The Highwayman

Stages 9-14: Through The Wire

2011-07-26T18:25:00.006+01:00

Firstly an apology: I have become so engrossed in watching the Tour, and with other constraints on my time, I have fallen massively behind. Therefore it will mostly be a brief stage synopsis so you can scoot over to ITV.com and see the highlights if so required (Yes in other words).

Stage 9 Issoire > St Flour: Sunday 10th July

Garate doesn't start, leaving us with 187 riders. Contador took a tumble early on, continuing his rough week of suffering and crashes. Karma? Poels and Txurruka abandon as a result of this crash.

Break goes away containing Hoogerland, Flecha (SKY), Casar and Voeckler (small Frenchman of 2004 Yellow Jersey and attacking alone often fame)

On the descent of one of the Col du Pas de Peyrol, Hoogerland almost loses it on a tightening left hand bend in greasy conditions.

Minutes later some key players in the GC do lose it on that bend as do half the Peleton. After the dust settles we see Vinokourov being helped out of the forest 10m below the road, Van den Broeck laying in the roaad, Zabriski propped by the Armco, Willems in a crumpled heap by the side, and Kloden picking himself up gingerly.

Gilbert picks up the left over intermediate sprint points.

Further down the road the break away are extending their lead as the Peleton is slowed by the major crash.

Then a French TV car alongside the break swerves to avoid a jutting out tree.

Straight into the side of Flecha. Who in turn hits Hoogerland. Voeckler and Casar swerve but stay upright.

Flecha eats tarmac big style, snapping his front forks. Hoogerland mean while is sent flying off the road and into/through a barbed wire fence. Resulting in this:

Picking himself out of the tangle of barbed wire and more a less shortless a stunned and shocked Hoogerland remounts his bike after being given some new shorts. After some extensive attention and bandaging of his deep lacerations he is eventually caught by the Peleton, somewhat concerned by the mangled rider they see before them. He gets dropped by the Peleton fairly quickly and finishes in a small group just ahead of the Autobus.

Luis Leon Sanchez has caught Casar and Voeckler and proves the strongest taking the stage win. Voeckler rides himself into the Yellow Jersey however.

An emotional Hoogerland steps on the podium to receive the polka dot K.o.M. jersey and then is rewarded along side Flecha, with the most aggressive rider award, first time two people have been awarded it simultaneously.

David Millar reveals afterwards that he crashed twice during the stage, the TV car is kicked off the Tour and all sorts of discussion and debate abounds.

The most dramatic stage so far, for all the wrong reasons.

Stage 10: Aurillac > Carmaux: Tuesday 12th July

The rest day is over and has claimed two riders, one from the unluckiest team, RadioShack (RS). Popovych (RS) retires where as Kolobnev test positive for a banned substance (minute traces, non performance enhancing but sometimes used as a masking agent to hide other substances).

A small crash see's Flecha (again!), Cancellara, Leipheimer (RS), and Gesink go down.

Breaks come and go, there's a light hearted moment as Hushovd returns to the Team car and has his cleats tightened on his shoe, riding with one shoe for a while.

Flat sprinters stage see's HTC dominate at the front but the sweeping bends of the run in catch them out and Cav has to kick early.

He can't hold off the fast approaching Greipel who pips him leaving him second by a wheel.

Gilbert is in Green still, Voeckler Yellow and Hoogerland, after having 33 stitches yesterday is in Polka Dot still.

Stage 11: Blayes-les-Mines > Lavaur: Wednesday 13th July

177 riders start the day after Gadret retires, citing exhaustion after riding the Giro as well.

A couple of short climbs the sprint points are mopped up by the break, Cav taking the next available points.

The weather takes a turn for the worse and approaching the finish the break is caught.

HTC lead Cav to the sprint and Renshaw sets up Cav for an emphatic victory ahead of Greipel and Farrar. Gilbert finishes low down handing the lead in the Green Jersey to Cav. Ned is the first to break the news to a chuffed Cav.

The Manx Missile takes his 18th stage win in 4 years, Hoogerland retains Polka Dot andVoeckler Yellow.

Stage 12: Cugnaux > Luz Ardiden: Thursday 14th July

The first day in the Pyrenees is a tough one with three mountains to climb.

Romain Feillu doesn't start with tendonitis, Cav will be relieved I'm sure lol.

Its Bastille day and they have a Frenchman in Yellow so a stage win today would be the icing on the cake for France.

At the sprint point Cav takes the remaining points with his HTC team mates taking the next couple of places as well. Shrewd tactics from HTC.

