Les Baroudeurs

The Tour rolls on and the race continues to throw up surprises. One was Tommy Voeckler's win into Perpignan. It was a text book finish from a rider who has never really realised that there is a text book on bike racing. It was, believe it or not, his first Tour stage win. Now I know he has his critics, but to be brutally honest where would French cycling be without the panache of this man?

Attacking from the gun may be a good idea in a crit or a track scratch race, but this guy always 'throws one in' with around 200 kilometers to go. He reminds me of Claudio Chiappucci, another rider who never won much, but always had a dig. Thanks to them race radios and team tactics get forgotten for a day and you can see a rider relying on brute strength and ignorance.

Stage six was another seat-of-the pants ride from David Millar who was showing some good form on the roads around his home town of Girona. It was exciting stuff and the 'will he, won't he' was only foiled by a long boulevard and some interesting chasing from Astana – I'm beginning to despair of the turquoise terrors. I was hoping for a last minute charge from Wiggo, but alas not, he must be saving himself for Andorra.

A new yellow jersey will be on the podium this time tomorrow.