Points classification
And in the points classification, Cavendish is now up to third.
1. Andre Greipel 199pts
2. Peter Sagan 187pts
3. Mark Cavendish 151pts
4. John Degenkolb 148pts
5. Bryan Coquard 96pts
And with that, I bid you farewell. Thanks for all your emails, tweets, insta-books etc. See you next time.
Updated
General classification standings
As so, after a day without the yellow jersey, it is indeed Chris Froome who will wear the maillot jaune tomorrow. He made it safely home in a pulsating finish.
1. Chris Froome
2. Peter Sagan +5
3. Tejay van Garderen +13
4. Tony Gallopin +26
5. Greg Van Avermaet +28
7. Alberto Contador +36
12. Vincenzo Nibali +1’ 38’’
16. Nairo Quintana +1’ 56’’
He isn’t always all that forthcoming to the press but love him or hate him, Cavendish has an uncanny ability to explain his thought processes with real clarity after such high-octane finishes. This time, he explains that he tried to wait as long as possible to strike, and it certainly paid dividends.
Cavendish quick to pay tribute to his team-mate Tony Martin, who was forced out of the race yesterday.
“I just had this feeling. The team was motivated. It was incredible. The near misses, for me in the sprint, and then to keep the faith was incredible. It’s so nice to get a win for Tony especially.”
That’s Tour de France stage win No26 for Cavendish. His first since 2013 and ends a drought of 36 stages without a win – twice as long as his previous drought. Etixx-QuickStep will be pleased.
Wowsers. That was breathtaking. And not actually as close as it looked from head on. Cavendish timed that finish perfectly, springing up Greipel’s inside. Greipel was second with Sagan third, Degenkolb fourth and Kristoff fifth.
Mark Cavendish wins!
Cavendish is in the frame now with Renshaw. He’s on the back of Katusha’s train but here comes Greipel and Sagan. But Cavendish fires up the inside and takes it. At long last Cavendish has his first win of the 2015 Tour de France.
1km to go
The roundabout caused chaos. Team Sky went the wrong way. Katusha are looking good for Kristoff but Sagan is hanging on and Lotto are still in the mix. No sign of Cavendish at the moment …
2km to go
Peter Sagan is a lone wolf but he’s finding space. The peloton is really strung out now thanks to Giant’s pace. Here come Katusha …
3km to go
A big swing left followed by a roundabout. Giant are making the running at front. Others are biding their time. Etixx-QuickStep are particularly quiet
5km to go
The pace has picked up again. Degenkolb’s train is making a move. And Sagan is sticking to them like glue
There’s a bit of cat and mouse now. The big guns are at the front but are waiting until the closing stages. It’s going to be crowded. A lot of the GC contenders are at the front, mindful to steer clear of danger
Team Sky are at the front now. That was planned. It’s a technical part of the race and Brailsford and co clearly did their homework. Nicolas Roche at the front at the moment.
It’s Tinkoff Saxo, BMC, Europcar and Lotto Soudal at the front at the moment … 10km left
And they’ve been court with 11km to go and the peloton is motoring now. Business is picking up …
The peloton has arrived in Brittany. The big guns are at the front. The final two – Feillu and Mate – are making a fist of it – but you sense it’s just brinkmanship between the two of them. Neither will win the stage
15km to go, the four escapees are splintering and the peloton is just 13 seconds behind. They can see it over their shoulders …
@gerard_meagher isn't 25km or so a bit early to catch the break? Or are they barrelling along at such a pace that a new one has no chance?
— Ed Schroeder (@edlovespixels) July 10, 2015
A good point from Ed. There’s every chance someone may try and spring a surprise but there is an ominous inevitability to this stage and I can’t see beyond a sprint finish.
Geraint Thomas was off the back of the peloton there. Not a great deal to worry about though …
20km to go. @GeraintThomas86 has to stop for a wheel change. Rowe and Kennaugh leading the line up ahead, keeping @chrisfroome safe #TDF2015
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 10, 2015
20km to go and the breakaway is at 15 seconds. How much shall we read into the intermediate sprint earlier? For the sprinters it was Degenkolb, Sagan, Greipel and Cavendish, who certainly put the hammer down. Is that any sort of harbinger?
Stuart Stanton has been back in touch.
Gerard, I am in an office surrounded by TVs showing horse racing , the Test Match and Wimbledon amongst others. The visual spectacle of the Tour knocks everything else clean into touch! Vive Le Tour!
