July 6, Stage 6: Épernay - Metz 207.5km *Warning - contains unmasked spoilers

ednwireland

Épernay – Metz

Distance: 207.5km
Highest point: 393m
Category: Flat

Last sprint before the hills



http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-6

dastardly00

Andre Greipel to get the hat-trick maybe? Or could a breakaway finally get a stage win, they were almighty close yesterday!

There are no tricky corners in the last few kilometers, and the last km itself is straight and flat so all the sprinters should be there or there abouts vying for the win.

petethedrummer

Cavendish to put Greipel back in his box.

buffalo

Greipel's on a roll, but I reckon Cav will be wanting to make sure he's not forgotten about. That's who I'm backing.

Big question is - will Farrar hit the deck for the fourth day in a row? :pac: Has he got a look-in at a sprint yet? 10th on Stage 2 behind Cavendish's win appears to have been his best.

ednwireland

buffalo wrote: »

Big question is - will Farrar hit the deck for the fourth day in a row? :pac: Has he got a look-in at a sprint yet? 10th on Stage 2 behind Cavendish's win appears to have been his best.

and blame someone else (looked like his fault to me yesterday)

Lusk Doyle

ednwireland wrote: »

and blame someone else (looked like his fault to me yesterday)

He must have an inner ear infection, he is finding it so difficult to stay upright :pac:

Darkglasses

Would love to see another close breakaway finish. I want to see the whole Cofidis and FDJ team out in front.

AG2R

Definitely Farrars fault yesterday.


Greipl will want to make in 3 ina row

buffalo

AG2R wrote: »

Definitely Farrars fault yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6FOoVZseT0&feature=player_detailpage#t=20s

From this, it appears the majority of the blame is indeed with him - he and the guy to his right are leaning into each other, but it's the rider in front of Farrar cutting across him that instigates the crash. Farrar had no way out.

Or am I reading it wrongly?

Inquitus

petethedrummer wrote: »

Cavendish to put Greipel back in his box.

Agreed

ednwireland

buffalo wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6FOoVZseT0&feature=player_detailpage#t=20s

From this, it appears the majority of the blame is indeed with him - he and the guy to his right are leaning into each other, but it's the rider in front of Farrar cutting across him that instigates the crash. Farrar had no way out.

Or am I reading it wrongly?

if he wants someone to blame it could be petacchi, certainly not the argos rider

AG2R

ednwireland wrote: »

if he wants someone to blame it could be petacchi, certainly not the argos rider

Watching that I could see the crash happening because Tyler was pushing and getting nowhere fast, I could see the rider infront look to change his angle and Tyler would have seen that too if he wasn't too busy trying to shove another rider to get his own way imo


I also think him trying to board Veelers bus was a total joke

C-Shore

petethedrummer wrote: »

Cavendish to put Greipel back in his box.

Inquitus wrote: »

Agreed

I'm not too sure.. he looked to struggle with keeping up yesterday so I think it will be Greipel or Goss today. Possibly Sagan looking to return the points buffer before the mountains; although that downhill finish won't help him too much.

elduggo

ednwireland wrote: »

if he wants someone to blame it could be petacchi, certainly not the argos rider

possibly, but I don't think what Petacchi did was necessarily dangerous. He did deviate from his line but not by much, and had Tyler not have been leaning, he could easily have braked. Petacchi's movement is the kind of movement thats common enough in bunch riding. It wasn't too severe and riders behind have to expect to have to react to something like that once in a while. When you're busy leaning you're going to be distracted.

I think it more Tyler's fault than anybody else's but mostly I think it was just unfortunate. If Ale hadn't deviated when he did there probably wouldn't have been a crash. Likewise, if Tyler hadn't have been leaning, likewise, no crash.

AG2R

MALACARNE Davide 28EUC+00:03:34
ZINGLE Romain 89COF+00:09:57
ZABRISKIE David 69GRS+00:13:26
KROON Karsten 173STB+00:13:43


are the break, they've got 4'06

AG2R

Greipel, Gutierrez and Westra in a crash
There are a number of riders who have been caught up in a fall in the peloton. The riders named are: Westra (VCD), Cantwell (STB), Greipel (LTB), Gutierrez (MOV)... we await confirmation on the state of their injuries.

All riders racing again...
All the riders who were involved in the fall at 35km are racing again. The worst affected seems to be Guiterrez of the Movistar team

Peraud also caught up in crash
Another rider who was caught up in the recent accident was the Frenchman who finished 10th overall in 2011, Jean-Christophe Peraud (ALM). He seems to have sustained some injuries on an elbow but he's still racing...

Gesink also in the recent crash...
Another rider who was caught up in the crash at the 35km mark was Rabobank's leader Robert Gesink.

Valverde another victim of the 35km crash...
Another rider who was caught up in the fall that happened at the 35km mark was Movistar's leader, Alejandro Valverde. All those who were involved are riding again and we have yet to receive an official medical report; but, for the moment, none have consulted the race doctor at the back of the convoy.

Rovi

I see Peter Sagan has a bell on his handlebars for today

AG2R

Luis Leon and Gesink dropped

AG2R

Gesink back with peloton

Darkglasses

Zebriskie in the break! He's a sick man, maybe he'll do it...

AG2R

according to the live ticker Sanchez is back

AG2R

Sagan took the bell off

AG2R

Dr. Florence Pommerie: Greipel has significant injuries
The medical team of the Tour has recently offered an appraisal on the state of the riders who fell at the 35km mark. “About 20 riders came past our car after the fall, including many team leaders,” said Florence Pommerie. “The crash victims included Sandy Casar (FDJ), Jean-Christophe Peraud (ALM) and Andre Greipel (LTB). Most have abrasions and contusions. “These are minor injuries, but they hurts all the same. André Greipel seems to have some significant injuries including and a wounded finger. He must have landed very heavily.”

