The opening day – Porto-Vecchio to Bastia

The 100th edition of the Tour de France didn’t fail to disappoint its fans. The pomp and circumstance was found throughout the race. There were a number of tumbles along the way, a bus that got stuck, and a German cyclist who got through the chaotic final by the name of Marcel Kittel, took home all three colour shirts, the white, the green and the famous yellow.

The race got underway to a steady rhythm. There were no real challenges except when it came to the sprints. You had the odd chasers leading the pack like a herd of elephants running away from a roaring lion. Yet as per usual it didn’t take too long for the day’s break to show itself with five riders, Jérome Cousin (Europcar), Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM), Lars Boom (Belkin), Juan Jose Lobato (Euskaltel) and Cyril Lemoine (Sojasun) all heading up the road leading the way.

The fourth-category of the race – Cote de Sotta, a single mountain point – was the focus for the quintet. The Spanish rider Lobato very easily won a contested sprint, and became the first recipient of the famous polka dot jersey. But with a sprint finish a near-certainty, the peloton kept close tabs on the break, the gap rising and falling along the coastal roads in a rather obscure chase, which looked rather like a cat chasing a mouse. The intermediate sprint at San-Giuliano was played out rather intriguingly.

It wasn’t until 35km to the finishing line, that the pace finally increased with RadioShack-Leopard, and Team Saxo-Tinkoff both becoming active up front. Team Sky Pro Cycling started to react strongly, and tried to move up front to regain control of the race with some success, before chaos ensued.

However it wasn’t until the approach to Bastia was the race thrown into turmoil. It was rather ironic to see that the finish line was temporarily blocked by the Orica-Green EDGE bus. The reason for this was it became stuck against the overhead gantry. A new finish had to be quickly thought of three kilometres away from the vehicle. But as the bus was able to dislodge itself, by reducing the air in the tyres, the finishing line was reverted back.

A short while later, a real carnage occurred, three kilometres from the finishing line, as the peloton formed a huge crash. Geraint Thomas from the group Sky Pro Cycling went down, along with a host of famous names such as; Peter Sagan, Alberto Contador, Tony Martin, Matt Goss, and Andre Greipel.

The fall had alas reduced the number of cyclists heading into the final kilometre sprint. Marcel Kittel benefited from this, to win and claim the first yellow jersey of the race. The German held off the likes of Alexander Kristoff, Danny Van Poppel, and David Miller to cap the biggest win of his career. It can be noted that Kittel is the first road-sprinter to win the first stage of the Tour, since his predecessor in 1966. The German rider, who participated in the Tour for the second time in his career, took his 12th win of the season.

Results table of the first stage

1 Marcel Kittel (GER) Argos (4:56:52)
2 Alexander Kristoff (NOR) Katyusha (+0)
3 Danny van Poppel (NED) Vacansoleil (+0)

Stage two – Bastia to Ajaccio

There wasn’t too much to recount on the second day of the race. Once again one saw the racers leading the chasers towards the finishing line. It was an amazing arrays of affairs when 16km from the finishing line one saw some interesting action. The sprint amongst the first peloton was amazing, as they all raced to try and prove that they were the best of all. A young Frenchman from the team Europcar led the chase as the runners behind tried to catch up with him.

Meanwhile, a few kilometres from the finishing line a group broke him down and challenged him and the others in the peloton to the finishing line. Yet it was Belgian Jan Bakelants (RadioShack) who won the second stage of the Tour de France in Ajaccio, and finally got to wear the yellow jersey.

Jan Bakelants, outpaced his breakaway companions in the final and resisted the return of the first platoon. Then when he reached the line, he was preceded by Peter Sagan to second place.

At first, it was thought the Spaniard Markel Irizar, Jan Bakelants teammate, was the winner. However on the line, installed the force of the Bloodthirsty archipelago, the Belgian preceded his attack, and easily beat the Peter Sagan, and the Michal Kwiatkowski, at the end of 156 km.

The wearer of the yellow jersey from Bastia, German Marcel Kittel was behind in the second climb of the day, the Col de la Serra, along with many sprinters, Cavendish, Kristoff, Bouhanni, and Danny Van Poppel. Kittel was defeated by ten minutes at 16 kilometres from the finishing line. The winners of the day’s jerseys were Jan Bakelants yellow, Pierre Rolland (polka dots), Marcel Kittle (green), and Michal Kwiatkowski (white).

