Pre-season Teams Analysis | Course Analysis | Riders & Teams | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Stage 6 | Stage 7 | Stage 8 | Stage 9 | Rest Day & Coach's Analysis | Stage 10 | Stage 11 | Stage 12 | Stage 13 | Stage 14 | Stage 15 | Rest Day & Coach's Analysis | Stage 16 | Stage 17 | Stage 18 | Stage 19 | Stage 20 | Stage 21 | Post Tour Analysis
Back to Main Tour
Index
Go to coachcarl.com Home Page
Stage 2
Day 2 - Strasburg - Strasburg 183 km
Today's action started a little late into the race as the first
attack didn't go until about 13 km into the stage but it was the
attack which set up the control break for the day. Four riders
headed up the road and three more bridged. They were brought back in
with only 10 km to go but a lot of the race for the next five days
was set. For example, the first KOM leader was established and
Vaugrenard took control of the White Jersey for Youth Leader on GC.
In these first few days, the teams will sort out who will be racing
for which titles until the first significant sort on stage 7, the
individual time trial in just six days. For today, Credit Agricole
kept the pace high enough to make sure the break came back in to try
and keep the Yellow Jersey for Hushovd. CA was then aided in the
chase of the break by other sprinter teams until they caught the
break. They began a serious chase after the KOM prime at about mid
race.
Did you see Beneteau attack the break just before it was caught at
15 km to go like I teach in my e-book, "A Better Way To Train"? He
almost stayed but was caught in the last 10 km. Good effort and
smart move especially since he knew he probably wouldn't win the
pack sprint anyway.
Hincapie attacked in time to pick up third and two seconds for the
last road prime. This gave him the Yellow Jersey but it is very
early for him to be so concerned about having the lead. One has to
ask whether this means he is not back in form and the team will ride
for some one else like Azevedo, Popovych, or Rubiera or was it just
taking an easy lead by surprising Hushovd and CA for that prime. We
will see but keep an eye on any other efforts by Hincapie to keep or
get the Yellow Jersey before the first TT.
You have to at least catalogue the little things like this in your
mind and not let them just go by. They may mean nothing but, if they
do and you are not watching, it can cost you and your team.
Casper's stage win put him in the lead for the Points Title and
means his team will definitely be in the battle for at least a few
stages. The next four places for the Points Title are the old guard
riders of Hushovd, McEwen, Zabel, and O'Grady.
Note that Di Luca was dropped towards the end of today's stage and
fell to 2'26" behind. It means he is out of form and may not finish
the Tour. I would not be surprised to see him quit before the first
mountains.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow's stage is a long 228.5 km with five categorized climbs and
three road primes. There will be two category three climbs at 35.5
km and 50 km and three category four climbs in the last 30 km of the
race. Watch for a team like GST to keep breaks in until the first
or, maybe, second KOM prime to get points for that title. Also,
watch for attacks in the last 30 to 40 km with so many road and KOM
primes. The distance of this stage along with having two KOM primes
at the start and three KOM primes and several road primes towards
the end increases the chance of a break winning the stage. This
stage will favor riders like O'Grady, Hushovd, Zabel, and Boonen who
can sprint but are also good enough at climbing to win such a stage
in a break.
Welcome back to the Tour de France. :-)