The early break away includes our own Geraint and as they hit the climbs he becomes the virtual Yellow Jersey as they stretch to 9 minutes away.

G has a scare whilst descending a switchback and dives off the bike near a sheer edge. Lucky boy.

The Peleton also suffer on this corner, Voeckler and Velits crashing and Kloden (RS) going down hard.

Roy and G go off the front of the break and stay away till the last 6km, an heroic effort from G there.

Vanendert and Sanchez go off the front of the lead group.

The GC contenders behind start nibbling at each other, first Andy then Frank Schleck. Eventually after Evans and Contador mark the moves, Frank manages to break clear and chases down the two leaders.

Vanendert tries to grab the stage win but Sanchez is too powerful and powers clear, with Frank just a few metres behind Vanendert.

Basso, Evans and Schleck finish in a flurry with Cunego a bit behind and Contador a good few seconds behind him. Voeckler finishes a short time behind the suffering Contador to retain Yellow.

Stage 13: Pau > Lourdes: Friday 15th July

After an epic day in the Pyrenees yesterday we have 2 non starters, Steegmans and the sprinter Galimzyanov who finished outside the limit yesterday.

Roy goes on the attack again (that's 560km in break away's so far this Tour!!)

In the break he is joined later by Boasson Hagen, Hushovd, Pettachi, Pineau and several others.

Kloden decided enough was enough after just 30km after his fall yesterday, and radioShack lose another rider! A little further in Boom and Isaichev call it quits.

At the intermediate sprint Gilbert mistakes the 1km to go banner for the sprint line and goes for it. Cav's HTC train lead him out but Rojas gets the jump on him.

Over the climbs Roy is taking the points and rides himself into Polka Dot Jersey.

Heading into to the run in Roy is caught with 2km to go by Hushovd who accelerates past him and goes on to take a beautiful win. The World Champion had descended the Col d'Aubisque at one point at around 112kmh (69mph!!) truely phenomenal speed!!

Roy's K.o.M. Jersey completes the trio of Frenchmen on the podium currently, Voeckler in Yellow, and Jeannesson in White. Cav holds onto Green for another day.

Stage 14: Saint-Gaudens > Plateau de Beille: Saturday 16th July

No non-starters today so 171 riders remain.

Back in the true Pyrenees again with 6 climbs including the summit finish at Plateau de Baille.

A large break of 20 riders is let off the front with Gerdemann & Voigt (Leopard), Millar, Casar, Riblon, Chavanel, Charteau, amongst them.

Another group goes off the front of the Peleton to chase this one with Costa, Pineau, and two others joining the leaders by the second climb.

Tendam runs wide on a corner and faceplants on a grass verge, one of the most painful looking crashes so far!

Millar, Casar and another descend quickly and pull out 40 seconds on the break.

Voigt crashes into some ferns bushes on the descent and by the time the camera's catch up he's plucking the bike out and carrying on.

On the next descent he hits some melted tar on a corner and goes down again. He gets up and is visibly more annoyed by crashing than any injuries. He duly collects some bottles and energy bars from the team car and awaits the Peleton.

Once he is caught he proceeds to distribute his wares and then demolishes the Peleton and the breaks by riding like a madman at the front. Jens the Legend!

The breaks gradually get caught and we are left with the GC contenders eyeing each other up.

Andy Schleck attacks numerous times but is unable to shale anyone off.

Vanendert and Sanchez attack towards the summit and Vanendert pulls clear to take the win and the K.o.M jersey.

Schleck powers away in the last 1km but is unable to get more than a few seconds over cadel, Basso, Contador, Voeckler, Rolland, Frank, Uran and Cunego a few more seconds behind.

Voeckler retains Yellow, Cav retains Green with tomorrows stage being sprinter friendly.

Pain and Glory: Part Deux

2011-07-19T17:37:00.004+01:00

Stage 7: Le Mans > Chateauroux: Friday 8th July

A sprinters stage with no categorised climbs. Also the scene of Cav's first stage win in 2008.

So an easy stage with the sprinters teams (HTC basically) driving the Peleton onwards to catch the inevitable break and get a sprinter a stage win and Green jersey points.

But as is so often the case the Tour likes to take it's victims when they least expect it. And so it was today. 193 riders started the day with Kiryienka finishing outside of the time limit yesterday.

Around 90km into the stage Boonen, pulls to the side of the road, hops off his bike and into the waiting Quick Step Team car. Yesterday's crash and chase to finish had taken too much out of him. 192 riders remain.

