You could have estimated that they were pretty close.

If yesterday's stage was flat Kittel could well have won all 3 stages.

Froome is such a nice guy

Indeed, although he's much closer in build and sprinting style to Cipollini. By the time his professional career comes to an end, his palmares might be similar as well.

Anyone else noticed that both of Cav's TdF disasters (2007/14) involved UK Grand Departs?

Have you noticed that when Cav is interviewed off the bike he wears specs......

iffy eyesight........going at 50KPH in a pack of riders........he probably just didn't see Gerrens......

Yes and if the mountains were all flat he would win them as well

He has had a few crashes in the last couple of years and they sometimes seem to happen when he is getting beaten

Certainly no way he didn't see Gerrans - his focus was on getting that elusive yellow jersey and went for a gap that just wasnt there.

Marcel Kittel is the new Sheriff in town and Cav better get used to it

What happened in 2007?

Cav having to have shoulder surgery and out of the Commonwealth Games apparently.

Pretty sure he wears prescription glasses when riding?

Was really worried about his state of mind in the interviews he did a day or two prior to the race, I said to the missus watching the race he would get caught up in a crash but I didn't think it would be that close to line or as serious

The problem he has now is that his own success will kill him, like it did for Cavendish in the 2012 Olympics. Because he is so dominant, there will come a point when none of the other sprinters' teams are going to help Giant chase down the breaks.

Considering how dominant HTC were, that won't be much of a problem for Giant-Shimano in the short term as long as Kittel maintains his high power output (might be close to what track sprinters produce).

Also, the 2012 Olympic road race was influenced by the cap on team sizes (maximum of 5(?) riders per nation) and the size of the finishing breakaway (almost 30 riders finished ahead of the peloton).


It was his Grand Tour debut (and first year as a professional), and he fancied his chances on stage 1 from London to Canterbury; he crashed en-route and finished behind the main peloton. He was then caught out by another crash on the very next stage in Belgium, which was also suited to him; he pulled out of the TdF before the halfway point, I think.

I've only just switched it on......

What happened to Froome ?.......

Seems that Froome has crashed and appears to have a wrist injury

The peloton waited for him........

Someone - I couldn't identify him and the commentator didn't say - wobbled across in front of Froome's path and knocked him off.

The streets of France are so empty in some parts compared to how busy they were In Yorkshire and yesterday.

Well, everyone knows how devoted to hard work the French are, of course. They will all be down their coal mines or out in their trawlers.

I have a thing for the blonde race doctor. Today I learned she is called Florence Pommerie. She's been doing it for a good few years now.

Have you? Can't think why judging from her photo.

http://photo.velo101.fr/2012/grande/...merie_2012.jpg

She looks fine to me!

Potentially could hamper his performance which if proves the case Contador will have this Tour as plain sailing. Given Kittel already has the sprints sewn up lets hope Froomes injuries are slight,otherwise this could turn out to be a rather one sided TdF.

Just noticed that Andy Schleck didn't start today......I think he crashed yesterday around where that spectator was knocked over by the Sky rider

A few years ago Andy Schleck DNS would have been big news........

What happens if they go across a level crossing when the train is coming?!