Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Friday 7 July 2017

2017 Tour de France: Kittel wins in Troyes, Stage 7 preview

 Stage 6: Marcel Kittel's second stage win 

Stage 6: overall Chris Froome retains 
Yellow with no problems

Although he left it late, Marcel Kittel won the sprint in Troyes taking his second stage win of this year's Tour. Arnaud Démare just pipped André Griepel on the line for second place. At the moment Kittel looks to be the dominant sprinter in this year's Tour. He is now up to 11 TDF stage wins equal with André Griepel and just one off Eric Zabel's 12 stages, the most successful German TDF rider.

Given that today's stage that finishes in Nuits St Georges is another one for the sprinters Kittel must have a really good chance of equalling Zabel's record today.

Yesterday was a very hot day and there was a noticeable reluctance to get involved in the sacrifical break of the day. Three riders took it on – initially trying to urge others to join them but there were no takers. The three made a good fist of riding around 200 kms out in front before being caught with less than 10 kms to go before the finish

Green Jersey overall after stage 6: 
Démare leads on 170 points with Kittel 2nd on 143 points 


With Peter Sagan thrown off the Tour the Green Jersey competition is now up for grabs – Sagan has won the last five editions. Despite Kittel's strength in the sprints, Démare looks a good bet to win this year as he climbs better than Kittel and so can pick up points in stages where Kittel is likely to be dropped. 


Preview of Stage 7: Troyes to Nuits-Saints-Georges 213.5

       


This is another flattish stage on a hot day with temperatures hitting 34˚C. Initially as the race makes it way up the Seine Valley before moving into Burgundy to finish in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Unless something goes wrong in the sprint it looks very likely that Marcel Kittel will win again.

I wonder if there will be any more enthusiasm for getting in the break today given that Saturday and Sunday sees two mountain stages both in the Jura. 

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