Race Report: On a day of tricky cobbled parcours which promised much – and did not disappoint – Quick-Steps former World Time Trial Champion Tony Martin grabbed not just the stage but the yellow jersey too, having narrowly missed it for three days on the trot.A bike change late in the day made it look as if Martins chances were gone but the German proved that the snorting bull motif his time trial bike carries is wholly appropriate as he jumped an elite group at the eleventh hour to grab all the glory.Today the Tour crossed into France for the first time; Seraing en Belgique to Cambrai en France, 223.5 kilometres and seven secteurs of pave for a total of 13.3 K on granite; Secteur 7 Pont Celles (101.5km), Secteur 6 Artres (175km ), Secteur 5 Qurnaing (180.5km), Secteur 4 Verchain-Maugr (185.5km), Secteur 3 St Python (195.5km), Secteur 2 Quivy (198km), Secteur 1 Carnires (208.5km).The break of the day went from the gun – Lieuwe Westra (Astana & The Netherlands), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal & Belgium), Perrig Qumeneur (Europcar & France) and Frdric Brun (Bretagne-Sch Environnement & France) with their lead peaking at 8:25 some 60K in.It was the usual suspects showing most interest in pulling the escapees back Sky, Etixx – Quick-Step, Tinkoff-Saxo, BMC and Katusha all near the front as the first kasseien loomed large. Secteur 7 is dry as the four desperados continue to spell well; Westra in the break dj vu all over again, he...
View the full article
View the full article
