Tarmac, Tears and Triumphs....

So as promised some thoughts on the 6 stages and prologue.

Prologue: Rotterdam: Saturday 3rd
The prologue is usually the stomping ground of powerful consistent riders and especially track cyclists. Wiggins has previously been very good at this, however he struggled this year. This is primarily due to two reasons:
1) the weather: in the few days before the prologue, rain was predicted late in the day, thus Wiggo opted to go out early on. However the rain came early and scuppered any advantage. In fact it dried up towards the end and gave the later riders, traditionally those in the top placings the year before, an advantage.
2) priorities: in previous years Wiggo's priorities have been to win the Prologue and similar Time Trials later on. After last years surprising 4 place, Wiggo has emerged as a potential GC contender. This means that his focus is less concentrated on the Prologue and more on the whole Tour.

Aside from this there were strong showings David Millar and Geraint Thomas (3rd and 5th respectively)
It was won by the awesome powerhouse that is Fabian Cancellara. Cancellara is on course to been the longest yellow jersey holder not to win the tour. The list of his past victories however is immense, Prologue victories abound as do victories in the one day classic races.

Stage 1: Rotterdam > Brussells: Sunday 4th
A flat stage comprising of a lot of coastal roads on the dykes of Holland, suited to sprinters or maybe a break away, but cross winds could complicate things.
In the end it was a dog running into the Peleton (honestly it's one thing to bring your dog to watch the race another to have it off it's lead, idiots!) that started the days chain of events off.
Ivan Basso and David Millar the biggest named riders affected.
Then on the final right hand turn leading to the sprint straight, Mark Cavendish was shoulder to shoulder with Oscar Freire resulting in them missing the corner and crashing into the riders on the outside of them.
So a sprint finish without Cav.
Not exactly as easy as that, within sight of the line there was another huge pile up, stretching across the whole of the road and blocking all but the 20 including Fabian Cancellara the Yellow Jersey and many other top contenders. Due to the crash happening in the last 3km everyone is given the same time so no losses incurred. Cavs team mate Adam Hansen suffers a broken collarbone and is forced to retire.
As for drama that would have been enough for one stage but in the final sprint a rider collided with the sprinter Tyler Farrar resulting in Farrar draging the riders bike down to the finish, whilst Alessandro Petacch to a comfortable win. Cav's lead out man Mark Renshaw came in second so had he stayed upright this would have been an opening Cav victory!

Stage 2: Brussells > Spa: Monday 5th
Less flat than yesterday, some category 4 hills and rain. A recipe for excitement? A nervous Peleton with many riders nursing wounds from crashes means its going to be tense out there.
Well as per usual the Peleton allowed the break away its moment of glory before starting to reel it back in.
Except thats not exactly how it panned out. On the last big descent of the day the roads had become treacherously slippery with the rain and chaos ensued.
The Peleton is scattered as riders tumble and one of the break away riders, Sylvain Chavanel jumps off the front in solo break.
Amongst those tasting the tarmac are Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Alassandro Petacchi, and numerous others.
Sylvain Chavanel rides into the Yellow Jersey as Fabian Cancellara leads the Peleton across the line in a go slow protest after the danger of greasy narrow roads and a big, nervous Peleton threatened a premature end to some riders Tour.
Totalling up the damage 3 riders retire, Christian Vandevelde the biggest name out with broken ribs, others suffering nasty facial cuts and other injuries.
Tyler Farrar has a suspected fractured elbow but continues on!