Results table of the second stage

1 Jan Bakelants (BEL) RadioShack (3:43:11)
2 Peter Sagan (SVK) Cannondale (+1)
3 Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step (+1)

Stage three – Ajaccio to Calvi

The race had ended like a dream for Simon Gerrans, (Orica-Green EDGE) who produced a superb turn of pace in a close-cut photo finish, to upset pre-stage favourite Peter Sagan, (Cannondale). The stage was controlled largely by the Belgian Jan Bakelants, and members of the RadioShack-Leopard team.

However the toughest stage of the race was played out in stunning scenery. The terrain en route to Calvi was really spectacular. Yet at the start of the race there was barely a moment of respite, as Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEDGE), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Alexis Vuillermoz (Sojasun), Lieuwe Westra, (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Sebastien Minard, (AG2R-La Mondiale) were able to push clear.
Meanwhile, RadioShack-Leopard took up the trophy on behalf of the overnight leader Bakelants, whom was helped by a large number of teams, which included Team Sky, Belkin and Saxo-Tinkoff. They were all keen to show themselves on the categorised climbs. The pace acted out during this stage, paid off the hopes and dreams for a large number of sprinters. They were able to create a selection of groups at the finishing line. It can be seen as the toughest start of the Grand Tour, which returns on French soil in stage four.

It was interesting to see the mighty attacks fired off over the top of the final climb, the Col de Marsolino, with Sylvain Chavanel, (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) quickly showing that he was the driving force behind a four-man move. This also included the polka dot jersey wearer, Pierre Rolland (Europcar). The peloton were able to fend off the move to set up a sprint, in which Gerrans timed his bike, and gave his all, as he showed his might against the better Peter Sagan. Despite being edged into second place for the second day in succession Sagan was still able to open out a 17-point lead at the top of the green jersey standings.

Results of stage three

1 Simon Gerrans (AUS) Orica (3:41:24)
2 Peter Sagan (SVK) Cannondale (+0)
3 José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) Movistar (+0)

Stage Four – Nice to Nice

Finally back on French soil, this stage of the tour started the first of the Time Trials. This is riders battling against the clock to get a good place in the table. It was a gruelling test for all the riders. It was the battle of the giants, as each team raced together against the clock.
It was exciting to watch them battle along the roads of Nice and along the promenade des Anglais. The sunshine made it all the more interesting, as the heat took the better of them, and gave the Orica team a chance to improve their lead at the top of the table. This allowed Simon Gerrans to keep the yellow jersey. There were no other changes to the jersey wearer, but tomorrow is another day, and a different circuit, anything could happen en route to Marseille.

Overall standings at the end of the fourth stage

1 Simon Gerrans (AUS) – Orica – (12:47:24)
2 Daryl Impey (RSA) – Orica – (+0)
3 Michael Albasini (SUI) – Orica – (+0)

The team with the fastest time

1. Orica (25:56)
2. Omega Pharma – Quick-Step (+1)
3. Team Sky (+3)

Stage Five – Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille

It was a great moment when Britain’s Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma) won the fifth stage of the Tour de France in Marseille, ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen, and Peter Sagan. Australian Simon Gerrans (Orica) was able to retain the yellow jersey at the end of the 228.5 km long lead, which led to a breakaway.

Cavendish took his 24th stage victory in the Tour in which he participated since 2007. The champion of Great Britain, aged 28, took his 109th victory since he turned professional, his 14th win of the season. Taken in by the conditions by Belgian Gert Steegmans, Cavendish had imposed and strengthened his lead to that of his followers.

The breakaway launched from the start saw six front runners. Its instigator, the Belgian Thomas de Gendt, was followed by two riders in the same team, Kevin Reza, Yukiya Arashiro, Romain Sicard, Anthony Delaplace, and Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko.

The group quickly counted up to 12 min 45 sec advance of the chasing pack that was following them, before the Orica team accelerated the pace of the peloton. But the gap had decreased slowly until the sprinters teams lent a hand (7 min at 60 km from the finish).

Up front, Sicard, and Delaplace had stalled as they approached the final 50 kilometres. De Gendt, who was most active, and his companion’s efforts paid off in the end at the small neck of Gineste, which they dealt with, 2 minutes early at 209 Km into the race.

