BBC Home

Explore the BBC

New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in

279 comments

user rating: 3 star

Stage Four: Montpellier (team time trial)

Tour de France
comment on the article

Zut Alors! Lance Armstrong back in the yellow jersey? It could happen today folks...

Welcome to Tuesday's stage four - the return of the team time trial, which today is a short 39km route around Montpellier on the south coast of France.

By all accounts the route is a tough and technical one but, if Lance's Astana squad finishes more than 40 seconds ahead of current maillot jaune Fabian Cancellara's Saxo Bank team, the Texan will be back in his favourite colour tonight.

It was hoped Britain's Bradley Wiggins could also challenge for yellow today but the Garmin rider was one of those to lose time at the end of yesterday's dramatic stage and he has a minute to make up on Cancellara - a big ask.

The first team will roll out at about 1330 BST and you can follow all the action right here: (link to be added later)

But what I really want to know is what you think about today's stage - will Astana really dominate, and how significant will it be in the long-term battle for yellow?

Latest 10 comments

Read members' comments or add your own

posted Jul 7, 2009

I predict Contador will win le Tour de France 2009.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jul 7, 2009

Im_Partial - Dupont (Ag2r) and Rooijakkers (Skil) both crashed hard and had to quit. Rooijakkers broke his arm, I'm not too sure on the specifics concerning Dupont.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jul 7, 2009

cheers Tgsgirl, you are always a very good source for the latest info. ok

I'm looking forward to starting up the Lanterne Rouge watch in a day or two as well. I think Staf Scheirlinckx could really carry the flag for Belgium in that particular competition. winkeye

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jul 7, 2009

I'm only as good as the TV channel I've got smiley
Staf Watch does have a nice ring to it (especially if you pronounce his name correctly, with an 'a' similar to the one in watch)

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jul 7, 2009

biggrin

Staf Watch it is!

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Wash (U2126937)

posted Jul 7, 2009

Nobody famous likes cycling

----------------------

Robin Williams is pretty famous on my celeb list...

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jul 7, 2009

I'm famous and I like cycling

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jul 8, 2009



Robin Williams is pretty famous on my celeb list...
--------
When I said nobody famous likes cycling, it was sarcasm directed at those who hypothesised that Stiller would only be there because an Armstrong yellow jersey was predicted (which it wouldn't have been before stage 3 anyway).

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jul 8, 2009

Amazing TTT. A two/tenths margin after 39Ks and the sports editors (at least here in the states and it appears with this site) can't appriciate it with some "out front" coverage. I think the universal problem cycling faces is that we don't always mix well with the motorists. If public-works projects are needed, bicycle lanes and path need to be part of the mix. Cancellara really deserved that. Great ride by Astana, but LA just did sit up as the 5th man. But that was pretty much all out and he took some really long pulls. Tactically better for Astana. Likely LA's last chance at Yellow. I think they'll ride in energy save mode until the stage to Andora. That's when Contador is going to lay it down.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Wash (U2126937)

posted Jul 8, 2009

Robin Williams is pretty famous on my celeb list...
--------
When I said nobody famous likes cycling, it was sarcasm directed at those who hypothesised that Stiller would only be there because an Armstrong yellow jersey was predicted (which it wouldn't have been before stage 3 anyway).

----------------------

My apologies, I confess to not reading the entire thread before posting...

add comment | complain about this comment

Comment on this article

Sorry, you can only contribute to 606 during opening hours. These are 0900-2300 UK time, seven days a week, but may vary to accommodate sporting events and UK public holidays.

RATE THIS ARTICLE

Rate Breakdown

  • 5 41.67%
    5 votes
  • 4
    0 votes
  • 3 8.33%
    1 votes
  • 2
    0 votes
  • 1 50.00%
    6 votes

average rating:
2.83 from 12 votes