dstrong 

diphthong

casar...

kjc9640

What is everyones best picks for tomorrows stage? Why?

reef58

This is either going to be a snoozer, or a decimation of the field. I don't think it will be in between, but there is a long way to the finish from the last summit

kimconyc

Going with a breakaway that stays away. Don't think anything changes in the GC (zzzzzzz), too far away from Paris still.

Someone punchy and scrappy like a S. Casar or A. Valverde, L. Sanchez.

cthenn

Yawn...I predict Evans will attack on the final 500 meters on top of the final climb for some reason. These stages are almost more boring than the pan-flat sprint stages. Why don't they put the finale at the very bottom of the final climb? I'd love to see some attacking on the descent.

FriendlyFred

With the breakaway on the 2nd climb and the peloton heading towards it, it doesn't look like much is going to change in the GC standings. Before the day started, Phil and Paul were acting like these two climbs, particularly the 2nd climb, were vicious. Not all that vicious when Cav is in front of the peloton after the 1st climb summited. I want Mt top finishes and attacks! Who knew this tour would end up being 2 weeks of guys pedaling in a group ride across France.

reef58

There isn't much point in attacking now as Sky will just reel it back in. This is the second stage with 2 cat 1 climbs that really have done nothing to sort out the race.

Sagan is a talented guy for sure. The guy just wants to win at any cost.

chasm54

No wonder the peloton hates Europcar. Evans punctures, needs two wheel changes, the yellow jersey waits for him (and later punctures himself) and Rolland takes off up the road. Not OK.

EDIT. Three wheel changes for Evans. Unbelievable.

chasm54

Cofidis team car alleging that the rash of punctures is the result of someone scattering tacks on the road.

telebianchi

Good call!

It sounded good before the race ..

lungdoc

Nice to see the sportsmanship on display, but disgusting for someone to sabotage the race and endanger the athletes in this fashion. I hope they find the idiot(s) who did this and I hope their cellmates and guards are cycling fans.

OrionKhan

Looks like it occurred at the summit of the last climb. Lots of people there. Seems like someone would have seen the idiots in action. Hopefully, someone steps up and points them out to the authorities.

Flaneur

Some good old traditional skullduggery today- just not by the riders:-)

In the pre-earpiece era, a Patron like Hinault would have chased Rolland down personally and made him the offer he couldn't refuse.........

TommyL

Rolland = Tool

DLBroox

Agreed!

Does anyone know what happened to the Astana rider who went down? I know he's out but I was wondering if a tack in his tire could have caused him to crash. Looked like he was by himself. They flew by him when he was sitting on the floor.

Adrift

Rolland is on the record saying he didn't know what happened. Seems pretty clear that when he learned the situation he slowed up with the rest of them. Give the guy some credit as a cyclist.

ettsn

What an awful thing to sabotage the tour like that. I was pleased to see BW neutralize the peloton. Good sportsmanship is admirable!

I was equally pleased to see both Sagan riding out of his boots today on those climbs, and also to see LLS get a stage.

letitsnow

Isn't LLS riding with a broken wrist?

chasm54

I don't believe that for a moment. Even if he didn't know exactly what had happened, it was quite obvious that Wiggins had neutralised the race for the time being. Any pro would know that signified something out of the ordinary. And when he jumped, various riders shouted and gesticulated at him. So apparently he's blind as well as deaf. Amazing he gets through the stages...

jeffpoulin

I don't believe it either. Dropping the peloton without attacking should have been a pretty big clue. Besides, don't all the riders have radios? How could he have not known?

OrionKhan

Yeah, it looked like he was riding with the yellow group for a while and then decided to take off. It was very obvious that the yellow group were waiting up for something.

TommyL

He rode for a very long time away from the peloton before he sat up again. He kept pushing as long as the yellow jersey group was on cruise control. Liquigas and Lotto drilled it to reel him in, and only once he was about to get picked up again did he sit up and put on the innocent act.

Nerull

Roland has a radio. He knows what is going on with other riders, and he knew the peloton was slowing - since he was riding with them for a minute or so after they slowed. He took off AFTER Wiggins declared they were waiting. The peloton had to chase him down to bring him back, and leave almost the entire BMC team behind working their asses off to try to get Evans back in.

Jquest

While I was listening to the post coverage , I believed someone mentioned that yeah, his crash was a result of a tack. Wiggins had the best line "Send saboteurs to football matches" I'm sure retribution would be served fast and swift by those fans.
Before today's stage I was routing against Wiggins and his crew of road graders, but afterwards I hope he wins. Class act unlike some others, a couple of years back.
*cough* pistolero!