We’re a third of the way through the Tour de France and the best any Australian sprinter could do was beat Mark Cavendish in a field sprint for points.
That happened in today’s sixth stage, as Matt Goss finally got the better of Cav and nipped him at the line for 5th place and 11 additional points in the green jersey competition.
There are two very gifted Australian sprinters in this Tour, Mark Renshaw of Rabobank and the abovementioned Matt Goss of Orica-GreenEdge. So what’s missing?
Renshaw might be the easier case to analyze. For most of this tour he’s had to fend for himself, while the rest of the team is likely focused on Robert Gesink, who’s coming off a win at the Tour of California. While train-hopping has worked for Cav, it hasn’t worked so well for Renshaw who’s just been coming up short in his efforts and today was caught out due to the massive crash with about 25km to go in the stage.
So now onto Matt Goss, who has the entire team working for him, as they don’t have a GC contender, but keeps coming up short. Orica-GreenEdge did an amazing job leading him out today and put him in a great position to sprint for the line. But once again he made the same mistake, he jumped too early and ran out of steam.
After stage 5, he tweeted: “2nd today, knew I had to try and get the jump but I only had 210m in my legs not 250 on that nasty uphill finish.”
And after stage 6: “My mistake today, jumped to early, should have stayed on the wheel. Miss red the meter boards and jumped when I saw a rider drop there chain”
The same mistake two days in a row when you have an entire team working for you? At this level? I think Goss is simply cracking under pressure.
Today, of all days, was his to win. Cav was caught out in the crash. Lotto-Belisol’s Greipel crashed hard earlier and dislocated his shoulder (which he popped back in on the go), and Goss has come ahead of Sagan nearly every time they were matched in a pure sprint.
I can understand the pressure. It’s the first time the team has been at the tour and without a GC contender, Goss was all they were relying on to get good results. The pressure to get a win at this point must be incredible, but that’s one of the things that Goss will have to overcome if he’s to be the leader of this team for the remaining two weeks of the tour. He needs the guys to keep believing he can win.
It’s not all lost for him. Stages 15, 18 and 20 will give him a few more opportunities to prove himself. With Cav likely leaving once we hit the mountains to get ready for the Olympics, Greipel will be his only rival. Beating Greipel is no easy task, but if Goss gets his timing right and the team is there to protect him and lead him out, he should be in great position to redeem himself.
The silver lining in all of this is that Goss is currently sitting in second place in the green jersey competition with 178 points. Liquigas’ Peter Sagan is in first with 209 — not an insurmountable lead.
The main goal for Goss over the next few stages is to save his legs as much as possible while making it over the climbs inside the time cutoff. Being as fresh as possible coming into the later stages will be crucial.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Goss is coming close- these opening sprints have been a success for the green edge riders even if the most satisfying result has not been achieved. I think true fortune of Green edge will change once the hill stages have been completed and the level ground sprints return.
hamleyn
Roar Guru
Whilst I agree that Goss is jumping too early then being overrun, I'm not sure you're right about OGE's lead out last night. Whilst they did a great job in the last 25km, with 3km to go, Lotto-Belisol took over for Greipel and disrupted OGE's lead out. In the end, it was left for Gossy to jump on Greipel's wheel and got beaten because he again misjudged the sprint. All isn't lost but he's going to have to rethink his tactics if he is going to have a crack at Green.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Important to note that like the yellow Jersey, the Green jersey rewards consistency and Goss has shown this. Griepel is hurt and it is unclear if Sagan can get through the mountains so don't write Goss off. He is still my pick to take Green as he is, for a sprinter, one of the better in the climbs. The fight or Green will remain well and truly open
Darryl Kotyk
Roar Pro
I'm not sure if it's expected, but I think there are a lot of high hopes for the Australians not only in taking the Yellow jersey but also to do well in the sprints. Yes, early days....more goodness to come.
Sean Lee
Expert
Goss is definitely having problems with his timing. This could be due to him making the transition from leadout man to number one sprinter. He has had a hatful of minor places this year and one would hope that as he gains more experience at being the number one man that his fortunes will turn. Having said that, let's take nothing away from the class sprinters he is up against. It is tough competition out there and maybe this is as good as it gets for Goss. Who knows? Time will tell, but you are right, the pressure to break through for a Tour win is building. He would definitely be feeling it.
Swampy
Guest
I wasn't aware that it was expected that one of the Aussies claimed the green jersey. Cavendish is probably the greatest sprinter in TDF history (or will by his career's end). I know Cavendish is tapering for the Olympics but honestly this article paints a picture that the Aussies should be better than him and the other main sprinters. Peter Sagan has been a revelation. We should be happy that Goss is in a position to win or podium. Early days in Le Tour. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Woops
Guest
I think it's a very harsh assessment. I'm happy just to see him competing. It's a new role for Goss on the biggest stage, and it takes a few goes to learn how to be a repeat TDF stage winner. He will be better for the race and work out his tactics more as the race progresses
Darryl Kotyk
Roar Pro
I think is this wasn't an Olympic year, everything would be playing out much differently. Cav is definitely not completely on his game and because of this, people like Goss have the open door to take the Green. It's the perfect opportunity for him but he has not delivered on this as well as he could. There is still time, so we'll have to wait and see.