If American George Hincapie isn't the perfect teammate I'm not sure who you would put in front of him. Maybe Matt Suey to Walter Payton, Trammel to Whitaker, or in cycling maybe Gerard Rue to Miguel Indurain. Today however, 'Big George' rode himself inside out at the front of a charging but watchful peloton to put his leader - Cadel Evans into a perfect position to take over his 1-second deficit and put on the yellow jersey of the Tour leader. George even gave Cadel the right bit of advice to change his bike after shifting problems kept re-occurring, even though the change in equipment could not have come at a worse time in the race. Cadel took the advice, and after launching an attack on the steep, biting, "Wall of Brittany"- The Mur-de-Bretagne, he threw his bike at the line to take a photo finish over defending Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador.The other cointenders had to be thinking, what was that?! Especially Andy Schleck, who hasn't looked sharp since the middle of last month's Tour De Suisse and lost a few more seconds today.
Cadel Evans took advantage of his team's day-long hard work in the Brittany region of France where it rains 300 days a year. It was a wet one from the start and Omega-Pharma Lotto and BMC kept one eye on each other and the other eye on the breakaway to make sure they didn't get too far away. With 5km to go the red and black jerseys of Team BMC delivered Evans to the bottom of the 2km climb to the finish. Evans was uncharacteristically aggressive in his efforts to overcome his one second deficit to the yellow jersey, but was matched in vigilance by Thor Hushovd who arguably had the ride of the day to wear the Overall Leader's Jersey for at least one more day. Team BMC looks up to the task of fighting for a Tour contender and with Jim Ochowicz directing a hungry team and might be ready to give Andy Rihs his first legitimate Tour winning team (Landis's cheating Phonak team doesn't count)
Stage 5 Carhaix to Cap Frehel
Tomorrow might have some surprises in store if the weather and wind along the west coast decides to get nasty. Strong crosswinds always have the potential to wreck havoc on the peloton, or let a determined breakaway succeed. Look for a large number of riders try and get away early and if a majority of teams make the break, the leaders might get an armchair to what could also turn into a sprint finish. Look out for Flecha to get into the group and take the breakaway win, or in a bunch sprint, put your money on Cavendish.
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