Greig Leach

Tony Martin (OPQS) and Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale) looked at this stage and thought they might have a chance to pull off a successful break away. The pair went on the attack on the way up the very first climb of the day on the Col de la Schlucht and then pressed their advantage on the technical descent. De Marchi seemed to have targeted the Polka Dot Jersey on the day with Martin hoping to bring a second stage win to the Cavendish deprived Omega Pharma Quickstep. With five more categorized climbs in the stage and a total of 170 kilometers it would be a tall order, even for the current World Champion Time Trialist. De Marchi may have been wondering what he got himself into trying to hold the German's wheel.