Pre-Tactics
It's another flat stage which most likely will end in another bunch sprint. We'll protect Edvald through the stage and set him off in the perfect wheel at the end, and hope he'll be able to finish the job from there. There's a little hill in the final kilometres, but from our recon we think it shouldn't play any major role for the outcome of the stage.

There was a long struggle to get away from the bunch. Boswell tried his luck in a strong four-man break including J. Marino, E. Favilli and A. Saramotins. They got 1.30 minutes at the most, but was seen as too big a threat to the stage, and therefore got pulled back in the pack.


With 50 kilometres ridden and everything neutralized, David Veilleux went on the move even though nobody wanted to follow him. Therefore he got stuck all alone in the front - Smart or not? Fact was that black clouds was approaching and if the rain started pouring down, odds really seemed to be against him!


As the bunch rode with ease towards the halfway stage mark, the rain started pouring down. Poor Veilluex! From here the gap seemed to dive continuously and steady towards the finish.


Veilleux held on strongly even though it seemed like a mission impossible. With 20 kilometres left he had 1.15 minutes to the pack, which was riding very fast now. The roads were very slippery, so everybody was on their marks to prevent crashes.


Argos and Orica were the most active in the pack, but also Lotto and Cannondale were still in the game. Only seconds before reaching the 20 km mark, we witnessed the first loss of a favorite, when Tom Boonen had an awful crash. It looked like a sprained wrist - So let's hope it doesn't ruin his spring season.


With a little above 10 kilometres remaining, Veilluex was caught back in the pack. What a solo job! Let's hope he hasn't used up all his resources, so he'll be able to make it through tomorrow's stage.


The team trains got to the front, with Orica being the big loser, forcing Goss to find a wheel on his own. Eddy once again found Sagan's wheel, as Cannondale seemed to be the by far strongest team on yesterday's stage. Greipel and Degenkolb was also really good positioned today!


Roelandts and Farrar both really made a beautiful leadout. It was an equal fight between Sagan and Greipel, but there was no doubt that Greipel just had that extra little punch in the end. Nizzolo, Edvald and Degenkolb had to fight for the third place.


It became a deserved and easy looking victory for the big gorilla today! Sagan pulled second in front of Nizzolo, while Edvald beat Degenkolb for fourth. The big loser today was Orica and Goss, who seems to be in great shape and despite having a magnificent team in his back, he only managed to finish in 9th.


Another big loser beside Boonen and Goss, was former world champion Gilbert, who was so unlucky to crash in the final 5 kilometres. He ended up losing 4.22 minutes, so a big goodbye to his general classification hopes and hello to lots of breakaways!

Today was another really wet stage. It's so fatiguing to be on your marks all the time and thinking about not crashing every second. But unlike many of the other teams, we came through the stage without a single crash. That is some performance! I'm feeling good as we're going towards a terrain more suitable to me, so i'm excited to see what awaits us. And hey, Edvald is in green now!

Pre-Tactics
There's a couple more hills on today's profile, yet they shouldn't play a major role when being quite far from the finishline. We believe it's going to be another bunch sprint finish, which probably will be Edvald's last chance if he wants to recieve the yellow leaders jersey. My role will be to protect and lead out Edvald, if the favorites wants to show off in the end. Otherwise i'm just going to save energy for tomorrow's stage.

A strong group containing T. Slagter, G. Izagirre, K. Elissonde, M. Landa and M. Mori got away in the morning. Only moments of hesitation from the pack would bring these guys in a very good position for the stage win with such strength and talent combined.


As the breakway's lead grew to 6.30 minutes, our team experienced the first crash of the race. Coming through the previous wet stages unhurt, it was now Cataldo's turn to kiss the tarmac about halfway through the stage. Without any serious injuries he luckily got back into the pack.


Especially Cannondale had interest in keeping the gap little, with Sagan showing rising shape. This stage suited him great and he wouldn't let the chance of victory pass unnoticed by. We also had either Boswell or Kennaugh in the wind all day long to protect Eddy's chances.


With 50 kilometres to go, Chavanel's troops took the front, as Vacansoleil's Urán made the first move of the day. He quickly built up a fine gap in the pouring rain, that just got even worse by the second.


In cooperation with us, Omega Pharma reeled in Urán who wasn't strong enough to keep the pace up on his own. Most of our team was gathered around Chavanel and the front, as the roads got really slippery and with the pace just increasing every kilometer.


We awaited several attacks as we ascended the final climb of the day, but none of the favorites wanted to take advantage of the profile. We had to wait until the final hundred metres of the top, before Albasini and Sagan gave their all to get away. Race leader Chavanel and yesterdays big loser Gilbert immediately tried to follow.


