Cavendish Wins Again

Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

I know that it would not be fair or any more exciting to put all the sprint stages first and then all the mountain stages at the end of the Tour de France.  It just seems that the flat stages lose their excitement after the first round of climbs, yet the finish of these stages are usually the most exciting in the Tour.  Stage 11 was a prime example.  The only unknown at the start of the stage is whether a break will succeed and 90% of all breaks do not.  What is known is that there will be a break away and that they will be allowed to stay away until somewhere in the last 10 km and that there will be a mad sprint at the finish line and, of course, that Mark Cavendish will win. The strategy, timing of lead outs and the mad dash for the line are as good as it gets. The first four hours of the stage are about as boring as it gets.
Added excitement was introduced today when Mark Renshaw gave new meaning to "using your head" to gain advantage in the sprint.  Unfortunately, race officials disqualified Renshaw for head butting and veering off line to block Tyler Farrar.  I think the disqualification (kicked out of Tour) was too severe. A fine and being relegated to last place would have sufficed.  On the up side, Cavendish without Renshaw as lead out, may, I'll say again 'may,' even things out at the finish, especially on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
There were no changes again in the General Classification, but Thor Hushovd was unable to hold on to his Green Jersey after finishing 7th to Alessandro Petacchi's 2nd.  In a pre-race interview Thor affirmed he would not be taking any chances in a sprint finish and that staying near the top will enable him to hold on to the jersey.  Well Thor, I bet you'll be taking chances now!
Prediction for stage 12:  Five climbs with a short Cat 2 near the finish will leave the sprinters in the rear.  If a break is not allowed to hold it's lead, look for Thor Hushovd to make it over the climbs and regain the Green Jersey. May be a good day for Team Radio Shack to allow either Andreas Kloden or Chris Horner to go with the break.  There are a lot of mountain points at stake, so a dual between Jerome Pineau and Anthony Charteau may evolve.  If so, look for Charteau to regain the Polka Dot Jersey on the last climb.

Results - stage 11:

1	Mark Cavendish (GBR) Team HTC - Columbia	4:42:29
2	Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3	Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions
4	Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
5	Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team Katusha
6	Yukiya Arashiro (JPN) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
7	Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo Test Team
8	Lloyd Mondory (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale
9	Jurgen Roelandts (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10	Gerald Ciolek (GER) Team Milram
11	Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
12	Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Sky Professional Cycling Team
13	Oscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank
14	Ruben Perez Moreno (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi
15	Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi
16	Luke Roberts (AUS) Team Milram
17	Nicolas Roche (IRL) AG2R La Mondiale
18	Kevin De Weert (BEL) Quick Step
19	Egoi Martinez (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi
20	Danilo Hondo (GER) Lampre-Farnese Vini

Point Standings (Green Jersey)

1	Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini	161	pts
2	Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo Test Team	157
3	Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team Katusha	138
4	Mark Cavendish (GBR) Team HTC - Columbia	132
5	Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne	122
6	Sébastien Turgot (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	101
7	Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Sky Professional Cycling Team	96
8	Gerald Ciolek (GER) Team Milram	87
9	Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions	79
10	Geraint Thomas (GBR) Sky Professional Cycling Team	74