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You think GVA may be held back to help Porte? If he isn't that's a very big difference between BMC and Sky.
De Gendt has seemed very keen to get into breaks, the opposite of Cummings. Looking to ride himself into stage-winning form? I've half-hoped he's targeting the polka dots.
Jimmy_Fingers-
BMC have said publically that Van Avermaet will have freedom to hunt for stage wins on selected stages. I'd be astonished if tomorrow isn't one of them.
Not sure if you listen to the cycling podcast, but Francois Thomazeau relayed a conversation he had with an unnamed BMC DS, which can be summarised as too many cooks spoil the broth when it comes to their tactics. Apparently the team briefing on Wednesday made no mention of riding on the front all day, but instead a DS in the team car (and I don't know who was in the car) made the call in direct contravention of the agreed plan. Which makes sense, BMC have a long and less than distinguished history of strange tactical decisions.
andyp
Normally you'd expect the first hour to be full of action, but so far this Tour most breaks have gone without much of a fight. Hopefully tomorrow will be similar to the start of Wednesday's stage.
I think a lot of stage hunter types have tomorrow's stage marked in the road book. I bet some of Van Avermaet, Cummings, Chavanel, de Gendt, Pauwels et al will be in the break.