Tour de France 2010: Stage 18 - as it happened

The stage is long , normally hot and culminates in a sprint finish in which Mark Cavendish will hope he can try to press his claim for the green jersey - he's currently third in the sprint standings and his chance of winning the competition is so outside at the moment that it's in the car park still looking for its keys while secretly fretting that it's left them in his other trousers. You can read all about yesterday's gruelling and interestingly inconclusive Stage 17 here . Click here for William Fotheringham on the Tour's unwritten rules (don't attack while another man's peeing is one). And for an interactive guide to the entire Tour de France, including detail on this stage, click here . Afternoon: In theory, today's race - all 198km of it on the (relative) flat from Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux should be pretty straightforward. It'll be a quick one, with the riders happy not to be on the calf-busting mountains and keen to press on, with a sprint finish at the end which will do much to decide where the green jersey is going, while the two in contention for the yellow jersey - Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador - will be happy just to ride on each other's wheels. However, thanks to the inconclusive nature of yesterday's Stage 17, there are one or two predicting that the unlikely could happen and that Andy Shleck might attack Alberto Contador today. Tomorrow is a time trial and the yellow jersey holder Contador is likely to be strongest there, meaning the man from Luxembourg might try and make something happen today - well, that's the idea. Allan Peiper, the sporting director of Mark Cavendish's HTC Columbia, and the sprinter Robbie McEwen have already said they believe today will be more about the tactics than the sprinting. What does seem likely is that the sprint standings will be finalised today though. There are two intermediate sprints in Castelnau-Chalosse and Hostens and more points towards the green jersey to be added at the finish in Bordeaux. There are 6, 4 and 2 points available for the first three over the line at the intermediate sprints (Saxo's Breschel, Liquigas' Oss and Quick Step's Pineau claimed first, second and third in the first of those, by the way). At the finish, there are points available for the first 25 finishers, with 35 points available for first, 30 for second, 26 for third, decreasing to one point for the rider finishing 25th. The current sprint standings are this: Thor Hushovd 191, Alessandro Petacchi 187, Mark Cavendish 162. So, basically, Cavendish had better pull his finger out to stand a chance. The problem, however, is that he's not feeling very well and hasn't been for a couple of days, or at least that what his director Peiper has said. "He's been a bit sick these last few days so I don't know if he's quite on his game," the sporting director told the Tour's official website. 1.15pm: Today's race has already passed the 48km mark. It's warmish but not hot, while there's decent cloud cover overhead so that could lead to the ideal conditions for a fast race. The riders have already passed through the first intermediate sprint checkpoint. Saxo's Matti Breschel claimed six points, Liquigas' Daniel Oss claimed four and Quick Step's Jerome Pineau claimed two and those three cyclists, alongside FDJ's Benoit Vaugrenard have formed a breakaway group of four who are currently 3min 25sec ahead of the peloton. 1.19pm: An email from Sean Boiling: "Can I take you back to Stage 16 and Jens Voigt, the hardest (and nicest) guy in the peloton. When he crashed and smashed himself and his bike up on Tuesday there was no team car with a spare bike in sight. The race organisers eventually found him a borrowed bike, way too small and with old-skool toe straps. He said no to the sag wagon and rode on. Jens's blog, from the horses mouth, including a photo of him on the bike is here . What a legend." 1.23pm: Gambling enthusiast Barry Glendenning of guardian.co.uk/sport fame says Mark Cavendish is favourite to win the stage with the bookies, so perhaps this claim of sickness from the team's sporting director is a red herring/smokescreen/bluff or whatever else you want to call it. 1.26pm: There's a fairly decent tailwind blowing behind the cyclists today, another sign that this will be a fast one. The lead pack, meanwhile, are motoring along at an average of 45.4 km/h - at the hour mark, that's how far they had travelled anyway. However the peloton has begun the process of clawing them back in - they are now only 3min 14sec ahead. 1.28pm: Here's someone who believes Schleck has to get his claws into Contador today: "Schleck should attack today for two reasons," writes Gary Naylor. "Firstly, he is likely to find some allies, Schleck and team-mates would be happy to play a full role in driving a break, but not sprint for the win. Secondly, what does he have to lose? Schleck, though admirably brave yesterday, showed that he is a man who climbs rather than a climber, so he'll have to find imaginative ways of beating Contador if he is not to spend years as Pou Pou to Contador's Anquetil." My worry is that he won't, believing he has more chance in the time trial tomorrow. But Contador's a good time-triallist (time-trialler? hmm, not sure) so that might be an error. 