Tour de France 2009...

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

By the way, when I mentioned that the peloton was ambling, the speed for the opening hour underscores that fact. The pace was just 35.9kph ... and that's the speed for the four guys up front. The peloton is 12 minutes back, so the pace there is considerably slower.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The most immediate impact of the big gap is that Jussi Veikkanen is very likely to keep the polka dot jersey after today's stage. The odds are not good that the break will be reeled in before either of today's rated climbs and the points will be gobbled up by the men in the break, leaving the Finn' at the top of the KOM contest.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Okay, the leaders are approaching the 50km mark and the gap has grown to 12:50. At some point, the leash is going to be pulled tight, isn't it?

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Just so you are all awate, Basso is not in the Tour this year. He rode the Giro and the Liquigas team made a largely political decision not to bring him to the Tour, whose organizers are not particularly enthused about allowing him ride.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Looks like I could be wong about Cavendish for today's stage.

 

I'd have thought he'd have been making a move by now, there are some seriously strange goings on out there.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

... and here it comes. As our leaders approach the 65km mark, the gap has dropped by more than two minutes. The pace is picking up in the peloton.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Cavendish - who pulled out of last year's Tour in anticipation of the Olympics - says he wants to make it all the way to Paris this year. I sure wouldn't bet against him.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The gap is now down to 9:05. The chase is not to frantic, but the pace is picking up a little bit.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

the gap is coming down a bit. With 110km remaining, the gap is back down to 11:55.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

With 109km to go, the gap is 11:45.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Our leaders have rolled through the sprint at Mouries. They didn't contest it though.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

And the Saxo effort is paying off. With 104 remaining, the gap is down to 11:00.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The Astana team was fined 65 Euros after failing to sign on within the specified time at the start in Marseille this morning.

 

The team was reportedly delayed by heavy traffic in the city center, but the organizers had little sympathy when Astana broke the rule that teams must register for the stage at least 20 minutes before the start of the race.

 

 

 

"How typical that this team were late. It is disrespectful to the public who came here just to see Armstrong," said race director Jean-Francois Pescheux. "The money makes no difference to them. We will ask the UCI to make the fines harder."

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

With 97km remaining, the leading four have an advantage of 9:44.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Tony Martin has flatted. He is getting help from his Columbia teammate Bernhard Eisel. The pace is moderate enough for both to regain their spot in the peloton.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Our four leaders are on the Col de la Vay

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

with 85km remaining, the gap is down to 7:41. It's Saxo up front, but the Columbia team is lending a hand and we even see a couple of Astanas up there.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

It's all flat from here to the finish.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

With 80km the gap is down to 7:08. It's well in keeping with the oft-used formula of one-minute per 10km to pull in a break. We'd predict a catch by the 15km to go mark.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

It's still Saxo doing the work. They have had the work fall on their shoulders, because they have the yellow jersey to protect. Of the men in the break, the highest-placed is Maxime Bouet, at 1:39.