We tried our best to control the pace of the pack, as Chavanel and Gilbert dropped back. Sagan and Albasini, now accompanied by Voigt, used the small descent to make a gap, but with a relatively big and fresh pack, it seemed like a tough challenge for the trio.


In the back of the pack a big crash accured involving about 20 riders. Riders like Terpstra, Jeannesson and Nordhaug ended up losing 4-5 minutes in the end, but most important without any serious injuries.


As expected the trio was caught by a furious pack who was now chasing the morningbreakaway, that still hung onto a great speed and cooperation. With 7 kilometres to go they had 1 minute!


With about 3 kilometres to go Izagirre attacked from the front group and quickly built up a great gap. His companions stagnated for a second and Slagter made his move a couple of hundred metres after. He accelerated insanely with Mori only just hanging onto his wheel.


Slagter quickly caught Izagirre who seemed as if he was drained from energy. Mori couldn't keep up the pace, and when going into the final kilometer it seemed doubtful that any of the other escapees, nor the pack, could threaten the duo's chances of winning the stage.


With superior overview, Slagter saw that Izagirre was empty, and therefore started his sprint far out. Nobody was near Slagter in the end and with ease he took a very well deserved stage win in front his breakaway companions and a sleeping bunch.


Edvald did his best to gain most possible points for the green jersey, though knowing he was sprinting for secondary placings. In the end it was a battle between him and Degenkolb, where Edvald showed great strength by outsprinting the young german.

The pace was fast through most of the stage, due to the strong breakaway who also ran away with the victory in the end. That's just not acceptable! Edvald had a huge chance of winning today's stage and even manages to cross the line as the first from the bunch. What a shame for him and our team, who might just have missed a yellow jersey. The next couple of days will be with far more mountains. Roche seems ready for the challenge. As am I.

Pre-Tactics
The real difficulties have arrived, and we're in for a really tough stage! Roche is our leader and he looks to be in great shape at the moment. We're hoping for a fast pace through the stage, making it hard enough to take seconds on the other favorites and otherwise we'll still have Edvald ready for a possible sprint. I'll have to keep low profile at todays stage and protect Roche on the difficult parts. Therefore no attacks!

A breakaway containing J. Roy, N. Nuyens, M. Bouet, S. Langeveld and A. Palini, got away in the morning. Even though they weren't that strong on the steepest climbs, they could easily keep a fine gap to the pack on every other part of the race profile.


A lot of mist dominated the highest parts of the climbs. At the second mountain sprint the pack had to loosen the pace dramatically, to avoid any trouble on the following descent.


Astana for Nibali and Cannondale for Sagan, took control of the pack all day long. But surprisingly race leader Chavanel and his team, didn't wanted to pull through much of the stage. Could Chavanel and Kwiatkowski be feeling bad on such important stage?


The breakaway held a lead of 3:30 minutes over the highest climb of the day, while the pack came storming from behind. Moser and Van Den Broeck tried to get away before the top, but quickly got reeled in on the fast descent led by Astana and Nibali.


On the second last climb, which was insanely steep, Sagan and Gilbert bridged a gap with a couple of riders. Surprisingly Sagan was really early out, which could seem like he had lost some of his overview, since he didn't wanted to take the lead and just sat in the wheel of Gilbert.


At the front Nuyens and Bouet had to drop off, leaving a trio, a strong trio, with a gap of 1:30 minutes to the nearest followers before the last and most important climb of the day.


Sagan and Gilbert didn't get far away before they were reeled in again, and immediately we took the front on the descent towards the final climb, to secure Roche the best possible entrance position. The pace was now too much for the breakaway trio which had to give up at this point.


Almost from the bottom, Sagan made yet another move that nobody were able to follow. What a strength! I had Roche in my wheel, but suddenly i saw him flying right past me on the left side road.


Sagan already had quite a gap, but Roche felt comfortable to try his luck and catch the Slovak youngster. If he was able to reach him before the descent, they could possibly hold off the pack.


While Roche gave his all, the other favorites began to move. First Costa, then Nibali and thereafter race leader Chavanel with teammate Kwiatkowski. Yet still no sight of either Quintana or Urán.


Sagan was all on his own when passing the last climb and he kept on pedaling through the descent. Meanwhile a group behind him was formed, with Nibali, Costa, Roche, Chavanel and Kwiatkowski. Nibali really put pressure on the descent and almost dropped the others.


Sagan kept up his great pace on the last section of the race and with reports saying that he had about 45 seconds to his followers, the stage victory seemed secured. Now he had to fight for seconds!