1.32pm: Mark Quinn appears to believe this rolling report is, in actual fact, some sort of advice bureau. Still, what do I care? "I'm in the market for a road bicycle, ideally ready to compete on next year's tour, but at worst I'd like to cycle to work," he writes. "I'm sure my overbearing desire is much prevalent this time of year in the same manner as the public tennis courts are packed around Wimbledon. I don't care though, I want to cycle. My point though is I don't know how to go about sorting a bicycle, in terms of prices, where I should go, second-hand or brand new? I'm sure you or one of your readership can assist?" From Mark's email address, he appears to be some sort of lawyer. So I would suggest this would go down quite well in Chambers. 1.41pm: The breakaway group is wiggling along at somewhere between 43km/h and 50km/h, however they're being kept in check by the the peloton, who are now 2min 56sec behind them. Stages like this, straight after the mountains, are always fascinating as they provide such a stark contrast. While the climbs and descents are somehow seen as purer tests of cycling, they do seem to favour those with freakish endurance. Somehow the sprints seem like more of a level playing field. 1.41pm: "Does anyone seriously believe that Astana would let a break containing Schleck get away?" writes Paul Ilechko. "If he can't drop Contador in the mountains, there's no way he's going to drop him on a flat stage. All that Schleck would be doing is wasting energy ahead of tomorrow's time trial." I think it would be very hard for Schleck to get away, almost impossible. But he's got to try something. Another white jersey at the end of this Tour would be a bitter pill to swallow. If he wanted to make that break now, it would cause a bit of controversy - Contador has just stopped briefly to change his bike. Nothing serious from the looks of things. 1.46pm: "I was in a similar position to Mark Quinn last year," emails Allen Loades. "I found this bike perfect for my needs; I can recommend it, from one lawyer to another. Every part of it screams respect, style and sophistication." 1.49pm: The peloton are streaming through a particularly patchy forest but there's very little to report at the moment. It's like a gentle Sunday afternoon pootle back from the pub for most of the riders. The average speed has dropped to 41 km/h with 75km of the race done. There's 123 km to go and most are just conserving their energy. 1.51pm: In lieu of anything of note happening in today's stage yet, let's get back to Mike Quinn's bike hunt. This is a much more serious response than the last one. "If Mike Quinn is looking just for a commuter bike and not a racer, he really wants a hybrid," writes Andy Bradshaw. "A hybrid has a slightly sturdier frame to cope with the potholes etc on route. Plus you can put a pannier on the back without looking like a twit. Also the ride's much more comfortable." 1.54pm: Lance Armstrong has just taken a bottle of water from his team car, shortly before his fellow Team Radioshack rider Yaroslav Popovych wiggled his way to the window. He was offered a can of Coke (or at least that's what it looked like). He took one look at it, then waved his arms disgustedly at it in much the same manner as a stereotypical Frenchman might go 'Bof, what is zees?' Except that he's Ukrainian, obviously. 1.58pm: A man riding a horse over a ploughed field, dressed as a cowboy, has just ridden alongside the peloton. Today's first nutter. The greatest theme music to any cycling show ever, and damn close to being the best theme tune to anything ever. 2.02pm: Andy Schleck is on the TV in a quick interview conducted before the start. He said he's very motivated for today and - more importantly - for tomorrow. That suggests that he will attempt to claw back his eight second deficit in the time trial, rather than risk blowing himself up in a sprint today. 2.03pm: "Re: Mark Quinn," emails Dominic Cassidy. "No, no, no. Nobody should buy a hybrid, unless they're a lady. What Mark wants is a decent lightweight mountain bike with thinner road tyres to reduce rolling resistance." The lead group are now 2min 47sec ahead with the peloton keeping them in touching distance. 2.08pm: That was a classic Tour de France shot just there. The peloton are strung across a vast plain, streaming like a lycra-clad river along a ribbon of tarmac through the middle of the field. Not a very insighful entry, this, but a lovely sight. Meanwhile Cavendish and Petacchi are both biding their time, their teams surrounding them and ready to roll later in the stage. 2.10pm: Thor Hushovd, before the stage, said: "I just have to stay focussed and do a good sprint". He said he's not bothered about the intermediate sprints, but is aiming to win the stage and the final sprint. If he's on Petacchi's wheel at the line, he'll probably be alright. 