2014 Tour de France: a lumpy stage to Saint-Etienne

Stage 12: Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint-Etienne 185.5 kms

Today's stage is likely to suit similar riders to yesterday, although the final two climbs are considerably longer than those on the stage to Oyonnax. With his chances of winning a stage this year rapidly diminishing Peter Sagan may well fancy this, although it is more than 20 kilometres from the top of the last climb to the finish in Saint Etienne. Equally it could be that a breakaway is allowed to succeed with the overall contenders conserving energy for the two days in the Alps that follow.   

Tour de France 2014 Stage 4: surely another sprint victory for Marcel Kittel

Stage 4: from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage to Lille (163.5 km)

This looks on paper an easy day (163.5 km) across Northern France from the Channel Coast across to Lille, which includes a quick dip into Belgium. Very difficult to see beyond Marcel Kittel taking his third stage victory. In the absence of Mark Cavendish there doesn't seem to be anyone around to mount a serious challenge at the moment. Would Mark have pushed Marcel yeserday and won the stage? Impossible to know but Mark is certainly faster than both Peter Sagan (2nd) and Mark Renshaw (3rd) in a straight, flat sprint.  

Vincenzo Nibali is also very likely to keep the Yellow Jersey unless cross winds on the exposed roads across Northern France splits up the peloton. Tomorrow's stage across the pavé will surely shake up the Overall Classification. 

No doubt that the three days of Le Tour in the UK was a huge success with millions out to watch. Such a contrast to the miserable and disastrous first visit of the Tour to Britain in 1974. 

'Christian Prudhomme has said that the Tour de France will return to Great Britain following what he described as an “unbelievable” Grand Départ over the past three days.' Read the rest here road.cc Looks to be just a question of when and where. Edinburgh, whether Scotland is independent or not, will be looking to be the next city to get Le Tour. 

2014 Tour de France: Vincenzo Nibali takes first blood and Yellow

 

The overall leaders after Vincenzo Nibali won the very demanding Stage 2 from York to Sheffield. Nibali has a two second advantage over the other leading contenders. This was also his first ever Tour stage win. See updated list of All-time Tour Stage winners.   

As expected Marcel Kittel relinquished the Yellow Jersey coming in 19:50 down. His day, however, is likely to come again tomorrow with the finish in The Mall, London where he must be the favourite to win the very probable sprint finish. 

Biggest loser as far as possible overall contenders are concerned was Joaquim Rodriguez, the leader of the Katusha team, who lost 14:48. Also the Schleck brothers are unlikely to challenge overall, although Frank is only 16 seconds behind Nibali but was unable to stay with the leading bunch. Andy finished 1:19 down.  

Le Tour@Yorkshire: head says Kittel – heart says Cavendish

Le Tour@Pauillac in 2010

The appertizers – Wimbledon and the World Cup – are nearly over now the main event – Le Tour de France – starts in Yorkshire today. 

The first stage from Leeds to Harrogate looks likely to be one for the sprinters for although there are some climbs the last one is 62 km from the finish. The winner will get to wear the Yellow Jersey, so there is an enormous incentive for Mark Cavendish to go all out to win and get his first Yellow Jersey. Mark will have to see off Marcel Kittel, the best sprinter in last year's Tour, and André Griepel. Also as the finish is quite difficult rising 42 metres over the last two kilometres, so you can't rule out Peter Sagan. However, this year Mark has Mark Renshaw back in his team, which may be the crucial factor. Other possibles include John Degenkolb and André Demare.  

My two favourites for overall victory are Chris Froome and Alberto Contador with Vincenzo Nibali.  

The first stage can be a lottery with 198 riders and there are some narrow roads for some of the stage. Hopefully there won't be crashes but history suggests that unfortunately there will be. Last year crashes in the first stage last year eliminated Mark Cavendish from contending the first sprint. It also looks quite windy, so there may be splits in the peloton. 

So who will be added to my page of all time stage winners today?

*** Update: Sadly my head proved to be right on this occasion with Marcel Kittel winning and Mark Cavendish on the floor.