Wellens and Benoot have to be a good chance here with TLS doing all this work, primarily with the Gorilla.

Boom attacks, gets up the road, and then immediately looks back inviting the close!

Might get an attack on this climb coming out of the select peloton.

The Gorilla gapped the select peloton on the climb, and drew out a teammate with a few others -- amazing!

About time -- Kelderman!

Breakaway dying...

Gilbert and GVA sprinting for seconds on the golden kilometer. lol

Le Bon -- gets it -- great ride -- displayed excellent strength to attack and gap his breakaway compatriot Van Baarle! Absolutely amazing ride by the Gorilla -- we saw this in Flanders this year when he got a roll up on the Hellingen, but to hold on and essentially make the selection for the second group was quite breathtaking, really! Kelderman did well -- no complaints with adding him at 6/1 -- the Books were right to keep him safe.

Just reviewing the stage 5 tactics by BMC with both GVA and Gilbert involved in the Golden Km sprints, where they got 1 sec and 2 secs, respectively. Unless they were going to use that attack as a springboard to bridge to the two man breakaway it was clearly a waste of effort, given the understanding of how much time was available by being more attentive on the climb where the Gorilla made the second group selection, and then working with LTS to spread out the GC. Yes it would be a big call to springboard some 35 kms out, but clearly given their no-show on the Weg Langs Stammen climb it took some stuffing out of them for little return compared to what Wellens and especially Kelderman got out of the stage, by just riding attentively.

Stage 7 looks like an absolute cracker, also because this race is so finely balanced -- the longest stage of the tour and at over 200 kms it is a true top-class test.

Kelderman, who only had some Under23 form previously, actually finished with Gilbert in the +1:41 secs group at this year's LBL won by Valverde, so he should handle the conditions fine. Alaphilippe finished in 2nd place, so it will be interesting to see if EQS put all their chips into the one basket and work for him, given he is their best-placed rider at +54 secs back and still within reach of Kelderman.

The Malmedyerstraße will soften up the peloton and that's where the long-range breakaway will probably form, but the up and down all-day-long will make for selective racing and there's still a lot of riders in this race within the lead, however I hope we get a genuine free-for-all bar-room brawl at some point, most likely from approaching the Golden Km standing at a manageable 20kms out from the finish for a bruising encounter.

The Books have gone short with Kelderman and I am not complaining, but I think odds on is not a legitimate position given the split-second decision essentially deciding a critical, race-winning move within the race. Wellens at second favourite and 6/1 best with two is also questionable. If you look at his sign-in photos for the first stage of the TdF he appeared decidedly pudgy, and is now stripping down and finding form, but if it's a bruising encounter it will still be tough for him, I think. Boom looks ready for a spell, but I wouldn't want to be laying him. Which leaves the BMC duo of GVA and Gilbert as the obvious main dangers to Kelderman, still. If they work together one of them will likely win, but DS has to be smarter than on the previous stage. Alaphilippe is an interesting proposition at 75/1 with the Books, however there is no place betting from what I can find. Yes he is +54 secs behind, however Wellens opened a 50 sec gap when he won the penultimate stage last year, so he is still within reach, but perhaps a podium best.





Just reviewing the stage 5 tactics by BMC with both GVA and Gilbert involved in the Golden Km sprints, where they got 1 sec and 2 secs, respectively. Unless they were going to use that attack as a springboard to bridge to the two man breakaway it was clearly a waste of effort, given the understanding of how much time was available by being more attentive on the climb where the Gorilla made the second group selection, and then working with LTS to spread out the GC. Yes it would be a big call to springboard some 35 kms out, but clearly given their no-show on the Weg Langs Stammen climb it took some stuffing out of them for little return compared to what Wellens and especially Kelderman got out of the stage, by just riding attentively.

Stage 7 looks like an absolute cracker, also because this race is so finely balanced -- the longest stage of the tour and at over 200 kms it is a true top-class test.

Kelderman, who only had some Under23 form previously, actually finished with Gilbert in the +1:41 secs group at this year's LBL won by Valverde, so he should handle the conditions fine. Alaphilippe finished in 2nd place, so it will be interesting to see if EQS put all their chips into the one basket and work for him, given he is their best-placed rider at +54 secs back and still within reach of Kelderman.

The Malmedyerstraße will soften up the peloton and that's where the long-range breakaway will probably form, but the up and down all-day-long will make for selective racing and there's still a lot of riders in this race within the lead, however I hope we get a genuine free-for-all bar-room brawl at some point, most likely from approaching the Golden Km standing at a manageable 20kms out from the finish for a bruising encounter.

The Books have gone short with Kelderman and I am not complaining, but I think odds on is not a legitimate position given the split-second decision essentially deciding a critical, race-winning move within the race. Wellens at second favourite and 6/1 best with two is also questionable. If you look at his sign-in photos for the first stage of the TdF he appeared decidedly pudgy, and is now stripping down and finding form, but if it's a bruising encounter it will still be tough for him, I think. Boom looks ready for a spell, but I wouldn't want to be laying him. Which leaves the BMC duo of GVA and Gilbert as the obvious main dangers to Kelderman, still. If they work together one of them will likely win, but DS has to be smarter than on the previous stage. Alaphilippe is an interesting proposition at 75/1 with the Books, however there is no place betting from what I can find. Yes he is +54 secs behind, however Wellens opened a 50 sec gap when he won the penultimate stage last year, so he is still within reach, but perhaps a podium best.