Too true (giant people cockerels aside)
So, with the demise of the breakaway inevitable, where is the smart money today? Andre Greipel? Mark Cavendish? Peter Sagan? John Degenkolb, Alexander Kristoff, none of the above? I couldn’t possibly encourage gambling but I’m going with Greipel.
We’re down to 28km remaining. The remaining four escapees are 30 seconds ahead. Pulses are beginning to race.
An email from the US of A from Courtney Brown:
It’s a slow morning at work across the pond but I thought I would finally chime in after following the Guardian’s Tour Live Blog for the past two years in the shadows. I think ‘Froome and Doom’ would work very well given the black kits of Team Sky and their ‘Death Star’ bus.
Quite the Star Wars theme developing.
The breakaway is down to four. Daniel Teklehaimanot has succumbed and will be momentarily swallowed up by the peloton. There are few more impressive sights than the peloton at full lick, swinging around a corner and hunting down escapees.
James C has redeemed himself with some insight into Lotto Soudal’s train:
Lotto Soudal’s Greg Henderson having to leave the race due to injuries sustained in the Stage 3 horror crash might have significant influence on the Green Jersey competition. The Kiwi is Greipel’s ‘drop off’ man, and Lotto Soudal have 2 major ambitions this year - winning Green and finally winning the Champs Elysees sprint. The loss of Henderson makes this more challenging still for them. Having said that Greipel managed fine on wednesday with Henderson hurting at the back of the pack.
Anticipation is beginning to build. Nicknames have been attributed, bidons emptied, we’re gearing up for the sprint finish into Fougeres. It won’t just be blind panic and frantic pedalling. There are actually myriad tactics that go into a sprint finish. Don’t believe me, take a look at our interactive from a couple of years ago.
Some positive news from Etixx-QuickStep:
Thanks for all your positive remarks! @tonymartin85 says hi as he is enjoying #TDF2015 on TV. #OurWay pic.twitter.com/nc0Yf4XiFS
— Etixx - Quick-Step (@Etixx_QuickStep) July 10, 2015
Ah. There’s a giant cockerel made out of people dressed in red, white and blue flapping its arms in a field as the people walk forwards and backwards. More normal behaviour.
Meanwhile, on the road, Daniel Teklehaimanot and co are less than 40 seconds ahead with 37km remaining.
James C has emailed:
With his elbows flared out and that high cadence thing going on Froome looks like an egg whisker on turbo.
Call me a pessimist but I just can’t see ‘egg whisker on turbo’ catching on I’m afraid James.
Phil Russell has an idea:
My prefered pun option is Froome Raider, however given cyclings preference for linking cyclists to animals of particular characteristics and their place of origin, can I suggest “The Bumblebee of Nairobi”?
Although I think James Flanders may have trumped it with Nairobi wan kenobi
I’m going to have to disagree with Jason here …
For Froome ... Skeletor. Granted Skeletor was actually jacked, but I’ve never seen anyone else manage to make cycling clothing look so loose-fitting.
… for the simply reason that Andy Schleck is quite clearly skeletor on a bike.
Action stations at the front of the peloton now. The teams of the GC contenders – your Tinkoff Saxos of this world – have come to the fore, looking to protect their main men. As a result, the breakaway is on borrowed time.
David Lincoln is in generous mood:
@gerard_meagher Miami Froome - it was my self appointed nickname, but I'm happy to give it up for the big man.
— David Lincoln (@BrightEars) July 10, 2015
The peloton is rattling along at a fair old lick and the gap is below a minute with 52km remaining. Still Lotto Soudal, with designs on another stage win for Andre Greipel, leading the way.
Jamie has been in the sun all afternoon me thinks.
@gerard_meagher During the picturesque mountain stages, 'Froome with a view'
— Jamie Fewery (@jamiefewery) July 10, 2015
More on Froome:
George Demas says:
The only nickname I’ve ever seen for him is “Froomey” which is about as weak a nickname as I can think of, though he is such a bland character, I doubt calling him the “Kenyan Crusher” would really stick.
Nope. Kenyan Crusher is awful George.
Guy Rowland says:
Apparently Chris used to be known as “Crash” Froome due to his propensity to cycle into road furniture. Not been any evidence of this type of behaviour this year yet, but he took a few tumbles last year. As an aside, am I the only person getting annoyed with Froome constantly saying he doesn’t care about wearing the yellow jersey, and even claiming that he wouldn’t bother defending it (and clearly didn’t). Show some respect man!
