TdF Stage 18

Hoogerland has shown signs of running into form. I think Sky will wait for Sunday and try and give Cav the final say

I've gone for three - Simon Gerrans, Edvald Boassen Hagen and Jeremy Roy.

Pleasing to see EBH and Roy in the break

Roy loves a break. I hope EBH gets it though.

EBH will get it if it goes to a bunch sprint

Can't see the others letting it come to that though

EBH doesnt need a bunch sprint, he's the best puncheur out of these lot. Look at the two stages he won in last year's tdf. Both were mountain stages where he broke away from a smaller breakaway group to win on his own.

If the peloton dont catch this break I cant see any other outcome than a EBH win here.

i dunno. ebh has done a lot of work this tour. think he might lack a bit of punch when it comes to le crunch

fireworks

wow, that place looks amazing!

what was that place called?

Maybe, just maybe the Cav today. Sky put EBH upfront. Big breakaway. Force other teams to chase it down. They can cruise and then the Cav out later

*lead

That Cat 4 might be too much for him only 10k from finish. Break looks like it will get caught?

I would like to think Cav can get over that Cat 4 after a relatively easy day. Would prefer this break having some more time but I think some of them will attack again soon. Then we'll see how serious the teams that aren't part of that are about reeling it in.

I dont see how this group can stay away, but then I've though that all Tour and they keep doing it.

It's a weird one today. Some groups have stayed out because nobody wanted to do the work to get it back in but today it seems like several teams have been queuing up to do their turn at the front, even though they've got someone in the break!

Doesn't look like this group are falling over themselves to work together for another push. Mindful of being done by EBH I guess. Somewhat schizophrenic peloton.

Happy enough to have the three most likely sprinters covered though EBH still winning would be much nicer.

you guys think sagan has a chance?

Bit of a non-betting day for me but I did back Sagan at 11s so I hope so.

no more ebh in this stage IMO

Yep looks like a sprint. I don't think these two will stay out.

This is a fun finish!

indeed!

awesome! some excitement at last

bloody hell what a finish

yes, great !!!

Good grief what a sprint by Cavendish, came from miles back. Greipel, strangely absolutely nowhere to be seen!

wow Cavendish!!

Did you see Roche's expression as Cav came past. It just said "how can we possibly deal with that"

Wow. Amazing from Cav. Lump on for Saturday and lump on for The Olympics.

See Sanchez seething again

bet the breakaway were gutted, they got smoked!

The overhead camera was brilliant, he just obliterated everybody. Reminds me of his (second) win on the Champs Elysees when the other riders weren't even in shot and Renshaw wound up finishing second.

I've garnered a lot of respect for Sagan and Greipel as sprinters in this tour but neither of them are capable of that.

Sanchez should shut up. Sky have got the world champion in their team and they aren't supposed to ride? Give me a break.

Definitely don't lump on Cav for "Saturday"!!!

Stunning performance from Cav absolutely obliterated em.

Oh yeah, Sunday

guess mc means sunday?

I agree. Sanchez is a whinger

Anyone who gets the chance have a look at the finish again. LL Sanchez is quality. He and Roche both have a look round. I'm not sure Sanchez sees Cav coming but Roche does. Watch Sanchez's double take as Cav comes past. His legs just stop and he wafts a hand in the air as if to say "not again" then turns round to see if anyone else in the peloton is pissed off. Has one more wave of an arm in Cav's direction and swears under his breath all the way over the line.

Superb

lol@dope!

Sanchez seething always good to see

Good summary MC. I meant Sanchez, not Roche in my post

In fact, looking again, Sanchez would almost definitely have got 2nd or 3rd in the stage had he carried on riding.

Anyone got a link to the finish I was in bed as on nights.  Put a couple on before I went to bed though but some **** doing his grass has woken me up.  Anyway oe was this


2012-07-20
15:30 21018275477 2012-07-20
12:09 Tour de France 2012 Stage 18 / Winner / Mark Cavendish
Back 36.00 10.00 Won 350.00 1483.00

There must be a better way of televising the finishes live the head-on gives no real sense of what's going on and it's impossible to tell who's winning.

Last 6 mins here in French Omen http://www.rtbf.be/video/v_la-victoire-de-cavendish-dans-la-18eme-etape?id=1746101&category=sport

You can get loads of others on Steephill.tv

WD on Cav BTW