Just reviewing the stage 5 tactics by BMC with both GVA and Gilbert involved in the Golden Km sprints, where they got 1 sec and 2 secs, respectively. Unless they were going to use that attack as a springboard to bridge to the two man breakaway it was clearly a waste of effort, given the understanding of how much time was available by being more attentive on the climb where the Gorilla made the second group selection, and then working with LTS to spread out the GC. Yes it would be a big call to springboard some 35 kms out, but clearly given their no-show on the Weg Langs Stammen climb it took some stuffing out of them for little return compared to what Wellens and especially Kelderman got out of the stage, by just riding attentively.

Stage 7 looks like an absolute cracker, also because this race is so finely balanced -- the longest stage of the tour and at over 200 kms it is a true top-class test.

Kelderman, who only had some Under23 form previously, actually finished with Gilbert in the +1:41 secs group at this year's LBL won by Valverde, so he should handle the conditions fine. Alaphilippe finished in 2nd place, so it will be interesting to see if EQS put all their chips into the one basket and work for him, given he is their best-placed rider at +54 secs back and still within reach of Kelderman.

The Malmedyerstraße will soften up the peloton and that's where the long-range breakaway will probably form, but the up and down all-day-long will make for selective racing and there's still a lot of riders in this race within the lead, however I hope we get a genuine free-for-all bar-room brawl at some point, most likely from approaching the Golden Km standing at a manageable 20kms out from the finish for a bruising encounter.

The Books have gone short with Kelderman and I am not complaining, but I think odds on is not a legitimate position given the split-second decision essentially deciding a critical, race-winning move within the race. Wellens at second favourite and 6/1 best with two is also questionable. If you look at his sign-in photos for the first stage of the TdF he appeared decidedly pudgy, and is now stripping down and finding form, but if it's a bruising encounter it will still be tough for him, I think. Boom looks ready for a spell, but I wouldn't want to be laying him. Which leaves the BMC duo of GVA and Gilbert as the obvious main dangers to Kelderman, still. If they work together one of them will likely win, but DS has to be smarter than on the previous stage. Alaphilippe is an interesting proposition at 75/1 with the Books, however there is no place betting from what I can find. Yes he is +54 secs behind, however Wellens opened a 50 sec gap when he won the penultimate stage last year, so he is still within reach, but perhaps a podium best.




Just reviewing the stage 5 tactics by BMC with both GVA and Gilbert involved in the Golden Km sprints, where they got 1 sec and 2 secs, respectively. Unless they were going to use that attack as a springboard to bridge to the two man breakaway it was clearly a waste of effort, given the understanding of how much time was available by being more attentive on the climb where the Gorilla made the second group selection, and then working with LTS to spread out the GC. Yes it would be a big call to springboard some 35 kms out, but clearly given their no-show on the Weg Langs Stammen climb it took some stuffing out of them for little return compared to what Wellens and especially Kelderman got out of the stage, by just riding attentively.

Stage 7 looks like an absolute cracker, also because this race is so finely balanced -- the longest stage of the tour and at over 200 kms it is a true top-class test.

Kelderman, who only had some Under 23 form previously, actually finished with Gilbert in the +1:41 secs group at this year's LBL won by Valverde, so he should handle the conditions. Alaphilippe finished in 2nd place, so it will be interesting to see if EQS put all their chips into the one basket and work for him, given he is their best-placed rider at +54 secs back and still within reach of Kelderman.

The Malmedyerstraße will soften up the peloton and that's where the long-range breakaway will probably form, but the up and down all-day-long will make for selective racing and there's still a lot of riders in this race within the lead, however I hope we get a genuine free-for-all bar-room brawl at some point, most likely from approaching the Golden Km standing at a manageable 20kms out from the finish for a bruising encounter.

The Books have gone short with Kelderman and I am not complaining as it influenced this market and I have laid off some, but I think odds on is not a legitimate position given the split-second decision essentially deciding a critical, race-winning move within the race. Wellens at second favourite and 6/1 best with two is also questionable. If you look at his sign-in photos for the first stage of the TdF he appeared decidedly pudgy, and is now stripping down and finding form, but if it's a bruising encounter it will still be tough for him, I think. Boom looks ready for a spell, but I wouldn't want to be laying him. Which leaves the BMC duo of GVA and Gilbert as the obvious main dangers to Kelderman, still. If they work together one of them will likely win, but DS has to be smarter than on the previous stage. Alaphilippe is an interesting proposition at 75/1 with the Books, however there is no place betting from what I can find. Yes he is +54 secs behind, however Wellens opened a 50 sec gap when he won the penultimate stage last year, so he is still within reach, but perhaps a podium at best.

Has anyone reviewed BMC's tactics from today? Only managed to catch limited highlights from the last two stages, and feel like I've missed a proper treat. Don't think I'm going to see much more over the next two days either as we're going on holiday.

BAR-ROOM BRAWL -- long way out!

I thought after winning the Eneco tour last year Wellens might of done alright in the classics and won a few races this year.  Looks like he was just waiting for the Eneco to come around again.

Van Avermaet is capable of making up a minute or so on this sort of course, but it's going to be a tough job against a strong Lotto team.

If GVA is going to try something with BMC than surely it must happen at the Golden Km, now approaching?

Two old and experienced men in Quinziato and Leukemans versus the young Lampaert. I'm going with the young gun at 2/1 -- has had some good form in the spring classics and will be out to impress in his first season with EQS.

Quinziato it is...

Lampaert just didn't have the power on the Denderoordberg climb, even though he did the least amount of work in that three man break, although he was the first to respond when Quinziato attacked, however the elastic snapped quite easily given Quinziato's strength as a BMC workhorse. He did begin to fade on the Muur, but had a big enough gap to hold on.

Wellens wins the Overall -- probably underestimated him too much at ante-post when in retrospect his shape was much better than at the start of the TdF.