Stage 5: A Return to Normalcy

Checklist for a normal flat stage...
Three Frenchmen from lesser teams go on a 200+ km breakaway. Check.

The peloton catches the breakaway in the last few kilometers. Check. Check plus for reeling in Nick Vogondy with about 100 meters remaining.

A bunch sprint finish dominated by the guys who ought to be winning sprints. Check.
1. Cavendish
2. Freire
3. Zabel
4. THOR!
5. Cooke
6. Hunter
8. McEwen

A sprinter takes the green jersey from Kim Kirchen. Check.
1. THOR! (88)
2. Freire (85)
3. Kirchen (81)
4. Zabel (71...points, not years)

How abnormal that things went the way they normally do!

The profile for stage 6 suggests it might not be normal. Two category 2 climbs should break up the peloton, but since they are only cat. 2, they probably won't separate the elite climbers from everyone else like, say, an Alp would. It may give Kirchen a chance to get points at the expense of the sprinters again.











image from letour.com