UCI checks Mark Cavendish's TdF Stage 2 bike for hidden motor

Etixx had 4 riders and Cav in the front, and managed to lead out with just Renshaw. The train organisation faltered, so Cav had to go earlier than was sensible. He does normally take a few days to warm up, but Greipel's looking great...

Isn't it quite often the case that Cav misses out on the first sprint stage of a tour (obviously discounting last year anyway) and then seems to warm up into it?
I don't understand Etixx pushing so hard on the front, they'd be very unlikely to drop Cancellara from their group, there were other teams with a lot more to gain over all that could have been made to do a lot more of the work towards the end. It's almost like they've only got a plan A and that when the situation might not call for that plan anymore, nobody is giving them a new plan.

Mind games for lesser pay check.

Forget the talk of Cav sitting up when he was beaten. If Tony Martin really wanted the yellow jersey then where was he? Spartacus ain't that great a sprinter and managed to position himself well in order to get 3rd. I'm sure Tony Martin, a guy that can churn out power on a 58 chain ring, could have got up there if he really wanted it.

Etixx got the tactics wrong, even BMC stated that they could not believe they pushed so hard keeping the break up the road.

The good news is that Nibbles looked desperate when the break went and there was a distinct lack of Astana team mates to help at one point. After their ever present riding hard in the Giro they deserved to get a bit of a kicking.

As a pro or even any level of sports person, surely you'd wanna go as hard as you can until that line is crossed?

I expect sprinting into a headwind at 250 metres, with Greipel getting a free leadout from you is not the best position to be in.

Regardless of what team orders were, he was sprinting to win, if someone pips you to third, it probably didn't even register until after the finish.

Unless I'm mistaken both Sagan and Spartacus were solo in the front bunch (chapeau to both) and yet both still beat Cavendish over the line. Which does make it seem more like a team screw up as Abudhabichris suggests than Cav alone blowing it.

Curious what Lefevre's instructions would have been to Cav to justify what he said. 'Finish better than third', 'whatever happens make sure you beat Cancellara'?

Seems like being wise after the event for him to be so openly critical although I can understand his frustration.

Renshaw did go early.

Lefevre talks rubbish - remember his comments that Stannard should have worked in the break when outnumbered by THREE Etixx riders?!

400m? Look again. Renshaw dropped him off at about 250metres.

Forget the yellow, I'd have thought sprinting *through* the line would be a prerequisite for someone with green jersey aspirations. What if he ends up a couple of points behind Sagan in Paris? Points lost to Spartacus on stage 2 I tell ya.

I'm with abudhabiChris on this one, QuickStep managed to mess up an ideal situation for a stage win.

Whether Cav should have kept pushing depends on what the manager's orders were. If he's worth his salt he'd be aware of the possibility of retaining yellow and one would hope he'd communicate this to his team.

Quickstep may only be going for stage wins but sprinters sitting up when they're beaten doesn't really inspire me as a fan.

Chapeau to Fabian Cancellara though for being such a talented and astute rider.

Did Lefevere give out detailed instructions to keep sprinting no matter what. If so then Cav made a mistake, but so did the team for cocking up the lead out. The thing is its easy to criticize when sitting on a sofa drinking beer and not riding in hours of rain and wind at speed.

All will be forgotten. Greipel is sprinting well, always pleased to see him get a tour stage win.

Why would they want to stay under it? It's a minimum, not a maximum.

it's high time the UCI reduced the 6.8kg weight limit. technology's moved on, and it's pretty clear that 6.8 is too high if they think you can put on a battery and motor and still stay under it.

Quick Step had the most riders in that small lead group yesterday - Cavendish, Renshaw, Uran, Kwiatkowski, Martin. Yet they blew the sprint and they blew marking Cancellara.

There was no reason for them to drive the break - their main rival was in it with them.

Add that to the spring classics where three of them were unable to defeat one Ian Stannard, and various other places where they are unable to turn numbers and form to their advantage.

It starts to look like a problem within the team - whether that's communication, briefing, lack of leadership or whatever. And for that the blame has to be with the management.

They have the best riders but the worst.

Looking forward to the fallout from this.

He's such a selfish twat, the way he gave up was disgusting. He's got no place in a team event - I'd sack him if I was the manager.