Jamie Wilson says:
Surely it has to be Va Va Froome.
@gerard_meagher nicknames: I thought Froome was 'FroomeDog' - or was that what 'Wiggo' called him and now he needs a new one[that he likes]?
— James W (@USPostalBoy) July 10, 2015
@gerard_meagher Chris Froome's nickname is 'Badzilla', apparently.
— James (@WYSEjames) July 10, 2015
Updated
Craig Fawcett has an idea that I like for Chris Froome’s nickname:
Froome Shake Shake Shake The Room. Obviously.
Danny Hart has been a touch more scathing:
It’s C3PO. For aesthetic reasons.
Updated
The breakaway is back up to 1’ 45’’ and it seems Daniel Teklehaimanot is making the running. It’s hard to see anything other than the five escapees being swallowed up before the finish though.
An email from Robin Hazlehurst:
If you want a rubbish nickname, Michael Matthews named himself ‘Bling’. Although ‘Bling Matthews’ does sort of trip off the tongue, it is a horrible name to have been given by somebody else, but to give it to yourself.... Michael needs to take a good long look at himself in the mirror. Or presumably in fact stop taking a good long look at himself in the mirror.
This has me thinking, does Chris Froome have a nickname? And if not, shall we make one up for him? Let’s
MTN-Qhubeka’s Jens Zemke has just been on to say that Daniel Teklehaimanot was supposed to drop back to the peloton after picking up the KoM point but his enthusiasm got the better of him.
New highlight of the day …
Sean Kelly pronouncing ‘burning’ as ‘bouuwwwwrrrnning’
Movistar seem relaxed about today’s proceedings …
#TDF2015: Break seemingly under LTS / EQS' control, only 1' away from the field with 70k to go. MOV sitting behind. pic.twitter.com/qK87di42uP
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) July 10, 2015
Nicknames update:
Fred Diaz says …
The best nickname has to be Edvald “Higgs Boson” Hagen. Presumably because he was the glue that kept his team together!
While Howarth-Johnson reckons …
Do you remember after being nicknamed “The Terminator” Peter Sagan got his bike repainted as the “Tourminator” in a bet with his team director, it helped him win the Green Jersey. But as if not satisfied that his riding was enough entertainment, he went on to start doing bizarre celebrations over the line, particularly enjyed the “Running Man” myself!
@gerard_meagher actually i think Cancellara's nickname came from Sportacus of LazyTown fame (look the same bar the outfit)
— Chase on the Case (@Chaseoncase) July 10, 2015
Trivia!
About James Austin’s trivia question, writes Adrian Gentry.
2014’s tour had 12 withdraw by the end of stage 7. 2013 had 10 and 2012 had 17! So not an exceptional year by recent standards. I like the Tour’s emoji tweet BTW. It’s like a very small info graphic.
Stuart Stanton has emailed:
Gerard, this race needs monumental thunderstorm, right now! Keep going all the former junior Tour of Wales riders, John Richards (Race founder) sends his regards.
Unlikely malheuresment Stuart. Le meteo en le nord de France is tres jolie maintenaunt.
The breakaway are just a minute ahead now, with 76km remaining. Anthony Delaplace is not going to give it up without a fight though. He’s another from the local area.
I know the route very well”, he told French newspaper Ouest-France. “It’s not far from Caen where I live. They aren’t easy. Obviously, I want to show off. As we arrive in Brittany, as a local team we want to celebrate the event. I won’t give up a chance to breakaway.”
A question from Dane Estok …
@gerard_meagher why is so little attention being given to @tejay_van ?
— Dane Estok (@DaneEstok) July 10, 2015
Dane does have a point here. Tejay van Garderen is, after all, second in the GC, just 13 seconds back. He’s also had luck on his side …
Little spill at the end. Thanks @WarrenBarguil for the soft landing. Hope you are ok.
— Tejay van Garderen (@tejay_van) July 9, 2015
Rest assured, we’ll heat plenty about Tejay should he still be second in a week’s time. Warren Barguil, of course, is going through his home region of France at present.
If you missed it earlier, here’s another chance to have a read all about current King of the Mountains Daniel Teklehaimanot. It’s well worth it.
Apologies, the lead is now 1’ 45’’. Either there was a technical issue or I was doing that thing where I don’t use my eyes properly.
The breakaway have just nudged over two minutes ahead with about 95km remaining. I’ve also just noticed Cofidis’ jazzy yellow socks. Thoughts etc?
Updated
Make of this what you will.
