Pictured in left background, the Argyle Armada kept close watch on the Bouygues Boys.

Today we looked after Christian. It was a really hard day for Kiki (Kilian Patour) who was in the main break most of the day. I think Bouygues didn’t want an argyle in the break as they knew we wouldn’t help chase.

The last circuit had a savage steep climb on it that we had to do four times. Christian gave it everything to get that time back. But the 3 km downhill to the finish meant a group sprint was inevitable. Over 70 kph sprint apparently. The GC leaders all cancelled each other out and status quo once more.

But second overall is awesome and a bonus after achieving the team goal at start of the week, which was a stage win!

Next stop, Paris-Camembert.

Despite valiant efforts from all the boys today, Christian Vande Velde (left on final podium) couldn’t manage to steal back the time–just four little seconds–he needed to take the yellow jersey in the final stage of the 2008 Circuit Cycliste Sarthe.

The Argyle Armada was well-represented from the gun with Kilian Patour (right) joining the days long-winded break. He, along with six other cyclists, averaged about 42 kph and pushed the gap up to as much as 2′45″ over the course of more than 160 km. Kilian was competitive within the break and won at least two of the intermediate bonus sprints.

The break was caught right after the race hit the tough four-lap finishing circuit with a 300-meter, 18% wall called the Côte Gazonfier. Here Christian (left) managed to keep a close eye on the yellow jersey as Thomas Voeckler fought for his win to the very end.

Slipstream stage 5 results
1. Ariel Maximiliano Richeze 4:28′24″

12. Christian Vande Velde mt
36. Chris Sutton +21″
47. Pat McCarty +50″
53. Dan Martin +50″
59. Kilian Patour +4′31″
DNF Julian Dean

Slipstream final GC
1. Thomas Voeckler 16:29′33″

2. Christian Vande Velde +4″
60. Kilian Patour +5′23″
68. Dan Martin +8′19″
69. Chris Sutton +11′13″
70. Pat McCarty +15′54″
DNF Julian Dean

Sunday our riders race Paris-Roubaix. Even before they have done the race, I’m certain they will need more time to recuperate from this than from any other 260 km classic. The reason for this is simple: 28 sections of cobble stones totaling 52.8 km.

Over this total distance of cobbles, the body has to deal with more than 150,000 shocks that come through the bike to the rider. Pain in the neck, wrists, arms, shoulders and knees is commonly seen after Roubaix. It is abnormal for a professional cyclist to have this after any race. But even more abnormal is that the riders have to also deal with the delayed onset of muscle soreness.

In normal races over smooth roads, you never see the delayed onset of muscle soreness. Normally they have sensitive legs after a hard race, and the next day the pain subsides. But after racing Paris-Roubaix, riders often have the most painful and sore legs 24 to 36 hours after finishing the race.

This delayed onset of muscle soreness is normally a result of damage to the muscle by eccentric muscle contractions. Full recuperation from Roubaix takes two or three days more than normal.

So don’t touch their legs, don’t even point at them. Because it all hurts.

Basically, today the plan was to make sure no big breakaways went without us. We went with all the breaks initially, and the first 60 km was total chaos.

The steady headwind meant that groups would get a gap…and then get dragged back. 45 kph average into a headwind! It was pretty much maxxed out for the first hour of racing. It never really got easy all day with a rolling course, narrow, rough roads, and a nagging wind.

Pat (above putting the hurt on!) and I were sent up the road with about 60 km to go to chase down the breakaway. It was quite satisfying to see the peloton in a line behind us. The break was caught with about 3 km to go.

I ran out of juice with 15 km to go and rode in easy. The boys will need me tomorrow. Try and get Christian into that yellow t-shirt!

Bicycling’s European Correspondent James Startt talks to Magnus Backstedt about his preparedness for Sunday’s upcoming Paris-Roubaix.

Said Maggy about his favorite goal: “You can do 150 races in a year and they are all pretty much the same. But not this one. There is only one race like this in the whole season.”

CyclisMag.com has been following French Directeur Sportif Lionel Marie as he embarks on his new career with Slipstream/Chipotle H3O. Marie talks about how the team is open to the media and also how much Trent Lowe has impressed him as a cyclist and person.

Said Marie: “…celui qui m’impressionne le plus, c’est Trent Lowe. Il a seulement 23 ans, mais déjà vraiment professionnel, concentré sur ce qu’il a à faire, méticuleux. Trent est toujours correct, poli, avant de partir il dit toujours merci à l’encadrement pour le week-end passé. Mais quand il a besoin de quelque chose il le demande, gentiment.”

English translation: “…the one who has impressed me the most is Trent Lowe. He is only 23-years-old, but he is already very professional, concentrated on what he does and meticulous. Trent is always just and polite, before he leaves, he thanks the staff for the weekend. But when he needs something, he does ask, gently.”

After 120 km on the lam, a four-man break was swallowed up with just 3 km to go and stage 4 wrapped up with a bunch sprint. Christian Vande Velde (12th) and Thomas Voeckler (26th) both finished with the same time as the stage winner. The French rider, however, managed to pick up 3″ in bonus sprints along the way, increasing his lead on Christian to 4″.

Tomorrow’s final and longest stage offers plenty of opportunities for the Argyle to bring home their first yellow jersey. DS Lionel Marie said that Voeckler’s team is dead after chasing the break all day and keeping their leader in sprint position. So stay tuned for the Sarthe finale!

Slipstream stage 4 results
1. Mikhaylo Khalilov 4:27′

12. Christian Vande Velde mt
55. Chris Sutton mt
57. Julian Dean mt
71. Kilian Patour +32″
82. Pat McCarty +1′01″
88. Dan Martin +6′38″

Slipstream GC after stage 4
1. Thomas Voeckler 12:01′09″

2. Christian Vande Velde +4″
47. Julian Dean +49″
55. Kilian Patour +1′01″
86. Dan Martin +7′29″
89. Chris Sutton +10′52″
93. Pat McCarty +15′04″

Paris-Roubaix is a special race that throws up conditions that are unique to bike racing. Conditions that we only have to deal with for one day a year, but require specific (and cool!) equipment to deal with the almost absurd nature of the race. Sure, it is a truckload of prep for a single day race.
But it’s worth it if we get the result we’re hoping for…

So we have been lucky our sponsors have supplied us with some special equipment to use on Sunday. We have some special framesets from Felt that are slightly longer than our standard ones to provide a bit more stability on the pavé. The wider and indented chainstays and seatstays give a bit of extra mud clearance (pictured left with Shimano brakes). And the fork is slighlty higher than usual to keep the mud from clogging up the front wheel. We are also using Shimano longreach brakes on the front and rear to help with this.

Zipp has sorted us out with a nice strong ‘clydesdale’ wheelset that uses a 404 rim in the rear and a 303 up front, with standard double butted spokes that are laced up 2 cross. The whole team will be riding carbon Zipp wheels on Sunday.

We also have those awesome, green Vittoria Pavé tubulars–but this time in an extra wide 27 mm width. Tyre pressure is a closely guarded secret, but with the wider tubular we can run much lower pressure than normal. Especially if the weather is nasty on the big day.

Most of the boys will leave the team bus on Sunday morning with 53-46 chainrings and a tight 11-21 cassette on the rear. Paris Roubaix is dead pan flat after all.

Ciao ciao! Off for my evening beer (or two)..

Kris “Grom” Withington, New Zealand Mechanic