Stage 2 - Monaco Brignoles 187 km
Stage 2 is has an interesting profile which might make for an unpredictable stage. The riders start on a climb, the first 8.5km is a Cat 3 climb at 4.3%. KOM points are on from the beginning and there will no doubt be a rapid race for points. From there the race decends into nice where the first sprintn of the the tour wil be contested. The road follows the ocean before heading inland and kicking up for the Côte de Roquefort-les-Pins - a4.3 km climb to 4 %, cat 3. from there a succession of rolling hills with two more cat 4 climbs and sprints in Fayence and Lorgues.
This race should be keenly contested, breakaways have a chance to succeed with the rolling profile making chasing more difficult in the first half so a well orchestrated move could see a strong rider stealing the win by attacking the breakaway as we have seen in past stages like this. Being early in the race those in a breakaway could easily find themselves in Yellow, Green or Polka Dots tomorrow so there will no doubt be a strong French flavour to the breaks, but if they can stay away good luck, but everyone wants to win so Columbia and Quickstep will be chasing very hard to make it a bunch sprint and put their main men in Green.
Should be tactical, fast and a good finish eitherway, bunch or breakaways fighting it out.
No betting on this stage, Cavendish is $2.00 and with the prospect of a breakaway i will save the $ i have set aside for him for later stages that will deninitely be bunch finishes.
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