The 2012 Tour de France riders enjoy a rest day on Tuesday, but there is still plenty to analyze regarding the field when it comes to the green jersey (malliot vert), which is given to the leader of the points classification. Riders earn points for their order of finish at the end of each stage, with adjustments made for penalties, course difficulty and starting position, and SB Nation's cycling blog Podium Cafe has broken down the field after Stage 9.
Maillot Vert Standings, Stage 9
- Peter Sagan, LIQ, 217 points
- Matt Goss, OGE, 185 (-32)
- Andre Greipel, LTB, 172 (-45)
- Mark Cavendish, SKY, 129 (-88)
- Alessandro Petacchi, LAM, 109 (-108)
- Edvald Boasson Hagen, SKY, 95 (-122)
After breaking down each of the remaining stages, Chris Fontecchio of Podium Cafe makes his call. He believes Edvald Boasson Hagen will make a push and that Matt Goss will stay near the top, but nothing can pull his confidence away from "Tourminator" Peter Sagan. Even so, he acknowledges that the landscape can change in an instant:
The race looks over. It feels over. But the cold, hard reality of the points competition is that the guy you're crushing by 122 points? He's two stage wins and two intermediate sprints behind you. Two days where he is out front and you aren't. With eleven stages to go, that guy isn't finished.
SB Nation Denver is your source for 2012 Tour de France updates on Team Garmin-Sharp, and be sure to visit cycling blog Podium Cafe as well.
