Either the sprinter's have finally gotten their lead outs coordinated or they're all beginning to hear the echoes from the fast approaching Alpine stages, as the 5 man break was brought back with 3 miles still to spare.
Now that's how you celebrate. One massive Norwegian barbaric YALP!
(Photo: AFP)
The main recipient of the peloton's efforts today was Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), who for a split moment thought he had celebrated prematurely when South Africa's Robbie Hunter (Barloworld) threw for the line.
The biggest surprise to date for me has been the consistency of former Maillot Vert winner and newly confessed doper, Erik Zabel (Milram). Besides the crash he caused on Stage 2 (where he finished 7th), he's been in the running for the money on each day. Perhaps what they say about "the truth" is correct; it'll set you free every time.
Results
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
3 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
5 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
6 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
7 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
8 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
9 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
10 Mark Cavendish (GBr) T-Mobile Team
Up Next: Stage 5 - Chablis - Autun, 182.5km. The route looks to be perfect for a break to actually stay away as there are 8 categorized climbs (albeit mostly Cat 4) along the way.
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