Darkglasses

Can't get Eurosport in the current weather down here, trying out the ITV4 coverage instead. Have to say I miss Sean Kelly and Carlton.

ednwireland

Darkglasses wrote: »

Can't get Eurosport in the current weather down here, trying out the ITV4 coverage instead. Have to say I miss Sean Kelly and Carlton.

god, i remember when the only TV pictures of the tdf was a 20min world of sport special after the race , think yourself lucky !

AG2R

Inter sprint coming up

AG2R

Kroon takes the max points

AG2R

Goss gets the Inter and Cav looks disappointed
Sagan and then Bochmans

Darkglasses

ednwireland wrote: »

god, i remember when the only TV pictures of the tdf was a 20min world of sport special after the race , think yourself lucky !

Not with these awful Tour de Francis ads. 'Its such an honour to share the tarmac with the pros' - says a man completely alone on a french road in an ad made weeks/months before the Tour.

AG2R

Result of the intermediate sprint
The points for the intermediate sprint of stage six have gone to:

1. Kroon (STB) 20pts

2. Zabriskie (GRS) 17pts

3. Zingle (COF) 15pts

4. Malacarne (EUC) 13pts

5. Goss (OGE) 11pts - 2'50"

6. Cavendish (SKY) 10pts

7. Sagan (LIQ) 9pts

8. Boeckmans (VCD) 8pts

9. Boasson Hagen (SKY) 7pts

10. Hutarovich (FDJ) 6pts

11. O'Grady (OGE) 5pts

12. Impey (OGE) 4pts

13. Popovych (RNT) 3pts

14. Albasini (OGE) 2pts

15. Bak (LTB) 1pt

ednwireland

Darkglasses wrote: »

Not with these awful Tour de Francis ads. 'Its such an honour to share the tarmac with the pros' - says a man completely alone on a french road in an ad made weeks/months before the Tour.

oh god i was sick of that when the prologue started, who in heavens name thought that was a good advertising campaign.

guess what i've shared the road with pros in france as well then - ffs

Darkglasses

ednwireland wrote: »

oh god i was sick of that when the prologue started, who in heavens name thought that was a good advertising campaign.

guess what i've shared the road with pros in france as well then - ffs

Me too, and while i'm at it I also had a tough Ras this year.

ednwireland

actually ive been up the climbs before the tdf they are using it for the first time this year (although it is used regularly in the dauphine amd tour de l'ain)

AG2R

Greipl and Gesink hit the deck again....

AG2R

Peloton eases pace...
The split in the peloton was caused by an incident on the left of the road at the top of the climb. A Rabobank rider was involved and three others have waited for him. The head of the peloton features Lotto-Belisol riders but they seem to be respecting the fallen riders and the pace is relatively tranquil compared to what it was like on the approach to the climb.

The advantage of the escapees is now 1'50".

BQQ

Cav's stage to lose now

Darkglasses

ednwireland wrote: »

actually ive been up the climbs before the tdf they are using it for the first time this year (although it is used regularly in the dauphine amd tour de l'ain)

I've cycled a certain stage of the 98 TDF, no points for guessing which :P

ednwireland

Darkglasses wrote: »

I've cycled a certain stage of the 98 TDF, no points for guessing which :P

rode up the col de la grand colombier in 2010 (and havent shut up about it since )

AG2R

Tyler was in the crash again.....wonder who's fault it is today


Greipel has been caught in two crashes today and he's bleeding from the left knee. He has a bandaged arm and is being helped back to the peloton by three team-mates.

ednwireland

AG2R wrote: »

Tyler was in the crash again.....wonder who's fault it is today


Greipel has been caught in two crashes today and he's bleeding from the left knee. He has a bandaged arm and is being helped back to the peloton by three team-mates.

narrow road he'll probably blame a spectator ah no twas the barriers fault

AG2R

Frison: Greipel won't sprint today
France Télévision has just interviewed the directeur sportif of the Lotto-Belisol team, Herman Frison who explained the injuries sustained by André Greipel today. "He has pain in his shoulder," said the Belgian about the rider who has won the last two stages. "And he won't take part in the sprint today."

AG2R

Oscar and Tyler dropped

ednwireland

AG2R wrote: »

Frison: Greipel won't sprint today
France Télévision has just interviewed the directeur sportif of the Lotto-Belisol team, Herman Frison who explained the injuries sustained by André Greipel today. "He has pain in his shoulder," said the Belgian about the rider who has won the last two stages. "And he won't take part in the sprint today."

bluff

AG2R

Another big crash!


Hoogerland in it

AG2R

Bad crash actually

AG2R

Farrar in the big crash oh my god bastard has no luck

AG2R

Frank Schleck in the crash too, alot of big riders seem to be here

Inquitus

Hyjesdal as well

DDC1990

A few AG2R riders there 76 was one, I hope Nico wasn't there.

Lots of Garmin as well. Anyone see Daniel Martin?

kenmc

Is this the crashiest start to the tour ever? Don't remember so many crashes in the last few years
Seems to be more of a case of "when", not "if"

AG2R

DDC1990 wrote: »

A few AG2R riders there 76 was one, I hope Nico wasn't there.

Lots of Garmin as well. Anyone see Daniel Martin?

76 is mister Kadri


No mention of Nico though!