TDF: stage 5 - Epernay - Montargnis

ednwireland

Breakaway bandits abound... only for sprinters to win

Another stage with 'sprint' written all over it. There are two 4th-category climbs heading south-west from the Champagne centre of Épernay, but little to trouble the sprinters and their teams heading into Montargis.

Expect the traditional first week formula of ‘breakaway + chase = sprint’ to apply. The last time the Tour headed into Montargis the fastmen held sway, as Belgian-based Australian Robbie McEwen romped to victory in 2005.

IM0

so what your really saying is

cav was hammered and lets move on already its too painfull to see the other thread at the top of the pile

ednwireland

me@ucd wrote: »

so what your really saying is

cav was hammered and lets move on already its too painfull to see the other thread at the top of the pile

yep, see if he loses out on the sprint again

if you dont want these threads i'll stop .... i will really

D!armu!d

I'd say they'll be glad to see the back of belgium....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/gallery/2010/jul/07/tour-de-france-crashes#/?picture=364660420&index=0

ednwireland

another stage for the french tourist board ....nothing to see here til the last 5km

corkandproud

What's that hanging off the left dropout on every bike, am I right in thinking it's a gps/location unit for the Tour?

niceonetom

Timing chip. I think they work off RFID.

bbosco

Wish the TG4 boys would stop going "WHOOOOAAAAHHHH" everytime the peleton hits a roundabout.

fran oconnor

What number is Roche lads??.

tulachmhor

fran oconnor wrote: »

What number is Roche lads??.

81

fran oconnor

tulachmhor wrote: »

81

cheers

ednwireland

caaaaaaaaaaaavvvvveeeeeennnnndddddiiiiisssshhhhh

might shut a few naysayers up held on to that for a 100 m

wow some releif there

mcgratheoin

much more intelligent finish from HTC Columbia.
Without the dominance of last year, other teams are probably more likely to stick their own trains on the front for the last few km - that may be the way Cav has to go if he wants to win any more this tour - follow Renshaw at the back of someone elses train.

Lumen

ednwireland wrote: »

caaaaaaaaaaaavvvvveeeeeennnnndddddiiiiisssshhhhh

might shut a few naysayers up held on to that for a 100 m

Very interesting seeing the birds eye view of the sprint.

Poooooowwwwwaaaaaahhhhhh.

bbosco

Lumen wrote: »

Very interesting seeing the birds eye view of the sprint.

Poooooowwwwwaaaaaahhhhhh.

Yep was hard to get the full idea of his dominance in the ground-level shots. A fine sprint indeed.

Murph100

Delighted for Cav, Renshaw is bloody amazing though, read it really well and didn't take any crap from Hushovd.

ednwireland

renshaw was amazing really held it together there

cav crying his eyes out on the podium !

jwshooter

happy to see cav win this stage .he was due a bit of luck

CheGuedara

Roche is going well, nice placing - 14th today and 11th in GC. I know it's a long way to the Champs Elysees but it's great to see him placed so well.

Would be great to see him take a stage too - just a matter of time and a little luck

Dodge

Roche finsihed 14th on the stage. earns him a few poins and shows he's serious about keeping out of trouble.

The Big Easy

Yeah Renshaw deserves a hell of a lot of credit. Cav is a great sprinter but maybe a little flattered by the last couple of years considering the strength of the Columbia train he had then. We're seeing a lot more vulnerability now he doesn't have as much protection. If it was not for Renshaw keeping him out of trouble today I'm not sure he would have won.

SomeFool

Nice to see Cav put the few bad days behind him, hopefully himself and Petacchi will give Thor a bit of competition for the green jersey.

buffalo

bbosco wrote: »

Wish the TG4 boys would stop going "WHOOOOAAAAHHHH" everytime the peleton hits a roundabout.

Why do they keep doing that? I kept thinking someone had gone down, but no, it's just another roundabout.

ednwireland

exorcising the demons



also
Alberto Contador visits RadioShack bearing gifts for Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4813/Tour-de-France-Alberto-Contador-visits-RadioShack-bearing-gifts-for-Lance-Armstrong-and-Johan-Bruyneel.aspx


aaaaawwww their friends again

Homme Enigmatique

If ever a sprint victory was to be credited to a lead out man today was the day, after the HTC team lost the lead out train in the last 2k Renshaw spent the next k trying to elbow Freire off the wheel in front at least 3 times, Hushovd was behind Freire with Cavendish beside him on Renshaws wheel, then with a few bends to go Renshaw moved up & asserted himself by clearing a path for himself & also bouncing off Hushovd in the process, the big loser today was Freire who had to check his sprint twice as he was impeded by Geraint Thomas & freewheeled the last 100m's.

ednwireland

Homme Enigmatique wrote: »

If ever a sprint victory was to be credited to a lead out man today was the day, after the HTC team lost the lead out train in the last 2k Renshaw spent the next k trying to elbow Freire off the wheel in front at least 3 times, Hushovd was behind Freire with Cavendish beside him on Renshaws wheel, then with a few bends to go Renshaw moved up & asserted himself by clearing a path for himself & also bouncing off Hushovd in the process, the big loser today was Freire who had to check his sprint twice as he was impeded by Geraint Thomas & freewheeled the last 100m's.

who crossed the line first ? again just remind me there

doccy

ednwireland wrote: »

who crossed the line first ? again just remind me there

Renshaw won the stage for Cavendish, end of.