The writing was on the wall for us early on in Stage 4 with a small breakaway group established and no quality climbers among it.
It enabled the peloton in the guise of DQS keep tabs on the time gap in an effort to retain the yellow jersey for Julian Aliphilippe. The gap reduced and left it a GC battle on the final climb of the day. Jumbo Visma stamped their authority on proceedings with some tempo riding that limited attacks and set up pre-race favourite Primoz Roglic to take the victory.
Our race selection Tadej Pogacar followed him home in second while blog perennial Nairo Quintana looked strong in fourth and is one to keep an eye on in the high mountains.
On to Stage 5 and a relatively benign stage that gives the peloton a chance to gradually go downhill before arriving in Privas for a stage finale ideal for the sprinters.
Will the teams who have an interest in the victory work together to keep any breakaway in arms reach? This is further complicated by the Category 4 Cote De Saint Vincent Barres 16km from the end.
These imponderables are the main reason Caleb Ewan is available at the head of the market at 2/1. Because should it all come back together he proved beyond question that he is the strongest sprinter this year and should easily account for the field.
Sam Bennett looks his only rival but the Irishman needs to get his timing right and the yet to be seen lead out train working more fluidly.
Ewan has the capability to bounce around wheels and explode at the right time in a style highly reminiscent of the prolific Mark Cavendish, and we see him as a massive price today all things considered.
He could go on and claim numerous stages this year and Stage 5 looks primed to be the second of these.
Recommendation:
Caleb Ewan to win Stage 5 of the Tour De France, 2pts win, 2/1
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