Simon Gerrans denies Peter Sagan

Jul 1, 2013

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If you thought the stage two finish was close, it wasn’t. The gap was a full second. The gap between Simon Gerrans and Peter Sagan on stage three was way less than that – more like 10cm. Only in snail racing is 10cm a big gap and at the time of writing there was no published evidence that definitively proved the gastropodic nature of either Gerrans or Sagan.

A second second-best equals first place

Sagan may have missed out on two stage wins in a row, but he’s inhaled a few points with his runner-updom and can therefore dry his tears with the green jersey. He has 74 points to second-placed Marcel Kittel’s 57. Mark Cavendish is on 25.

Simon Gerrans?

An Aussie. He’s previously won stages in each of the Grand Tours as well as Milan-San Remo last year. He rides for Orica-GreenEdge, so the team’s relationship with the finishing gantry is clearly picking up.

Yellow jersey?

Still on the back of Jan Bakelants. Still by one second. There are about 70 riders in second place. I won’t list them.

Stage four

Is a team time trial along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. There’s no point linking to the profile because it’s as flat as an ironed pancake.

Comments

3 responses to “Simon Gerrans denies Peter Sagan”

Runty Wilson

July 2, 2013

Whilst I lack any hard evidence from aerodynamic tests I can categorically state that Peter Sagan’s mephistophelian facial hair is costing him stage wins.

It is also not very good facial hair anyway. I predict a shave mid-tour.

Millar for Yellow today!

Reply
1. Alex
  
  July 2, 2013
  
  I think Sagan is having to contribute whiskers in order that the Tour can meet its facial hair quota in Bradley Wiggins’ absence. To be fair to Simon Gerrans, he doesn’t look to have the facility to do his bit.
  
  Reply
  1. Runty Wilson
    
    July 2, 2013
    
    Agreed- Gerrans has a tiny head, like a cycling Ricky Ponting. I think the domestiques should be made to grow huge beards to keep the quota up so that the sprinters and the GC contenders can be free to be aerodynamic. I imagine Ian Stannard could grow a belter.