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Monday, July 2, 2012

Stage 2 Recap & a Cowardly Prediction for Stage 3


Despite the fact that he broke the first rule of nicknames, specifically that you don't get to choose your own nickname, Peter Sagan tried to make it two for two today as the tour rolled into Tournai, France for Stage 2. The Slovakian rider was a bit too early to be labeling his bike after his first tour win, but we'll chalk it up to youth. (he's 22) We'll chalk up his 6th place finish in today's stage to some poor positioning with 500m to go and inexperience in a full on Tour sprint.

It was a scrum to be sure, but there was no denying "The Manx Missile" (assigned, not chosen) his 21st stage win. Cavendish showed the poise and explosion that has earned him Tour glory and also the Rainbow stripes that he wears currently. Beating several of his former teammates that now race for themselves, Cavendish beat Andre Greipel by about half a wheel length.

The day started with German Tony Martin making the decision to ride 207.5km stage with a broken wrist. A hockey player in a former life, the tough guy is trying to make it to the first Time Trial on Stage 9 next Monday, where he seeks redemption after his flat tire that almost certainly cost him the Prologue win.

Tomorrow the peloton heads into the beautiful sounding Boulogne-Sur Mer for 197km with some interesting features toward the end that should disrupt the sprinting specialists. The bump at the end might be just what Phillipe Gilbert needs to distance himself from the peloton for the 7km to the finish. He knows how to stay away and drive a pace that a charging peloton cannot catch. Maybe will see Sagan. Or...it will all come together and we'll see a bunch sprint. This one's wide open

 Adieu
 
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