Today's stage: A flat stage with heavy cross and tail winds, narrow roads and a bunch sprint finish
Who won the stage? Mark Cavendish (UK, HTC-Highroad) won his first stage of this year's tour upping his career total to 16 in a bunch sprint.
What matters in the GC race? Other than a few crashes (see other items of note), nothing of import. The GC was unchanged with the bunch sprint and Thor Hushovd (Norway, Garmin-G
What matters in the other competitions?
Green Jersey (best sprinter): JJ Rojas (Spain, Movistar) took 3rd on the stage to retin his lead. Considering he is one of the better climbers among Green Jersey contenders
Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Evans retained his mountain lead with only one cat 4 climb on today's course. The contenders still haven't revealed themselves here though tomorrow is the first real opportunity with three minor climbs on the stage.
White Jersey (best young rider): Geraint Thomas (UK, Team Sky) still leads and likely will continue to until at least Saturday's stage 8 to Super Besse.
Biggest surprise: Thomas Voeckler (France, Europcar) nearly got an attacking breakaway to stick. Voeckler's attack from 25 km out is an example of why the peloton doesn't like to catch the daily breakaway until the last 10 to 15 km.
Biggest disappointment: Crashfest 2011 overtook to race today. Nobody except the leading Garmin-Cervelo team was safe.
Other items of note: We had our second and third abandons of the race as Jani Brajkovic (Slovenia, Radio Shack) crashed hard and was forced to abandon the race and Christophe Kern (France, Europcar) gave up due to pain from knee tendinitis... Overall contenders Bradley Wiggins (UK, Team Sky), Robert Gesink (Netherlands, Rabobank) and Alberto Contador (Spain, Saxo Bank-Sungard). Big sprinter Tom Boonen (Belgium, Quick Step) had a large crash today as well and fought to make the time cut while bleeding out of his hip and leg... Nikki Sorenson (Denmark, Saxo Bank-Sungard) also crashed and the motorcycle driver who caused it was fired live on the race radio on Norwegian television.
What is coming tomorrow? Another probable bunch sprint, but there are three climbs out there (two Cat 3's and a Cat 4). Shouldn't be a major shakeup at all barring disaster for either favorites or leader Hushovd.
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