Stage 4: Cambrai — Reims
What is it? A flat, fast day for the sprinters.
Got Climbs? Looking... Looking... Got nothing.
Yellow Jersey Battle: A chill day for the overall contenders.
Ideal Rider: Tyler Farrar. Because Cavendish can't win every time. Also, Tyler is fast.
@Gavia: If this stage doesn't end in a sprint, I'll eat my floppy beach hat.
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The stage begins Cambrai, just a short transfer away from Valenciennes and the previous stage finish. The Tour turns south and passes to the east of Paris. It's a relatively short stage this time, and it should be a very fast race into Reims, best known for its cathedral and the nearby Champagne vineyards. Only one categorized climb decorates the profile, and it's not what you'd call significant. Call it a speed bump. The Tour visited Reims most recently in 2002, and Robbie McEwen won the day. It'll be quite a surprise if this stage does not repeat the story of 2002 by ending with a bunch sprint.
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Tour Calms Down, Petacchi Sprints to Victory
Ale-Jet has taken flight once more. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre's veteran sprinter, showed the field that he has plenty left in his long, powerful legs as he stomped into high gear from 300 meters out and nobody could catch him. This was vintage Ale-Jet, forcing the high speed from early in the final sprint and daring anyone to try to come past. Read more here...
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