The last survivors, Lutsenko, and Reza were joined in Marseille, at the entrance of the last four kilometres, the peloton led by a great train of riders from Omega Pharma, were doing sterling work for Cavendish.

However, as always in the Tour a stage doesn’t go by too smoothly without something happening. A massive tumble occurred in the last hundred meters of the finishing line. Belgian Jurgen Van den Broeck was one of the victims, but he was quickly found crossing the line in triumphant style.

Results of Stage Five

1 Mark Cavendish (IOM) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step (5:31:51)
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Sky (+0)
3 Peter Sagan (SVK) Cannondale (+0)

Stage Six – Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier

Another exciting day was to be had, as the Tour de France entered into stage six. It was a sad day for several riders, notably Mark Cavendish who fell off his bike at the sprint. It was a great day for Andre Greipel who was able to win the sprint and his eleventh victory in winning a stage in the Tour de France. There was also a change in the yellow jersey wearer. Daryl Impey finally had the opportunity to be given the yellow jersey after beating Simon Gerrans in this stage.

However the sixth stage had been considered a rather nervy affair by some, with the dreaded Mistral winds constantly threatening to split the peloton apart. Luis Maté had managed to race up the road in a virtuoso manner, as soon as the start flag was lowered. Yet it didn’t last for long as the Cofidis man was brought back into the pack after 44km into the race. This was how things stood right up to the closing stages of the race.

Sprinters were able to duck and dive amongst each other for maximum points. But it was Greipel who won the battle ahead of Cavendish, and Alexander Kristoff. Once the fast men were back in the bunch, Team Sky was able to show their might with Kanstantsin Siutsou leading the peloton over the single fourth-category climb. It was an impressive state of affairs as the riders at the front of the bunch held their lead, through the blustery Rhône delta.

It wasn’t until the sprint trains began showing their strength against the other riders that we could really see the fireworks. Sagan’s hopes of a first stage win was dealt a deathly blow, due to the reasons he had suffered a double puncture in the final hour, and Cavendish was also hampered when he crashed 30km from the finishing line.

However despite this setback, both riders were able to get themselves back into contention of the race, as they swept into Montpellier. Alas, it was Greipel who proved the fastest finisher of the day, and took the golden chalice, to take the home victory sprinting at 74km per hour to the finishing line.

Results of Stage six

1 André Greipel (GER) Lotto (3:59:02)
2 Peter Sagan (SVK) Cannondale (+0)
3 Marcel Kittel (GER) Argos (+0)

Stage Seven – Montpellier to Albi

Today’s race hasn’t been as dynamic as the previous day’s racing. The hot weather, the beautiful countryside and cruising along the minor roads, has probably played a part in the rather steady pace set by the front riders. During the race they were able to split into three separate groups. The jersey wearers were in the second group who were only thirty seconds behind the front runners, at 16km from the finishing line.

Yet as each team took its time, Peter Sagan’s team of riders helped him along in a steady fashion, waiting for the right moment for him to attack and sprint home. It was an interesting state of affairs, as all the big name stars cruised along the road with relatively little difficulty.

Then 5km from the finishing line, the real action had started. It was the test of time, as we saw the big name riders battle it out amongst them. The peloton managed to regroup, and catch up with the front runners, before starting the sprint. It was interesting to see how the tactics of interweaving would be used, racing towards the line.

Each team showed its might with Steven Chavanel showing what he is capable of. Peter Sagan wasn’t going to give into the Frenchman, neither Chris Froome. It was a battle between David against Goliath, as they sprinted into the final kilometres. The cheers from the crowd really gave the added boost as Peter Sagan took the stage win, and gave the added boost to the green jersey wearer.

The other two finishers who also wanted to show they were capable of beating Sagan were John Degenkolb, and Daniele Bannati. But unfortunately for them, Peter showed he was the best, and left the two battling it out against each other for second and third place. David Impey still kept his yellow jersey for the second day. It will be interesting to see how long they will be able to keep it, as the Tour enters into week two. Yet with regards to the other jersey wearers, there were no changes either.

