The end of the beginning
This stage marks the halfway point of the Tour but the sprinters will have already past most of their winning opportunities. After today, the only two stages where they will be expecting to get a look-in are in Montpellier and 11 days down the line on the Champs-Elysées. Consequently, it will be a surprise if they allow this stage to elude them. That said, there will be many baroudeurs who have come up with a similar assessment of their own prospects, unless they are the kind of breakaway specialist who can stay the pace on seriously big climbs. A bunch finish… probably.
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Andrey Amador retires after not racing since being run over by a truck in May
Costa Rican says retirement 'wasn't planned' after 16 seasons -
Strava plan to restrict third-party apps has users in an uproar
Fitness application makers say move will only affect a 'small fraction' of users -
Puck Pieterse's cyclocross schedule revealed with World Championships set as 'final destination'
Fenix-Deceuninck announce 13-race programme for Dutch multi-discipline star -
US juniors Matthew Crabbe, Ashlin Barry and Enzo Edmonds grab significant wins in cyclocross and on track
Crabbe scores victory in Belgium for Eurocross Academy while Barry-Enzo duo win two Madison titles in 30 minutes
