Rowe, Stannard and Wiggins all near the front coming to Mons-en-Pévèle

Lunatic Vandenbergh goes solo

Great composure by the cameraman in the crowd, unflinching as Lars Bak plowed into him.

The first group catch the break but it slows down again and Gougeard goes again from the original break. Chapeau!

Lotto-Jumbo bringing a massive group back to the front for Vanmarcke. Roelandts solo attack.

Looks like they aren't going to drop Kristoff or Degenkolb or Stybar

They bunch should make Degenkolb go to the front to peg back the break
nevermind, Degenkolb doing a Kristoff

Surely they have to stop riding if Degenkolb bridges.

Going to get me some of that caffeine-based shampoo. Obviously works.

Brilliant ride from Luke Rowe to get 8th.

Another great race over the pave! And, a deserving champion in Degenkolb for his combative approach throughout! I do think that EQS lost this race to an extent though, by wanting to show how clever they can be in this neck-of-the-woods. Evidently knowing that the road turned into the direction of crosswinds after the end of sector 14, Tilloy – Sars-et-Rosieres, the EQS DS had marshaled his EQS troops to the front of the peloton and instructed them to press the speed on the front. Remember, the peloton had enjoyed a slight tailwind for the start of the race.

Putting four of your riders on the front to show you knew the wind would be different after making the turn once of the pave, served little purpose since it was too far out from the finish, some 65kms, to pull off a TTT move. So therefore all it did was split the peloton into several groups, and yes it put riders like Kristoff and Wiggins under pressure, but it also made Terpstra and Stybar work that little bit more over a tough section of the road with the wind factor. If they were going to attempt something like that, the distance from the finish had to be as perfectly timed, and clearly it wasn't. So later when Terpstra had a clear window of opportunity to attack, he didn't, because of the wasted energy of that earlier marshaling caper. It was nothing more than a DS wankfest and it cost Terpstra and Stybar, a genuine chance at making a significant race-winning move, and not many people would discuss it let alone notice it, but I firmly believe they lost the race by attempting to be clever.

Wasn't surprised with Kristoff and Wiggins failing, but I was surprised that Degenkolb was so hungry for victory. The MSR win was a little soft, I thought, since he came out of the sprint group, however here he really impressed me with his hard riding. Even when, I think it was Lampaert, refused to work with him in the lead, he didn't panic but stayed on the front, hoping, perhaps knowing, that GVA would contribute, and he did. And then even though the group swelled he dug down deep for the win, riding confidently and aggressively in the velodrome to keep any attackers on his right shoulder. I wasn't much of a Degenkolb fan, if ever, but this race has made me sit and take note of the German's impressive characteristics, especially after his ride in Flanders.

Vanmarcke looked like he might have found something, but I didn't believe it and it didn't last long, in fact he just didn't have it. Agree with CJ that Luke Rowe is one to keep handy for the future. As is MC's Senechal, still need to confirm that with another view of the race, but I believe he fits nicely in the young guns stable of which my Benoot is already a resident. Nice ride by Roelandts again. "Lunatic" Vandenbergh says it nicely. Boom would've wanted it wet again no doubt, but I thought his ride was very neurotic. Mug status goes to my fellow countryman and holder of the Green and Gold National Jersey, Heinrich Haussler -- looked like an amateur! Wiggins didn't do much wrong, I didn't think, perhaps just the pressure got to him at key moments.

Cheers,
SP