2.13pm: How intimidating would it be, incidentally, to wake up in the morning and know that your rival for the day is called Thor. That is surely the most frightening name you could ever come up against in an opponent. 2.14pm: The lead group are chowing down in the feedzone currently, 2min 25 sec ahead of the peloton. Coke is the drink of choice. Coke? 2.15pm: "God yes, the Channel Four Tour de France coverage theme music was awesome. The show itself was great too: nicely edited and just the right length of time. Long live Phil and Paul," writes Alex Cowell. 2.16pm: "In reply to Paul Ilechko's dismissal of a potential attack by Saxo Bank. It wouldn't be Schlek doing all the work - they'd stick Fabian Cancellara at the front and them someone like Jens Voigt behind him, and they'd do all the work. If they get the wind going in the right direction they might be able to split the peleton." It would be brave but I'd like to see it happen. It would make tomorrow very exciting indeed but from the sounds of Schleck's quotes earlier, I don't think he's going to go for it. 2.20pm: Some expert analysis from the ever knowledgeable James Cavell: "There may well be crosswinds on the route, especially where the roads are open and not sheltered by trees. Watch what happens to the shape of the peloton when the roads are more open - in the first 1/4 they form diagonal groups, sheltering each other from the wind, behind that it tends to string out in single file in the gutter. If someone down the line can't hold the speed in the crosswind the bunch can split, and anyone behind the break can lose time. Contador actually lost time to Armstrong last year in such fashion. The only chance for Schleck to gain time is for Saxo Bank (or others) to try and split the bunch. Maybe Cancellara can get up front on a windy stretch and hit the gas? But I doubt Contador is dumb enough to let it happen twice in consecutive tours. The split could happen by itself if Columbia and other sprinters teams are riding insanely fast in the last 10km for the sprint." 2.22pm: In case you hadn't noticed, there isn't a lot going on in the race at the moment. Time is being bidden/baded/bided. So this is an excellent time to bring you this: Senor Coconut's version of the Kraftwerk classic Tour de France, courtesy of Gregg Roughley. 2.28pm: Mark Quinn latest A brief precis of the bike Mr Quinn should buy, from the various emails that I've glanced at: a cyclocross bike (Rendel Harris), get the right fit (Marck Schow), mountain bike with adjusted gearing (Andy Bradshaw), a unicycle (Damian Marlee). 2.32pm: On the telly, they're discussing whether Saxo Bank are likely to attack today. The general concensus is that they won't. The reason being that the gap is only eight seconds and that the other teams simply won't let it happen on a flat stage. It would be far too easy to see it coming and far too easy to chase it down. 2.33pm: "Glad others agree the original C4 theme is one of the greatest out there," writes Stephen Sloan. "I've got it as my ringtone on my phone for the duration of the tour and get the occasional knowing look on the train/when out and about, while others rack their brains trying to recognise it." 2.33pm: Mark Quinn update 2 "If Mark Quinn insists on ignoring the horse bike, I don't think he should go for a road bike or a hybrid either," writes Allen Loades. "A cyclocross bike is perfect for commuting: most take panniers; the drop handlebars look the part and mean you can wing it past those mountain-bike-riding idiots; the slightly bigger tyres (28mms are fine) compared to road bikes mean you can float through city pot-holes and past all the racers who have pitched into their depths and face planted the road." That's two votes for the cyclocross then. 2.37pm: The peloton is into another shrubby-looking forest now and they seem fairly content to be taking things relatively easy. Their current speed has dropped to 39.6km/h, with the average for the stage at 41km/h. There are 107.2km behind them and another 90.8 ahead of them. The breakaway group of Breschel, Oss, Vaugrenard and Pineau is 2min 31sec ahead and not showing any signs of slackening as yet. They're 42km away from the next intermediate sprint finish at Hostens. 2.38pm: "Truly the old Channel 4 theme is a banger, but it got me musing on the subject of cycling themes in general," writes the unusually named Captain Paperclips (or Tobias Silvester to his mum). "Has anyone else noticed that the current ITV number sounds distinctly like Enola Gay being played on the accordian by a stripey jumpered Frenchman no doubt be-decked with onions?" 2.40pm: "When does James Cavell get his own column in the Guardian? He's practically writing the rolling report these days anyway!" writes Neil Withers. Shut-up Neil, we'd be screwed without Cavell's input. 