There was a great cooperation in the favorite group who knew the stage victory was gone, but that they still could take valuable seconds on top favorites like Van Den Broeck, Quintana and Sánchez.


There was no doubt today. Sagan was the strongest! With attacks on both of the last climbs, he still had the energy and power to keep great descenders like Nibali and Chavanel away from the victory. Starting the stage only few seconds behind Chavanel in the general classification, he now overtakes the leader's jersey as well.


The sprint for second had begun with Kwiatkowski leading out from the front. Roche tried to follow Chavanel and sat in a fine position.


Kwiatkowski crossed the line as the first as expected, with Chavanel rounding off the podium, no less than 1 minute behind Sagan! Roche lost some ground on the last and had to settle for fifth.

Todays stage was really tough with no actual flat sections, the roads just went up and down all day long. Our plan worked well. We kept Roche out of trouble through the stage and placed him at the front on the last climb, from where he did a great job on his own. I was tempted to follow some of the escapees on the last bit, but i had to keep still. Tomorrows stage is a real mountain stage, with finish on La Montagne de Lure.

Pre-Tactics
The profile says it all! This is where the battle strikes, and Roche really has to be on his marks to defend his top 5 position, and even more if he wants to climb into top 3! We want to approach the stage aggressively, and therefore we have three guys who have been given the chance to get away, including me, if a breakaway will become attractive enough.

We are already far into the race, yet the first real battle for the general classification, still remains. With lacking shape, the anonymous pre favorites Quintana, Urán and Van Den Broeck, have opened up the race for less strong riders in good shape. Therefore has Roche got a fine chance of advancing further towards the podium on today's stage.


Kennaugh, Edvald and I, tried to get away from the very start, even though there wasn't many who were willing to take the chance when looking of what was ahead. Edvald though got away with Slagter, Gilbert and Burghardt, but really didn't get much served from the pack.


As they were reeled in, Edvald decided to make a little contra move before the first sprint, where he earned maximum points. In all, he earned 5 points at today's stage, placing him just 1 point behind Sagan in the points classification after the stage.


We still wanted a man in the breakaway, but apparently nobody wanted the same as us. With 100 kilometres to the finishline, Kennaugh went off, realizing nobody wanted to follow him. He decided to keep moving.


It wasn't our plan to have only one man in the front. It would become too hard for Kennaugh on his own, if he was also going to help Roche on the final climb. Our sportsdirector therefore decided to let him ride for the stage victory, as our tactical gain in having a man in front, not really worked the way as we had planned.


Kennaugh's gap fell to 3:30, when Movistar and Orica decided to move around with the pack, 40 kilometres from the finish. The dreadful pace quickly caused a lot of riders to fall of the pack.


On the descent towards the the final climb of La Montagne de Lure, Chavanel wanted an advantage ahead of the climb. Surprisingly an already isolated Nibali followed immediatly, with Sagan and Costa in his wheel. Nothing came to it but reunion.


At the bottom of the climb, Kennaugh had 1 minute to the pack, but when the big guns opened up, he was quickly reeled in by the favorites. There were quite a few attacks, but especially Cataldo managed to keep them all together, with an awaiting Nicolas Roche in his wheel.


With 5 kilometres left, Nibali took the front in an already decimated group and shaked things up. Roche and Cataldo both sat fine in there.


From the very front of the group, Nibali amazingly attacked the other favorites. Nobody were able to follow him in the start, while Intxausti gave his all for Costa and Quintana in the favoritegroup.


Pace simply wasn't fast enough to catch Nibali, which ment that Roche had to give it a go. About 40 seconds seperated the two riders.


Roche was really fast on the final kilometres! The gap between him and his followers were now 30 seconds, while he also had 30 seconds to Nibali, who seemed to go slower at that very moment.


Going under the final kilometer banner, Nibali had gained a little bit on Roche, and a stage win now seemed quite unlikely. On the other side, the gap to the favoritegroup only grew bigger by the second.


Roche fought hard to minimize the gap, but Nibali's victory was never really in doubt. He proved to be the strongest climber, even without having a team good enough to support him. Roche took a stunning 2nd place and moved well up in the rankings, while Quintana finally showed some form, by taking 3rd in front of the other favorites.


After another tough day in the saddle, i crossed the finishline almost 9 minutes behind Nibali. Being that long behind in the general classification, could be useful at tomorrow's exciting stage...

First Edvald, then Kennaugh and then Roche together with Cataldo. We totally dominated this race! The team did amazing, even though our prerace plans got ruined by a boring and defensive pack. Roche now sits in a comfortable second place, while Edvald has almost reached Sagan in the points competition. Tomorrow's stage is going to be a great drama, and i really hope to be able to get away in a breakaway.