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. 

2017 Tour de France: Démare wins, Cav and Sagan out. Preview of Stage 5

Having shown good form on Stages 2 and 3 Arnaud Démare duly won his first Tour de France stage in Vittel. Unfortunately his victory was overshadowed by the serious crash involving Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan. From the footage Sagan veers across the road to get on Démare's wheel taking Cav over towards the barrier. Then Sagan's elbow is raised. Whether his elbow actually connected with Cav is now hotly debated or whether Cav was now so close the barrier he was crashing anyway.

Whatever – the result is that Cav is out of the Tour with a broken shoulder blade and Sagan has been disqualified and thrown off the Tour. Initially the commissaires penalised Sagan by docking time and Green Jersey points before deciding to disqualify him, which has now caused a huge controversy. 

It is a great shame that the 2017 Tour has now lost two of its biggest stars.It has also blown the Green jersey competition wide open. 

Although involved in another crash within the last kilometre Geraint Thomas remains in Yellow. This crash held up Marcel Kittel. 

Stage 5 Vittel to La Planche des Belles Filles 160.5 kms

The final climb – last part is 20%

After the opening Time Trial this stage, which finishes is the first real test for the overall contenders. La Planche des Belles Filles was first used in 2012 and then again in 2014, so to feature three times in the last five years shows it has rapidly become a favourite. In 2012 Chris Froome won the stage and Bradley Wiggins took the Yellow Jersey and never lost it. The same thing happened in 2014 when Vincenzo Nibali won here and kept the Yellow jersey all the way to Paris. 

I fancy that either Geraint Thomas or Chris Froome will be in Yellow tonight unless a breakaway is allowed to stay away. If other overall contenders want to shake up Sky it would make sense as well as making the race more exciting if they started attacking well before the start of La Planche. It will be interesting to see how Richie Porte goes today – will he put in a big attack? Equally the steepness of the climb should suit Nairo Quintana, so will be an indication whether he has recovered from the Giro. Although time gaps are unlikely to be very big, I think we may well see Alberto Contador lose some time today.

Guillaume Van Keirsbulck was the sole breakaway ride of the day – riding almost the whole stage on his own not getting caught until just over 10 kms to go.

2017 Tour de France: Marcel Kittel wins + Stage 3 preview

Stage result

  Marcel Kittel wins in Liège, Arnaud Demarre 2nd, 

André Griepel 3rd, Mark Cavendish 4th  

Overall standings 

Geraint Thomas retains Yellow Jersey, Kittel up to 3rd

Marcel Kittel won the close and massed bunch sprint in Liège, although the day's two breakaways nearly made it to the line. They were swallowed up just over one kilometre from the finish. After his illness Mark Cavendish must be pretty satisfied with his fourth place. He had latched onto Marcel Kittel's wheel but didn't have the pace nor really the space to come through. Kittel moved up to 3rd overall. He now has 10 TDF stage wins to his name just one behind André Griepel. 

As I mentioned in my preview of Stage 2 there is always a danger of crashes in the early stages of the Tour. Unfortunately Chris Froome and Romain Bardet were involved in a pile up about 30 kilometres from the finish. Both managed to get back onto the peloton and there were no serious injuries. 

Early on in the stage Luke Durbridge was forced to abandon following injury sustained from crashing during Saturday's Time Trial. He had hoped to ride through today but his proved impossible. 

Côte des Religieuses 1.6 kms @ 5.8%

The final climb

Stage 3 preview: Verviers to Longwy  212.5 kilometres 

Today's stage will be another longish day in the saddle. Starting in Belgium going into Luxembourg before finishing in France this is will be a decidedly lumpy stage with very little flat. Instead continuously up and down – three 4th category climbs and two 3rd category that includes the last 1.6 kms.

After the TT this finish will be a test for the overall contenders not to lose time on the sharp final climb. The steepest section (11%) is lower down, while at the top it flattens out. 

This would have suited Valverde but he is out after his crash in the TT. Contenders for the stage include Philippe Gilbert, Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Dan Martin and Edvard Boassen Hagen as well as the overall contenders. Chris Froome has shown good form on these types of finish. Nor can you discount Richie Porte. Overall contenders are unlikely to lose any significant time but gaining a few seconds is always good for morale. 

With an uphill finish splits on the line are back to one second.  

