Today will be the start of some changes taking place in the peloton. CSC has already stated they won?t be defending the yellow jersey. This could create some surprise attacks by any team. It won?t be Cancellara in yellow tonight.

Chavanel is the first to throw a punch and eventually gets away. Bonnet and Gilbert decide to give some company to Sylvain and Cheula eventually joins the three. They maxed out their lead to 14:45. The first half of this stage seems to be the easiest. This is a great opportunity to rack up some points and for Sylvain to ask for the polka dot jersey from his teammate. We?ll see how this group does in the second half of the stage. A glimpse of Cavendish looks like he?s wearing arm warmers from all his bandages! Don?t forget to keep your eye out for some big names.

Mayo falls down and the whole team brings him back, Wow, is he that valuable? Now Kl?den falls and it looks like he?s left for dead. Wait a minute, a teammate finally shows up to provide and escort. Another rider falls. There is a feed bag on the road with its contents everywhere. I wonder, is that classified as road kill? Oh my god, Vino goes down. It looks like he hit hard on his right hip. His teammates try to ease his pain by providing an escort back to the peloton. Jeez, I probably have cursed Vino and Kl?den after mentioning them in yesterday?s dribbles. Both have gone down. That should teach me to keep my big mouth shut.

Chavanel and Gilbert are still hanging on. I can?t believe they?ve stayed out that long. It was a commendable effort for sure. Team Astana is cranking hard trying to get Vino back. They are blowing up one by one. However, Kloden is comfortably in the peloton. The decent is hairy and Popo misses a corner and is off in the grass. It looks like Cancellara wasn?t paying attention and just follows Popo off course! He needs to look at the road, not the other racer. All the excitement on the road has taken some thrill out of the finish as Pozatto gets the win. Vino has lost 1:21. That?s gonna hurt probably more than his bruised hip.

Cancellara keeps the yellow. I would have never bet on that today. With all my wrong guesses, I?ll never get a raise!