Results of stage seven

1 Peter Sagan (SVK) Cannondale (4:54:12)
2 John Degenkolb (GER) Argos (+0)
3 Daniele Bennati (ITA) Saxo – Tinkoff (+0)

The end of the first week table listing

1 – Daryl Impey (RSA) – Orica – (22:18:17)
2 – Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) – Team Sky – (+3)
3 – Simon Gerrans (AUS) – Orica – (+5)
4 – Michael Albasini (SUI) – Orica – (+5)
5 – Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+6)
6 – Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+6)
7 – Chris Froome – Team Sky – (+8)
8 – Richie Porte (AUS) – Team Sky – (+8)
9 – Nicolas Roche (IRL) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+14)
10 – Roman Kreuziger (CZE) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+14)
11 – Alberto Contador (ESP) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+14)
12 – Michael Rogers (AUS) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+14)
13 – Andrew Talansky (USA) – Garmin – (+22)
14 – Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) – Garmin – (+22)
15 – Adam Hansen (AUS) – Lotto – (+22)
16 – Daniel Martin (IRL) – Garmin – (+22)
17 – Tom Danielson (USA) – Garmin – (+22)
18 – Alejandro Valverde (ESP) – Movistar – (+25)
19 – Rui Costa (POR) – Movistar – (+25)
20 – Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar – (+25)
21 – Andrey Amador (CRC) – Movistar – (+25)
22 – Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL) – Lampre – (+30)
23 – Cadel Evans (AUS) – BMC Racing – (+31)
24 – Philippe Gilbert (BEL) – BMC Racing – (+31)
25 – Tejay van Garderen (USA) – BMC Racing – (+31)
26 – Amaël Moinard (FRA) – BMC Racing – (+31)
27 – Eduard Vorganov (RUS) – Katyusha – (+33)
28 – Jan Bakelants (BEL) – RadioShack – (+33)
29 – Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) – Katyusha – (+33)
30 – Juan Antonio Flecha – Vacansoleil – (+33)
31 – Daniel Moreno (ESP) – Katyusha – (+33)
32 – Peter Sagan (SVK) – Cannondale – (+34)
33 – Maxime Monfort (BEL) – RadioShack – (+34)
34 – Andy Schleck (LUX) – RadioShack – (+34)
35 – Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) – RadioShack – (+34)
36 – Andreas Klöden (GER) – RadioShack – (+34)
37 – Wout Poels (NED) – Vacansoleil – (+38)
38 – Bauke Mollema (NED) – Belkin – (+42)
39 – Laurens ten Dam (NED) – Belkin – (+42)
40 – Lars-Petter Nordhaug – Belkin – (+42)
41 – Bram Tankink (NED) – Belkin – (+42)
42 – Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (+47)
43 – Arnold Jeannesson (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (+47)
44 – Alexandre Geniez (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (+47)
45 – Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – Astana – (+1:01)
46 – Jean Christophe Péraud (FRA) – AG2R – (+1:09)
47 – Romain Bardet (FRA) – AG2R – (+1:09)
48 – John Gadret (FRA) – AG2R – (+1:09)
49 – Julien Simon (FRA) – Sojasun – (+1:15)
50 – Maxime Mederel (FRA) – Sojasun – (+1:15)
51 – Brice Feillu (FRA) – Sojasun – (+1:15)
52 – Pierre Rolland (FRA) – Europcar – (+1:18)
53 – Davide Malacarne (ITA) – Europcar – (+1:18)
54 – Thomas Voeckler (FRA) – Europcar – (+1:20)
55 – Manuele Mori (ITA) – Lampre – (+1:21)
56 – Damiano Cunego (ITA) – Lampre – (+1:24)
57 – José Serpa (COL) – Lampre – (+1:24)
58 – Christophe Le Mével (FRA) – Cofidis – (+1:25)
59 – Daniel Navarro (ESP) – Cofidis – (+1:25)
60 – Gorka Izagirre (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+1:29)
61 – Igor Antón (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+1:29)
62 – Mikel Nieve (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+1:29)
63 – Mikel Astarloza (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+1:29)
64 – Alessandro De Marchi (ITA) – Cannondale – (+2:02)
65 – Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA) – Sojasun – (+3:44)