2.42pm: An argument I was having the other day: cycling is a better sport than running. My friend's point was that running was the purest form of competition - a human relying purely on his/her own strength, stamina and skill to beat another competitor. My argument was that cycling was actually more human - because it was a combination of man and a machine built by a man, therefore it was brains and brawn, rather than just brawn. Discuss. 2.46pm: Some more expert analysis, this though is nicked from the ever excellent www.letour.fr. HTC Columbia's Bert Grabsch is pace-setting at the head of the peloton and is riding at 40km/h. His power output is 305 watts, while his team-mate Bernard Eisel is much further back in the group, only putting out 140 watts of power. Eisel will be Cavendish's lead-out man when it comes to the final sprint, so he's clearly saving himself for the end of the race. 2.48pm: There is much chatter, many smiles and a good deal of banter among the peloton at the moment. They seem unusually chirpy - no doubt partly thanks to the fact they're not looking at a vertical wall of mountain in front of them. 2.52pm: The peloton is currently being led by a combination of Lampre and HTC riders. They're keeping the breakaway group on a moderate leash of 2min 21sec. Hostens, the next intermediate sprint finish, is 30km/h away and Cavendish, Hushovd and Petacchi won't much care about that one unless they happen to be within touch of the front. That sems unlikely at the moment. Running 1-0 cycling: "It depends how you view the role of technology in sport," writes Dave Abergel. "If it is valid to call the bike designer's role in cycling part of the sport, then it must also be okay to allow for the mechanics in a Formula 1 team to count. But where is the line? Would you suggest Robot Wars is a sport? Another factor is the team versus individual aspect. In most running events, you compete as an individual, which is arguably 'purer' than team cycling. Trust me, having run national cross country races, and several marathons, if your legs are having a bad day there is nowhere to hide, and no teammate can come and help you out." 2.56pm: The peloton is strung out along another long, flat road. They're shielded on both sides (most of the time) by tall trees. There are four HTC riders and seven Lampre riders leading the pack currently, who are now 2min 12sec behind the breakaway group. 2.59pm: Ignatas Konovalovas has just dropped off the back to get himself a new bike. Not sure what the issue was with the old one. Still, it's probably not very important is it? His team Omega Pharma haven't really been in it this Tour. 3.02pm: The difference between the looks on the faces of those in the breakaway group and those leading the peloton is telling. The breakaway group look hungry, focussed and as if they're pushing themselves. The leaders of the peloton look as though they are well within themselves - a row of pink lycra, punctuated by the HTC riders in white and yellow. The four at the front in the breakaway group probably won't be there for too much longer now. Running 1-1 Cycling: "The bikes the pros ride are much of a muchness; no one team has a significant edge over another due to their bikes being significantly faster, lighter or whatever," writes Ged McEwan. "The bike isn't really much more important than the running shoe in deciding who wins, you never hear a rider saying: 'I didn't have the most competitive package out there today' like you hear F1 drivers saying. It is the role played by technology in F1 that makes it so blinking dull. The brains come in through the tactics, individual and team. What are the tactics in marathon running? To the extent there are any, they are fairly rudimentary in comparison. I don't know how anyone can watch the Tour and then try to argue that it is not man against man, that is just silly." Theme tune nostalgia: "That theme tune evokes many happy childhood memories, and, in many ways, is the Tour de France for me - from when I watched it for the first time in 1987, right up to when it sadly ceased in 2001," writes Guy Hornsby. "Phil and Paul are a great team, but while the accordion accompaniment is good, nothing quite feels right compared to that wondorous tune. Instantly conjoures up images of Robert Millar, the multi-coloured jersey, Greg Lemond, Laurent Fignon, Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche, and, of course, the devil. Apparently it was composed by Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks. Well I never." Running 1-2 cycling: "My background is athletics but, personally, I have to say in terms of sportsmanship and overall teamwork, cycling is a lot more enjoyable to watch," emails Paddy O'Gorman. "And with folk like Jens Voigt about it's got to be a hell of a lot more fun to participate in. In elite athletics you'd run maybe three times a month or, if you run marathons, twice a year. These guys compete every day for three weeks. It's a tougher sport and more enjoyable as the flat stages have epic sprints and the mountains have epic break aways." 