crashed, except Philippe Gilbert in Stage 3, but it was no problem. So I think we can be happy. If you look at the first week of the Tour de France it's always a bit of risky business. So being in this situation is not a bad one at the moment."

Friday's sixth stage - a 207.5-kilometer ride from Epernay in Champagne country to Metz - offers the last leg in the northern flats this week to favor sprinters, before a steep uphill finish on Saturday. Look for sprinters such as Cavendish, Greipel and Farrar to sprint for the stage victory tomorrow.

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