66 – Yukiya Arashiro (JPN) – Europcar – (+3:47)
67 – Steve Morabito (SUI) – BMC Racing – (+4:37)
68 – Christophe Riblon (FRA) – AG2R – (+4:49)
69 – Pierrick Fédrigo (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (+5:06)
70 – Jean-Marc Marino (FRA) – Sojasun – (+5:29)
71 – Yury Trofimov (RUS) – Katyusha – (+5:35)
72 – Tony Gallopin (FRA) – RadioShack – (+5:36)
73 – Michael Schär (SUI) – BMC Racing – (+5:56)
74 – Kristjan Koren (SLO) – Cannondale – (+6:17)
75 – Cyril Lemoine (FRA) – Sojasun – (+6:48)
76 – Julien El Farès (FRA) – Sojasun – (+6:53)
77 – Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) – Astana – (+7:02)
78 – Cyril Gautier (FRA) – Europcar – (+7:52)
79 – Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) – Astana – (+8:30)
80 – Rubén Plaza (ESP) – Movistar – (+8:30)
81 – Daniele Bennati (ITA) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+8:59)
82 – Robert Gesink (NED) – Belkin – (+9:08)
83 – Matteo Tosatto (ITA) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+9:32)
84 – Pavel Brutt (RUS) – Katyusha – (+9:51)
85 – Arthur Vichot (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (+10:02)
86 – Jon Izagirre (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+10:22)
87 – Davide Cimolai (ITA) – Lampre – (+10:31)
88 – Sergey Lagutin (UZB) – Vacansoleil – (+10:56)
89 – Rudy Molard (FRA) – Cofidis – (+10:57)
90 – Janez Brajkovic (SLO) – Astana – (+11:44)
91 – José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) – Movistar – (+13:03)
92 – Bart De Clercq (BEL) – Lotto – (+13:05)
93 – Markel Irizar (ESP) – RadioShack – (+13:55)
94 – Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP) – Movistar – (+14:05)
95 – Jérôme Coppel (FRA) – Cofidis – (+14:08)
96 – Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) – Team Sky – (+14:12)
97 – Peter Kennaugh (IOM) – Team Sky – (+14:36)
98 – Jens Voigt (GER) – RadioShack – (+14:38)
99 – Tom Dumoulin (NED) – Argos – (+14:52)
100 – Moreno Moser (ITA) – Cannondale – (+15:07)
101 – Gatis Smukulis (LAT) – Katyusha – (+15:26)
102 – Manuel Quinziato (ITA) – BMC Racing – (+15:26)
103 – Brent Bookwalter (USA) – BMC Racing – (+15:27)
104 – David Millar (SCO) – Garmin – (+15:43)
105 – Christian Vande Velde (USA) – Garmin – (+15:43)
106 – Anthony Delaplace (FRA) – Sojasun – (+16:14)
107 – Alberto Losada (ESP) – Katyusha – (+16:42)
108 – Matteo Bono (ITA) – Lampre – (+17:11)
109 – Jonathan Hivert (FRA) – Sojasun – (+17:39)
110 – Peter Velits (SVK) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+17:40)
111 – Tony Martin (GER) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+17:40)
112 – Simon Clarke (AUS) – Orica – (+17:41)
113 – Elia Favilli (ITA) – Lampre – (+18:06)
114 – Lars Bak (DEN) – Lotto – (+18:07)
115 – Sérgio Paulinho (POR) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+18:28)
116 – Laurent Didier (LUX) – RadioShack – (+18:47)
117 – Alan Marangoni (ITA) – Cannondale – (+18:49)
118 – Rein Taaramäe (EST) – Cofidis – (+18:54)
119 – Guillaume Levarlet (FRA) – Cofidis – (+19:33)
120 – Simon Geschke (GER) – Argos – (+19:53)
121 – Maarten Wynants (BEL) – Belkin – (+20:37)
122 – José Iván Gutiérrez (ESP) – Movistar – (+21:34)
123 – Lars Boom (NED) – Belkin – (+21:56)
124 – Maciej Bodnar (POL) – Cannondale – (+22:19)
125 – André Greipel (GER) – Lotto – (+22:22)
126 – Juan José Oroz (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+22:38)
127 – David López (ESP) – Team Sky – (+23:11)
128 – Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) – AG2R – (+23:13)
129 – Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR) – Team Sky – (+23:55)
130 – Hubert Dupont (FRA) – AG2R – (+24:07)
131 – Alexander Kristoff (NOR) – Katyusha – (+24:15)
