Here are scenes from today's stage of the Tour de France. The stage winner was British cyclist Mark Cavendish (from the Isle of Man), who averaged 24.35 miles per hour for 114.6 miles. Today's stage was mostly downhill, after an early climb, so the teams of the sprinters were not about to let a breakaway get too much time. Sure enough, the breakaway was reeled in just before the finish and we were treated to a furious sprint, replete with head butting, shouldering, and dicey movements. Sprinters are a breed apart. They enjoy wrestling each other at 40 miles per hour, where the touch of a wheel could spell disaster. Here is video of the finale. Here is a preview of tomorrow's stage.
Addendum: The head butter (if you will) has been thrown out of the Tour. See here for the story.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 