2017 Tour de France: Boassen Hagen wins in Salon, Marseille TT preview

Well deserved solo victory for Edvald Boasson Hagen 

in Salon-de-Provence 

 

No change overall as peloton 

goes for long training ride yesterday 

Edvald Boasson Hagen was a worthy winner in Salon-de-Provence yesterday. He and Nikias Arndt choose the right way round a roundabout with just three kilometres to go opening up a little gap to the rest of the small leading pack. Boasson Hagen quickly exploited this dropping Arndt and soloing to a popular victory – his third TDF stage victory. The peloton came in 12.27 down having decided to go for a club ride once the breakaway got away. 

Stage 20 Preview: Marseille TT 22.5 kms The final decider 

TT course is flat apart from steep 

1 km climb up to Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde

Just at this year's Giro d'Italia the winner will be decided by a time trial right at the end of the race. OK the Tour still has the stage into Paris but this is ceremonial apart from the sprinters race of the Champs d'Elysée. 

Athough the 22.5 km course is largely flat around the Port and coastline of Marseille it does have a sharp, steep climb up to Notre-Dame-de-la Garde followed by a speedy descent. The course is technical so good bike handling will be very important. Fortunately the weather is expected to be dry – let's hope so we don't want a repeat of Düsseldorf.

The odds have to be on Chris Froome winning his 4th Tour de France – his third in a row. The biggest threat comes from Rigoberto Uran who is 29 seconds behind Froome rather than Bardet who is at 23 seconds. Uran could dethrone Froome but my guess for the podium is Froome (1st), Uran (2nd) and Bardet (3rd).

#TDF13: Kittel pips Cav – Boasson Hagan out

 Hotel de Ville, Tours  – the race leaves Tours today for Saint Amand Montrond

Just when it looked as though Mark Cavendish was about to get his second stage victory of this Tour and his 25th overall he was overtaken on the line by Marcel Kittel, who had followed Mark's wheel when he made his sprint effort. Defeat by Kittel in Tours is likely to be particularly painful for Cav as he had a good lead out by Gert Steegmans.

Later Mark admitted that Kittel had just been faster. Has Cav has been affected by his broncial complaint that he had before the Tour started or are we seeing a change of guard with Kittel as the new fastest man on two wheels?  Cav didn't appear to put in his second acceleration that he often uses. Peter Sagan was third further strengthening his grip on the Green Jersey. Cav is now second but nearly 100 points behind Sagan. Marcel Kittel moves up to three stage wins overall – see here.

Today's stage to Saint Amand Montrond (173K) is likely to end in a sprint, so it will be fascinating to see if Cav can win there or whether Kittel will again or whether Griepel will take another win. Griepel missed the sprint as he was caught up in the big crash just over 2K from the finish. Apart from the final stage into Paris today will be the race's last flat stage – there is just one 4th category climb – in this year's race. 

Unfortunately Edvald Boasson Hagen is out of the Tour with a broken shoulder blade sustained in that crash. This takes the Sky team down to seven riders, which makes the task of keeping Chris Froome in Yellow more difficult. There was no change to the overall standings and unless there is a crash close to the finish but before the 3K mark it will be very surprising if there is any change tonight. The Ventoux, however, is getting closer....