(SPOILER) What, no ToQ thread ?

[Flying_Monkey]

I'm actually really enjoying the tactical rough-and-tumble final few kilometres of this race. Another perfectly-timed effort for Cav. Guardini was quoted after the race as saying: “Cavendish showed that when he goes, if you’re not on his wheel or at least ready to accelerate at the same time as him, then there’s nothing to be done,” and that's pretty much how it looked.

 

[thom]

In Qatar, Cav talks a bit to Gazzetta dello sport about frustrating times with Sky...

 

[smutchin]

Talking of which, am I imagining it or does it look like Cav is getting more help from the Sky leadout train so far this year than he did in the whole of last year?

 

[smutchin]

Terpstra, Eisel and Phinney with a 2'20" 20 sec lead at 15km to go. OPQS putting the hammer down on the front of the peloton. This race just got interesting!

(edit: oops - misread the screen caption - it's 20 seconds, not 2 minutes 20. No chance of staying out with this far to go.)

 

[smutchin]

And there you go, they've been caught with 13km to go. Can anyone stop Cav making it 3/3 now?

 

[smutchin]

One question: is it Barry Markus or Markus Barry? Matt Rendell seems unsure. He looks a decent prospect either way.

 

[smutchin]

Fantastic finish. Great effort by Hutarovich but he is, after all, a mere mortal.

 

[raindog]

Cav gets it by a nostril
That was a tough, tough sprint. He actually looked knackered afterwards.
Fantastic work from Quickstep.

 

[smutchin]

Class lead-out from Terpstra too.

 

[thom]

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, that was an example of Cav doing it the traditional way. And just as impressive as the other wins. Plus 3 Brits in the Top 5 today, and 3 in the Top 10 overall (and all from different teams). British cycling seems to be starting the season rather well.

 

[BrumJim]

Does this mean that barring a complete disaster, Cavendish is likely to win this tomorrow? As 15s is more than you get for a stage victory, and there are no mountains that could put Cav down the road from the peleton?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Does this mean that barring a complete disaster, Cavendish is likely to win this tomorrow? As 15s is more than you get for a stage victory, and there are no mountains that could put Cav down the road from the peleton?

Pretty much. The only thing that could stop him is wind (no, not that kind... I mean, significant gaps created by strong winds and Cav getting caught on the wrong side of a gap) - or a crash / mechanical before the 3km point.

 

[rich p]

Close but he had enough and YH wasn't catching him at the end,
Showdown with Greipel should be interesting.

 

[raindog]

Sure will. Greipel seems to be in monstrous form this year and will take some beating.