Shortly after this team RadioShacks atrocious luck continues as Popovych and Zubeldia, along with Gallopin and Kreuziger go down in a crash. All get up and carry on.

Then with a tailwind pushing a speeding Peleton along at 60kmh a crash happens in the middle of the bunch. A group of 60 miss it or get round before the road is blocked.

Pictures are hampered by the overhanging trees but when the cameras get there we see Pauriol on the floor, Horner (RadioShack) in a ditch and Bradley Wiggins cradling his arm sitting on the floor. Disaster!!

Wiggins can't even pick himself up off the floor. Game Over. Broken Collar Bone.

Team Sky riders wait in vain for Wiggins, sacrificing the Team placings and their own GC placings to see if they can pace their leader back. To no avail. Geraint and Boasson Hagen now have a battle to limit their losses as the Peleton pushes on.

Up at the front team HTC lead Cav over the intermediate sprint line ahead of his rivals despite having to do up his shoe with 500m to go!!

With only a few kms to the finish HTC regroup and as the break gets swept away HTC do the prefect lead out.

Greipel and Feillu and Petacchi all kick but with 250m to go Cav kicks and takes the stage.

Just like 2008.

The riders held up in the crash roll over the line 3 minutes later, Geraint having sacrificed the White Jersey to see if Wiggo needed help.

Pauriol and Popovych come in 6 and a half minutes after Cav and Horner the last man in over 12 minutes later.

In Cav's interviews he is delighted and is chatting away to Ned Boulting. Then Ned tells him of Wiggo's crash and you see him become a little confused then you visually see his face drop as it sinks in the Wiggo is out with a broken collarbone.

Cav may be many things, but this is genuine concern and disappointment for a friend and rival, and it's touching to see.

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/2011/stages/stage-7/

Horner is escorted away as soon as he finishes and hasn't a clue that he crashed, that he's finished the stage, or what's going on at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x08VO5-gOh8

Horner is taken to hospital where it is confirm he has concussion, and a broken nose.

His abandonment is confirm before the next days stage. The video makes scary watching seeing him so clueless!

Stage 8: Aigurande > Super Besse: Saturday 9th July

After yesterday's chaos finally some mountains loom large. We are in the Massif Central and there are two Cat 4 climbs, one Cat 3 and one Cat 2 climb to tackle today. Yikes!

The 9 man break away goes early and contains a few known riders Riblon (AG2R), Zandio (Sky), Costa (Movistar) Tejay Van Garderen amongst them.

Very little happens out ont he road, Team BMC forcing the pace to keep Evans up the front. Vino, Flecha (Sky) and Hoogerland break off the front and try to catch the remains of the break away as the fall off one by one.

With 2km to go Vino and Flecha are caught leaving Costa out front being chased down by Gilbert who broke off the front as the GC riders attacked and watched each other closely.

Costa takes the stage, the first break away to be successful this year.

Gilberts late attack was enough to get him the Green Jersey by finishing second.

Thor Hushovd finishes strongly to retain the Yellow Jersey.

So a calm and uneventful day on the Tour. Well its all relative!!

Pain and Glory

2011-07-13T18:21:00.004+01:00

Stage 5: Carhaix > Cap Frehel: Wednesday 6th July

Once again the stage surges towards the coast with the only noted climb of the day, a Cat 4, coming inside the first 50km. A sprinters stage if ever there was one. Nothing particularly taxing about the stage aside from the need to be near the front to avoid the crosswinds in the last 70km as it hugs the shoreline. The finish is on a slight uphill which could favour the likes of Gilbert, Hushovd maybe even Swift or Thomas.

Shortly after the descent of the Cote de Gurunhuel a crash brings down 12 riders, Wiggins, Chavanel, and Leipheimer the most notable. No one seems to be too badly injured and they dust themselves down as the Peleton gears up for the sprint point.

Cav, Boonen, Rojas, Feillu and a couple of others contest the sprint with the break away having mopped up some of the points already.

Rojas has a good lead out and with Boonen on his wheel the push forward, Cav makes a dash up the left hand side only for Rojas and Boonen to meander over and cut him off into the barriers then go to the other side. Cav sits up and shakes a fist in disgust! One for the commissaires to sort out. Or not.

The Peleton regroups only for there to be another crash, involving Gesink and Brajkovic. Gesink looks to be in pain with his wrist but eventually remounts his bikes and rides on to catch up the Peleton. Radioshacks Brajkovic isn't so fortunate looking bruised and concussed he is put on a stretcher and out of the Tour. Contador also takes a tumble requiring a change of bike.

The Peleton seem not to care with Leopard at the front forcing the pace.

Contador's team mate Sorensen tangles his handlebars with a photographers motorbike and his bike gets whipped out from under him sending him sprawling down a grass verge.

Europcar's Kern retires at the 90km mark.

Then its Boonen's turn to hit the asphalt hard, along with a team mate, looks to be a nasty one as well. He takes his time but eventually gets on an rides to the finish.

With the break swallowed up with 45km to go its down to the sprinters teams to up the pace and lead out their men. Voeckler and Roy lunch and audacious break from 30km to go but get caught with 3km left.

Its anyone's sprint as Boasson Hagen launches early taking Gilbert, Hushovd and Rojas with him, Cav's HTC are all gone and he's left following Geraint who inadvertently gives him a great lead out. With 100m to go Cav switches on the afterburners and pips Gilbert to the stage win and number 16 of his Tour career. And they said it was too uphill for him! Ha!

Better news follows with the commissaires ruling in favour of Cav and disqualifying Boonen and Rojas from the intermediate sprint. There nothing if not consistent these commissaires. Great day for Cav, woeful day for Boonen who limps across the line 13 minutes later.

Stage 6: Dinan > Lisieux: Thursday 7th July

Another coastal stage with rolling hills including two cat 3 climbs and one cat 4 and a short climb to the finish. Probably enough to separate off the pure sprinters but not enough to see off the punchy sprinters like Hushovd, Swift, Boasson Hagen and the like.

One non starter today, Valesco of Euskaltel who went down yesterday late on.

The Peleton sets off at a brisk speed averaging 50kmh for the first hour, but still a break goes off the front gaining nearly 10 minutes in just 66km!

A mixture of rain and sun with some wind gives the potential for some more crashes.

Gesink and Contador both have to change bikes after mechanical incidents.

At the sprint point Cav gets lead out to take the remaining points left after the break have been through and catch on those ahead of him in the Green Jersey.

Joogerland breaks off the front to get the King of the Mountains points.

The break is caught with 10km to go and with 6km remaining Leipheimer takes a tumble on a slippery white line.

The final km is peppered with mini breaks by Vino, Voeckler and a couple of others.

At 500m to go Geraint leads out Boasson Hagen who kicks off the front with 400m left. Chased down by Gilbert, Hushovd, Rojas and Goss (HTC) he holds them off til the end to take Sky's first Tour stage win!!

Gilbert holds on to Green by 1 point and Hushovd still remains 1 second ahead of Evans.

Bridging the gap

2011-07-13T00:20:00.004+01:00

Stage 3: Olonne -Sur-Mer > Redon: Monday 4th July

A nice flat stage with the added spice of being coastal and therefore susceptible to crosswinds.

There is a single categroy 4 climb, 66m above sea level......literally!

The bridge over the River Loire at Saint-Nazaire.

The usual break goes away and is held at a manageable gap by the Peleton who cruise along at 40kmh for a couple of hours.

At the sprint point the leading sprinters signal their intentions by getting closer to the front.

Cav has a slight tussle with Hushovd as the battle to get the 10 points for the Green Jersey. A slight direction change from Thor, a gentle nudge with the head by Cav and they cross the line with Cav taking the 10 points.

As the Peleton hit the bridge they are getting buffeted by strong on shore winds splitting the Peleton in half. Briefly. Once all back together they have upped the pace (with the help of a tailwind) to a terrifying 70kmh. Rolling the big gear through the French countryside the sprint teams are trying to control the Peleton. The break is swallowed up at 9km to go and HTC and Garmin dominate the front of the pack.

Into the finishing straight HTC's 5 man lead out train is getting swamped and it's the Yellow Jersey of Hushovd and his team mate Julian Dean who deliver Tyler Farrar across the line for the win from 150m.

Roman Feillu crosses second Rojas third and Cav in 5th.

Worse news for Cav comes after when the commissaires dock him and Hushovd their points at the intermediary sprint for their coming together. A bemused Cav tweets his confusion whilst Thor offers to take the blame. Cav responds by calling him a 'true Gentleman' and launching some criticism of 'kamikaze Feillu'. Cav's battle with the commissaires resumes for another year!

Last word though goes to Farrar, an American, winning on Independence day and dedicating it to the memory of his close friend Wouter Weylandt who died in the Giro earlier in the year.

A fitting tribute.

Stage 4: Lorient > Mur-de-Bretagne: Tuesday 5th July

A coastal stage for the first 100km or so then pushing inland with the odd hill to contend with and an uphill finish.

A wet start but still a break away pops off the front of the Peleton, notable riders in it are Jeremy Roy and Johnny Hoogerland.

The first 50km was enough for Omega Pharma-Lotto's Jurgen van de Walle and he jumps in the Team car and out of the Tour. He was also one of the first riders to fall on the first stage.

Farrar pips Cav to the intermediate sprint points to cap a great couple of days for him.

The break is absorbed with 4 km to go and then its a slog up the hill to take the stage win.

Van den Broeck makes a break for it but is pegged back by Contador and Evans. Evans marks Contador then bolts for the line. Contador closes quickly and punches the air as they cross the line! Hushovd keeps up with the leaders to take the same time and keep the Yellow Jersey with Vino, Frank Schleck, Gilbert and Boasson Hagen all present in this group. Andy Schleck and Wiggo lose some valuable seconds as there is a split between bunches.

The photo finish shows that Evans is a wheel rim width ahead of Contador and thus gets the stage win!! Contador's luck seems to have deserted him this week, or maybe that's just karma......

Trial and trail

2011-07-07T23:39:00.004+01:00

Stage 2: Les Essarts: Sunday 3rd July

The have the same letters, begin the same and end the same way yet swapping over the 'A' and 'I' gives different emphasis to the words. Take Alberto Contador for example. The Team Time Trial is more about making up some time on his rivals, yet it is one of his weaker disciplines. So could he lose yet more time making it a Time Time Trail for Contador, and an opportunity for the others to stick the boot in. The 23km circuit is unspectacular, short and should make for some quick times as the riders go full guns the whole way. Team Sky, Garmin Cervelo and maybe even HTC or Saxo Bank could fight it out today for the win and potentially the Yellow Jersey. Philippe Gilbert starts in Yellow but it's Saxo Bank and Contador who start off the preceedings.

The clock stops when the first 5 riders of the 9 man team cross the line, so losing a few along the way won't matter, although it will mean longer turns at the front for everyone else.

Saxo Bank post the best time of the day to start with. 25minutes and 16 seconds. Mainly because it's the only time so far. That said Euskatel and Vacansoliel follow without threatening the time.

AG2R get closer than the others but still Saxo Bank lead the way, that is until Rabobank come and take 16 seconds off them with a 25minutes dead time. That's an average of 55kph (33mph!).

Garmin leave the ramps and are tearing up the course, quicker by far on all the splits.

Final time of 24mins 48 seconds takes 12 seconds off Rabobank a

nd a full 28seconds quicker than Saxo Bank. Oh dear Alberto!! David Millar's speciality may just have done enough to put Hushovd into the Yellow jersey by virtue of the fact he finished slightly ahead of him yesterday.......

Sky leave the start ramp, will they be able to eclipse Garmin and get Geraint into Yellow?

Splits are suggesting they are fractionally slower 40mph to Garmins 41mph!

Sky cross the line in 24mins 52secs, 4 seconds behind Garmin. No Yellow for Geraint then :( just the White Jersey ; )

Out on the road Radioshack, Katusha and the other teams aren't threatening. HTC are pushing but are several seconds down at the splits. HTC finish to slot in behind Sky.

Mean while Cadel Evans BMC team are surprising everyone with some quick split times. He was 3 seconds ahead of Hushovd going into today's stage so could take Yellow!

Leopard Trek finish a few seconds down on Garmin; HTC, Sky and Leopard all within a whisker of each other.

BMC cross the line in 24minutes and 52seconds!

Cadel Evans misses out on the Yellow Jersey by 1 second! Thor Hushovd will be in Yellow for tomorrow's stage as Gilberts Omega Pharma-Lotto and doing decidedly average out on the course.

So where does this leave everyone?

Hushovd is in Yellow with Millar on the same time and Evans 1 second behind.

4 seconds behind Hushovd is Geraint, Wiggins, Boasson Haagen (Sky), the Schlecks and Cancellara.

5 seconds down is Cav, Swift is 11 seconds down and languishing in a lowly 75th is Alberto Contador 1minute 42 off the Yellow Jersey.

So yet more time lost by Contador, his rivals must be loving this, but discount him at your peril, tainted he may be, talented he is definitely.

