[SPOILER] :Three days de Panne

[smutchin]

It's a flat run-in today, isn't it? I can't see the big sprinting guns in the peloton wanting to let this opportunity slip them by. They will need to crank up the pace and start closing that gap soon though.

 

[smutchin]

The gap has halved to just over a minute in the last 10km... 30km to go.

 

[smutchin]

And as they start the final lap of the 13km finishing circuit, they're about to catch the break...

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

And as they start the final lap of the 13km finishing circuit, they're about to catch the break...

Lootste Ronde! 13-odd seconds the rapidly diminishing gap.

 

[smutchin]

Ooh, nasty tumble for Cattaneo onto some metal railings. Looks painful.

 

[raindog]

F ckin bonkers that's all I've got to say

 

[ColinJ]

Er, wow!

 

[Snarf]

What a wonderful sprint by Cav. I didn't think he was going to do it when they came round that final bend. Greipel looked as if he thought "aw, stuff it" in the last 150 metres. Well done Mr Cav!

 

[rich p]

brilliant sprint

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Yeah, Greipel just seemed to give up. But that was Cav at his best.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Yep, awesome stuff. I thought Terpstra was awesome too despite the whole train going what looked like too soon, he probably did, but testament to Cav for hanging back until the last minute. Seen some brilliant timing, yesterday and today.

Two stages tomorra'...

 

[smutchin]

Boonen did a pretty impressive shift on the front of the train too, which was good to see.

 

[oldroadman]

Proper racing, wind, small roads, corners, full on. Good work by OPQS, I wondered what wold happen when they caused the little split in the narrow section about 1.5km out. It probably just blunted a few sprints. Brilliant work by Cav, switching into the wheels and holding 4th, then launching at exactly the right time.
Sagan looked uterly stuffed in the last 10km, not good at all.
Only 102km tomorrow morning, flat again, cold and windy again. Possible double?

 

[Chris Norton]

He'll have a go for 3a but 3b is where the race is decided. Interesting double header.

 

[Noodley]

Another FDJ success in Arnaud Damare This has been the best opening to a season for them for years.