3.10pm: The gap is down to two minutes as a crosswind begins to tickle the riders' chests. The Lampre and HTC riders are just beginning to draw in the lead group, gearing themselves up for the more exciting ride to come at the end of this race. The lead group are buzzing along at just 36 km/h at the moment, so will be caught after Hostens, if not before. 3.13pm: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are out on the course now. The second and third nutters of the day, then. Actually, today has had very few nutters on the side of the course. Yesterday had a couple of Borats who gave full air to their family jewels as they sprinted alongside the cyclists. I remember watching a couple of years ago, too, when at the top of an epic climb, the leader was greeted by a man with a blow-up mallet, who then beat the lead cyclist repeatedly over the head with it. 3.16pm: The cycling v running debate. "In response to Dave Abergel: of course, we could logically extend the designer of your running shoes to contribute to your performance – especially if you're a heel to toe runner," writes Barnaby Marsh. "And not forgetting technical clothing etc, and the prepared terrain of the running course. I think the only way you could argue that a sport such as running was 'pure' is if everyone ran over moorland in the buff. And regarding the lack of the 'team' aspect and strategy in running – all that means, surely, is that running is much less cerebral, and so can be safely dismissed as a sport for Neanderthals." 3.18pm: More running v cycling (in lieu of anything much going on in the stage at the moment - the gap between peloton and breakaway is currently 1min 54sec). "I was having this very debate only a matter of weeks ago with a friend of mine," writes Ed Brown. "First off I will put my boast in here: I've run a marathon in 4hrs 44secs - not special time but knackering. However, I believe that many of the elite cyclists do compete with elite marathon runners in terms of fitness/ability - the pace they're able to maintain over staggering distances makes them freaks of nature in my opinion. I would say cycling for the less elite is probably easier than for runners of a similar ability, for the very simple reason that you have a machine to help you get along. Still I guess my point is convoluted as I have unwittingly likened road cycling to marathon running and I'm not sure if this is an apt comparison." 3.19pm: A vote for running: "Running shoes don't have gears and the runners don't have someone driving behind them with a spare pair if they lose a spike," writes Alistair Stewart. 3.21pm: An interesting quote from HTC's sporting director about whether the riders will find it tough to adjust to cycling on the flat after the mountains. "They've all had it in their heads," he told letour.fr. "They know it's back to the office today ... Today we'll be trying to pull it together for 'Cav'" 3.23pm: Some considered analysis from James Evans: "In lieu of anything happening, I thought I'd answer a question from yesterday at 2.36pm, about why it's good to follow a wheel on a mountain . The benefit of slipstreaming on flat stages is quite significant - being positioned behind a rider at 25mph (40kph) will save anywhere between 25% and 30%. But aerodynamic force increases four-fold for each doubling in speed - so the aerodynamic force at 20kph (around the average pace up the Tourmalet) is a quarter of that at 25mph - so even at this speed as much as 5% energy can be saved from following a wheel. Not a lot, but when you're following Andy Schleck's wheel for an hour, it helps. Add to that the psychological - the guy in front doesn't want to attack in case you're stronger, you can respond quicker, plus you get the benefits of tailwind/sheltered from headwind - and following a wheel really does matter." 3.25pm: "Asking if running or cycling is better on a cycling-based page isn't exactly going to produce a balanced result is it?" writes Captain Paperclips again ("the distressingly canine 'Toby' to mum actually," he adds). "Particularly when all those supporting running are joyless, grimacing morons grinding down their knee cartilidge. I mean you can't exactly imagine Paul Newman doing this with a pair of airmaxes can you ?" 3.27pm: "I swear I just saw Tom Cruise leaning out of a car as it went past the peloton ... Did I actually see that?" emails Liam Grant. You did actually see that, yes. Apparently Mr Cruise's PR department believe the best way for him and his co-star, Ms Diaz, to promote their latest film is by waving gamely at the Eurosport cameras as they parade past a field in rural France. 3.29pm: Right, we're 9km from the intermediate sprint finish at Hostens and the lead pack have moved further ahead again. HTC's Maxime Monfort has taken over at the front of the peloton for a while but it looks like they'll let the breakaway group contest the intermediate sprint among themselves. That group, by the way, is made up of Matti Breschel, Daniel Oss, Benoit Vaugrenard and Jerome Pineau. 3.32pm: Running v cycling: Here's James Cavell, formerly a top-class amateur cyclist: "I took a year off cycling to do some running. It is usually very frustrating for cyclists to switch to running. Your cardiovascular fitness is pretty elite, and your pain barrier means you start off running way too far, and find you can barely walk without sobbing in pain the next day. Once you get used to it you still find that your legs just won't go as fast as your heart and lungs can allow due to the alien nature of the jogging motion and the wear and tear that you inflicted on yourself. I did manage a 93 minute half marathon after a few months, but shortly after that my hips were so painful that I had to spend a week in bed on painkillers. Got the bike back out shortly after that. Far better cyclists who switched to running include ex pro Laurent Jalabert who is around 2h49min for a marathon, but Columbia assistant DS Rolf Aldag is the fastest at 2h42min." 3.32pm: "You get better views when cycling, but it's ruinously expensive," writes Charlie Coney. "A pair of green flash = £20, but start cycling and sooner or later everything you own is made of carbon fibre." 3.34pm: Mark Cavendish is currently nicely positioned in the peloton and making whipping motions and a whip-like 'whip-ash' sound at his HTC team-mates leading the pack. He seems very jolly, with a broad smile across his face. As do most of the peloton to be honest. Everyone seems very relaxed to be out of the mountains. 3.36pm: Andy Schleck has dropped off the back of the peloton and is leaning on the doctor's car, chatting away. Not sure what's up with him but he is waving the TV camera away, slightly irritated. 3.38pm: The doctor gives him something, it looks like a cream, which he appears to be rubbing inside his shorts. The cameras discreetly back off as he administers to what is probably saddle soreness. Sexy. 3.39pm: We're 1km from the Hostens intermediate sprint finish now. To take you there, here's Josh Robinson: "The attraction of the tour isn't just its tactical element (that's not developed to anything like the same extent in running), but also, closely related to this, the way it allows specialists in different disciplines to compete in the same race. Can you imagine a race in which Haile Gebrselassie competed against Usain Bolt? But here there's a meaningful competition - or rather, several meaningful competitions - that make this possible. Even the flattest of the one-day classics allow a tactical battle between the sprinters' teams trying to haul in a break, while the team-mates of those in the break try to slow the pace of the peloton enough to enable them to stay out." 3.42pm: Daniel Oss claims the six points on offer at Hostens, closely followed by Jerome Pineau and Matti Breschel, who notch up four and two points respectively. Not one of them is in the top ten for the race for the green jersey so that bothers nobody. 3.42pm: "Charlie Coney wrote: 'A pair of green flash = £20, but start cycling and sooner or later everything you own is made of carbon fibre'," points out Barnaby Marsh. "True enough, although if you run enough you're going to have to fork out for some nice new carbon fibre ligaments." 3.47pm: Petacchi is sitting in the middle of his team, at the head of the peloton. Does he have a chance today? I think Cavendish will probably do him. "How do the tactics of curling compare to those of stage-race cycling?" asks Jay Kosta. Badly, Jay, they compare badly. Meanwhile, Tom Janes may have a conclusive point when it comes to cycling v running: "I live in the countryside, two miles from the nearest pub. I never run there." 3.49pm: "Re. cycling v running," writes Joe Fay, "What do triathletes think? There must be some reading this blog, surely. I know I'd prefer to stay on the bike than have to get off it and start running." 3.52pm: With 40km to go, it's looking increasingly unlikely (well, even more unlikely than the already outside chance it was at the start of the day) Schleck and his sore saddle will attack today. It's so flat he wouldn't really have a chance. Contador would undoubtedly haul him in immediately. That means it will all come down to the time trial tomorrow. Unless, of course, he has a pop at him on the final stage in Paris. Against the unwritten Tour rules? Yes. Has it been done before? Yes. Would Schelck countenance such a move? Don't know. Though he does have time on his side - he's still very young and will surely win the Tour at some point if he doesn't manage it this year. 3.54pm: The Tour is down to 170 riders, Quickstep's Francesco Reda has just dropped out. That's really got to hurt. To have come so far, through all those damn mountains and drop out now. Still, perhaps he'll just have been glad to have been part of it - he was a late replacement for Tom Boonen anyway. 3.55pm: "Re Tom Janes (3.47). I live in the countryside, 50 metres from the closest bar and 250 metres from the third closest," writes Damian Walsh. "I never cycle back." 3.56pm: Running v cycling: "Haile Gebrselassie against Usain Bolt?" splutters Alistair Stewart. "I must have lost track of Sir Chris Hoy in the peloton. How's he getting along?" 3.59pm: Some triathletes speak: "On the cycling vs running thread and specifically on the Joe Fay comment about triathletes: I'd certainly prefer to spend my time on the bike as opposed to running," writes Paul Harrington. "However, that does not really speak to the topic in terms of pure endurance, cycling is way ahead of running. Can you imagine runners doing Tourmalet? (As an aside - what about rowing as a tough sport?)" Here's Louis Clark: "My triathlon problems are caused by the fact that I like cycling despite being rubbish at it and hate running despite being good at it. And the swimming, don't get me started on the swimming…" Bloody hell, if we open this debate up to water-based sports as well, it's going to get ugly. 4.00pm: Right, here's what's going on in the actual cycling happening in the actual Tour de France that I'm supposed to be writing about: ... ... ... That is all. 4.03pm: The wind is back behind them, the road is dead straight and the lead group are still on the leash just over two minutes ahead. The Lampre and HTC riders are still leading the peloton, keeping in touch with the those in the breakaway. They're knocking along at about 48km/h at the moment and have 167km behind them, with 31km to go. 4.05pm: "No point discussing if a Sunday attack is against the 'rules' - if Schleck can't attack today, he can't attack on Sunday; it's just as flat and not going to suit him any better," writes Jonathan Wood (he would, however, have the element of surprise, I'd add as devil's advocate). "Going back to Josh Robinson's point, I've often heard about this 'slowing the peloton', but never really understood how it's done. A sneaky bit of jersey-pulling, or more French lorry driver-like of laying your bikes across the road and burning the nearest livestock?" 4.06pm: Right, here comes the attack - well, not attack so much, as reeling in. The peloton have now cut the gap between them and the breakaway group to 1min 31sec. And the smiles are being replaced by game faces in the main pack. 29km to go. 4.07pm: "Completely agree with Paul Harrington," emails Jim Hughes. "Would NOT want to row up the Tourmalet." 4.10pm: The peloton have upped the pace again, the formation has altered from the various diagonal and slanted tactics used so far, and is now strung out. Petacchi looks nervy, Cavendish looks confident and Hushovd is inscrutable. It'll be between these three at the finish. The Lampre team look very focussed, perhaps it's that which will get their man over the line. The Cervelo team of Hushovd are further back, while the HTC boys are in the thick of it. 4.11pm: Luis-Leon Sanchez needs a new wheel, he's dropped off the back of the peloton and will need to get his legs going to rejoin the pack. The peloton is approaching full pelt, so he'll have to work hard to catch them back up. The main group has closed the gap between them and the breakaway to just over a minute. They're expected to be caught around the 15km mark. 4.14pm: Luis-Leon Sanchez is, very sensibly, slip-streaming cars for just about as long as he can get away with as he fights to get back into the peloton. He's been joined by Caisse D'Epargne team-mate Vasil Kiryienka who's helping back into the main group. 4.15pm: The peloton is being led by Milram, HTC and Lampre riders now. Speed is up to about 50km/h and we're 20km from the finish in Bordeaux. 4.17pm: Running v cycling (by way of triathlon): "Wasn't Lance Armstrong a triathlete to begin with? Could part of his success have come from the cross training?" writes Steve Falkner. "Saying a runner wouldn't make it up the Tourmalet is ridiculous. Bikes have gears, bodies do not. There are probably runners who would make it up there too. In terms of running people seem to be comparing the tour to a marathon. Think about the ultra marathoners ..." 4.20pm: It's beginning to get serious in the peloton now. They're whipping through Bordeaux's wine country, past chateaus and acres upon acres of vineyards. The peloton is beginning to get a little strung out, small gaps appearing within the group as those with an interest in the green jersey start upping the pace, and those without just concentrate on staying in touch. There's just 40 seconds between the peloton and the breakaway group, while the two Milram cyclists leading the main pack have opened up a small gap between them and the rest of the group. 4.22pm: Re. Slowing a group, here's Josh Robinson: "Slowing a chasing group basically involves getting into position at the front of the pack to put in some work on the chase, and not doing it. So if there's a rotation going on you might just ride through at the front, allowing the pace to drop slightly as the rider behind you comes to the front sooner than expected." 