02-07-2017, 22:29
Following on from yesterday's crash, it transpired that Ion Izaguirre suffered a broken bone in his back and both he and Valverde have had hospital operations. Luke Durbridge withdrew at the start of today's stage, also having crashed yesterday.
The breakaway started a few metres from the start line today and survived most of the stage with 4 riders. It took the peloton all day to catch the last two, Taylor Phinney and Yoann Offredo, only 1 kilometre from home - the breakaway probably lasted longer than it should have due to a crash at the front of the peleton as they negotiated a roundabout in the rain 30km from the finish. The race then developed into a mass attack from various teams to get their sprinters into position. Marcel Kittel was the victor, beating Arnaud Demare and Andre Greipel to the line. Mark Cavendish finished a creditable 4th with Peter Sagan in 10th.
The only real change to the rankings saw Kittel move up to 3rd overall, courtesy of his 10 bonus points for the win. As it was a massed finish, a total of 161 riders were given the same time.
Tomorrow's stage finishes with a 1.6km climb, suiting the likes of Peter Sagan over the out-and-out sprinters. A German won today when the stage started in Germany, so don't be surprised if Phillippe Gilbert, who was born in Verviers, wins tomorrow. I'm sure there will be another early breakaway, possibly at the first climb after 18km, but I think it'll be swallowed up long before the finish.
The breakaway started a few metres from the start line today and survived most of the stage with 4 riders. It took the peloton all day to catch the last two, Taylor Phinney and Yoann Offredo, only 1 kilometre from home - the breakaway probably lasted longer than it should have due to a crash at the front of the peleton as they negotiated a roundabout in the rain 30km from the finish. The race then developed into a mass attack from various teams to get their sprinters into position. Marcel Kittel was the victor, beating Arnaud Demare and Andre Greipel to the line. Mark Cavendish finished a creditable 4th with Peter Sagan in 10th.
The only real change to the rankings saw Kittel move up to 3rd overall, courtesy of his 10 bonus points for the win. As it was a massed finish, a total of 161 riders were given the same time.
Tomorrow's stage finishes with a 1.6km climb, suiting the likes of Peter Sagan over the out-and-out sprinters. A German won today when the stage started in Germany, so don't be surprised if Phillippe Gilbert, who was born in Verviers, wins tomorrow. I'm sure there will be another early breakaway, possibly at the first climb after 18km, but I think it'll be swallowed up long before the finish.
Cabbage is still good for you