Rider of the Race

It might have been “Legs 11” for Marcel Kittel as he racked up his second victory in this year’s race, 11th overall, but my Rider of the Race isn’t today’s winner. No, he’s one of his teammates and one who’s already worked tirelessly on the front of the peloton for Kittel. Please step forward, Julien Vermote, a 27 year old Belgian with a blond quiff equally immaculate as that of Kittel.

But, more importantly, Julien’s a rider  who “always places team’s goals above his own“. He’s only ever ridden for Quick-Step, which he joined in 2011. The following year he won the overall in Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, follwed by two stages in the Tour of Britain (2014 and 2016). In between, he’s racked up a number of top-five and top-10 finishes. In his third Tour de France, he’s already tapped out the tempo at the front of the peloton for many kilometres and I’m sure we’ll see him doing more of the same until Paris.

An unwelcome guest at The Tour

Swift, Hot Stage

The peloton rode at an average speed of 42km/hr today in hot conditions, why? Then I remembered, everyone wanted to get to Daily Stews’ Big Event in Troyes!

He’s really gone …

Results

Top 5 stage 

1 Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) 05:05:34

2 Arnaud Demare (FDJ) same time

3 Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) s/t

4 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) s/t

5 Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) s/t

Top 5 GC 

1 Chris Froome (Sky) 23:44:33

2 Geraint Thomas (Sky) +0:12

3 Fabio Aru (Astana) +0:14

4 Daniel Martin (Quick-Step Floors) +0:25

5 Richie Porte (BMC) +0:39

All the jerseys

Leader: Chris Froome (Sky)

Points: Arnaud Demare (FDJ)

KOM: Fabio Aru (Astana)

Best Young Rider: Simon Yates (ORICA-Scott)

Team Classification: Sky

Most Aggressive Rider: Vegard Stake Laegen (UAE Team Emirates)

For race reviews, go to CyclingNews; official LeTour website is here

Header image: Marcel Kittel ©Chris Graythen/GETTY IMAGES