It seems unlikely that Marcel Kittel and other straight out sprinters will be in contention at this finish, so little chance of Kittel adding to his 10 bonus seconds gained yesterday to take the Yellow Jersey from Geraint Thomas. 

It is just possible that rather than a procession to the final hill that some riders will look to shake up the race over the lumpy terrain. Let's hope so!       

2016 Tour de France – Griepel wins sprint - Froome joins the greats

André Griepel won the sprint in Paris, so he finally got a stage win in the 2016 edition. This is now back to back victories in Paris as Griepel won here last year. He has now ridden six TDFs and won at least a stage in each edition. Griepel now has 11 TDF stage victories – two more than Marcel Kittel. This makes him the second most successful current sprinter in the TDF after Mark Cavendish and his 30 wins. Griepel is now 34, which underlines that sprinters can continue to win well into their 30s.
 

Peter Sagan come very close to taking the victory yesterday with a late surge but needed a few more metres. You have to wonder whether, if Sagan hadn't done all that work for Romain Kreuzinger on Saturday's final Alpine stage, he might have won this sprint. Just shows how phenomenally strong Sagan is!

Marcel Kittel, my pick for yesterday's winner, had mechanical problems and curiously without a team mate to pace him back into the pack spent too much energy in returning to have any left for the sprint. He finished in 61st position. Still I did pick Griepel for second spot.    

With just one stage win – Limoges – this will have been a disappointing TDF for Kittel having missed last year due to injury. This appears to suggest that Etixx-Quickstep might be a graveyard for successful sprinters. Cav won only three TDF stages in his three seasons with with Omega Pharma–Quick-Step (now Etixx-Quickstep). Still impressive, especially as he crashed out of the 2014 TDF on Stage 1, but way down on his previous results. Kittel won four stages in both 2013 and 2014, so just one in 2016 due to the Cav's renaissance will hurt. Still at 28 he has time on his side.

Many congratulations to Chris Froome on winning his third Tour de France and joining the greats, who have won three TDFs or more. He joins five times winners Jacques Anquetil Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Eddy Merckx plus Lucien Bobet, Greg Lemond and Philippe Thys, who also won three editions.   

Of the GC contenders Froome was clearly the most aggressive taking the most risks as demonstrated by his descent of the Peyresoudre to take Yellow. In Sky, of course, Froome had a superb and very focused team.  

Apart from a brief try on the Ventoux Nairo Quintana's challenge never materialised. The exciting young rider of 2013, who attacked in the Pyrénées and on the Ventoux, now appears to be a distant memory. Sky's strength appeared to intimidate the other contenders and only Romain Bardet, Dan Martin, Bauke Mollema, Alejandro Valverde and Adam Yates made attacks. Unfortunately Yates's attack off the Col d'Aspin was nullified by the collapsing Flamme Rouge banner. This was the stage that Steve Cummings took with a typically, fine solo ride. It was good to see Bardet's brave attack  on Stage 19 bring him second place on the podium. Will he be able to test Froome more fully in 2017?

Other Jerseys

Congratulations to Peter Sagan on winning the Green Jersey by a mile for the 5th time. He also took two stage victories. In his second TDF Adam Yates impressed winning the White Jersey as the best young rider, while Rafa Majka took the Polka Dot climbers' jersey for the second time. 

Cav's Renaissance 

It was great to see Mark Cavendish back to best winning four stages including Stage 1 so getting the Yellow Jersey for the first time. He now has an amazing 30 TDF stage wins only four behind that of the great Eddy Merckx. Although nothing is even given in the Tour it must now be possible that Cav at 31 years old can match or even eclipse Eddy's record. 

In 24 year-old Dan McLay we have a new promising sprinter. He was placed in the 10 top on three stages in this year's Tour.      

UK's progression since 2007 
The 2007 Tour de France started in London with the Prologue. It was the first Tour that a young sprinter called Mark Cavendish rode. After a couple of top 10 placings and two crashes, Mark pulled out on Stage 8. Although there was a growing interest in cycling and the Tour attracted good crowds, no British rider had come close to winning the Tour and Barry Hoban held the stage wins total with 8.   

Who would have thought that nine years on that Mark Cavendish would have racked up 30 TDF stage wins and have won the Green Jersey in 2011, that British riders would have won four of the last five Tours – 2012 (Bradley Wiggins), 2013, 2015 and 2016 (all Chris Froome), and that Adam Yates would be the first UK rider to win the White Jersey. Remarkable!   

