Martin, the Editor, and I had a meeting last night and agreed there’d be no over-use of superlatives or schoolgirl punctuation on our site. But what can you say about Sagan on the stage from Épernay ? – other than he was super, super awesome!!!
[Ed!!! What did we totally, like, agree or something??? Editor.]
Seriously, what a ride, we can say that Cav wasn’t there and that Greipel was in bits; but Goss was there and so was his train – no matter to Sagan.
The victory salute looked pure Incredible Hulk to me – or just maybe it was a Lou Ferigno (who played the green chap with anger management problems in the TV show) pose from his days as Mr. Universe in the 70’s?
Whatever it was, he deserves it; winning mad hill top charges against the middle weights is one thing, slugging it out against the heavy weights is another.
Our tip for the day – Cav, was held up in the crash and will have to wait for a week before he gets another chance.
After yesterday’s stage we discussed the drying time for paint – not today.
Even before the big crash with 25 K to go there was evidence that this was one difficult day – the stats at the end confirmed this: 130-plus miles in 4 hours 37 minutes.
Riders like Tyler Farrar and Oscar Freire don’t usually slide out of the back on gentle rises.
The crash was a bad one – Astarloza, Viganao, Poels and Danielson all go home.
Dries Devenyns from QuiskStep explained it like this;
“I have pain, for sure.
“I went down at a really high speed, 55km/h an hour.
“There was a crash in front, and I don’t know what happened. I saw everyone braking and crashing in front of me.
“I had the reflex of protecting my head, and I was on top of Van Summeren (Garmin-Sharp), and then a few more fell on top of us.
“So far so good, but I have some bruises on the right side of my body and then my shoulder. It could have been worse.”
Van Summeren’s misfortune was merely another factor in Garmin’s disastrous day – the whole team has been on the deck; with Ryder Hesjedal’s dreams of a Giro/Tour double left with the fibres of his Castelli jersey on the unforgiving French asphalt.
Valverde lost time – it would have been more without some sterling work by Vuelta winner and team mate, Juan Jose Cobo.
So too did Frank Schleck, but he showed real grinta in the chase.
And Gesink’s Tour bid ended today – unable to hold the Valverde/Schleck group on flat roads.
Rolland lost major time; but only an optimist would have had him down as a podium challenger – do the words Brice Feillu strike a chord?
And on the subject of failure, no l’Équipe today – sorry, but both of my usual sources were sold out, that’s if they ever arrived?
No l’Équipe, but I did get the Guardian – it doesn’t have the same ring, I know, but the coverage isn’t bad.
And in addition you get the Bradley Wiggins column – with not a mention of Paul Weller or Vespas to be found, thank the Lord.
It’s actually very readable, taking you inside the race.
Sky has been more prominent at the front on recent stages – just as well, today.
But Richie Porte looked a very weary man when the clock eventually stopped at 13:24 for him.
Haedo’s confidence is building; he’s won in a Grand Tour before – in the Vuelta, last year and a win here is possible.
Tomorrow is the race’s first day in the mountains – two third cats loosen the legs for a summit finish at the top of the first cat. Planche des Belles Filles.
It’s a six kilometre ascent at an average 13% – no monster, but more than tough enough for a major reshuffle of the GC.
I’ll get up the Mile early, tomorrow – in search of that elusive l’Équipe.
And we’re hoping here at VeloVeritas that Andy Murray’s exploit today will inspire one from David Millar before the Tour is over.
A demain.
Result - Le Tour de France 2012 - Stage 6
Stage Result
2 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team
3 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
4 Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
5 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
6 Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol Team
7 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre – ISD
8 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team
9 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
10 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team 0:00:04
11 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
12 Roy Curvers (Ned) Argos – Shimano
13 Julien Simon (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
14 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
15 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky Procycling
16 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
17 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
18 Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan
19 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
20 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
21 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
22 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
23 Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan
24 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling
25 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
26 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
27 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
28 Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
29 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team
30 Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
31 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
32 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
33 Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
34 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
35 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
36 Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling
37 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan
38 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
39 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
40 Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
41 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
42 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
43 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
44 Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan
45 Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
46 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
47 Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
48 Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
49 Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
50 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan
51 Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team
52 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
53 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha Team
54 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
55 Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
56 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team
57 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team
58 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team
59 Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
60 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
61 Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan
62 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:15
63 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre – ISD 0:00:16
64 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team 0:00:21
65 Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank 0:00:32
66 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team
67 Stephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing Team
68 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar
69 Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
70 Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
71 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank 0:00:55
72 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin – Sharp
73 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol Team 0:00:57
74 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:01:10
75 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol Team 0:01:20
76 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team 0:01:22
77 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
78 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:00:04
79 Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:01:39
80 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:02:09
81 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
82 Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan
83 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar
84 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
85 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
86 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
87 Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Argos – Shimano
88 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
89 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
90 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
91 Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
92 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-Big Mat
93 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team Europcar
94 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
95 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
96 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
97 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
98 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
99 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
100 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
101 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
102 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre – ISD
103 Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
104 Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
105 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
106 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
107 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:02:18
108 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:21
109 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:13
110 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:03:31
111 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
112 Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team 0:03:52
113 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team 0:04:53
114 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
115 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:05:11
116 Koen De Kort (Ned) Argos – Shimano 0:06:02
117 Albert Timmer (Ned) Argos – Shimano
118 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
119 Tom Veelers (Ned) Argos – Shimano
120 Joan Horrach Rippoll (Spa) Katusha Team
121 Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) Lampre – ISD
122 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team
123 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling
124 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra)