David Millar (Garmin-Sharp)
Another to prove that age is no barrier on the big stage, Scotland’s David Millar provided further evidence of his conversion from time trial specialist to rouleur as he enters the twilight of his career. Having already finished third in the national road race championships, after joining the day-long break which ultimately resulted in Mark Cavendish’s win, Millar came within millimetres of wearing the maillot jaune at the Tour de France.
Profiting from the chaos at the end of stage one, the Scotsman sprinted to fourth place on the opening stage. And with the rolling parcours playing its part the following day, causing the sprinters – including Marcel Kittel in the yellow jersey – to be dropped, Millar was among the favourites from the leading group to take the yellow jersey. However, Jan Bakelants’ brave solo attack, which won him the stage, earned the Belgian the honour instead, with replays later showing if Millar’s pursuing group – led by Slovakian Peter Sagan – had been just even slightly faster, it would have been the Scot in yellow instead.
Millar was not finished however, joining the break on the final day on the circuit of the Champs-Elysees, and riding solo for gkm before being passed by Jeremy Roy and hauled back by the bunch.
