Greig Leach

With two of their break away companions already back in the embrace of the peloton, Luis Mate (Cofidis) looked over at Jerome Pineau (IAM Cycling) and sprinted off on his own. Initially, Pineau gave chase to the Spaniard, and then thought better of the effort. Mate may have only been postponing the inevitable catch by the peloton, but he wasn't going to be caught with out a fight. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained. This image also caught my eye with the truly French tree lined road cutting through the wheat and flax fields on the northern flat lands.