Greig Leach

Once Van Avermaet and a couple of others had gone up the road, it was up to the favorites to chase them down. However no one was willing to carry Peter Sagan (Team Cannondale) along with them to the line, none feeling they were strong enough to outsprint the winner of the Sprinter's Green Jersey of last year's Tour de France. So while Omega Pharma Quickstep had four teammates in the group, they along with Belkin and Trek Factory Racing left it to Sagan to pull the attackers back. Tuck in to the slip stream of the Slovak are Sep Vanmarke (Belkin Pro Cycling) and Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing - and last year's winner).