There was good weather and good terrain on today’s flat stage from Cambrai to Reims, the champagne capital of the world, as a normal flat 154 kilometer sprinter’s stage contested all on French soil was held on this day 5 of the Tour de France. On this relatively calm predictable day there was the usual breakaway consisting of 5 riders one each from Ag2r, Bbox, Euskaltel, Lotto, and Footon that helped make things look more like the well organized grand tour we’ve come to expect instead of the mud-wrestling, crash-derby we’ve been witnessing. The visuals were all French countryside; wheat fields, corn fields, flat smooth pavement, dry warm wind-free weather, and TV color-commentators stretching their repertoire a bit trying to conjure up interesting facts as the peloton refused to provide the drama of the last few days. For the casual fan it may have been a bit boring, but for the riders, it was a welcome respite from the manufactured theatrics of the previous few stages – the Tour they signed on for.
The breakaway was initiated right off the start at about 3 kilometers but it was apparent that the sprinter’s teams were not going to concede a victory on this day. The breakaway never really had a chance. They were allowed to stay away at a respectable distance at times and get some TV time for their sponsors, but you sensed that unless some really dumb strategy was employed by the other teams the breakaway would never really provide us a winner on this day. Not with the thunder of Thor Hushovd, Mark Cavendish, Alessandro Petacchi, Tyler Farrar, Robbie McEwen and a host of other powerful sprinters lurking just a few kilometers behind. With a gear on their bikes that you and I can’t handle – not the way they do or even the way the rest of these riders do, there’d be no concession on the day.
The big grand tours, the Vuelta España, the de Giro, and the Tour de France as well as many other stage races allow for a variety of talents to show their skills. It keeps things interesting on a variety of levels. Climbing stages allow the billy goats that go straight uphill better than most of us go on the flats to let their specialty shine. Short prologues, around 10 kilometers, allow the big powerful riders who can crank out unbelievable wattage blasting through short distances to take the day. Time trials let us see those big engines who can sustain their suffering over longer distances, up to 50 kilometers at full power. Then there are stages like today, that wear everyone down a bit, over a long flat distance, but come to an abrupt exciting finish with an amazingly display of raw power, nerve, and timing.
As predicted, at about 6 kilometers to the finish, the peloton really started to reel in the breakaway. Not with any particular coherency because none of the big sprinter teams wanted to accept responsibility to expend unnecessary energy to help anyone else catch the break – everyone just seemed to start driving harder, letting their collective adrenaline string out the pack. But finally, the 5-man break was swallowed and it came down to the sprinter finish that was anticipated. As the line got closer HTC seemed to be given the lead rather than truly wanting it, with their 3 planned riders at the front but a lot of meters to go. They may have used up too much power setting the pace rather than contesting the race. Renshaw took the lead with Cavendish right behind, and at that point, it looked like a no-brainer, Cavendish is gonna win it, Renshaw won’t be far behind, the indomitable Robbie McEwen will be right up someone’s tail always in the hunt, and a bunch of other huge thighs to follow.
But something odd happened. Cavendish couldn’t hold the speed – actually, I’m not sure he even got up to speed, not the speed we’ve come to expect from him. Alessandro Petacchi jumped off of Cavendish’s left with a blistering push and flew passed the HTC Columbia rider like he was going backwards. One British commentator, obviously disappointed, said that it looked like Cavendish was nailed to the pavement. Cavendish quickly threw in the towel and didn’t even finish in the top ten on the day. Are we seeing a shift in sprinter dominance? Petacchi looked unbeatable.
Okay, I’ve somehow managed to write 5 paragraphs and not mention anything about Team RadioShack. And you know why? Because all is well. No falls, no injuries, no drama. Team RadioShack didn’t come here to contest a sprint stage. Team RadioShack came here to win the whole shootin match. Winning the whole thing requires that you are a specialist in every category, not just one discipline of cycling. You can prologue with the best, climb with the billy goats, time trial beyond mortal capability, and grind out the flats without incident. And you and your team have to focus on expending as little energy as possible every day throughout July while maintaining or bettering your place in the standings. So when you see an article on this web site about how well a RadioShack team member did contesting a sprint stage….start worrying.
By George Hurst, staff writer
If the goal is to stay safe and minimize energy, why was TRS at the front so much of the day, leading the charge to capture the breakaway?
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I was asking myself too during yesterday’s stage, “where’s our team…why aren’t there at least 5 guys around Lance?”. I would have loved to see Levi at his shoulder xecuting a 12″ wheel change and then Chris, Popo and Jani pull him back to Alberto in those last Kilometers.
I interpret the fact they weren’t there as indicator of just how tuff it is riding the pave in the Tour. And how extraordinary of an Athlete Lance is to have been staying up front and to minimize the losses like he did. Hats off to Popo. What an Ace*
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my question is why lance didn’t take a teammates bike instead of changing the wheel. yeah there are size differences but at that stage in the race who cares.
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When Lance punctured in Stage 3, what did Saxobank do? They put down the hammer and created huge time gaps. It is shocking to me that they did this one day after the peloton graciously let Saxobank’s Andy Schleck back into the race. Just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished.
I would have understood this from another team, but from Saxobank? These time gaps that have completely altered the tactics for the whole Tour. Why isn’t anyone saying anything about this?
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Tomdotstar’s question is a good one, and I wish I heard or read some discussion of it somewhere, but I haven’t. No good deed does go unpunished.
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So the shack rode smart and strong enough to protect every second–bringing Lance in without losing a single one to any of the real contenders. Well done.
Had the peloton fractured near the end, it would’ve cost valuable seconds to those not strong or wise enough to keep themselves the lead group.
Similar days of racing may offer the chance of a fracture in the peloton that the shack/Lance definately want to capatilze on… …hopefully whittling seconds back from the Evans, Shleck, Vino, Contador and Millar before reaching the mountains. The team of Lance will continue to value each second poising themnselves to be on the winning side of opportunity.
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An excellent question, tomdotstar! One can only ponder at where the old “gentleman’s agreement” went.
As far as I’m concerned, the niceties are over and all bets are off!
Go and kick derriere, TRS!
Show these second-rate teams what a real, true championship team is.
Go Lance.
The trogolodytes are there for the conquering.
Crush, Kill, Destroy!
Cheers.
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wow these sprinters stages are really a drag. nothing really ever changes in the overall. why do they make them so long? just make it a 100 meter sprinters race for any that want to attend.
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I agree eks, the flat sprinters’ stages are BORING! Much the same all over.
The Tour organisers could do a better job like including more ITTs and TTTs. That would surely make things interesting.
Cheers.
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