🏁 <-- 100 km --> 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚗 < -- 1'58" --> 🚗 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚗
— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 10, 2015
Ed McCartney is a happy man:
Very pleased to have cleared that up, thank-you. From now on I shall refer to this years race as “The Tour Of The Cursed Maillot Jaune” (two syllables in Cursed naturally). On the subject of Cancellara’s nickname, of course he must have given it to himself, nobody ever said “You are Spartacus!”
Naturally.
More on Sean Kelly now …
More for the S. Kelly drinking game: Mentions of "Ulrika Green Hedge" or the benefits of a fun size can of "Cohca Cohla" @gerard_meagher
— Nick Ryder (@thenickryder) July 10, 2015
While Grant Mungin has this to say:
I’m impressed with Mr Cutting rules, but I think a bonus drink is on order whenever the “bonifcation” is mentioned.
Drink responsibly now
Updated
Back to nicknames, and Doug English likes the Gorilla.
The guy’s calves are bigger than my thighs, and his thighs are bigger than my waist. The nickname is perfect .He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would mind, and if he did mind, he doesn’t look like the kind of guy you’d keep using the nickname on. Also, just look at that chin.
And just like that, more trivia from James Austin.
A lot has been said about the high number of withdrawals this year - I think the present number is 12 (about 7% of the entire field) is that a record by stage 7? What is the highest number of withdrawals by this point in a tour?
Do you think this is just because of the tough first few days parcours (though as people keep crashing on the flat I doubt it) or just damn bad luck?
While there is certainly an element of luck involved James, I think the issue is striking the balance between avoiding an opening week where the GC contenders are on autopilot and an opening week where they’ve all crashed out. Ned Boulting summed it up nicely in his column this morning arguing that if there is one thing Christian Prudhomme cannot stand, it’s predictability.
Updated
Hoorah!
Ed, we have an answer for you.
Based on this extract from Wiki, Ed McCartney must be right – there’s never been a year in which two maillots jaune quit. This does support the notion that the Tour may be getting too gladiatorial as the organisers spice up the flat stages.
Quite a stunning roll call of agony and misfortune though, but Michel Pollentier, (1978), who was found to be carrying a tube of undoped urine under his armpit, takes the, er, biscuit.
Andrew McConnell is not working hard enough on a Friday afternoon:
Tenuous connection perhaps, but whenever someone mentions Gorilla, I think of this song of Jake Thackray’s (aptly called Le Gorille originally by Frenchman George Brassens originally). Not sure if this an apt vision for Greipel…
The leading quintet are 2’ 15’’ out in front and, unsurprisingly, it’s Andre Greipel’s Lotto Soudal keeping them on a leash.
Après 80 km @Lotto_Soudal emmène le peloton / Already 80 km covered & @Lotto_Soudal leads the pack - Time gap 2'18" pic.twitter.com/fEeRnpU2Uu
— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 10, 2015
The aficionados, it appears are making Peter Sagan the marginal favourite for today’s finish, what with the four per cent incline in the closing 300m. Andre Greipel however, is the only man to win a bunched sprint finish hitherto this year, he’s done so twice and he’s after a hat-trick. He had this to say prior to today’s stage.
It’s a tricky finale today and it’s not necessarily going to be easy. It might be a disadvantage for Cavendish to lose Martin. In any case I’ll try to go for the hat-trick.”
He’ll have to do so without the assistance of Greg Henderson though. He did not start today and has withdrawn due to his broken ribs.
Here’s a nickname anecdote no less from Simon Thomas:
Miguel Indurain didn’t need much of a nickname, just the ‘Big Mig’. Which is a bit rubbish.
Incidentally, I read that he was pulled out of second tour by his Dad, who turned up in the middle of the night and said ‘get your things, you’re leaving; we need to get the harvest in’. I’m kind of sad that no one is ever going to say that to me.
By the by, the peloton continues to sweep through the open countryside on its way to Fougeres.
Paul Cutting has emailed in with a novel way of passing the time.
One of the highlights of Eurosport’s coverage is playing Sean Kelly drinking bingo:
- Talking about sandwiches – 2 fingers
- If it includes the words “bit of cheese” – 2 extra fingers
- Every time he utter the words “makes the calculation” – Finish the drink
Drink responsibly now.
Jason White has chimed in to the nicknames discussion. No one has answered Ed’s trivia question just yet …
Nicknames (in general) are, or should be ‘earned’ whether in a good or bad way. That’s just how it should be. Self-appointed nick-names are just ‘vanity plates’. Of course, didn’t Fabian C (whom I like/respect) name himelf Spartacus? IMO, he’s still earned it if so. And Greipel has seemed to embrace the Gorilla moniker either way.
