2012 Tour de France: Stage 6: Épernay → Metz (207.5km)

[Catwhoorg]

Cav the favorite for me.

I must say though Henderson has done a great job for Lotto this year.
I wonder if Sky regret not picking him as the lead out for Eddie last year ?

 

[dlwssonic]

I hope greipel actually goes for the intermediate sprint, he actually has a very good shot at the green jersey.

 

[wirral]

I hope greipel actually goes for the intermediate sprint, he actually has a very good shot at the green jersey.

Greipel crash

 

[l.Harm]

Gesink crashed

 

[LaFleur]

Gesink and van der Broeck have both already crashed today...

 

[vcampbell]

JJ Haedo will win this. Yesterday it was just bad luck that he was only third, but today there is no mercy!
Petacchi close second, and a bunch sprint for 3rd.

procycling.no:
12:47: Luckily Lance Armstrong isn't in the race. He has a tendency to join the breaks where his enemies are, with the sole purpose to ruin them."

 

[SetonHallPirate]

procycling.no:

"12:43: David Zabriskie was the first one to go. Maybe he is going in a break to make the journalists ask about other things than the USADA-case. Two men has joined Dave-Z in the break.

12:45: Four men is now in the break. David Malacarne (Europcar), David Zabriskie (Garmin), Romain Zingle (Cofidis) og Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank). They have ca. 45 seconds.

12:47: Luckily Lance Armstrong isn't in the race. He has a tendency to join the breaks where his enemies are, with the sole purpose to ruin them."

http://www.procycling.no/article3431457.ece

Quite true regarding Armstrong. I remember reading that, whenever any confirmed former residents of The Clinic tried to get into a breakaway, Lance would try to get into the breakaway himself, knowing that the peloton would instantly shut it down. Actually, given that fact, I'm surprised that any Cofidis riders EVER got into a breakaway when Armstrong was winning his TdF titles, given the history between that team and Armstrong.

 

[webbie146]

Gesink crashed

Was it a nasty crash? Does it look like he's hurt?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink, Valverde, Van den Broeck already crashed, great day

 

[SetonHallPirate]

vcampbell-I have to wonder if, were Hesjedal to get the Giro-Tour double, he would start la Vuelta as well.

 

[dlwssonic]

Important names like porte, VDB, valverde, gesink, westra, greipel and peraud have all crashed.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yet nobody consulted the race doctor except Westra

 

[RHRH19861986]

Actually, given that fact, I'm surprised that any Cofidis riders EVER got into a breakaway when Armstrong was winning his TdF titles, given the history between that team and Armstrong.

That´s an issue I also oftenly wondered about... In fact, Lance never really acted against Cofidis within a race, which is quite strange. I don´t have a real explanation for that, maybe the sponsor Cofidis had to do a payment to Lance to reach that.

 

[vcampbell]

vcampbell-I have to wonder if, were Hesjedal to get the Giro-Tour double, he would start la Vuelta as well.

Historic triple is always important, so after he won the Tour, I'm sure that he will smash the field at the Vuelta. But seriously, after he will win the Tour, I think he will rest, and he will win all three only next year.

More seriously, I will be really happy if he would be able to reach the top5 here.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Sagan - what a hero! After yesterdays crash he has got a bell mounted on his bike for todays stage!

http://drupal-sporten.tv2.dk/tour/2012-07-06-sagan-med-ringeklokke-på-tourminator-cykel

 

[theyoungest]

These stages really suck. Boring as hell, except for the crashes.

But hey, it's the Tour. Biggest race in the world.

 

[Kazistuta]

"Crazy" Sagan has just added a bicycle bell to his bike: "Just like cars have horns, I want to have this to avoid danger"...... He even bought the same one as I have on my own racer

I seriously loves his fun approach to racing!

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink fell on his shoulder. Damage unknown.

 

[cineteq]

Gesink fell on his shoulder. Damage unknown.

Oh no... Couldn't he have waited at least after the weekend?

 

[The Sheep]

Gesink fell on his shoulder. Damage unknown.

I'm sure the tarmac is fine.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Valverde went to the doctor with multiple abrasions

 

[glassmoon]

hehehehe
Sagan with bike bell before today's stage
such a cool guy

 

[Frosty]

Historic triple is always important, so after he won the Tour, I'm sure that he will smash the field at the Vuelta. But seriously, after he will win the Tour, I think he will rest, and he will win all three only next year.

Surely the perfect finish would be to beat Contador and Andy Schleck at the Vuelta though - save beating the big guns until last?

 

[rickshaw]

Daaa'aad

These stages really suck. Boring as hell, except for the crashes.

But hey, it's the Tour. Biggest race in the world.

"Mom, Dad, ... I'm bored!"

"Well, its a nice day, go out and ride your bike. You always enjoy that."

 

[Machu Picchu]

"Crazy" Sagan has just added a bicycle bell to his bike: "Just like cars have horns, I want to have this to avoid danger"...... He even bought the same one as I have on my own racer

I seriously loves his fun approach to racing!

Much better response/attitude than having a moan and a whinge about having a crash - sprinters take note