2016 Tour de France: Peter Sagan third stage win – Chris Froome still comfortable

Yesterday Peter Sagan racked up his third 2016 TDF stage win beating Alexander Kristoff, who appeared confused about where the finishing line was, by just a few centimetres. This win takes Sagan's overall total of Tour de France stage wins to seven. 

 

Despite the tricky and hectic finish into Bern, there were no changes to the overall times of the GC contenders. 

Rest Day: Bern 

Today is the second rest day in the Tour – a time to relax and prepare for four tough, crucial Alpine stages, which will decide the winner. 

Chris Froome with a lead of 1'.47 over Bauke Mollema, his nearest rival, and a very strong team remains handily placed. He has nearly three minutes over Nairo Quintana seen as his biggest rival and only eight riders are within five minutes. Froome has yet to show any weakness. However, in 2013 and 2015 when he won  the Tour he was not at his best in the final week.  

Peter Sagan looks to have won the Green Jersey for the 5th time as he now has 405 points to Mark Cavendish's 291. Rafa Majka leads the Polka Dot with 127 points to Thomas de Gendt's 90. This is a decent lead but there are still plenty of mountain points to come, so it is not yet decisive. Adam Yates continues to hold the White Jersey (best young rider) with 3'03 over Louis Meintjes. Meintjes is his only serious rival as third placed, Warren Barguil, is at 16'30.   

2016 Tour de France: Pantano wins while Froome remains in control

Apart from the large breakaway and Jarlinson Pantano's fine first TDF stage win,  there was little excitement in the GC group yesterday. Sky exerted control and either Chris Froome's opponents don't have the legs or have a paucity of ambition this was another potentially critical stage that turned out to be a damp squib. With this edition of the Tour entering its final week the number of opportunities to put Froome under pressure and for someone else to win the Tour are fast running out. Rafal Majka is now in the Polka Dot Jersey after harvesting a good number of points yesterday.

Stage 16: Moirans-en-Montage to Berne 2009km

A couple of sharp climbs in the final kilometres may well make this not a bunch sprint stage. Instead may suit punchers like Peter Sagan or perhaps Fabian Cancellara in his last Tour de France. For the GC contenders this may be another quiet stage. However, sometimes these apparently innocuous stages can surprise......

2016 Tour de France: Sagan wins, Froome gains seconds – Ventoux shortened

 Peter Sagan wins in Montpellier, Chris Froome gains 12 seconds on rivals 

Wind played an important part in yesterday's stage causing several gaps in the peloton and making it a hectic day. Peter Sagan along with his team mate – Maciej Bodnar – made the decisive break some 12k before the finish. Only Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas were able to get onto their wheels. The quartet raced flat out – at one time gaining a little over 20 seconds on their rivals. Sagan won the sprint, while Froome finished six seconds ahead + a six second time bonus. This now puts him 28 seconds ahead of Adam Yates, who has extended his lead in the White Jersey competition to 1'.42 over Louis Meintjes, who had presumably got caught out by the wind. Peter Sagan has further cemented his hold on the Green Jersey, especially as Cav had a mechanical problem.      

Stage 12: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux  – Chalet ReynardHigh winds has caused this stage to be shortened with the finish at Chalet Reynard rather than on the mountain top because of the forecast of winds over 100kms at the summit and on 4˚C. It will still be a steep climb up to the finish but will be protected by the trees. There should still be some gaps between the GC riders. High winds may also play a part before the Ventoux is reached.  

2016 Tour de France – sprint in Montpellier, Ventoux awaits

Michael Matthews won his first Tour de France stage yesterday beating Peter Sagan and Evald Boasson Hagen in the sprint. However, this was another success Green jersey raid by Sagan who picked up maximum points at the intermediate sprint and took over the Green Jersey from Mark Cavendish. Sagan has 242 points to Cavendish's 204. 

 

No change overall as the peloton had another quiet day after the initial climb out of Andorra. 

Stage 11: Carcassonne to Montpellier 

 

I expect a big bunch sprint in Montpellier, which has a flat and wide finish. Another win for Cav or Marcel Kittel or a first win in this edition for André Griepel? I fancy the GC contenders will continue to rest up for tomorrow's stage finish on the top of Ventoux.