4.23pm: Oss has opened up a gap between him and the breakaway group. He's going hell for leather at the front now. Surely the HTC, Lampre and other riders won't let him get away with that. The peloton is 30 seconds behind the breakaway group, which is 20 seconds behing Oss. 4.25pm: Oss is either going to be a hero here or will blow-up trying. He's 34 seconds ahead of the breakaway group, with 11.7km to go. He's in his very own time trial now. 4.26pm: Breschel, Vaugrenard and Pineau have just throttled back and are waiting to be enveloped by the peloton. They know they haven't got the legs to catch up with Oss after being up front all day. Will Oss be able to stay up there? It will take impressive strength. 4.28pm: The peloton has 10km to go. Schleck and Contador have moved to the front of the main pack, right on top of each other. HTC are now leading the charge, setting the pace and getting ready to slingshot their man Cavendish to the line. The calculation is to know when to let him go. Too early and he'll be hauled back; too late and he won't be able to break away. 4.30pm: Hushovld has lost one of his team, one of the Cervelo riders has gone down with a puncture. Not sure who it is. Oss meanwhile is 32sec ahead of the peleton but he's being hauled in. 4.31pm: Tony Martin is leading the peloton now for HTC and has taken five seconds out of Oss already. They're really motoring. Oss, meanwhile, has been awarded the Fighting Spirit award which won't mean much to him if he's puffed out and nailed by the peloton at the end of the stage. 4.33pm: Oss has had it, he's gurning like a good 'un, as the Lampre team settle in behind the HTC lads leading the peloton. Their pink shirts are lurking menacingly among the white of Cavendish's team, waiting to pounce and send Petacchi home. 5km to go. 4.34pm: Tony Martin and Linus Gerdemann (HTC and Milram respectively) are leading the peloton at the moment, chasing down Oss. He surely won't make it. 4.35pm: Oss gets done and, as the peloton go by, he knows he's had it and stops pedalling, drifting into the pack. Here come the big boys at the front, jostling, driving, and pushing. Gerdemann then breaks free, heading off alone with 3.2km to go. 4.36pm: HTC's Tony Martin is bossing the peloton, ignoring Gerdemann's break. He's right to as well, they haul him back immediately. There are some TeamSky members in a train at the head now as they swap, wriggle and flick in and out of position. 4.37pm: It's still Sky at the front, Michael Barry leading with Wiggins organising the train. 4.38pm: Wiggins gives the shout and it's him leading the train, Cavendish is trying to nudge his way through but is getting a little blocked. 1km to go. 4.38pm: They're hustling, circling and striving for the line .. here it comes ... 4.39pm: Petacchi on the right, Cavendish alongside ... and Cavendish takes it! Possibly Julian Dean second. 4.41pm: Cavendish gets 35 points, but Petacchi came in third so he'll get the green jersey. Cavendish played the perfect waiting game there, he was a firecracker - riding away from the pack and finishing very comfortably in the end. McEwen was fourth, Freire fifth, Hagen sixth. 4.43pm: Contador and Schleck finished on top of each other too, so the gap between them remains at eight seconds, with the Spaniard in yellow. Edvald Boasson Hagen blew that, incidentally. The Sky team led the pack well up to the line but Hagen was on the wrong wheel and failed to go when he needed to. 4.45pm: Here's Mark Cavendish on that win: "I'm really happy, that was incredible. After the way the guys rode today, I couldn't come away with anything other than a win ... Sky were well organised at the end but I think they need a bit more experience ... I was able to jump from train to train, so I'm happy with that. I've been sick the last four days, I've actually had bronchitis and I didn't know if I was going to start today. I was sweating last night really bad. I think I'm ready for a break." 4.46pm: He had bronchitis and absolutely cruised to victory there. He had bronchitis and cycled 198km. And won. 4.48pm: Green jersey standings: Alessandro Petacchi 213, Thor Hushovd 203, Mark Cavendish 197. Does Cavendish have a chance on the Champs-Élysées? Maybe. Just maybe. 4.51pm: So the times for today: Mark Cavendish 4h 37min 9 sec, Julian Dean +00, Alessandro Petacchi +00, Robbie McEwen +00, Oscar Freire +00. 4.52pm: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are greeting Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck on the line. Diaz to Schleck: "You must be starving!" 4.56pm: And that's that from me. An impressive win in the end for Mark Cavendish - he really cruised home there. That was his most comfortable stage victory by far. Join me again here tomorrow for the time trial. To round off the running v cycling debate, here's Nick Whiteside: "It was very easy for me. When I started trying to get fit by running I always found that when I broke down gasping, 500m from my house, everybody knew who I was and how far I had actually run. Frankly, it was embarassing. When I started cycling, I could get 10 miles before I collapsed grunting and sweating like a man being exorcised noisily in a sauna, but crucially nobody knew who the hell I was. Therefore, on personal vanity alone, cycling is definitely better."