Stage 5: Arras > Amiens, 189.5km
Despite the four days that have come before, some of the riders called today's stage the most stressful yet. Maybe so, but it was also the first one so far in which the scenic views from the helicopter have been more interesting that what's been going on in the race. It was the kind of first week stage that we've been used to in the past: the favourites staying out of trouble and the sprinters taking the glory.
Today's was especially dull however, sprint aside. Only one man when out on the attack and even he was reeled in with 100 kilometres still to race. There was a split in the bunch sometime after, but it only caught out those with no interest in the days stage and looking for a virtual rest-day anyway, and so a reduced peloton ambled into Amiens for the gallop.
Mark Cavendish was the predictable favourite but once again he got his timing wrong and went too early into a headwind only to have André Greipel and then Peter Sagan come around him. Greipel timed it perfectly and took his second stage win of this years Tour, and its as well because five more metres and Sagan would have had him. If Canvendish's timing to start his sprint was poor one way, the fast charging Sagan's was a shade off the other.
The downside of winning 25 stages in the Tour de France is that when you stop winning, the questions come thick and fast and the first of those questions is 'what is wrong with Cav?'
Something is clearly up.
Maybe it is just that his timing is off, maybe it's confidence, maybe it's the train, maybe it's communication (you'll be sprinting into a headwind today Cav!), or maybe it is the legs. He's 30 now, and while that's still two years younger than Greipel, Cavendish has always relied on pure speed which leaves you before the raw power that Greipel relies on. Who knows, though I reckon it's a little bit of each and to win sprints at that level you need the majority of those elements to be working well.
I hope I'm wrong because I'd desperately like to see Cavendish win three more stages and take to the podium with podium chaperon Bernard Hinault alongside him, whos record he would have matched. Given the lack of stages in this Tour designed for the pure sprinters it might already be too late for that to happen this year.
Today's was especially dull however, sprint aside. Only one man when out on the attack and even he was reeled in with 100 kilometres still to race. There was a split in the bunch sometime after, but it only caught out those with no interest in the days stage and looking for a virtual rest-day anyway, and so a reduced peloton ambled into Amiens for the gallop.
Mark Cavendish was the predictable favourite but once again he got his timing wrong and went too early into a headwind only to have André Greipel and then Peter Sagan come around him. Greipel timed it perfectly and took his second stage win of this years Tour, and its as well because five more metres and Sagan would have had him. If Canvendish's timing to start his sprint was poor one way, the fast charging Sagan's was a shade off the other.
The downside of winning 25 stages in the Tour de France is that when you stop winning, the questions come thick and fast and the first of those questions is 'what is wrong with Cav?'
Something is clearly up.
Maybe it is just that his timing is off, maybe it's confidence, maybe it's the train, maybe it's communication (you'll be sprinting into a headwind today Cav!), or maybe it is the legs. He's 30 now, and while that's still two years younger than Greipel, Cavendish has always relied on pure speed which leaves you before the raw power that Greipel relies on. Who knows, though I reckon it's a little bit of each and to win sprints at that level you need the majority of those elements to be working well.
I hope I'm wrong because I'd desperately like to see Cavendish win three more stages and take to the podium with podium chaperon Bernard Hinault alongside him, whos record he would have matched. Given the lack of stages in this Tour designed for the pure sprinters it might already be too late for that to happen this year.
| Result: | Classement: |
| 1. Greipel (LTS) in 4h39' 2. Sagan (TCS) 3. Cavendish (EQS) 4. Kristoff (NOR) 5. Boasson Hagen (MTN) 6. Degenklob (TGA) all s.t. | 1. Martin (EQS) in 17h19'26" 2. Froome (SKY) +12" 3. Van Garderen (BMC) +25" 4. Sagan (TCS) +33" 5. Gallopin (LTS) +38" 6. Van Avermaet (BMC) +40" |