2016 Tour de France – 2nd week – still stalemate?

Stage 10 – Escaldes Engordany to Revel

Stage 10 – Escaldes Engordany to Revel – 197 kms

The Tour sets off again after the first rest day leaving the Pyrénées behind. With a sharp climb (Category 3) just before the finish, this may well rule out the pure sprinters. The Côte de Saint-Ferréol – 1.8 kms at an average of 6.6% – comes just seven kilometres before the finish. This is more likely to suit riders like Peter Sagan, who will be looking to wrest the Green Jersey off Mark Cavendish. It is also possible that some GC contenders will pluck up courage to attack Chris Froome on this climb.

 

2016 Tour de France: Fine win by Tom Dumoulin lights up dull Queen's stage

 

What was billed as the Queen Stage of the Tour turned out to be a stately procession through majestic scenery. Apart from the last few kilometres of the Arcalis climb when the GC contenders started to attack and the initial climb of the day, no-one was prepared to attack Sky and Chris Froome so they naturally rode tempo for much of the day allowing the break to build up a huge gap. 

The stage began climbing from the very start up to the Port de la Bonaigua. There were attacks all the way up including Peter Sagan going for a long foray to pick up intermediate sprint points along with Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde racing clear of the peloton. For a moment the stage looked to be about to live up to its billing. 

Contador soon faded and later retired from the race suffering both from his crash wounds and a fever. Valverde carried on caught the breakaway. They crested the Bonaigua and hurtled down the descent. On the flat, however, the Sky train started to catch up rapidly. Not long after Valverde eased up and waited for the peloton, who then let the large break of 20 riders or so disappear into the distance. Did Peter Sagan persuade Valverde to leave the break, so he could pick up sprint points? If Valverde had stayed in the break would certainly have been caught.

Both Thibaut Pinot and Rafa Majka were in the break. This time Pinot was the stronger and picked up enough points to take the climber's jersey off Majka's shoulders. Then just before the start of the final climb up to Arcalis Tom Dumoulin took off and remained in front to take his first Tour de France stage win. The excellent Dumoulin is the first new rider to be added to the list of stage winners this year.     

 

Overall there were a few changes but nothing like what one might have expected. Now there are only eight riders within a minute of Chris Froome. Tejay Van Garderen, Fabio Aru and Warren Bargueil lost a little time along with Pierre Rolland, who is now four minutes behind Froome.

White Jersey holder, Adam Yates, has extended his lead over Louis Meintjes a little. Mark Cavendish holds onto the Green Jersey but Sagan is only seven points behind now. Unfortunately Mark lost his lead out man – Mark Renshaw, who fell ill overnight and had to abandon.

Today is a rest day. Hopefully in the second week GC contenders will show more ambition and attack Chris Froome and Sky.  

2016 Tour de France: Marcel Kittel wins in Limoges + first hilly stage

Marcel Kittel gained his sprint victory in Limoges yesterday by the narrowest of margins from Bryan Coquard, the young 24-year-old Frenchman from Saint Nazaire, who has been impressive in the Tours sprints this year. Although he doesn't belong to one of the big teams, Coquard was 7th (Stage 1), third on Stage 3 and so nearly beat Kittel yesterday. It would be good to see a French sprinter get a win. 

Mark Cavendish came in 8th as he got boxed in – one of those days when you don't get it quite right. Virtually impossible to win stage after stage! Two this year is already highly impressive.  

Kittel's latest stage win takes him onto 9 Tour de France stage wins – just one behind his rival and fellow countryman – André Griepel. See list of all time TDF stage winners here.        

As I predicted Peter Sagan remains in Yellow. However, that ought to change today with Stage 5's visit to the mountains of Cantal.

Stage 5: Limoges to Le Lioran  

The stage has 6 category climbs with the highest Puy Mary classified as 2 along with the Col de Font de Cère, which follows. The first climb, which is a minor bump, is Côte de Saint-Léonard-de-Noblet, is the home of the legendary Raymond Poulidor. Known as the 'eternal second' as he never won the Tour instead finishing second to the Jacques Anquetil in the 1960s and then to Eddy Merckx in the 1970s. 

With the serious climbs all concentrated in the last third of this medium mountainstage, we should see who of the GC contenders are strong. Will Alberto Contador have recovered from his crashes on Stages 1 and 2? I just hope that the racing is exciting and that the GC hopefuls don't just ride conservatively. If Peter Sagan is still in Yellow tonight it will be either because he has ridden exceptionally well or the GC contenders have played safe.  

