At 226.5km, stage six from Dinan to Lisieux is he longest day on this year's Tour, taking the peloton to Normandy. A bumpy parcours could again see the sprinters prevail, but strong puncheurs of the likes of Gilbert or Chavanel will sense a perfect opportunity.
Bonjour! Welcome back to the Tour de France, the greatest cycling race on earth. Today, the bunch will leave Brittany to Normandy on a race route that involves two Cat. 3 and one Cat. 4 climbs before a final climb 1.5kms from the finish line. Anything can happen! If the sprinters teams get it right, they should be able to reel in any leftover escapists, but on this kind of profile, audacious attackers also get a perfect chance to snatch a victory.
Right now, the riders are still signing in on the podium protocolaire in Dinan. The peloton will get on the course at 11.45 and the official start will be given at 11.55.
The weather forecast for today doesn't sound good. Rainshowers and possible thunderstorms, with wind gusts coming from the southwest, will provide another nasty day in the saddle for our Tour de France peloton.
We have at least two non-starters today: Janez Brajkovic (Radioshack) and Christophe Kern (Europcar). Brajkovic crashed out of the race yesterday, breaking his collarbone, and Kern couldn't continue because of ongoing knee pain.
The riders have started! Making their way out of Dinan eastwards.
One more rider hasn't come to the start line: Esukaltel's Ivan Velasco. He also crashed in yesterday's stage and was diagnosed with a fractured collarbone.
220km remaining from 226km
Lieuwe Westra of Vacasoleil has opened a gap. We hope he doesnt stay all by himself for the longest stage of this Tour!
He doesn't FDJ's Anthony Roux has joined him, with two other riders also trying to bridge up: Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma) and Johnny Hoogerland also from Vacansoleil.
214km remaining from 226km
Malori hsn't quite got to the leading group yet, he is struggling between the breakaway and the peloton, which doesn't seem happy yet and continues to chase.
Erratum from race radio: Roelandts is not amongst the leaders. They are five riders.
It is Roelandts, alongside Fabrice Jeandesboz from Saur-Sojasun. They are trying hard to catch up.
206km remaining from 226km
Ah - Roelandts and Jeandesboz did not make it, they have been caught.
But the breakaway is not certain to get through. The field is again coming closer at 55".
At km 24, a counter-attack has formed to try and brisge up to the leaders. They are four riders and one of them is French champion Sylvain Chavanel from Quickstep.
They haven't succeeded, and another attempt by Chavanel's teammate Pineau as well as Euskaltel's Izagirre has also been crished by the bunch, still unhappy with today's break.
190km remaining from 226km
183km remaining from 226km
Anthony Roux from FDJ is now the millot jaune virtuel! But perhaps not at the end of the stage...
It's the Tour's longest stage this year. In 2010, Mark Cavendish won that edition's longest day, stage six of 227.5km, in a sprint in front of Tyler Farrar and Robbie McEwen. This time, it might be more difficult because of a more complicated parcours.
The breakaway's advantage is growing rapidly now, up to 5'45" at km 50.
With a rather strong wind coming from southwest, the riders are getting a little help but this beginning of stage had been particularly fast. The peloton covered 49.4 km in the first hour of racing!
We agree, but Duque may target some KOM points and could take advantage of his strong break mates on the day's climbs.
166km remaining from 226km
Some team will have to take up responsibility soon if they don't want to give away the stage to the leaders.
The teams in the peloton seem to calling each others bluff today.
The unwritten rules of the peloton say that the race leader's team should lead the chase for at least the first half of the stage. The the teams interested in the stage victory should take over.
However the uphill finish means the sprinters teams are not keen to work for a stage they might not win.
Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) has also stoped for a mechanical problem and so his team will prefer to slow the peloton, rather than lead any chase.
of the riders in the break, Anthony Roux (FDJ) is the best palced rider overall. He is 50th, 2:25 behinf Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) and so is the virtual race leader.
As ever, the Tour de France sees lots of negotiating going on with teams and riders for 2012.
160km remaining from 226km
If the sprinters' teams don't feel like chasing right now, some of the teams with great puncheurs like Quick Step, Omega Pharma-Lotto or Astana should collaborate later to try and catch the five-man break again before the last little climb shortly before the finish.
The breakaway is now at the foot of the first Cat. 3 climb.
136km remaining from 226km
Garmin-Cervelo has picked up the pace at the front of the bunch. But the breakaway has reacted and the gap is back at 9'45".
The rain is still coming down hard on the riders as they climb the Cat. 3 ascent. It is very windy and even cold, the riders are all wearing rain gear.
Hoogerland has attacked halfway up. Duque is chasing but Hoogerland's teammate Westra is controlling the remainder of the break.
Hoogerland can't get away significantly, though. But if Hoogerland maintains his gap he will take the two points on top of the climb.
Hoogerland can't get away significantly, though. But if Hoogerland maintains his gap he will take the two points on top of the climb.
Hoogerland doesn't mind the cold rain. He hasn't even gotten a rainjacket, he's still wearing his short-sleeved jersey.
And Hoogerland takes the KOM points at the summit.
The order of riders at the Cat.3 KOM was:
All five riders are together now on the descent. It's still very wet...
It's not raining anymore now but the road is full of puddles.
Duque gets some instructions from his DS through the team car window - and some arm warmers.
Hoogerland has thus three KOM points on the classification and is the virtual leader. But Duque could still make up with one Cat.3 and One Cat.4 climb still to come.
Hoogerland gets a wheel change and chases back to his breakaway colleagues.
