Back to gritty reality. Wind, rain, an eccentric and sub-standard press buffet — Le Tour arrived in Belgium today, finding its feet again after being propelled into euphoria by the overwhelming welcome that south-east England gave to the race over the weekend.

Out on the road, the riders raced through the sunshine and showers more associated with the Spring Classic races, during which "Belgian toothpaste" — an unholy mix of cow dung and mud — spatters their faces. The honeymoon period of the 2007 Grand Depart was now officially over.

Thomas Dekker, the long-haired pin-up for all Dutch cycling fans, described yesterday’s stage to Canterbury as the “best race” of his life. His enthusiasm for the London Grand Depart was echoed by almost everybody on the ferry crossings to the European mainland last night. It will prove a high standard for the Tour to maintain.

Even so, there’s no doubt that, after the opening days of racing, a hierarchy of sorts has already been established. Some of the pre-Tour favourites are already flirting with disaster, after losing considerable ground to rivals, such as Andreas Kloden and Alexandre Vinokourov, both of Astana, Cadel Evans of Predictor-Lotto and Discovery Channel’s fast-rising Spanish talent, Alberto Contador.

Scan down the race classification for Carlos Sastre of CSC — in 90th position, 56 seconds off the pace. And what about Michael Rasmussen, climber extraordinaire, the former King of the Mountains who said that this year he was targeting overall victory? The Dane is already languishing in 161st place, 1 minute and 16 seconds behind current leader Cancellara.

Yes, both riders are capable of breakaway attacks in the mountain stages and with the first time trial falling between the Alps and Pyrenees, may yet have a say in the destiny of the yellow jersey. But they both have an Achilles heel — they can’t time trial effectively enough to win the race and they are already slipping behind accomplished time triallists such as Kloden, Evans and Vinokourov.

And as any Frenchman will tell you, in the Tour de France, it’s much easier to lose time than it is to regain it.

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