Jerome Clementz regains the lead from Nicolas Lau and Joe Barnes is still in 6th!
CRC/Nukeproof rider Matt Simmonds is up to 10th and UCI man Chris Baller Ball is 11th!
Here’s the news from the French mountains:
We’re back on track !
Last year mid week we had internet woes this year was no different – after a 9 hour upload yesterday at the local “cyber centre” day three video finally uploaded – we also have day four ready to go thanks to Sven Martins massive dongle….
Press release today from our guest editor and slightly addled Seb Kemp…..
“Last of the baguette brew
Wednesdayʼs ride through the Maritime Alps was a short one, relatively speaking. A touch under 30km long, 2354 metres of descending and a total accumulated baguette consumption of 135 metres.
Each day 120 baguettes are fresh baked and delivered to the campsite kitchen, opened up into hearty sandwiches and sliced for evening dipping. We have estimated that each rider eats at least a length of baguette each day. The loafage is just part of what keeps the Trans-Provence riders and staff going. Today there was also the 20 kilogram of beef, 10 litres of dark beer (donʼt judge, it was for the beef and beer stew) and two boxes of wine (the spirit needs fueling too).
The other form of sustenance today was the buffet of trails that we sampled. From wet and wild loamy Ubac to steep and technical Rochers De Bramus and even the lunar landscape of the infamous ʻGrey Earthʼ stage, the riding couldnʼt really be anymore varied than it has been. And this was just one day. With three more to come and Monte Carlo still feeling like a faraway land I feel like we may be distended from trail consumption by then.”
Well, there we are then!
If you’re here to follow the race and the top riders – It’s all change at the top !
A lot of people thought a that a minute lead would be hard to make up, maybe it was an unassailable lead, but Jerome showed what a pro he is yesterday.
There’s still three days left to race before we finish at Monaco – Last year their was less than a minute between Nico and Jerome last year, who knows what todays racing might bring.
Stage 4 results.
Overall results.
Click here for fullies!
Photos: Michiel Rotgans