Stage 3: Wanze > Arenberg Porte du Hainaut: Tuesday 6th
So called the Hell of the North, todays stage promises action by the bucket full. As if the first 2 stages weren't eventful enough, today sees the race take on the formidable Belgian pave or, to me and you, cobblestones!
A quick glance at the Peleton and it's glaringly obvious that a lot of them have been getting intimate with the tarmac. Lance Armstrong, Andy and Franck Schleck and many many more are patched and plastered up.
Such is the war of atrition this year that 96km in there is a crash on the normal roads and another retiree.
Then they hit the cobbles, 13km broken down into 7 different sections.
Damiano Cunego one of the bigger riders takes a tumble with some others on a cobbled section but all carry on.
Now into France the cobbles claim another victim as Frank Schleck hits the deck hard. Again. This crash holds up Tony Martin (white jersey holder), Sylvain Chavanel (yellow jersey), Armstrong, Contador (regining champ) and many more. Frank Schleck retires with a broken collarbone.
This crash was high up in the Peleton and thus split the riders in front of it off in a mini break away.
Included in this break are Fabian Cancellara, Andy Schleck, Geraint Thomas, Cadel Evans (current World Champion), Thor Hushovd (Cav's main rival).
Hushovd out sprints the rest to win and claim the green jersey.
Fabian Cancellara's effort and Sylvain Chavanels bad luck (2 bike changes) swap the yellow jersay back in Cancellaras favour.
Geriant Thomas profits from Tony Martin being held up and gains the white jersey.
All of that group manage to put time over on Contador and even Wiggo manages to come in ahead of him.
Lance Armstrong has a puncture and loses time to Contador and looks knackered having had to chase to get back in touch with the Peleton.
All in all the Hell of the North lived up to it's billing and put some interesting time gaps into the Peleton.

Stage 4: Cambrei > Riems: Wednesday 7th
Another sprinters stage and surprisingly uneventful.
The usual teamwork for the sprinters 'train' was there and it seemed certain for a Cav launch to victory.
Mark Renshaw lead him all the way to 200m to go but an early attack from Pettachi sees him take the stage win with Team Sky's Edvald Boassen Hagen coming in third. Cav sat up with 50m to go after realising the sprint was lost. Worrying show of form from the Manx missile. All other time gaps remained the same.
Cav was in no mood to talk afterwards, letter the old adage of 'actions speak louder than words' ring true as his helmet was unceremoniously launched from his tour bus.
Not a happy bunny methinks

Stage 5: Epernay > Montargis: Thursday 8th
Flat enough to be another sprinters stage if the break away doesn't stay away.
The early break was swallowed up as per usual leaving a perfect bunch sprint.
Team Garmin had the advantage and were pacing Tyler Farrar up to the line but once again Mark Renshaw delivered Cav to the last 200m and Cav did not disappoint this time. Out sprinting all around him leaving Pattachi (8), Hushovd (5), and Farrar (10) to fight over the other placings whilst Boassen Hagen came in third for the second day running.
So Cav gets his first win on this years Tour and boy did it mean a lot to him. As he stood there on the podium tears streaming down his face, it was hard not to feel for the lad who bears the responsibility of bringing results for his team, shoulders the burden of expectation and lives with the pain of yesterdays disappointment. Cocky and arrogant he may appear but he is just as human as the rest of us.
May this be the first of many Cav victories this year.

Stage 6: Montargis > Gueugnon: Friday 9th
Today's stage is the last before the roads start to go upwards in a big way.
The break goes from the 1st kilometre but is reeled in by the last 10km enabling another bunch sprint to take place. Team Sky, Lampre, Garmin and HTC all get their lead out trains into a good position but ultimately going into the last few hundred metres it was Cav against Pettachi and Farrar, with Cav coming out on top. Farrar managed a creditable second place with his fractured elbow heavily strapped/cast and Pettachi was in third. Geraint Thomas came in 11th after helping Boassen Hagen to 8th.
However as sometimes happens there was a split after the 14th rider. Only 3 seconds but that enabled Geraint Thomas to close the gap to the yellow jersey of Fabian Cancellara from 23 seconds to 20 seconds.
As we go into the mountains tomorrow this could prove vital with Thomas better in the mountains than Cancellara. Could we see a Brit in the yellow jersey tomorrow?

Watch it unfold live at 2:30 on ITV4, that's what I'll be doing with out a doubt!

So the first seven days have gone past and what have we learnt?
Well we have seen a lot of big crashes and big riders retiring, which could have a knock on effect for their respective GC contenders later on.
The Brits have been at the fore but not the expected Wiggins and Cav, but Geraint Thomas. Thanks to some clever riding he's sitting pretty in 2nd place overall and leading the young riders competition (white jersey). Cav has had a roller coaster week with crashes, let downs and topping it off with two wins.
Wiggo has stayed out of trouble and picked up time when presented with the opportunity. He will be looking to shine in the mountains.
The rest have largely stayed out of trouble and done their domestique duties well, with one notable ride from Steve Cummings on Team Sky who rode in the break on stage 5.

Onwards to the mountains!!