Greig Leach

While some of us may be feeling that the end is nigh on the grander scale, for these purposes it is simply the end of Jonathan Hivert (Total Direct Energie) and Jose Manuel Diaz's (Nippo Delko Provence) break away. The attempt was not in vain for Hivert, he added three more climbs maximum points to his total in the King of the Mountains campaign. With today's effort, he will be wearing the Maillot a Pois for at least two more days. After 100 kilometers off the front, it was time for the peloton to set things up for the sprinters. Now it is only the crosswinds that can upset the fastmen's plans.