Here are the full results from the intermediate sprint:
1. Luis Angel Maté, 20 pts
2. Brice Feillu, 17 pts
3. Anthony Delaplace, 15 pts
4. Kristjian Durasek, 13 pts
5. Daniel Teklehaimanot, 11 pts
At 2’ 15’’
6. John Degenkolb, 10 pts
7. Peter Sagan, 9 pts
8. André Greipel, 8 pts
9. Mark Cavendish, 7 pts
10. Mark Renshaw, 6 pts
11. Bryan Coquard, 5 pts
12. Ramon Sinkeldam, 4 pts
13. Roy Curvers, 3 pts
14. Marcel Sieberg, 2 pts
15. Jens Debusschere, 1 pt
The long and short of it, Greipel’s lead over Sagan in the points classification is now just two points.
Highlight of the day so far …
Sean Kelly saying collarbone
Intermediate sprint
Well that was a bit unexpected. On such an ambling day, there was quite the contest there for the remaining points on offer at Argentan. Luis Angel Maté of Cofidis was first out of the five escapees but Peter Sagan, Andre Greipel, John Degenkolb and Mark Cavendish were all flexing their muscles.
Sprint intermédiaire très disputé par / Great sprint between @johndegenkolb, @petosagan & @AndreGreipel pic.twitter.com/JSKaCe4gwT
— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 10, 2015
Trivia time!
Ed McCartney has a question:
I have a question for any stat-obsessed kings of tour trivia out there - has there been a previous TdF in which two yellow jersey wearers crashed out of the race? I can’t remember it happening before but perhaps someone who knows about these things (or is less lazy when it comes to google searches) could enlighten me.
Can anyone put Ed out of his misery?
The nicknames debate is heating up. Rosalind Mitchell has this to say.
I haven’t heard Vincenzo Nibali complain about being Le requin de Messine – the shark of Messina – have you? Since the monicker is French I don’t think he made it up himself and he’s hardly a specialist sprinter. Sharks are hard- done by – I blame that film everybody’s going on about this year.
Updated
The five riders in the breakaway are approaching today’s only intermediate sprint and will mop up the maximum points on offer but there are valuable points on offer in the points classification. Greipel’s lead over Sagan is just three points. Sagan’s dad is at the finish line as well … make of that what you will
John Sanderson has emailed. He doesn’t like calling Greipel the Gorilla.
The Gorilla...hardly the best nickname..? I’m sure the riders were/are proud to be known as the Manx Missile of the Tashkent Terror....do the riders give these names to themselves? Surely Greipel didn’t sit down and choose the Gorilla!? Also, only ever seems to apply to sprinter types - apart from the Eagle of Toledo...
Mark Cavendish. Discuss. Reports of his decline seem to be greatly exaggerated but, despite arriving for the Grand Depart in excellent form, he has not won a Tour de France stage since 2013. It was a strange day for him yesterday – he saw team-mate Tony Martin crash out but another team-mate Zdenek Stybar won the stage. He’s had his say about it …
That’s what makes the Tour what it is. It was very emotional this morning, I could feel such a devastation, it’s kind of a weird feeling. He won a stage in the Tour de France, he wore the yellow jersey. It’s not like it’s been overshadowed but it’s a bit like a bride on a wedding day. The day should be about you. That’s how it should be today. The finale is a bit tricky. I’ll have to watch out for the guys coming from behind.”
Updated
@gerard_meagher camped in Forêt de Fougères few years ago, absolutely beautiful, not that riders will see a great deal of it #tdf
— Paul Treloar (@PaulieTandoori) July 10, 2015
It’s unlikely Paul, but let’s not rule in out entirely.
The leading quintet – Durasek, Mate, Delaplace, Feillu and Teklehaimanot – are 2’ 55’’ ahead after 40 clicks. In the mean time, shall we have a recap of the standings? Let’s
General classification
- Chris Froome
- Teejay van Garderen +13sec
- Peter Sagan +15
- Tony Gallopin +26
- Greg Van Avermaet +28
7. Alberto Contador +36
12. Vincenzo Nibali +1’ 38’’
16. Nairo Quintana +1’ 56’’
Chris Froome has been talking, at length, perhaps too much length, about his refusal to wear the golden fleece yellow jersey today.
