Fireworks, Barrel Rolls, and Bruises

photo: AFP

The lone American chance to have a French excuse to light fireworks on America's birthday hit the tarmac about 2.5km from the stage finish in Rouen. American Tyler Farrar got tangled up with other top sprinters and limped home about 4 minutes after the stage's winner Andre Greipel. Last year's Green Jersey winner and current World Champion, Mark Cavendish, went down as well in the crash started by his leadout man Bernard Eisel. Eisel accepted the blame with a qualifier "That's sprinters for you." However, most sprinters prefer to keep the shiny side up.

It appears that no one was really physically hurt in the crash, but that doesn't mean there was no damage done. Cavendish was the big loser on the day and took a significant hit to his green jersey point total and standing. He now holds the fourth place slot in the green jersey competition falling a spot from where he started the day.

My only advice would be to put your money on Cav teh next time he has a chance at the line, because a pissed off Cavendish is not often denied a win. That chance will be tomorrow's Stage 5 to Saint-Quetin. Book it.

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Forrest Gump, Barry Sanders, & Cookies - Stage 3 Tour de France Recap

The #TDF Twitterverse lit up today as the debate about Stage 3's winner, the 22 year old Peter Sagan, that #ForrestGump was still trending as midnight came for the Tour riders who were undoubtedly were trying to rest from a hard day in the saddle. No, the tweeters weren't talking about the questionable quality of a 'beloved' american film, but the 'victory dance" of the man of the hour in this year's tour. Sagan said that his 'running man-like' salute came about from the suggestion of his teammate to imitate the fictional character "because they told him to run and that's what he did. And he said the team tells me to win and I win."

Traditional cycling fans are having a hard time understanding Sagan's youthful exuberance as he crosses line in victory in this years tour. They are probably the same fans who are having a hard time understanding the non-continental, former mountain biker, and Cyclocross champion's seemingly effortless wins. Stuart O'Grady intimated that the celebration was a type of taunt and disrespectful to the rest of the peloton. Well, get over yourselves. Salutes aren't anything new, see Flecha's Archer, Cav's crotch, and Satre's binky. And even though I'm not a big fan (Barry Sanders never spiked the ball you know), the celebration adds some color to an otherwise predictable tour so far, unlike the roller derby helmets the ASO is making the overall Team Classification wear every day. Now those are both nontraditional and taunts at good taste.

photo: Bettini

I remember my celebration dances when I was 22. They weren't appropriate either, but then again they weren't televised around the world. Settle down. Everyone will be fine. At least you're not this guy.

Actually Stage 3 was the first 'real' race of this year's Tour. Lots of mayhem, missed corners (I'm looking at you Valverde), and some go for broke moves that kept me on the edge of my seat (Chavanel). It was a 'real' stage with real racing. Hopefully an indicator that this race is what we thought it would be back in Liege', wide open.

Dan Martin thought it was real.

Jens Voight thought it was real.

Tomorrow's Stage 4 end in Rouen, the home of Jacques Anquetil. A little bump towards the end will not be enough to break up the sprinter's teams as they try to deliver their main men to the line. If anyone gets around Cavendish, if might be Matt Goss, Greipel, or 'The Cat' Oscar Freire. The Spainard has been making appearances at the front in the finishes the last few days and he might just be lurking for the right moment.

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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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