2016 Tour de France – Cav wins in Angers catching Hinault + longest stage

 Mark Cavendish just beats André Griepel to win in Angers

Peter Sagan comfortably remains in Yellow 

Mark Cavendish beat André Griepel by the narrowest of margins on Angers' Boulevard Foch. It was down to a photo-finish to decide the result. As I predicted yesterday the uphill finish played its part with Griepel starting his effort a little too early very soon after he had turned the corner at the Mercure. Cav was expecting this and took Griepel's wheel. Mark and André finished comfortably ahead of Frenchman Bryan Coquard and Peter Sagan. Marcel Kittel didn't really feature in the sprint coming in 8th. 

This latest victory takes Mark Cavendish's Tour de France stage wins to an amazing 28. He is now equal with the great Bernard Hinault and six behind Eddy Merckx. He has a very good claim to be the greatest sprinter ever, even though he has not won as many stages in the three Grand Tours – France, Italy, Spain – as Mario Cipollini and Alessandro Petacchi. The Tour de France is the most important and most hotly contested of the three Tours. Mario had 12 TDF stage wins and Alessandro six. 

See list of all Tour de France stage winners here.

After his time at Etixx Quickstep, Mark Cavendish appears to be reinvigorated. Partly due to having some of his old team back together Bernie Eisel and Edvald Boasson Hagen along with Mark Renshaw, who came across with Mark from Etixx. Somehow things never really worked out at Etixx, whereas as now the old firm is being very effective, despite not being the largest or most powerful train in the race. Mark's track training for the Rio Olympics is another factor as is his delight in helping to raise money to provide bikes for African children through Qhubeka.  

•••

Stage 4: Saumur to Limoges – 237.5 kms

Today is the longest stage of this year's Tour. Will it be run as slowly as yesterday when the peloton appeared to be out for a gentle club run until they approached Angers. Today's stage has one category 4 climb towards the end of the stage but this should not be steep enough to drop the sprinters. It starts fairly flat but becomes more undulating as you approach Limoges. Apparently the uphill finish is a little steeper than yesterday. Likely winners – André Griepel, Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish.  

 

Saumur to Limoges: 237.5 K

2016 Tour de France: Peter Sagan in Yellow – uphill sprint today in Angers

 

Yesterday's results

Although I picked Alejandro Valverde to win yesterday's tricky finish in Cherbourg, my option on Peter Sagan paid dividends as the world champion both won the stage and took over the Yellow Jersey from Mark Cavendish. Like Mark, this is the first time Sagan has worn the jersey. Given that the next two stages to come are flat, Sagan may well remain in Yellow at least until the end of Stage 5 at Le Lioran. The young French rider Julian Alaphilippe came close to winning the stage but Sagan proved to be too strong. 

Good to see two of the great stars of today – Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan – getting the Yellow Jersey for the first time. Sagan's 5th stage victory and remarkably his first since 5th July 2013 in Albi brings him up level on #TDF stage wins with Chris Froome, Sean Kelly, Hennie Kuiper, Tony Martin, Vincenzo Nibali, Herman van Springel and Jean Stablinski among others.      

Among the favourites both Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana are on the same time – 14" seconds down on Peter Sagan. However, two of their rivals – Alberto Contador and Richie Porte – have lost time. Contador, who crashed on both Saturday and Sunday, is 1.02 down on Sagan. He was dropped on the 3rd category climb in the final kilometres. Richie Porte was unlucky to have a puncture around 5 kilometres before the finish and is now 1.59 down. The biggest question mark is over Contador – how will he cope with Stage 5 that visits the mountains of Cantal? Will he have recovered sufficiently in time?   

      

Stage 3: Granville to Angers

At 223.5 kilometres this is the second longest stage of this year's Tour – tomorrow is the longest – 237.5. Apart from a fourth category climb close to the start this stage is pretty flat especially in the latter stages – initially it is quite undulating. Jasper Stuyven, with 4 points, will keep his Polka Dot jersey as best climber. 

The finish in Angers is on the Boulevard Foch by the town hall and a bunch sprint is very likely after the break of the day is caught. Unlike Saturday's finish, the final 600/700 metres of the stage is steadily uphill, although not steep but rises up some 80 feet.

