Another flat stage on the program, Monfort-l'Amaury - Amilly, 194 kms. Cavendish BIG favourite here as no other star spinter is here to challenge him. Yesterday went to a break, today most likely will not.
Nick Nuyens in solo break today, 3'00 with 100 kilometres left. I can spot Vacansoleil captain Jack Wiles very poorly placed in the back of the peloton, just like yesterday. With 20 kilometres remaining Nuyens is about to get caught and Wiles is much better placed in the middle of the pack. Arguelyes is not that well placed and its clearly that his lack of experience is hurting his positioning. Wiles has the experienced Marcato as his protector and is therefore closer to the front of the pack.
With 15 kilometres to the finish line Maaskant crashes in the front of the peloton! This leads to a giant carnage of riders, and even the cars are driving over some riders! They have to get fired.
At the front is now Cavendish's lead out train! Ravard, Bos and Fernandez are on his wheel. In the end the frenchman is the strongest an wins on home ground. Ravard takes the biggest victory of his career!
Ravard and the other four sprinters finishes 46 seconds in front of the peloton, that means Maaskant who started the crash, but rode like crazy to get back up keeps his yellow jersey by 1 second! Jack Wiles was not affected by the crash and finished in the peloton. Arguelyes was not so lucky, he crashed and finished 5'32 back....
Another flat stage, buth with a twist. There is a hill 25 kilometres from the finish 4,8 km with an average of 5,5%. Cavendish will have to struggle to keep contact today.
11 rider breakaway today, looks like AG2R are controling them well. Wiles is placed in the middle of the peloton today, with his polish domestique Golas as his protector. Arguelyes is a little bit further behind in the pack, let's hope he was not injured in the crash yesterday!
As the peloton hits the hill, the break still has 2'30 and Armets Txurruka has attacked from the pack. Arguelyes and Wiles are in the front parts of the peloton, but most likely will not try any attacks as they are too far from the front. 6 kilometres to go and the pack is 1'40 behind Langeveld, Mizourov and Longo Borghini and Pavarin. It looks like the victory will go to yet another break!
Mizourov is by far the strongest in the break and wins in front of Longo Borghini and Langeveld.
In the peloton Bole wins the sprint for the 7th place. Wiles finishes in the pack. Arguelyes is clearly set back by the crash on the last stage and finishes far behind. Langeveld now leads the GC in front of O'Grady and Maaskant.
A long, hilly stage today. Up and down all day. Wiles must not lose much time today if he wants to compete for a top 10 here!
Today it looks like Lighart is the chosen one to babysit Wiles as him and Arguelyes are riding close to each other in the front ranks of the peloton.
Chaos in the bunch as the captains Hesjedal (Garmin), A.Schleck (Leopard) and Kern (Europcar) are caught behind in a split on the second climb of the day! But they easily get back up...
Leopard has both Gerdeman and Monfort up front today, so they are obviously planning something! And with 13 men including Menchov (Geox) and Brajkovic (RadioSchack) this is a strong, strong break! Arguelyes is now protecting his leader Trofimov, right beside Lighart who is protecting the british wonderkid that is Jack Wiles.
With 70 kilometres left with the break 6'00 ahead yesterdays winner Mizourov falls, but luckily he does not take anyone with him.
At the bottom of the two last climbs with 59 kilometres to the finish Nuyens (SaxoBank) attacks from the peloton!
Everything is going in the favour of another breakaway win here as the nine stronges escapees are 5'00 in front as the ride over the last climb of the day 30 kilometres from the finishline.
12 kilometres left as the Leopard riders utilize their superior numbers to attack with Gerdeman from the break. And he holds on to the line! Gerdeman takes the stage in front of Bakelands and Monfort, so two on the podium for Leopard.
Wiles finishes in the pack, Arguelyes again had to let go and finished in a smaller group far behind. But we have new race leader in Vantomme! (Katusha)