132 – Markus Burghardt (GER) – BMC Racing – (+24:22)
133 – John Degenkolb (GER) – Argos – (+24:28)
134 – Boy van Poppel (NED) – Vacansoleil – (+24:31)
135 – David Veilleux (CAN) – Europcar – (+25:33)
136 – Fabio Sabatini (ITA) – Cannondale – (+26:39)
137 – Mark Cavendish (IOM) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+26:50)
138 – Gert Steegmans (BEL) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+27:07)
139 – Roberto Ferrari (ITA) – Lampre – (+27:15)
140 – Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU) – Garmin – (+27:25)
141 – Greg Henderson (NZL) – Lotto – (+27:30)
142 – Murilo Fischer (BRA) – FDJ.fr – (+27:43)
143 – Egoitz García (ESP) – Cofidis – (+27:47)
144 – Brian Vandborg (DEN) – Cannondale – (+27:50)
145 – Roy Curvers (NED) – Argos – (+27:52)
146 – Johannes Fröhlinger (GER) – Argos – (+27:52)
147 – Danny van Poppel (NED) – Vacansoleil – (+28:05)
148 – Marcel Sieberg (GER) – Lotto – (+28:05)
149 – Juan José Lobato (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+28:14)
150 – Matteo Trentin (ITA) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+29:00)
151 – Rubén Pérez (ESP) – Euskaltel – (+29:18)
152 – Jesús Hernández (ESP) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+29:39)
153 – Thomas De Gendt (BEL) – Vacansoleil – (+30:06)
154 – Niki Terpstra (NED) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+30:44)
155 – Jérôme Pineau (FRA) – Omega Pharma – Quick-Step – (+30:48)
156 – Blel Kadri (FRA) – AG2R – (+32:06)
157 – Jérémy Roy (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (+32:09)
158 – Kévin Reza (FRA) – Europcar – (+33:02)
159 – Tom Leezer (NED) – Belkin – (+33:13)
160 – Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) – Astana – (+33:42)
161 – Johnny Hoogerland (NED) – Vacansoleil – (+34:34)
162 – Jürgen Roelandts (BEL) – Lotto – (+34:54)
163 – Brett Lancaster (AUS) – Orica – (+35:01)
164 – Rohan Dennis (AUS) – Garmin – (+35:10)
165 – Imanol Erviti (ESP) – Movistar – (+35:22)
166 – Matthew Goss (AUS) – Orica – (+36:08)
167 – Ian Stannard (GBR) – Team Sky – (+36:16)
168 – Cameron Meyer (AUS) – Orica – (+36:24)
169 – Luis Ángel Maté (ESP) – Cofidis – (+36:44)
170 – Sébastien Minard (FRA) – AG2R – (+37:14)
171 – William Bonnet (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (+37:32)
172 – Jack Bauer (NZL) – Garmin – (+38:02)
173 – Frederik Willems (BEL) – Lotto – (+38:43)
174 – Marcel Kittel (GER) – Argos – (+38:44)
175 – Aliaksandr Kuchynski (BLR) – Katyusha – (+38:45)
176 – Koen de Kort (NED) – Argos – (+39:30)
177 – Stuart O’Grady (AUS) – Orica – (+39:31)
178 – Albert Timmer (NED) – Argos – (+39:47)
179 – Svein Tuft (CAN) – Orica – (+40:33)
180 – Romain Sicard (FRA) – Euskaltel – (+40:36)
181 – Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) – Belkin – (+41:40)
182 – Lieuwe Westra (NED) – Vacansoleil – (+42:19)
183 – Yohann Gène (FRA) – Europcar – (+42:39)
184 – Adriano Malori (ITA) – Lampre – (+42:40)
185 – Kris Boeckmans (BEL) – Vacansoleil – (+42:48)
186 – Geraint Thomas (GBR) – Team Sky – (+43:03)
187 – Jérôme Cousin (FRA) – Europcar – (+44:11)
188 – Benjamín Noval (ESP) – Saxo – Tinkoff – (+44:37)
189 – Ted King (USA) – Cannondale – (+26:50)
189 – Assan Bazayev (KAZ) – Astana – (+44:52)
190 – Dimitri Muravyev (KAZ) – Astana – (+45:41)
191 – Tom Veelers (NED) – Argos – (+46:18)

The following riders have abandoned the race.

Yoann Bagot (FRA) – Cofidis – (DNF)
Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) – Lotto – (DNS)
Andrey Kashechkin (KAZ) – Astana – (DNF)
Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) – FDJ.fr – (DNF)
Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE) – Astana – (DNF)
Maxime Bouet (FRA) – AG2R – (DNS)

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