Tour de France 2009...

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

With the absence of rider radios today, we can imagine that riders will be paying closer attention to the "chalkboard man" on the motorcycle. The Tour has continued to rely on the chalkboard man to report time gaps to the peloton, despite the fact that riders have been getting more accurate information over their radios.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Mmmmmm... at 18km, the gap is up to 3:10.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

While you may suggest that the radio ban contributed to the rather rapid growth in the gap, the truth is down to err ... less technological factors. There were several members of the peloton who needed to rid themselves of this morning's coffee before carrying on. Tradition dictates that the peloton will slow if a significant number of riders answer the call of nature at the same time.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At 22km, the gap is now 3:40. It looks like this one will stick for a while. None of these riders poses a threat on GC

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Rumors of a potential pre-stage strike due to the radio ban swirled around the start line, however those rumors turned out to be just that - rumors - as the pack rolled away and did so right on schedule.

 

Others suggested the majority of the peloton might simply neutralize the stage by riding tempo, however given that it

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Our leaders are now at 32km. They have upped their lead 3:50. Despite the technological constraints, the peloton seems to have done its job in monitoring the gap.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

you might remember that we had two Cat. 4 climbs early in the race.

 

The results of the C

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At 38km, our four leaders are now 3:20 ahead of the peloton. It seems the peloton is going to keep the leash a little tighter than it might under more usual circumstances.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The gap has been trimmed to the three-minute mark

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Our four leaders - now three minutes ahead of the main field - are nearing the top of an unrated climb that summits at 42km. After that, we'll see an intermediate sprint mark at Lauriere, (44km).

 

It's doubtful that the four will contest the sprint.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At the 45km mark, the gap is now 2:50.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Our four leaders are being kept on a relatively tight leash today.

 

At 57km, their advantage is just 2:38.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Andy Schleck has just returned to the peloton after getting a wheel change. He flatted, but had no difficulty getting back into the field.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The peloton is being led by a combination of Ag2r and Rabobank riders. Ag2r is obviously intent upon ensuring that Nocentini keeps the jersey, while Rabobank is probably interested in getting Oscar Freire to the line in a mass sprint. Of course, the three-time world champion has to get past Mark Cavendish and Thor Hushovd and Tyler Farrar if he wants a win today.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The Quick Step and Lampre teams are now lending a hand in the chase. Quick Step may be hoping to give Tom Boonen a shot at a stage win today. He's been having all sorts of trouble this Tour and a stage win might get him back on track in the points competition.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Back at the 58.5km mark, the four leader crossed the top of the C

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At 68km, the gap has bumped back up to the 3:15 mark.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The men in the break

 

Benoit Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux), Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano), Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) and Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis).

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Our leaders are on the rolling terrain that follows the the day's only rated climbs. They are 2:45 ahead of an apparently attentive peloton and are passing the 78km mark out on the road.

 

Up next is the feed zone at 93km.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At 84km, the gap is now down to less than two minutes. We can expect a slight increase in that gap as the peloton comes through the feed zone, but this one doesn't look like it's gonna stick.

 

It's Bastille Day and local fans would like to see one of the three Frenchmen in the break make it to the line first, but I seriously doubt any of them are kermmited enough.

 

See what I did there?