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A lovely morning here in Birmingham, and after a fairly dull sprint day yesterday, today holds hope for more excitement. Lets see what's in store (quote taken from the official tour website, https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-5).
Hadn’t he been in the yellow jersey, Julian Alaphilippe would have loved to contest the victory in stage 5 of the 106th Tour de France. It suits the attackers of his type. Like stage 3, the course features prestigious French vineyards in the Alsace region. It means steep hills and beautiful sceneries from the Haut-Königsbourg (66km to go) to the charming city of Colmar that will be a Tour de France hosting site for the eighth time. The 5-km long côte des Trois-Epis with 35km to go is suitable for a big spectacle. It favours a breakaway to succeed but it might as well give an indication on the form of the favourites although they will probably be cautious ahead of an even harder stage to La Planche des Belles Filles set to be decisive for the overall ranking.
The course in the Vosges area would allow visitors and TV viewers to enjoy the Haut- Koenigsbourg castle or admire the magnificent villages of Alsace. But the riders will be focused on their sensations as they take on the first real climbs of the Tour, like the Côte des Trois-Épis. A terrain mostly suited to strong breakaway experts.
What's the profile look like then?
And the last KM? Flat.
So who's in the mix? Inrng.com, as always, gives us the insight.
The Contenders: there’s a chance the early breakaway sticks, over 100 riders are now at least five minutes down and have a bit of space today, think Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Magnus Cort (Astana) has broken his finger, or Simon Clarke (EF Education First) although he might be saving himself for Urán duty tomorrow and Alessandro de Marchi (CCC) is another specialist raider.
The most probable scenario is a sprint among a reduced group so Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Michael Matthews (Sunweb) are the obvious picks, but not strong ones as they’ll sweat to make the finish. Sagan can win, and if he doesn’t he’ll rack up points on a day when the pure sprinters should be out of the picture. Matthews might cope better with the climbs and have fresher legs for the finish. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) will be thinking of tomorrow’s summit finish at the Planche des Belles Filles but today can follow the moves and try to win the sprint. Sonny Colbrelli and Ivan Garcia Cortina could strike for Bahrain-Merida.
Among the others Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) could have his chance or is he working for Sagan and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) can be a force of nature on his day and Michael Valgren (Dimension Data) can win stages like this. Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) had a great sprint in Epernay and didn’t seem fazed by the climbs but they were much shorter, today’s much harder, of the Flandriens, maybe Greg Van Avermaet (CCC) could be there and we’ll see if Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) can haul himself to Colmar.
And to finish, well, yesterday of course. Pics from https://cyclingtips.com today, awesome pics as ever.
France.
I'm an absolute sucker for a peloton and a field of sunflowers.
Or indeed a field of wheat.
The finishing sprint.
Top job sir.
🙂
Best stage of the Tour IMO.
This area is absolutely stunning, and bumpy, taxing on the climbs yet the only way to get to the top is through the lush forests..
If you need to choose a mini-break, go here.
A break (obvz, more later) T-dG will be lively today, but I'm plugging for someone out of AG2R like Frank or Gallopin, GvA because this could be one of the only stages he wins and yet is ideally suited to him, Kangert or Kangaveld from EF who are very strong riders and could be in the break, could be Haller or Pollit... yeah that's my choice.. Pollit.
And an ode to Wanty, for being in the break...
Wanty in the break
A rat done bit my sister Kate.
(with Wanty in the break)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Wanty’s in the break)
I can't pay no doctor bill.
(but Wanty’s in the break)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
(while Wanty’s in the break)
…
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
('cause Wanty’s in the break)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Wanty’s in the break)
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
('cause Wanty’s in the break?)
I was already payin' 'im fifty a week.
(with Wanty in the break)
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin' up,
An' as if all that shit wasn't enough
A rat done bit my sister Kate.
(with Wanty’s in the break)
Her face an' arm began to swell.
(but Wanty’s in the break)
Was all that money I made las' year
(for Wanty in the break?)
How come there ain't no money here?
(Hm! Wanty’s in the break)
Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill
(of Wanty in the break)
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Wanty in the break)
Could it be a day for Steve Cummings? He was going well at the nationals and this is the kind of days he's done well on in the past.
I'm on a hattrick today. Picked Alaphilippe and Viviani for last 2 stages so i'll go public and bugger it up today. Sagan looks on good form, been close a couple of times now but I'm going Alaphilippe for stage win number 2. Bikebouy is right, stunning area of France. Reims cathedral is amazing.
I'm calling it for the breakaway to stay away.
Sorry, side question: I'm going to France next week for 2 weeks but won't be anywhere near the Tour route but want to watch at least highlights - what's French TV coverage like? What channel(s) is it on? Do they broadcast live and have highlights in the evening?
They hate the Tour, no one watches it.
TV France have it on everyday live, so too NBC & NBCSN.
haha! Thanks.
I've been to Colmar, it's lovely. Ostensibly France but actually pretty much Germany.
Some steep little lumps around there and also a couple of very sobering Commonwealth graveyards from both World Wars. Literally thousands of mostly French and Polish soldiers.
Sagan then. Lovely
Anyone know why Sagan was sporting clear goggles round his neck at the finish?
Didn’t he do an interview for his first win with Bora wearing some ski goggles? Perhaps it’s become a thing?
ah. https://www.ridemedia.com.au/product/whats-going-on-with-peter-sagans-nose/
Anyone know why Sagan was sporting clear goggles round his neck at the finish?
💰💰💰💰💰
I was on a long drive today and listening to the cricket which was great. After the cricket finished 5LiveSX switched over to commentary from France and having never before listened to cycling commentary on the radio I can confirm that it is without doubt the worst sport for radio coverage.
On the other hand I find the daily BeSpoke podcasts really rather good.