115km remaining from 226km
Christian Vande Velde still manages to crack a smile and share a joke - what can you do...
The sky has brightened up a little and there is even some sunshine coming through the clouds now. There should be a rainbow somewhere...
HTC has joined the chase and the work is paying off, as the leaders' advantage has shrunk to 8'21".
102km remaining from 226km
Looks like the worst is behind the riders. The dark grey clouds have gone away to the North and the road ahead seems to lead towards more likeable weather conditions.
The intermediate sprint in Vassy is coming up in four kilometres. Let's see what happens, especially back in the bunch...
Joan Rojas might be looking forward to make amends for his relegation yesterday.
Sorry - it's raining again on the peloton.
Dave Zabriskie leads the bunch out through the rain. What a nasty day.
They are coming up to the sprint...
HTC riders follow up, and Cavendish takes the most points in front of Rojas. Gilbert is fifth.
The results of the intermediate sprint:
85km remaining from 226km
Chavanel is definitely not well. He's been dropped from the bunch for quite a while now, trying to bridge back up. But his DS hasn't asked any of his teammates to help him out yet, either.
The sun is out now, and this looks definite. The grey clouds have moved away to the left of the riders. Let's hope for good until the finish in Lisieux.
The riders are taking off their flappy rainjackets. The road is dry. Tom Boonen gets some bottles from his team car.
A bit of road furniture as the riders come through a small twon but luckily the road is straight.
The gap is coming down fast now. We can see BMC and Radioshack doing some work at the front of the bunch.
Gesink (Rabobank) got a new bike and now chases back. Three teammates have waited for him.
They are at the foot of the next climb: Cat. 3: Côte du Bourg d'Ouilly (2,7 km @ 5,6%).
400 metres to go until the KOM banner. Roux starts the sprint from the front.
Duque comes up from behind, but is passed by Hoogerland. But Roux takes the 2 points, Hoogerland adds another one to his tally.
Smart racing from Roux, surprising Hoogerland like he did.
Are you playing along with our Easton Trivia Challenge? Our question yesterday was, “Which rider has earned the most green jerseys in the Tour de France?" The answer, of course: Erik Zabel, with six.
Really no luck today... it's raining again! Not hard, but it's raining. The bunch is rolling along without mootivation - we can't blame them.
If the break stays away until the third KOM climb, Roux still has a chance to take the polkadot jersey. If he wins the last climb, a Cat. 4 offering 1 point, he could be level with Hoogerland and then take the jersey based on his GC standing.
Westra is taking off on the front, followed by Malori!
The other three riders don't seem to want to chase. Hoogerland doesn't have to, and small climber Duque hasn't got any rouleur abilities.
56km remaining from 226km
56km remaining from 226km
56km remaining from 226km
Now, the sun is out again. What a messy day.
Now, the sun is out again. What a messy day.
Hoogerland, Duque and Roux are about 35 seconds back from Westra and Malori, with the bunch more than 2'30" back.
Roux, Duque and Hoogerland have been caught by the bunch, they sat up.
40km remaining from 226km
The last KOM climb, the Cat. 4 Côte du Billot (1,3 km @ 6,5%) is coming up in about ten kilometres.
The roads are much straighter today compared to yesterday, but the favourites will still be careful in the finale.
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And here we go again... it's raining!
Contador is at the back of the bunch after trading bikes with his teammate Jesus Hernandez.
As expected, Westra took the KOM point on top of the climb.
Contador is again at the back of the bunch, he again got a bike change having received his second bike off the roof of the team car.
Very wet! What a nightmare for the last 25 kilometres of this race!
The gap is down to one minute as HTC riders put on a fierce chase.
Fortunately the roads are not too twisty and the tramc seems in good state.
The bunch is splitting up...
The riders pace through Livarot now, 20 km from the finish.
Malori takes off on his own as the gap comes under 30 seconds!
17km remaining from 226km
Voeckler is chasing back on to the rear of the bunch.
With three kilometres to go, there will be a 1.3km long climb at 6.3 percent, a perfect place for a late attack. Then there are 1.4 km of a false uphill flat and the 400m finishing straight which is flat.
The rain is still coming down badly. What a day, being soaked all day on the longest stage of the TdF should be no fun.
They are letting Malori live for a little while, the gap is steady at 30 seconds with 15 clicks to go.
Malori (meaning "Illnesses" in Italian) is relly hanging in there. He will be wiped out at the finish, having been in the break since the start of the stage.
13km remaining from 226km
The wind has eased up somewhat so will not be a factor in the finale.
9km remaining from 226km
20 seconds for Malori. Six km to go. Let's not forget that final hill!
The rain is coming down again! Malori is almost at the foot of the climb. Flat out.
Leipheimer crashed! But he's on his bike again. He slipped on a white line.
Malori looks back but can't see the bunch (yet).
Astana riders at the front, too.
3km remaining from 226km
He's gone....
Voeckler also attacks! Chasing up to Vandenert. He's with him now, Vandenert tries to hang onto his wheel.
But the climb is nearly over and the two are caught. Voeckler wanted Vandenert to collaborate but the Belgian didn't have the energy.
Flamme rouge! Vinokourov accelerates, but then is passed by a Rabo rider
Boasson Hagen comes around, followed by Hushovd
Boasson Hagen takes it!!
Goss is second, Hushovd third.
4 Feillu
Great win for the 24-year-old Boasson Hagen, his first in the Tour de France. A good day for Sky!
Top Ten:
Thanks for having joined us again today. Let's hope that the weather dries up a bit for tomorrow's stage 7 from Le Mans to Chateauroux.
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