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

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Roller Derby, Johnny Marr, Chickens and the Tour de France

The Societe' turned an effort to innovate into a hysterical belly laugh today with their move to make the leading team more visible during this year's Tour. Donning yellow helmets, as now mandated for the best overall team, Team Sky was transformed into the best funded roller derby team on the Continent. The freddish looking helmet combined with the Green Jersey that Bradley Wiggins was wearing, makes the haste to get today's stage over with quickly very understandable.

Of course the stage started with a break and of course it failed as the peloton scooped up the six riders who gave it a go for about 190km. The race then lit up as it navigated its way through some insanely narrow and streets with a couple of bunny hopping required roundabouts thrown in for good measure. All eyes were on Gilbert, Sagan, and Boasson Hagen when Sylvain Chavanel launched himself of the front and make it stick for a bit, but when Cancellara's yellow helmet appeared the move was doomed.

The ridiculously steep last mile turned out to be a drag race for only the strongest with the Yellow Jersey, the aspiring white Jersey and an extremely strong 22 year old Peter Sagan.

In what appears to be a miscalculation in starting his attack, just a bit too late, Phillipe Gilbert missed an opportunity to win in backyard. Instead, Gilbert will surely have to explain to the rabid Belgian cycling fans why is isn't repeating his 20+ win season of last year. Finishing fourth on the day will not be good enough for neither Gilbert, nor the Belgian press.

The three strongmen all wanted the stage, but may have had three different reasons for duking it out with just 500m to go. Cancellara was looking for a time cushion to allow him to keep his Yellow Jersey a little longer, Boasson Hagen with a chance to claim the white jersey, and Sagan a chance to do "Head shoulders, knees, and toes to an international audience. Ahh..youth

 

Photo: afp                           photo:Bettini

The twenty-two year old Sagan, is not done winning stages in this year's tour, but with only one Tour win, it is still a little too early to be calling yourself "Tourminator". Besides, you don't get to pick your own nickname! That's the first rule of nicknames. If he does his version of the Chicken Dance again, I'll ask disgraced Tour rider Rasmussen or the San Diego Chicken if I can transfer their nickname to Sagan.

Speaking of nicknames, I'm wondering what to assign to Bradley Wiggins' hair. Has anyone ever seen Bradley Wiggins, Johnny Marr, and Liam Gallagher in the same room together? I didn't think so.   

Stage 2 Preview

A pancake flat stage with an almost certain sprint finish. If you are betting against Mark Cavendish, you probably put your money on Sagan. Bandwagoners beware, Goss and Greipel are going to be there, but I doubt they will get around the 'Man from Manx' (Cavendish)

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Sparticus, Sky, & a 12 year Old. Prologue Recap/Stg 1 Preview

Aside from the first winner of this year's Tour, Fabian Cancellara, the clear winner was Team sky who sent the message to anyone concerned, that they were here to win this thing.

Looking like a sleek black bull in his Radio-Shack/Nissan skinsuit, Cancellara charged through the streets of Liege to best the best riders in the world by seven seconds. It shouldn't have been much of a surprise that Cancellara won, now the Tour's only five time winner of the opener, but the day was not without some unexpected moments and results.

Team sky won the team competition with strong performances from of course Bradley Wiggins (2nd +:07), but from Bosson-Hagen (5th +:11), and Dark Horse Froome (11th, +16) as well. Not much of a surprise here either.

Hometown favorite Phillippe Gilbert had a fantastic ride and was clearly spurred on by the huge crowds lining the course, finishing just 13 seconds off the winning pace of Cancellara. However, it was Sylvain Chavanel who arguably had the ride of the day, finishing third behind Wiggins and 'Spartacus'. He held the 'hot' seat for quite a while today before he had to give it up, but he's surely not disappointed his ride.

Tejay van Garderen wears the White jersey of the best young rider and it appears that the American is starting to grow into his expectations.

Eventhough he is wearing the legendary 'Number 51' Vincent Nibali didn't gain any extra strength from the assignment finishing within ten seconds +/- or so of the other contenders, and now resides in the same standings neighborhood of Evans, Menchov, and Gesink.

Big disappointing performances of the day belonged to Frank "I told you so" Schleck and David "I like to make jokes when I lose" Zabriske. Zabriske, sounding like a 12 year old boy tweeting "I'm 69 ing this race to death", referring to his placing (69) and race number (#69) I'm sure. Mechanicals marred a couple of stellar rides by some TT favorites (Martin, tire; Sagan, pedals) that might have shaken up the results had everything been working properly.

Stage 1 Preview

A relatively long first stage winds through the Ardennes tomorrow. The profile shows a nice little bump at the end that might favor local boy Gilbert who is only :13 seconds away from the yellow jersey and who surely knows these roads well enough to time one of his explosive attacks. Everyone else might have their eyes on Peter Sagan who could use his power to pull away from a surely charging field into Seraing. Keep your eyes on Samuel Sanchez as well. He's a bit down in the standings, and might be off everyone's radar just enough to 'pop' a Stage 1 surprise.

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2012 Tour de France Preview - Prologue

photo telegraph.uk

The 2012 edition of the Tour de France brings back the prologue after a one year absence and the man to watch will be Fabian Cancellara who won the last Tour prologue in 2010. Tomorrow's 6.4km circuit favors the Swiss Champion that won on this exact course in 2004. With only 5 turns this circuit is not very technical and will favor a rider who is willing to take some risks on the first day. For that reason, don't expect any of the overall contenders, Wiggins, Evans, Nibali, et al., to rip through the corners to try for the wind. Prudence is key. "Sparticus", as Cancellara is known, hasn't had a terrific year and I'm sure he is very much focused on making a statement that he is still one to contend with. He's worn the Yellow jersey before and expect it to be on his shoulders when the Tour starts its short tour of the Ardennes the following day for Stage 1. Look for the man who once accused of having a motor in his bicycle to power through for the win.

Spoilers?

•  Toni Martin might be the one to 'put it out there' as the German rider has shown he can win a Time Trial of almost any length.
• Bradley Wiggins just might want to see if his fellow contenders are ready to race and start the over 100km of total time trials in this year's Tour as the man to beat.
• Peter Sagan is as strong as they come, but still relatively unknown outside of cyling circles and may want to announce his arrival to the big time with a prologue win.

Adieu