I think it'll all depend on the weather conditions as well.
Since the cobblestone sections are only few (6), I can't see this stage with dry weather make a huge difference, unless there is a massive crash that causes a major hold-up. However, since the GC teams will make it a (probably close to suicidal) sprint towards the first section, chances that there will be falls will be quite high (much higher than during PR actually). If a crash would happen, indeed having good team mates around - that can maintain a high pace on the sections - will be useful to either maintain a lead or close down a gap
However, when it's rainy/slippery like last year, no matter how good Stannard, Rowe and Thomas are on the cobblestones, I can't see someone who's not a super-great bike handler ...or at least someone used to ride on wet cobblestones... being able to follow (i.e. Froome). You just can't make the turns or select the right "track" at the same speed than the specialists in front of you do (especially when you need to check your Watt-meter all the time
)
By the way the same wet weather story applies to Quintana and Contador
(although theoretically I would expect Contador not to be too bad, he has shown last year that he is vulnerable in these conditions as well)
Since the cobblestone sections are only few (6), I can't see this stage with dry weather make a huge difference, unless there is a massive crash that causes a major hold-up. However, since the GC teams will make it a (probably close to suicidal) sprint towards the first section, chances that there will be falls will be quite high (much higher than during PR actually). If a crash would happen, indeed having good team mates around - that can maintain a high pace on the sections - will be useful to either maintain a lead or close down a gap
However, when it's rainy/slippery like last year, no matter how good Stannard, Rowe and Thomas are on the cobblestones, I can't see someone who's not a super-great bike handler ...or at least someone used to ride on wet cobblestones... being able to follow (i.e. Froome). You just can't make the turns or select the right "track" at the same speed than the specialists in front of you do (especially when you need to check your Watt-meter all the time
)By the way the same wet weather story applies to Quintana and Contador
(although theoretically I would expect Contador not to be too bad, he has shown last year that he is vulnerable in these conditions as well)