The riders come over the Maine. The road is briefly flat as they go under the One K to go banner. Then the Boulevard Carnot starts to rise up. At the Hotel Mercure the riders turn right into the Boulevard Foch for some 250 metres before crossing the finish line with the road continuing to rise.  

This uphill finish may well suit both André Griepel and Marcel Kittel plus Yellow Jersey wearer Peter Sagan. The trick may be to delay one's sprint until close to the line as if you start too early there is a good chance you will run out of gas. Mark Cavendish should also have a good chance if he can follow wheels until just before the line. 

   

2016 Tour de France: Stage 2 – Saint-Lô to Cherbourg

Today will surely be a day to remember for Mark Cavendish – his first Tour stage while wearing the Yellow Jersey. However, it will be very tough for him to hold onto Yellow today with a short, tough uphill finish.

Given his huge respect for the Tour and its history and traditions, Mark will do his very best to honour Yellow fighting to hold onto it. However, the final run-in features the 3rd category Côte de la Glacière with sections up to 14%. 

This tough finale is likely to rule out not just Cav but also Marcel Kittel and André Griepel. Instead it should suit riders, who shine in the Ardennes classics, particularly Liège-Bastogne-Liège. This means riders like Dan Martin, Alejandro Valverde, Greg Van Avermaet and Joaquim Rodríguez. It will also surely suit World Champion Peter Sagan. Also the GC contenders will want to be there, so as not to lose time on their rivals. Last year Chris Froome was very impressive on the Mur de Huy – the finish climb of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. 

Unfortunately the finish may give an indication of how well Alberto Contador is recovering from yesterday's crash.

However, I'm going for the experienced and wily Valverde with Sagan as a second option.            

Mark Cavendish in Yellow for this stage    

2016 Tour de France: Mark Cavendish wins 1st Stage – takes Yellow + 27th stage win

It was wonderful to be proved wrong! Just hours after playing down Mark's chances of stage victory and tipping Marcel Kittel to take the stage win, Mark proves what a great sprinter he is. 

After the anguish of crashing out of the 2014 Tour in Harrogate in the sprint at the end of Stage 1 and last year's disappointments when Mark took just one stage eclipsed by André Griepel in the absence of Kittel, who had limited Cav to just two stage wins in the 2013. It was tempting to think that Mark's best days were past and that Eddy's record 34 stage wins was safe even beginning to wonder whether Bernard Hainault's 28 wins would be matched. 

Today Mark was back to his best showing why he has such a strong claim to be the greatest sprinter ever. Moving to a new team – Dimension Data – after his rather unfulfilled stay at Omega-Pharma-Quick Step, now Etixx-Quick Step with Kittel as their star sprinter, has certainly hit the jackpot today. 

It looks like Mark moving with Mark Renshaw to Dimension Data and reuniting with Bernie Eisel, who was an essential part of the very successful HTC Columbia/Highroad lead out team, has been a masterful move. 

Mark is not just about speed – using his characteristic crouched style – but very importantly he has brilliant positioning and the ability to read a fast changing bunch sprint and react instantly. 

Today's win show that. Well into the final kilometre Mark is ticked in behind Renshaw, he checks a couple of times to his right to see if anyone is coming up on the barriers. Then World Champion Peter Sagan flies past and looks to be about to win the stage. Mark accelerates rapidly to get on Sagan's wheel, then as the line approaches moves out, goes for the line and wins comfortably from Marcel Kittel, who had started his sprint well before Mark did. Sagan takes third and André Griepel fourth. The overhead shots show just how emphatic Mark's victory was: Kittel was more than a bike length behind. This is a huge margin in such a flat out sprint.  

Kittel (1.88 m) and Griepel (1.84 m), who are much bigger than Mark (1.75 m), have the power but Cav has the finesse and the speed. 

Almost as impressive as Mark's win was his interview immediately after his win – citing his team, the Qhubeka charity aiming to get 5000 African kids on bikes and those who lost their lives not only on Utah Beach, where the stage finished, but all of those who fought for our freedom. Mark made UK politicians look like pygmies!

Mark's win today is also a reminder that sprinters are able to remain at the very top considerably longer than other cyclists. André Griepel is now 33, Cav 31, while Marcel Kittel is a relative youngster at 28. Mark has plenty more years ahead of him to equal or overtake Eddy's record.