Alaphillippe has looked really strong already in this race, he's doing so again today so it's difficult to know who might want to work with him. (Brian Smith makes a similar point as I type that)
Hats off to Astana today: Friere, Fuglsang and ultimately Sanchez have played a blinder on this stage, with men to spare at the front to slow down the chase.
Gutted for Cav. Barely seems able to finish a race at the moment, let alone win one.
Poels won the Paris-Nice ITT to close the gap but Sanchez still leads. A lot of GC contenders within a minute though so the remaining stages should be interesting.
The Women's Tour route has just been released. Main headline is that there will now be equal prize money with the men's race.
It's great that the Tour of Britain (women's and men's) keeps coming to Suffolk. The Framlingham to Southwold leg will again be using many of my favourite weekend routes. Best book that day off.
Tirreno-Adriatico is up first today. Breakaway is Guy Sagiv (Israel Cycling Academy), Alexander Foliforov (Gazprom Rusvelo) & Jacopo Mosca (Wilier Selle Italia).
Commentator is indeed Carlton Kirby and there's about 70km to go.
A sprint expected with Kittel, Ewan, Gaviria and others set to contest this one at the end, and probably the final intermediate sprint with about 25km to go.
Looked into the final few k of Tirreno just in time to see a crash split the peloton, happened too early for everyone to get the same time. Only about 40 riders left in the front group as Sagan and Caruso brush shoulders.
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