Mark Cavendish and Tyler Farrar should be back at the head of the Tour de France sprints soon, perhaps even in today's stage five to Montargis.
"He still has a lot of chances, it is only stage five," team Garmin-Transitions' Farrar said of his rival. "There is plenty of time for all of us to make amends for our poor start."
Cavendish came up empty handed in yesterday's sprint finish to Reims. HTC-Columbia led out for their leader, but he was left on his own from too far out and was unable to stop Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) from taking the win.
Farrar left it up to his team-mates Julian Dean and Robbie Hunter to contest the sprint. Dean took second and Farrar finished much back, still nursing a fractured bone near his left wrist.
He fractured it in stage three to Spa, but forced himself to continue the following day over the cobblestons to Arenberg.
"I hope," said Farrar, "that I can have my chance today or tomorrow."
If Farrar feels strong enough to put his full force on his wrist and Cavendish perfects his lead-out train then fans should see two of the most talented, young sprinters fighting for the win in Montargis.
Cavendish, though, may lack a certain amount of confidence after missing out twice, in both Reims and Brussels.
"Last year, he had a lot of momentum that he built throughout the season, but this year, he hasn't got the spiral to go back up," said Garmin team manager, Jonathan Vaughters.
"Mark Cavendish is an incredibly talented sprinter. There will come a day where he starts to win again, maybe today or maybe in the Vuelta. His talent hasn't gone away."
Cavendish's talent shined brightly last year when won six stages. This year, his main goal was the green sprinters jersey, but he currently trails by 65 points to Thor Hushovd.
As Vaughters said, Cavendish may come on form for the Vuelta a España. If so, he will have timed his form perfectly for the World championships, two weeks after the Vuelta a España.
Tour de France 2010: Latest news
Thomas happy with Tour's white jersey; but says 'All for Brad'
Cavendish keeps up fight for first Tour win
Sky delivers Boasson Hagen to third without pressure
Thomas in tour's white jersey; Wiggins gains time
Evans and Schleck gain in Tour's hell of the north
The Feed Zone: Tour news and views (July 6)
Vande Velde abandons Tour following crash
Andy Schleck has a laugh after stage two crash
The Feed Zone: News and views (July 5)
Sky banks on Thomas ahead of cobbled stage
Cavendish's sprint train weakened with Hansen out
Armstrong under fire as Landis allegations reach mainstream
Team Sky's decision to put Wiggins off early back fires
Tour de France 2010: Stage reports
Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims
Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC
Stage three live coverage: As it happened
Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa
Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters
Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win
Tour de France 2010: Photos
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one gallery
Prologue photo gallery
Tour de France 2010: Videos
Stage four video highlights
Stage three video highlights
Stage two video highlights
Stage one video highlights
Prologue video highlights
Tour de France 2010: Race guide
Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Official start list, with race numbers
Brits at the Tour 2010
Tout team guide
Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins
Tour de France 2010: Pictures
Tour team presentation, Rotterdam
Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special
Knog Blinder 1300 review - excellent visibility for you and other road users
Everything you want to know about the Q Factor
