Greig Leach

The title of this piece describes this feature of the peloton. The riders will form a diagonal line when they are hit by a cross wind. To gain the most advantageous slipstream from the rider in front of you, you must tuck in as close as possible to his rear wheel. When the wind comes from the rider's left, you shift about 45% to his right to gain the same advantage. A rider can use as little as 70% of the energy that the rider on the is expending. However, there is eventually no room left on the right of the road, so little gaps in the peloton can open. This is the second, rather large peloton that is suffering from one of those gaps, that is struggling hard to get back onto the group containing the Maillot Jaune. Two French teams, Fortuneo Vital Concept and FDJ are taking the responsibility for bring back those up the road. At this point, the Maillot a Pois of Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) is losing time on the general classification, however, that part of the competition is out of reach for Pinot. At least there was only two points total in the King of the Mountain competition in this stage, so he really has no big worries. Tomorrow, however, the beast of Provence, Mont Ventoux, lurks at the end of the stage.