Out of respect for Tony I would never have worn it in any case. That’s not the way to get the yellow jersey due to someone else’s misfortunes but Tony finished yesterday. I was second on the GC so there was no way to wear it. It’s never a burden especially in a stage like today, it’s definitely a stage for the sprinters so the pressure is on the sprinters teams to control the race and get to the front. It’s just another day to get through. So far the guys have done a fantastic job keeping me safe, keeping me out of trouble. Yesterday, there was a little bit of confusion out on the road in terms of who caused the accident. Vincenzo [Nibali] blamed me for the incident so I just went to the Astana bus to set the record straight. It doesn’t really change too much for us because for the whole race up until now the team has been keeping me in the front of the race. It made no difference if I was wearing the jersey or not. It’s about staying out of trouble, ahead of the crashes and getting to the finish line with no splits with the other GC contenders. Up to now, I’m in a very fortunate position. I was not caught in crosswinds. The cobbles went well. I’m in a very good position in terms of the GC standings going into the team time trial in that pole position if you like.”
More on today’s stage now. Setting off from Normandy, the peloton will wind its way into Brittany, through the Mayenne province, ‘a wonderful visit of rural France’ says the northern France tourism board Tour de France website. My extensive research (wikipedia) tells me Victor Hugo stayed in Fougeres in June 1836 with his mistress Juliette Drouet and if that doesn’t whet the appetite …
Before we reach Fougeres however, there is an intermediate sprint after 65.5km where Greipel, aka the Gorilla, will be looking for a few more points to tighten his grip on the already figure-hugging green jersey.
We may have a wee bit of time on our hands today, what with the hours of anticipation for three minutes of frantic pedalling in the final kilometre. So do get in touch with your thoughts, opinion, analysis, dark secrets etc whether it be about cycling, cider or cheese.
Alberto Contador has crashed!
Bertie had a small tumble in the neutral zone, Robert Gesink following suit. Both are fine, we don’t have live pictures yet but I imagine Contador just slipped over. Silly Bertie.
Updated
Now then. The riders have been on the road for about 40 minutes and with the only category climb just 12.5km in, there was, unsurprisingly, an early breakaway. Five escapees – Kristjian Durasek (Lampre-Merida), Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis), Anthony Delaplace and Brice Feillu (Bretagne-Séché Environnement) and Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN) – currently have a 2’ 40’’ lead over the peloton.
It was Teklehaimont that was first over the Cote de Canapville, meaning he claimed the solitary point on offer to extend his King of the Mountains lead. Teklehaimont has been making history left, right and centre recently … read all about him here.
Updated
Stage seven: Livarot to Fougères (190.5km)
Hello! And welcome to stage seven of the 2015 Tour de France. It’s another one for the sprinters today – we’re talking pancake flat – and Mark Cavendish’s last chance for a first stage win before the peloton hits the Pyrenees.
The big news of the day is that Chris Froome is not wearing yellow. Indeed, the peloton is yellow-free for the first time since 2007. That’s because leader Tony Martin broke his collarbone yesterday and has withdrawn from the race. As his team doctor so delicately put it, “the collarbone is in lots of pieces, so it was a major impact. One of the pieces came through the skin, which means it’s an open fracture.”
For those asking, I won’t be wearing yellow today! All the best to @tonymartin85 with his op & recovery #MaillotJaune #TDF2015
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 10, 2015
A quick recap of yesterday’s stage – Martin’s Etixx-Quick Step team-mate Zdenek Stybar clinched victory in Le Havre but it was the leader’s prang that resonated. In hitting the deck Martin took GC contenders Vincenzo Nibali and Jesus Nairo Quintana down with him – Nibali blaming Froome initially.
It was close enough to the finish not to effect the standings though and they’ve kissed and made up. “Did we clear it all up?” said Nibali. “Yeah. We are not footballers, we are cyclists.” So that’s that.
Martin’s withdrawal means Froome is the race leader, even if race director Thierry Gouvenou, ‘says there is no leader’ – hence today’s absence of yellow. Somewhat ridiculous perhaps but what would this race be without its quirky little customs?
Barring any mishaps however, Froome will be wearing yellow at the end of the day, provided he finishes safely in the pack.
That’s a big if though, judging by the number of crashes we’ve had so far however. But today, the GC contenders are merely thinking about going from A to B, letting the sprinters do their thing. Cavendish, André Greipel, Peter Sagan et al should all be in the mix as we head to Brittany, via cheese and cider country. Stay tuned!
Updated
