2014 Tour de France, Stage 6: Arras–Reim (194km)

[Netserk]

Easy four man break established, best in GC 22 minutes after...

 

[MartinGT]

Truth hurts...

You're not wrong. I thought he was coming into this with a little bit of form. Seems that Lotto get in the mix for the trains, then final 1km he goes backwards

 

[Netserk]

Astana has absolutely no incentive to chase. Would be good for them if the break stays away with half an hour. Still I think they will help Lotto chase...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Easy four man break established, best in GC 22 minutes after...

Very soft break, but Leezer from Lotto is up there.
3 PCT riders.

 

[brian1225]

So who the favorite now with no froome< good stages this weekend.

 

[MartinGT]

Easy four man break established, best in GC 22 minutes after...

Who's in?

FFS CN feed is slooooooooowww

 

[BeagRigh]

Jerome Pineau (IAM), Tom Leezer (Belkin), Luis Mate Mardones (Cofidis) and Arnaud Gerard (Bretagne) up the road.

FFS. Looks like crosswinds are our only hope.

 

[MartinGT]

From CN feed

Jerome Pineau (IAM), Tom Leezer (Belkin), Luis Mate Mardones (Cofidis) and Arnaud Gerard (Bretagne)

 

[King Boonen]

You're not wrong. I thought he was coming into this with a little bit of form. Seems that Lotto get in the mix for the trains, then final 1km he goes backwards

Honestly, I think he's probably as quick as Kittel, or maybe just a little bit slower. As soon as he senses any danger though it's power off and pull out of there and he gets beaten or doesn't even start his sprint. For a big guy he always seems to get muscled out of everything. It's a shame really, seeing Greipel, Cav and Kittel in a drag race on the Champs would be awesome

 

[glassmoon]

so... lotto will chase and shimano will get the win

 

[King Boonen]

So who the favorite now with no froome< good stages this weekend.

After yesterday Nibali is probably equal with Contador. Realistically I can't see anyone matching those two now. I'd love Kwiatkowski to do it though.

 

[whittashau]

so the best of them is Pineau at 22minutes

I think Astana will struggle to give away yellow today, but I do expect them to take it as easy as they possibly can

 

[Jagartrott]

Weak break. No chance.

 

[willbick]

After yesterday Nibali is probably equal with Contador. Realistically I can't see anyone matching those two now. I'd love Kwiatkowski to do it though.

Really? I can see several GC riders who are certainly capable of matching nibali on the climbs, and possibly contador too. These guys arent machines, they can all have bad days or have problems. A lot can happen in this race yet

 

[Eclipse]

13:25 - Giant-Shimano leads the peloton
Team Giant-Shimano has put four riders including "breakaway killer" Ji Cheng to set the pace of the peloton.

At least Giant are doing a bit of work

 

[MartinGT]

Seems a bit early to get on it?

 

[King Boonen]

Really? I can see several GC riders who are certainly capable of matching nibali on the climbs, and possibly contador too. These guys arent machines, they can all have bad days or have problems. A lot can happen in this race yet

Who? I should have maybe been more clear. I don't think those two will be riding off into the sunset, I'm sure some guys will still with them in the mountains, but I can't see anyone capable of leaving them behind to gain enough time to seriously challenge them.

 

[Avoriaz]

THree people who have won a stage that finish in Reim has gone on to win the green jersey in Paris... tashkent terror -91, robbie mcewen -02 and 2010 ale-jet.

And my favourite sprint finish ever was in Reims (1985 I think). Kelly and Vanderaerden had a boxing match all the way down the straight and still finished ahead of Castaing.

Of course they were both DQed so the Frenchman could win

 

[Arredondo]

I hope their is a chance of echelons. The wind is predicted at a strenght of 4, and Kittel said the wind perhaps going to make it interesting.

 

[Cimber]

Really? I can see several GC riders who are certainly capable of matching nibali on the climbs, and possibly contador too. These guys arent machines, they can all have bad days or have problems. A lot can happen in this race yet

I can definately see other GC rider matching Nibali (but they also have to do more than match him - they need to take time). However, I doubt that anyone will be able to match Contador (maybe on a few steges where there is headwin on the climb or other factors that play in)

 

[kingjr]

And my favourite sprint finish ever was in Reims (1985 I think). Kelly and Vanderaerden had a boxing match all the way down the straight and still finished ahead of Castaing.

Of course they were both DQed so the Frenchman could win

For those who want to see it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mge88fFZSCA&index=3&list=PL9D50F3C80E29B108

23:15 onwards.

 

[Netserk]

4km and 2'50'' before the peloton turns right. Hoping for echelons.

 

[Publicus]

It sure as heck looks like the race is on...

 

[Boardslide]

Giant have been doing it since they started, it's a great tactic purely because no-one else has changed theirs. Can't blame them for it but it has taken sprinting back to the days of HTC. I love to see the best sprinter win, but it's good when they are really pushed.

At least HTC used to have 1 or 2 men up front all day and then start to wind up from 20-15km out not like OGE and Giant who just appear with 4km to go.

 

[Boardslide]

Honestly, I think he's probably as quick as Kittel, or maybe just a little bit slower. As soon as he senses any danger though it's power off and pull out of there and he gets beaten or doesn't even start his sprint. For a big guy he always seems to get muscled out of everything. It's a shame really, seeing Greipel, Cav and Kittel in a drag race on the Champs would be awesome

Greipel's DS said after his crash in the spring he seems to have lost his nerve and so ends up backing out when things get dodgy