Ypres – Arenberg Porte du Hainaut

Distance: 155.5 kilometers.

Today’s stage starts at Ypres, Belguim, a major battle site of World War I, and then heads back into France where 9 sections of pavé [cobblestones] await the field. Cobblestones and bicycles are not a good match.

Chris Froome didn’t even make it to the cobblestones. He withdrew after his second accident on the rain-slicked road, apparently the wrist he injured in an accident yesterday finally was too bad to continue.

The organizers removed two of the pavé sections because they were under water. The other sections were covered with slick green slime.

That didn’t bother Lars Boom of the Netherlands who won the stage 19 seconds ahead of the next rider. Astana unseated Sky in the team competion.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 20h 26′ 46″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 185 points
Cyril Lemoine ( Fra – COF – 174 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) 3 [White]

Team: Astana Pro ( AST – 041-049 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Lars Boom ( Ned – BEL – 062 )
Combative: Lieuwe Westra ( Ned – AST – 049 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
2 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 042 ) + 00′ 02″
3 Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) + 00′ 44″
4 Michal Kwiatkowski ( Pol – OPQ – 074 ) + 00′ 50″
5 Fabian Cancellara ( Sui – TFR – 163 ) + 01′ 17″
6 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 01′ 45″
7 Tony Gallopin ( Fra – LTB – 134 ) + 01′ 45″
8 Richie Porte ( Aus – SKY – 007 ) + 01′ 54″
9 Andrew Talansky ( US – GRS – 091 ) + 02′ 05″
10 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 02′ 11″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

No predictions from me beyond neither of these teams will get beaten as badly as Brazil did yesterday because they both have defenses.

And the defenses ruled for 120 minutes which produced:

Netherlands 0(2)-0(4) Argentina

The Netherlands will face Brazil on Saturday to determine third place, while Argentina faces Germany on Sunday for the World Cup.

I’m sure that scoring opportunities were not exactly enhanced by the fact that it was pouring rain in Sao Paulo for the second half and extra time.

Netherlands had used up their substitution opportunities, so they couldn’t bring in Tim Krul, the goalkeeper who stymied Costa Rica and is something of a penalty kick specialist.