I have been away the weekend, but like the ashes, I cannot believe a Tour De France thread has not been started.
Pall kicked off on Saturday and now we have completed stage 4 the standings are below.
General classification:
1 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step 12hrs 40mins 26secs
2 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky +12secs
3 Tejay van Garderen (US) BMC Racing +25secs
4 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto +38secs
5 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff - Saxo +39secs
6 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing +40secs
7 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step +46secs
8 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff - Saxo +48secs
9 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky +1min 15secs
10 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step +1min 16secs
obvouisly following the Team Sky and mainly the fortunes of Frome. I do not expect to see the yellow jersey on a Team Sky member to often throughout the tour, but have been pleasantly surprised so far, with Froome, let’s hope he can stay in contention.
Also got an eye on team Etixx-Quick Step from Belguim, mainly for my favourite rider Cavendish, but also for who I am tipping as an outsider Tony Martin, who showed today, that if he is in the main pelaton near then end, that he is one of the best sprinters on the circuit.
I also keep an eye on Orica-GreenEdge from Oz for the Yates twins, Simon and Adam. I am not expecting to much, but believe both of these cyclists have a very bright future at the young age of 22.
Other riders I am tipping are Sagan, who seems to like coming second, but cannot win a stage. Really want him to win one on this years tour.
My tip before this all started was Contador, but after crashing out and breaking his leg last year, he has made a steady, but not as good a start as I was expecting.
So for me, in no particular order are the ones to look out for, but give the Yate’s a watch as they are in a pretty good yo watch team.
Martin
Contador
Froome
Sagan