Greig Leach

Rather than leaving the early break out to fry, today they caught the seven member break too early setting up the opportunity for a flurry of attacks within the final 20 K of the stage. This is Lieuwe Westra (Astana), Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis) and Guillou (Team Bretagne) trying to get away for the stage victory. The other story being told is off the French Gendarme who travel with the race closing the roads, dealing with the sometimes unruly crowds and warning the cyclist of dangers in the road way. They stand in front of the charging peloton waving a small yellow pennant with their backs against the traffic islands or construction zones along the race course.