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: Aru wins, Froome in Yellow. Stage 6 Preview

Stage 5 result: fine and convincing win by Fabio Aru

Overall standing: Chris Froome takes Yellow from Geriant Thomas

The first mountain stage was won in convincing fashion by Fabio Aru who attacked with some two kilometres to go.  Prior to this Team Sky had been setting a fast pace up the Planche des Belles Filles. After hesitating a while Chris Froome set off after Aru with Richie Porte, Dan Martin and Romain Bardet, while dropping Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and Geraint Thomas.

After initially starting to catch Aru, the Froome quartet eased up and started looking at each other, while Aru motored on up. This allowed some of the dropped riders to close the gap on the quartet. 

Aru won the stage, his first TdF stage win by 16 seconds from Dan Martin who finished strongly with Froome next (20 seconds) and Porte at the same time. Other riders Bardet (24 secs), Simon Yates (26), Rigoberto Uran and Contador (26), Quintana (34) and Thomas (40). Froome now takes over the Yellow Jersey with Thomas in second place. It was clear in the ride up the Planche des Belles Filles that Froome was Sky's protected rider. Will Froome now wear Yellow all the way to Paris? 

Although dangerous to read too much into this first mountain stage, it does look like Fabio Aru, Dan Martin and Richie Porte are Chris Froome's biggest rivals with Aru just (14 seconds behind) and Martin on 25. There are now question marks over the form of Contador (52 seconds down) and Quintana (54 secs).

You have to question the tactics of Richie Porte and BMC yesterday who spent a large part of the 160 kilometres leading the peloton chase of the strong breakaway group using up a lot of energy. Although the time gap yo-yoed between about 2.50 and 1.30 it was back to about 2.40 as the final climb approached and other teams joined in. BMC wasted a lot of energy and Porte didn't make an attack on the climb. Although he finished with the same time as Froome it was Froome who got third place and the four bonus seconds. 

Stage 6 Preview: Vesoul to Troyes: 216 kms

This is going to be a long, hot, fairly flat stage with a couple of Category 4 climbs. I expect a break to go early only to be swallowed up close to the finish where the sprinters will fight it out. The finish is flat but with a roundabout around 120 metres from the line, which could make the sprint dangerous. Hopefully there won't be any big crashes. 

Favourites today: Marcel Kittel, Arnaud Démare, Michael Matthews and André Griepel. In addition to getting the stage win the sprinters will be up for the Green Jersey competition in the absence of Peter Sagan.    

Is Café de la Paix supplied by 1855?

2005 Epineuil, Domaine JC Michaut

Overnight stop in Troyes on our way back from Varese. Had very enjoyable dinner at the Café de la Paix, 58 Avenue Général de Gaulle. We shared a dozen oysters then CRM had the mussels, while I had rognons de veau in a white Port sauce.

Looking at the wine list I was intrigued by the 1999 Carruades de Lafite 'Lafite de Rothschild' listed with no price but said to be 'bientôt disponible'. Perhaps this fine brasserie is also waiting for a delivery from 1855?

In the absence of the 1999 Carruades we drank a bottle of the 2005 Bourgogne Epineuil (red) from Domaine JC Michaut. This is one of the wines from the Yonne region – the reds being made from Pinot Noir. The 2005 was typically light in colour but had some weight and spice and was an agreeable easy drinking wine. There were also some Irancys on the list but we chose the Michaut as we had never drunk an Epineuil before and with a 2005 there was a chance that the Pinot Noir had ripened in this vintage.

The Café de la Paix was lively and friendly. We got chatting to a charming and very friendly retired French couple and it was interesting to hear their views on wines. Firstly that the local reds from the Yonne were too weak and acid. Proper Burgundy came from the Côte d'Or and needed at least 13% alcohol – the Epineuil was marked 12.5%. The Loire produces some attractive little wines – we didn't entirely agree here but didn't push it too hard! Beaujolais Nouveau was rubbish and that much of the ordinary Beaujolais vineyards would disappear leaving only the northern sector with the crus. South West France is now producing some good, strong wines.

They also said that there was a wine shop in Troyes where they could buy a range of wines from outside Europe, which were often good value. They had visited California and the Napa Valley and were impressed with the wines from there.