The Tour de France hits the cobblestones on Stage 9, with the peloton sure to be nervous on what is the most anticipated stage of the race. Join The Roar for live coverage from 9:15pm (AEST).
There are quite literally going to be two races within a race as the race moves over a distance of 156.5 kilometres to Roubaix, the finish of the most famous classic on the cycling calendar.
The first of those races will be for the stage, while the second is the battle between the teams to protect general classification riders at the head of the peloton.
There are 15 sections of cobblestones on the route totalling 21.7 kilometres.
The second last sector at Camphin-en-Pévèle, stretching a distance of 1.8 kilometres is likely to be the one where the race cracks in half. The final sector going from Willems to Hem is a three-star section, but it’s 1.4 kilometres in length and just seven from the finish line.
When it comes to the stage, it’s hard to look past Peter Sagan. He is the best rider in the world bar none on the flatlands and has handled himself on the cobbles before. If he gets to the sprint, he will win.
Greg Van Avermaet, in the yellow jersey, will also be a favourite for the stage. He has to defend the jersey though as well as rely on limited support as BMC try to protect Porte.
Niki Terpstra is the other to watch for. He has formerly performed well in the cobbled classics, winning Paris-Roubaix.
Sky will also have a big part in the stage as they try to protect Chris Froome, while all the other general classification teams will try to stay at the front.
Prediction
This is impossible to predict. I’ll go with Sagan for the stage and at least one high-profile general classification rider to lose time on the run into Roubaix.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 9 from 9:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening. The Roar will be back with more Tour de France action on Tuesday after the rest day. In about half an hours time, it'll be the FIFA World Cup Final. I'll have that for you as France play Croatia. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) @ 36:07:17 2. Geraint Thomas (Sky) + 0:43 3. Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) + 0:44 4. Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) + 0:44 5. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) + 1:31 6. Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) + 1:32 7. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) + 1:33 8. Chris Froome (Sky) + 1:42 9. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) + 1:42 10. Mikel Landa (Movistar) + 1:42
Scott Pryde
Expert
TOP 10, STAGE 9 1. John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) @ 3:24:26 2. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) + 0:00 3. Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Floors) + 0:00 4. Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) + 0:19 5. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) + 0:19 6. Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) + 0:19 7. Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) + 0:19 8. Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) + 0:27 9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) + 0:27 10. Timothy Dupont (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) + 0:27
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was an amazing stage and a cracking sprint from Degenkolb. Unfortunately, Richie Porte is out, but the Tour is well and truly alive in Roubaix this afternoon!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Uran will give over more than a minute to the leading GC riders here as his group rolls over the finishes line.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The group of Bardet and Landa managed to get back to the peloton in fact. Incredible ride by them over the last few kilometres. Uran's group on the way up to the line now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
JOHN DEGENKOLB WINS STAGE 9 Degenkolb still holding first wheel here. He can't get rid of it with Van Avermaet and Lampaert glued behind them. Round the final corner they go and Degenkolb is out of the saddle with 250 metres to go before opening up. Van Avermate in the wheels, but he just didn't have the strength to get around, coming over in second with Lampaert in third. Sagan opens up the sprint for fourth, Gilbert fifth.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Through one kilometre now. Lampaert glued to the back wheels here, but there is a lot of looking over the shouder.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The pace is starting to drop in the first group now. Degenkolb swings off 1.3 kilometres from the line, then Van Avermaet takes over.
Scott Pryde
Expert
2 kilometres now. Lampaert leading the leading group.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Down the back, Bardet has been picked up by Landa. They are 20 seconds behind the peloton.
Scott Pryde
Expert
3 kilometres now. The winner will come from the leading three as Peter Sagan tries to make a move off the front. He takes Stuyven, Gilbert and Jungels with him. They open up a pretty big gap.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dan Martin leading the peloton now. They are 50 seconds behind with 5 kilometres to go. The losers today are Bardet, Landa, Uran and Mollema. They are all going to end up a long way down on general classification.
Scott Pryde
Expert
PUNCTURE! Romain Bardet (AG2R) Bardet has had the worst day of his career. Front wheel puncture on the cobble stones and he has caught up five, six, seven times today, but is now out the back with just 5 kilometres to go. That is going to cost him big time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The race is off the final sector of cobbles.
Scott Pryde
Expert
It would appear as if Greipel is up in this front group.. He has one working for him on the front of the bunch, but this might be too little too late.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Section 1. Willems-Hem - 1.4km (8km to go) This is the final section of the day. The three men out in front now have 50 seconds to the Sagan group. Landa 40 seconds further back, Uran another 20 on top of that.
Scott Pryde
Expert
10 kilometres to go. Van Avermaet, Lampaert and Degenkolb have 35 seconds.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bardet at the front of this group now. He tries a little bit of an attack, but is shut down quick smart by Foome who jumped straight away. Sagan needs to get a chase going here. He doesn't want to do the chase, but no one is going to take him across.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The peloton was splitting up there, but no one is committed to chase. The leading trio are out to 25 seconds, while Landa is a minute further back ad Uran another 25.