Tour de France Stage 5: Epernay - Montargis, 185 km

[SpartacusRox]

It looked to me like Dean was just out of gas from trying to hold Hunter's leadout and didn't really even sprint. And if that's the case, why didn't he yield position to Farrar -who obviously had trouble getting around him on the barriers. Apparently there was no communication there.

And so you're 300 m out -- so what? This was a longish sprint that looked to me like was started by Cav about 200 out...

thoughts?

Agree that Deano didn't seem to have much left, that may have been due to his sore back or he may have been just out of gas. Also agree the communication seemed lacking though Farrar blamed himself for that.

At the end of the day it was pretty much a straight drag race today and Cav was easily the fastest. I have been impressed with EBH though.

 

[SpartacusRox]

I disagree, Renshaw was on the front, with Cav on his wheel, when Petacchi started the sprint. There was nothing wrong with leadout, Cav was crap. The HTC train broke up a bit, but Cav was still delivered, first wheel to the start of the sprint.

I also think that whilst the Hondo move was good, people seem to be missing what it did that worked. My understanding is the Hondo move is designed to leave Renshaw desserted by himself, from too far out (which it did a bit). Hondo went, so Renshaw left Eisel's wheel, and jumped on Hondo's, then Hondo pulled up, leaving Renshaw on the front from 600-700 out. Way too far. But he did well, out dragged Lancaster, and was still on the front when Petacchi kicked. Cavendish's problem was he missed the jump, as Petacchi came from a couple of wheels back he had a run at Cav, so was going quite fast when he got to him (and by then, Renshaw had slowed after a long effort). But at the end of the day, Cav shouldn't have let Petacchi get such a big jump, and even when he kicked and drew up to Petacchi, his legs were gone.

HTC are going from too far out. It isn't that Eisel can't do the job, it's that he is being left on front 2+km out. Hincapie usually hit the lead at 1km, Renshaw 500.

Serves them right for leaving Roulston out of the team!!!

 

[auscyclefan94]

I disagree, Renshaw was on the front, with Cav on his wheel, when Petacchi started the sprint. There was nothing wrong with leadout, Cav was crap. The HTC train broke up a bit, but Cav was still delivered, first wheel to the start of the sprint.

I also think that whilst the Hondo move was good, people seem to be missing what it did that worked. My understanding is the Hondo move is designed to leave Renshaw desserted by himself, from too far out (which it did a bit). Hondo went, so Renshaw left Eisel's wheel, and jumped on Hondo's, then Hondo pulled up, leaving Renshaw on the front from 600-700 out. Way too far. But he did well, out dragged Lancaster, and was still on the front when Petacchi kicked. Cavendish's problem was he missed the jump, as Petacchi came from a couple of wheels back he had a run at Cav, so was going quite fast when he got to him (and by then, Renshaw had slowed after a long effort). But at the end of the day, Cav shouldn't have let Petacchi get such a big jump, and even when he kicked and drew up to Petacchi, his legs were gone.

HTC are going from too far out. It isn't that Eisel can't do the job, it's that he is being left on front 2+km out. Hincapie usually hit the lead at 1km, Renshaw 500.

You didn't get the hint of the rolleyes! Cav stuffed up and did not have it. But Cav has troubles when he has no team . He needs to be right on the front also. Pettacchi is a more skilled sprinter.

 

[kukiniloa]

Ebh

Agree that Deano didn't seem to have much left, that may have been due to his sore back or he may have been just out of gas. Also agree the communication seemed lacking though Farrar blamed himself for that.

At the end of the day it was pretty much a straight drag race today and Cav was easily the fastest. I have been impressed with EBH though.

I just watched the finish again and it looked like EBH had Ciolek's wheel (who had Cav's wheel) and tried to come around him in the last 50m or so. It was hard to follow but his persistence and cleverness really paid off. At one point it looked like he was really out of it.

EBH's style seems a bit more like Greipel's, with more power than speed, maybe better on an uphill finish.