2014 Tour de France: lumpy day in the Jura

 

Stage 11: Besançon to Oyonnax: 187 km

Although after Monday's very tough 10th stage in the Vosges today's route may appear to be virtually flat it is quite lumpy after the initial 40 kilometres of flat. There are four categorised climbs within the last 60 kilometres before the quick descent into Oyonnax. This looks like a stage either for a breakaway or suiting a punchy rider like Peter Sagan or Simon Gerrans rather than a pure sprinter like Marcel Kittel. It might also be one for André Griepel. It won't, however, be a stage for Fabian Cancellara as he has pulled out of the race to concentrate on the World Championship Road Race.

2014 Tour de France: Epernay to Nancy – Stage for Sagan?

Stage 7: Epernay to Nancy 234 kms

Today is the last possible chance for the sprinters until Sunday 20th with the stage into Nîmes until then it will be a question of getting over the hills. The stage is long at 234 kms relatively flat, although the route is more continually up and down rather than pan flat. Two Category 4 climbs within in the last 20 kms makes this more a stage for Peter Sagan, Simon Gerrans or Fabian Cancellara than Marcel Kittel, for instance. The last climb comes five kilometres from the finish and is 1.3k long with an average gradient of 7.9% followed by a swift descent to the finish. If someone gets away on the last climb they might manage to stay away and solo to victory.  

The forecast is for showers and wind largely from behind the riders.

There could be slight changes overall but it would be surprising if this was more than just a few seconds.

#TDF13 Mark Cavendish: Marseilles - yesterday! Montpellier – today?

Yesterday Mark Cavendish won his 24th Tour stage in a sprint in Marseilles.

Just imagine how discouraging for Cavendish's sprint rival. They learn he has had a chest infection since before winning the UK Road Race Championships before the Tour and has been on antibiotics, so he isn't 100% fit. His Omega-Pharma-Quickstep train has misfired at times much to Mark's disgust. There's a hill about 15k from yesterday's finish where Cav might get dropped. He has been beaten in the intermediate sprints by both Peter Sagan amd André Griepel. Plenty of reasons for thinking that they might beat Cav in Marseilles.

What happens? The Omega-Pharma-Quickstep team are first through the final corner with Mark in third place. Gert Steegmans the lead out man delivers Mark perfectly 150 metres from the finishing line, which Mark duly crosses a good two bike lengths clear of Boasson Hagen, Peter Sagan, André Griepel and Roberto Ferrari. Marcel Kittel, winner of the first stage, was caught up in a crash around 15K from the finish.   

Unfortunately there was a big crash in the middle of the peloton close to the finishing line bringing down and injuring a number of riders.

Simon Gerrans remains in Yellow.

Today's stage is a flat run from Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier. What's the betting that Cav's rivals will again see his back wheel disappearing into the distance?

Tour de France 2013: two good days for Simon Gerrans

Australian rider Simon Gerrans is now in Yellow following his stage win at Calvi on Sunday beating Peter Sagan and Orica Greenedge's victory in the team time trial at Nice yesterday. Today's stage to Marseilles is described as lumpy so it is a question whether sprinters like Mark Cavendish to stay in touch to contest the sprint. 

Apparently Mark Cavendish has a chest infection and is taking antibiotics.

More to follow.