Le Grande Boucle 2015: Welcome to France... Here have this cobble as our gift

So this whole week so far can best be described as proper bike racing. None of this lazy spin around the countryside with a bit of argy bargy at the end. The first week of the tour is always nervous and often a crash fest but the past few years the route seems to have elevated the first week to a critical test for the GC men not to only stay safe and upright but gain time on the others through strategy and luck.

Today was racing was from the gun. Splits because of pressure to be at the front before each section of pave and some cross winds thrown in for good measure. All the big teams showed up today and got through the test.

Poor FDJ. It always seems someone is caught out by the stones and today it was Pinot.

My one question about team tactics was BMC right after the last section of Pave. They rode a prefect race up until this point. They were in the front group with two riders. When Sky asked them to ride to keep the gap on Bertie and others they declined. At first I thought that Tejay must be in the second group but no he was up front. Why did they not press their advantage? Was Greg in the second group and they want to try for the stage wine as well as time? Hard to know.

Here is the Velon on bike video from today:

Quotes of the day.

Tejay speaking about what got him through the day...His Team

"Hard hitting head bangers"

Trentin.. who saved the day by handing off his bike to Tony at the critical moment.

"I just hope Tony doesn't want to ride my bike for the rest of the Tour"

Where we stand

Today's Images
So many great ones so for give me...

From ‏@sporza_koers That would be the king of the cobbles Boonen congratulating The new leader of the race.