Robbie takes time to talk us through the other battle that goes on during the tour: the battle in every rider’s own head.
In Robbie's own words, "It's a battle with yourself as much as with others."
It has been a surprise to us all that the 25 time stage winner hasn't picked up a win yet. Could it be that Mark Cavendish just isn't as strong as he has been in the past? Or is there something going on that's not so easy to measure?
Robbie suggests that he just doesn't look as physically built this year, but also that his loss to Andre Greipel in Stage 2 could still be playing on his mind, and in turn, playing on his performance.
Cav has twice now kicked into gear too early and it's that kind of hasty decision making that can cost you the stage.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we see the Orica-GreenEDGE boys pushing through the pain, again and again, despite the massive knocks they took on earlier stages. Perhaps they are spurred on by the efforts of our fallen warriors in WW1 as they pass through the battlefields of the Somme fighting a battle of their own against the competition, and against themselves.
