2014 Tour de France Stage 3: Cambridge – London: 155km, flat

[Bushman]

Don't forget that Froome can time trial as well as Tony, so he might just decide to drag the entire peloton back to Tony's wheel to further demonstrate his strength.

Nice idea, then he can ride in the grupetto on the first mountain stage.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Kittel is by far the best, it's not even close. Anyone else than him winning would be a big upset.

 

[Erythropoietin]

Who will sprint for Omega? I assume it's Renshaw and not Trentin or Petacchi?
Who will sprint for Lampre? A slightly injured Richeze, or Cimolai?
Will Navardauskas sprint?

Anyone have some info on this?

 

[RedheadDane]

Who will sprint for Omega? I assume it's Renshaw and not Trentin or Petacchi?
Who will sprint for Lampre? A slightly injured Richeze, or Cimolai?
Will Navardauskas sprint?

Anyone have some info on this?

Maybe nobody will sprint for Omega and Lampre...

 

[BeagRigh]

Maybe nobody will sprint for Omega and Lampre...

I reckon OPQS could have a lot of fun trolling the sprinters tomorrow. Make it look like they are setting up for Renshaw then have him sit up and create a gap for TM to go for a solo...

 

[fantomas]

Who will sprint for Omega? I assume it's Renshaw and not Trentin or Petacchi?
Who will sprint for Lampre? A slightly injured Richeze, or Cimolai?
Will Navardauskas sprint?

Anyone have some info on this?

Petacchi seems out of the picture. He was stung by an insect during stage 1, had an allergic reaction and is now being treated with antihistamines. So probably Renshaw.
Holm said this morning they'd decide within the final part of the stage, but bearing in mind that Petacchi's strugglng, I'd say Renshaw. But who cares, he won't even get close and should be happy with a top ten.

 

[Pulpstar]

Very difficult to see past Kittel.

 

[Hakkapelit]

Coquard should take this one methinks.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Estimated finish time?

I guess it'll be quite early?

 

[ILovecycling]

Coquard should take this one methinks.

he hasnt prove himself so far,you think he would have been on podium without that crash?

 

[Netserk]

Estimated finish time?

I guess it'll be quite early?

Between 16.40 and 17.00 CEST.

 

[Netserk]

he hasnt prove himself so far,you think he would have been on podium without that crash?

I don't think he was on the podium with the crash

 

[veji11]

he hasnt prove himself so far,you think he would have been on podium without that crash?

Well to be honest he was coming on pretty well, was going to overtake Gerrans for sure and I am not sure Cavendish was going to get out of it in time. Greipel and other were badly place but Coquard had found free road ahead of him. I honestly think he would have been between 3rd and 5th without the fall as well.

which does not imply that I think he will do as well in London. Saturday was perfect for him. He is a small sprinter whose model would be someone like Freire, he lacks resistance, but a somewhat uphill sprint is ideal for him. On monday he should have a hard time against the big beasts.

 

[FeilluArcadis2009]

Very technical final with two corners.High risk of crashes in my opinion.... What about the chances of Cancellera? He has tried to escape from peloton during stage one.Will he try it again?

 

[willbick]

Very technical final with two corners.High risk of crashes in my opinion.... What about the chances of Cancellera? He has tried to escape from peloton during stage one.Will he try it again?

ehmmmm..........no

 

[Afrank]

ehmmmm..........no

Why not? He's got nothing else to do. He doesn't need to be that fresh in the final week like the GC guys do and he'll have plenty of time to rest between anyways. He'll want to do well on the Cobble stage, but a breakaway effort like we saw from him on the first stage likely won't hurt his chances there too much.

 

[Afrank]

I reckon OPQS could have a lot of fun trolling the sprinters tomorrow. Make it look like they are setting up for Renshaw then have him sit up and create a gap for TM to go for a solo...

Cav being out might just open up the potential for some good racing. martin was rode like a beast in TDS, now he has the chance to use that kind riding to his advantage instead of as another rider in a train working for a sprinter.

 

[postmanhat]

Real shame they couldn't shut off Whitehall like they do for the Tour of Britain. Would have made for a some nice circuits

Probably not much of interest for TV viewers except the start in Cambridge and finish in London

Unfortunately for some of the riders/managers, their pathetic whining about the crowds has likely come too late, and there might be a few on the roadside. Sorry about that

 

[manafana]

Surely pettachi will be interested in day like this. Can't see anything but a sprint with two strong trains and likely some others chasing, europcar bound to be interested too.

 

[MatParker117]

Stage winner depends on which team makes it under admiralty arch first if Lotto then Greipel, if Giant Kittel.

 

[RdBiker]

Very technical final with two corners.High risk of crashes in my opinion.... What about the chances of Cancellera? He has tried to escape from peloton during stage one.Will he try it again?

The run in along the river will be very fast and there seems to be a headwind for the last kilometres - so I would say Cancellara or the likes have their work cut out for them unless they can somehow escape 5-10km before the line.

and I agree with the last corner(s) being very technical. The part just in front of the memorial statue (latter bend) looked quite scary and I just hope there wont be a big crash there. Anyway there will be a hell of a battle in the 1km stretch after Big Ben since you have to be at the front coming into the last corners given the very short straight to the finish line after them.
It's supposed to be something like 400 meters and the corners will take quite a lot of speed out of the riders, so I was wondering who do you think is favoured by this kind of a finish?

 

[willbick]

cancellara attacked in stage 1 on a ramp, no chance he'll bother trying to take on at least 2 big sprint trains on a flat finish

 

[MatParker117]

The run in along the river will be very fast and there seems to be a headwind for the last kilometres - so I would say Cancellara or the likes have their work cut out for them unless they can somehow escape 5-10km before the line.

and I agree with the last corner(s) being very technical. The part just in front of the memorial statue (latter bend) looked quite scary and I just hope there wont be a big crash there. Anyway there will be a hell of a battle in the 1km stretch after Big Ben since you have to be at the front coming into the last corners given the very short straight to the finish line after them.
It's supposed to be something like 400 meters and the corners will take quite a lot of speed out of the riders, so I was wondering who do you think is favoured by this kind of a finish?

Whichever team gets under admiralty arch first.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I wouldn't mind seeing Ale-Jet being launched to the finish of a GT one last time

 

[The Hegelian]

Stage winner depends on which team makes it under admiralty arch first if Lotto then Greipel, if Giant Kittel.

Agreed. Be nice to see them go head to head without carnage getting in the way. Kittel has all the press/hype these days (with good cause), but I reckon Greipel will take a few stages off him this tour.