is a crash). One last time before we reach the high mountains in the Pyrenees and the beginning of the real GC race.
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