Tour de France 2009...

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Here are the updated Points Competition standings:

 

1. Thor Hushovd Cervelo Test Team 147 points

2. Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - Htc 141 points

3. Joaquin Rojas Jose Caisse D

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Updated KOM Competition standings:

 

1. Egoi Martinez Euskaltel - Euskadi 78 points

2. Christophe Kern Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne 59 points

3. Franco Pellizotti Liquigas 55 points

4. Brice Feillu Agritubel 49 points

5. Pierrick Fedrigo Bbox Bouygues Telecom 49 points

6. Christophe Riblon Ag2r-La Mondiale 46 points

7. Sandy Casar Francaise Des Jeux 43 points

8. Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi 38 points

9. Vladimir Efimkin Ag2r-La Mondiale 35 points

10. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r-La Mondiale 34 points

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

We are at the halfway point of the Tour. Today

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The ride from Vatan to Saint Fargeu is relatively flat, although the route does cover rolling terrain that includes just two rated climbs, both of them classified as Category 4 ascents.

 

Those are:

The C

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Today

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The peloton left the village departe at 12:45, working its way through the day

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Riders are now at the 11km mark and there have been a few break-away attempts, but those have been negated. At this point, the peloton is all together.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The pace is consderably higher than it was yesterday at this point, making it quite difficult for a break to form.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

a crash at the 15km mark. Most notably, Christian Vande Velde was involved

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Vande Velde and Quick Step's S

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Riders are now approaching 18.5km and the peloton is together. Vande Velde appears to be okay.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

It's interesting. The peloton is all toghether heading to the day's first sprint. That could trigger a bit of a contest between the two men on top of the points standings .... or maybe not.

 

We have an attack out of the field.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

another crash, but all riders are back up and on the road.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Well, none of the points contest biggies took the sprint in Quincy.

 

1. Johan Vansummeren (Silence-Lotto), 6 points

2. Marcin Sapa (Lampre), 4 points

3. Lloyd Mondory (Ag2r) 2 points

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

Johan Vansummeren (Silence-Lotto) and Marcin Sapa (Lampre) are now leading the main field at the 30km mark.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

The gap to our two leaders is 1:40 at 32km. Those two slipped away from the field about 3.5km ahead of the sprint, so there was no possibility of Hushovd and Cavendish doing anything more than fighting for two points. They opted not to waste the energy.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

We have two more intermediate sprints ahead today.

 

The next one is in Saint Ceols, at 73.5km. After that, the day's third and final intermediate sprint is at Suilly La Tour, at the 114.5km mark.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At the 36km mark, our two leaders have edged their advantage to 3:15, which is larger than the gap yesterday's four escapees ever managed. Perhaps with radios back in use, the peloton is content to let the gap grow a bit, since it can be more accurately monitored throughout the day.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At 39km, our two leaders now have 4:20 on the main field.

 

Neither man poses a GC threat, nor do they threaten the overall standings in the points or KOM competition, so the only teams with any motivation to chase would be those hoping to see a field sprint today.

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

At 48km, the two men in the break have an advantage of 4:25. Van Summeren scored three points at the top of the C