Low Scoring Stage

Standings after stage 6

101(+23,-91) Simon White (France)
96 (+20,-96) Joost Dantuma (UK)
79 (+0,-113) Paul Evans (France)
54 (+19,-138) Francis Lee (France)
26 (+0,-166) Keir Mitchell (UK)

I’ve managed to pull back into the lead, my tactic of putting Vinokourov at the top of my order paid off today. All those who scored had two riders in the top ten, but I had the best of the luck in the order.

The result was mainly affected by the skidding and crashing of a number of leading riders in the peloton, including most of the sprinters. O’Grady, McEwen, Boonen and Nazon all fell after Christophe Mengin, keeping valiantly ahead of the peloton after being in a breakaway for most of the race, fell at the last corner on very slippery roads. Vinokourov managed to survive somehow – he was just ahead of the peloton and chasing Mengin – and went on to get second. Hushovd, who had a puncture less than 20km from the finish and was behind the peloton catching up, must have worked hard (and had a bit of luck) to get fifth place.

Expect the sprinters to do well tomorrow.

-Simon

1 Comment

  1. Francis Lee

    8/7/2005 at 4:13 pm

    is shannon in on our game? I need a schmoking partner at the back of the peloton..