Another
sprint stage and another win for Andre Greipel. Just like it was supposed to
be. That’s 5 out of 6 correct winner picks. Let’s hope it can continue for a
while. The question is now if Greipel can make a Tour de France hat-trick on
Stage 6. Looking at the profile there is no doubts it will turn into another
bunch sprint and once again the race organizers have put in a very tricky
finish!
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The last
950 meters are all flat out to the finish line so if Lotto-Belisol manage to
time like they have done in the past three sprints it should be another for
Andre Greipel. However I think Mark Cavendish will be extremely motivated to
take revenge. On Stage 4 he got sidelined in the sprint by the crash and on
Stage 5 he made a mistake of losing a few positions in the final and was unable
to overcome Greipel on the uphill finish.
The
Lotto-Belisol train has been perfect so far, but they need to be very alert in
the final on Stage 6. Just before the 2K mark there’s a 180° corner in the big roundabout from Rue du 20. Corps American going to
Rue de l’Argonne and after that yet another roundabout with 1500 meters to go.
The most tricky part of the finish has still to come though. The “Last
Kilometer Gate” is placed just before the viaduct under the railroad and right
after that the road turns left in a 90° corner. Luckily the weather forecast shows it should
have stopped raining in Metz by then, but if not the riders have to be
extremely careful coming through that viaduct and turning left.
Thinking
about the last days it seems almost impossible we shouldn’t see any crashes in
the finish and I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two riders go down in that
last tricky corner.
Lotto-Belisol
with Andre Greipel is of course the team and man to beat, but don’t forget that
Mark Cavendish is always best when he has some rage inside of him. I think the
World Champion will be those few extra percentages more eager to win and that
could be very well be just enough.
The viaduct just before turning left in a 90° corner. 1 km to go. |
With three
sprint stages behind us already it’s not very difficult to say who’s going to
be in the mix. Alessandro Petacchi took 2nd place on Stage 4 and if
he manages to place himself near the front and doesn’t lose any positions in
the last corner this finish could be very suitable for strong Italian to take
another podium place.
Winner
pick: Mark Cavendish
Top3 pick:
Alessandro Petacchi
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