If you are reading this opening paragraph it is because i haven't had a chance to see any news of stage one having spent yesterday at a wedding. As soon as I get a chance though I will post my thoughts in a separate post about the result of stage one.
Today's stage though takes the peleton diagonally over the isle of Corsica from Bastia in the North East to Ajaccio in the South West. As you can see this is tough old stage there will be hardly any respite for most of the day. After climbing the Col de Bellagranajo, the descent leads straight unto the Col de al Serra which gives only a short breather before the Col de Vizzavona. There is then 30km of descending sharply about 1000m so those dropped will have no chance of getting back on. but there is still a bit more descending to do before a final little kick of the Côte du Salario with just 12km to go.
This is the sort of stage that might suit Peter Sagan if he can climb in the leading group over the high point of the day. With a flat finish at the very end he is liable to be the most explosive finisher who could get over this. If Cav is in Yellow* and holding the green one question is will Omega Pharma - QuickStep try and contain any escapes in the first 33 kilometres to allow him to go for the only intermediate sprint before the race really starts to climb. If they do or if he is able to mop up the best points remaining for the pack it may well be enough to ensure he stays in Green* for tomorrow while giving up the Yellow*.
* Again this assumes that stage one, which I have yet to watch, pans out the way many including myself think it will.
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