Stage Favourites:
***Boasson Hagen(DEJ) **Kittel(EUS) *Matthews(LAM)

It was some effort to get into the break today. We tried early on with Vandyck but to no avail. No break was established with 100 KM to go.

Prades and the Belarussian champ, Matouskin, attacked and we saw this as our opportunity to go. We sent Yousef Al Ghanim up the road and he joined up to make the three man break of the day. Great aggressive riding by the team.

The break was not, and never looked like, it would succeed today. Lampre with Swift leading out Matthews have the dominant sprint train here.

Kittel shows that he is the fastest of the sprinters and takes an easy looking win to wrap up the first sprint stage. Al Sulimani retains the polka dots.

Lost in Langkawi (Post #87)

When training for the tour of Langkawi the disappearance of Abdulatif Al Zaid really did put a cat amongst the pigeons. Having been lost in the forest, where he spent days living off berries, we wondered if we would ever find him. We were relived when he turned up even though he missed the start line for the tour of Langkawi! This was one of the first experiences of finding out about Abdulatif's unique persona.

It took some doing but we managed to get Vandyck into the break today. That means we are one of just three teams to make every break so far.

With the break wrapped up, a crash takes out many towards the rear of the peloton including the Polka dots of Al Sulimani. If that wasn't enough an FDJ rider steps where it hurts!

Late attacks on the flat by Puccio, Stanard and Froome (of all people!) come to nothing as Lampre leads us towards the finish.

After a terrific leadout from Swift, which distanced the rest of the field, Matthews was never going to lose from such a position. Lampre have the dominant sprint train here, but Kittel is arguably the fastest. Having a world class leadout man was the decider today.

A Big Step Up (POST #196)

Before we knew it we were into our second season, we were into 2018. Thanks to an optimistic sheik we had the finances to invest in the squad which we certainly did. We were even invited to the TDU. In illustrious company Jose Joaquin Rojas finished 4th on stage 1 and stage 2 showing glimpses of what was to come for a team on the up.

Stage Favourites:
***Kittel(EUS) **Guardini(YTE) *Matthews(FAR)

The final sprinters stage, for a while, before we hit the mountains. Some hills towards the end may through up a surprise.

After being out in the break yesterday Vandyck was really suffering today. However, we still managed to make the break. For us that is just fantastic.

I don't think he could manage even one turn on the front of the break, but still to make it shows our aggressive intentions.

No one is surprised to see that Vandyck is the first to be dropped today. But that doesn't bother us. We have made 4/4 breakaways so far at this TDF.

The slight hilly terrain doesn't favour the break and we are together for the sprint.

After breaking away with Matthews with some 300 meters to go over the last hill Boasson Hagen had enough to take the win. Few are faster when hills and a mass sprint come into play.

There or Thereabouts (POST #291)

Largely thanks to riders such as JJ Rojas who won races such as the Klasika Primavera we were a strong team for the continental ranks in 2018. However, we were always trailing the likes of FDJ and Farnese Vini and we never looked likely for promotion with no invites to the GTs or big classics.

Stage Favourites:
***Salas(HLE) **Duarte(EML) *Barton(BGZ)

The first of three consecutive days in the mountains. We star on the Port d'Envalira and end on the col del la Core. Expect some action!

Believe me, we wanted to get the polka dots of Al Sulimani into the break today, with a lot of KOM points to be had. But luck was and misfortune was against us today. Al Sulimani started well back in the field and therefore was boxed in on the first climb of the day, it was impossible to rise to the head of the bunch. By the time Al Sulimani reached 40 riders back from the head of the peloton a break was already established at over 2'40. There would be no break for us today.

Thomas Dekker, the veteran, was the beneficiary of our bad luck, he would summit many of the KOM points first and as a result would be in the polka dots at the end of the stage.

No one threatened the GC, in the break, but the peloton would shut them down. Uchima and Patin would attack across to the head of the race just before the final climb begins.

As soon as the final climb starts Fabio Duarte attacks out of the peloton. It is not long before the late attackers are back together. Then we have attacks from Salas and a few of the other big favourites, but they are quickly nullified.

Robin Girardin, the revelation of this TDF, riding for the continental team Alstom sets the pace amongst the big favourites group with some 4 KM to go.

It was no surprise to see our GC rider distanced on the final climb, he would have his worst day in the tour so far today. However, he would not lose 4'00 on the stage and would maintain a top 20 place, a position from which he can build.

Towards the top Salas, Duarte and Barton break away. Much of the final 1.5 KM sees Girardin try to bring the trio back but the gap pegs at '15.

The trio's escape pays off and GC favourite Ibai Salas takes the stage win, in a nail biting finish, and moves within just '6 of the GC lead with the Col du Tourmalet coming tomorrow. This is building up to some close-run TDF.

It seems we burnt out Vandyck on the two previous stages. Our Belgian TT champion retires today , due to heavy fatigue, so we are down to four riders.