Mark Cavendish aka “Manx Missile” (HTC-Highroad) landed a big stage 5 win in a dramatic sprint he engineered in a span of :10 over the final 50 meters. Phillipe Gilbert (Omega-Pharma Lotto) and Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) followed Cavendish over the line in that order.
Stage 5 (Wednesday), which marked Cavendish’s 16th Tour de France stage win, is being pegged as “one of Cav’s best wins ever.” It was quite impressive to watch him engineer the winning sprint from what looked to be about 10th place position. At this point in the stage he had no help from teammates for the lead out; he just ripped forward by himself. I like Cavendish and everything about yesterday's win is why I’m OK with his so-called “attitude.” In other words he can back it up. I like that he riles up enough emotion to get people talking. He adds a lot of personality to a sport that needs more of an identity to break further into the mainstream. With only a few stages left to match his talents, look for him to fly on all engines and bring home a few more wins. Update: Cav won the Stage 6 intermediate sprint; with Rojas and Farrar close behind.
Stage 5 was marked by crashes and carnage due to narrow roads and windy conditions. There were 10 crashes throughout the day with the biggest casualty being Janez Brajkovic (RadioShack) having to abandon the Tour with a broken collarbone and concussion. The Shack’s Chris Horner, Levi Leipheimer and Yaroslav Popovych also went down in crashes but were able to escape with minor injuries. Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) was involved in two crashes, escaping with nothing more than a ripped jersey. But still remains far back in the GC at #39. Tom Boonen (Quick Step) was also impacted by a crash. Despite a painful ride to the finish, he was able to finish within 4:00 of the time required to stay in the Tour.
Some thoughts
Andy Schleck sits comfortably in 10th place. He is poised to move up further once the Tour heads to the mountains. I still call for him to be in the center of the podium when the Tour rides into Paris. I also still see either Levi Leipheimer or Chris Horner on the podium with him. Contador – I am not sure about anymore. He seems to be marred with obstacles this year including being surrounded by a team appearing to be sporadic when he needs them. However, I’m waiting for the mountains before ruling him out of a top spot.
Today (Thursday) is the longest stage of the Tour, stretching 226.5 kms/140.7 miles from Dinan to Lisieux. Flat with some climbs and made for the power sprinters. With Cavendish already winning today’s intermediate, this is the type of stage that he can wrap his massive legs around. My guess is today becomes #17 for Cav. (I was wrong...see below)
I love that Gamin-Cervelo shares team ride files on GarminConnect. Here’s Tyler’s Stage 3 win http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97231307 and Thor's Stage 5 ride to stay in yellow http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97337723.
These files are tangible proof of just how grueling this sport is and the conditioning required for this level of stamina and endurance. Those who don’t “get it” are probably thinking “it’s all drugs.” And this is the most ignorant and stereotypical perspective that anyone can bring to the sport. It becomes dangerous when an outlet like the Chicago Sun Times assigns a sports columnist who knows nothing about cycling – in this case Rick Morrissey – to cover the Tour. He came up with this gem: “Drug-Stained History Turns Tour de France into Pathetic Joke.” The only pathetic joke is the Sun Times for letting something like this run. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/morrissey/6360320-452/drug-stained-history-turns-tour-de-france-into-pathetic-joke.htm
I don’t want to make this about doping. That’s another blog post for another day. But rather call attention to his ridiculous assumption that the entire sport is tainted and in his mind cycling shouldn't be covered as a sport. Rick: don’t watch it and surely don’t accept an assignment like this if you can’t produce a well-researched piece that shows you have at least a basic command of the sport. Not to mention he contradicts himself by indicating that “Besides the Contador case, the last two tours have been free of positive drug tests.” As a “journalist” he should have some realization of how risky and stupid it his to base an entire rant on old news.
Rick: You are clearly experiencing more oxygen debt than a sprint finish. Stick with the bad buffets and cheap beer in the press room Wrigley Field. It’s much better suited for your lazy approach to “journalism.”
Stage 6 UPDATE
A rainy Stage 6 ended with a surprise win by Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagan, followed by Matthew Goss (HTC) and Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) who will remain in yellow. This is the first 2011 Tour de France stage win for Sky and a career first for Boasson Hagan. (Fun fact: Sky changed their colors to green to recognize the disappearing rain forest.)
More trouble for RadioShack with Levi Leipheimer crashing close to the finish and losing over a minute and pushing him back to #31 in the GC.
The GC going into (a flat) Stage 7:
1. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo
2. Cadel Evans, BMC, at 0:01
3. Frank Schleck, Leopard-Trek, at 00:04
4. David Millar, Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:08
5. Andréas KlÖden, RadioShack, at 00:10
6. Bradley Wiggins, Sky, at 00:10
7. Geraint Thomas, Sky Procycling, at 00:12
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Procycling, at 00:12
9. Jakob Fuglsang, Leopard-Trek, at 00:12
10. Andy Schleck, Leopard-Trek, at 00:12
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