Away from today's stage the Tour is covering a total of 3430.5km in it's three week duration. That's roughly 2059miles, in a loop around France. Impressive in three weeks. However these are professional athletes who's job it is to ride bikes.

Much more impressive is the feat of riding 4262 miles from the East Coast of the USA to the West Coast. In 3 months.

This is exactly what my good friend Matthew Farrer is undertaking as I type. He is more or less 3/4 of the way across have traversed mountains, plains, middle America and much more besides.

If you get a chance pedal on over to his blog:

http://longhaultruckin.tumblr.com/

the pics are awesome and it's a good read. Wish him well and be inspired!

Keep it up Matt!

All at sea

2011-07-06T23:41:00.003+01:00

Stage 1: Passage Du Gois > Mont Des Alouettes: Saturday 2nd July

Well here it is. The talking stops and the graft starts. For some it is going to be the hardest 3 weeks of their life. Others won't even last the three weeks before succumbing to injury or illness. Some will achieve greatness whilst others will experience bitter disappointment. The myriad of emotions that makes an exciting Tour!

So they are starting on an island in the Atlantic, Noirmoutier, and riding across the causeway at low tide (well obviously as it isn't there at high tide!!). Last time the Tour crossed this it was in 1999 in the actual race (this is the neutralised warm up) and several crashes occurred on the slippery seaweed strewn cobbles!!! For today at least they will have to save the crashing for the roads of mainland western France (well except Andre Greipel who did actually manage to fall off and cut his elbow on the causeway! Won't matter as the Tour is too big a race for him to win anything (find the Cav quote on Greipel!)).

The usual early break goes away with no one special in it particularly although Jeremy Roy (FDJ) maybe seems to enjoy his break-aways (see Stage2/3/4/5!)

The stage profile is predominantly flat with a small hill a few km's from the end. Oh and the Mont Des Alouettes that the stage ends on the top of! Miles and miles of flat countryside and they chose the one significant hill (232m above sea level, 2.2km of 4.7% gradient Cat 4).

This will play into the hands of the one day specialists and punchier climbers. So ideal for Philippe Gilbert and bad news for Cav. Maybe a stage for Ben Swift to introduce himself to the Tour though or an old hand like Thomas Voeckler to steal a cheeky win.

The intermediate sprint however is flatter and should see some interesting battles if they choose to go for it.

Got to make it there first though, after 30km or so we get our first fallers of the this years Tour. No big names though. Soon followed by another crash with a couple of Team Sky's riders falling, no damage done though.

Intermediate sprint is contested and Cav's HTC lead out get swamped. Tyler Farrar claims maximum points with Cav a couple of places behind. Well he always starts his Tour's slowly.....

The break slowly begins to get reeled in and then at 10km to go a team Astana rider clips a yellow T-shirted spectator on the roadside and chaos ensues!!

Half of the Peleton are either sprawled out across the road in a tangled mess or being forced to take evasive action into the roadside ditch to get round it!! Just as the pace was being increased at the front as well!

Amongst those caught up in the chaos is Alberto Contador, who is already 32 seconds down on the lead group with 4km to go. All other GC contenders were safely in front of the crash. Phew.

Poor Contador looks to be losing time already, that's a real shame (I'm struggling not to laugh as I write that!! lol).

Just 2km to go and another crash takes out a chunk of the already small Peleton. This one will need to be untangled and we'll see who suffered.

Meanwhile up front Fabian Cancellara has bolted for the line, closely followed by Gilbert and Voeckler.

Thor Hushovd and Cadel Evans make a burst for the lead group and as they cross the line its Gilbert from Hushovd and Evans.

Geraint Thomas crosses with David Millar 6 seconds later. Wiggins, the Schlecks, Cav and others caught in the 2km crash were initially given times around 80 seconds down but this was later altered to give the time of the main group that crossed 6 seconds behind Gilbert (the 3km rule; any crashes inside 3km on flatter stages and the times are given as a whole to the Peleton).

Contador crossed the line with those caught in the 2km crash but doesn't get an altered time as he was already behind!

So Stage one finishes uphill with Contador losing time (1min 20secs! yay!), Gilbert winning (expected) and Thomas in the White Jersey (excellent!).

Exciting contested intermediate sprints, crashes, uphill finishes and doomed break-aways. A good start to the Tour. Lets see what tomorrows Time Trial holds, Contador needs to get some time back that's for certain!

Vive Le Tour!

2011-07-05T23:55:00.008+01:00

It's back!!!

Like a hibernating animal this blog has re awoken to find that it has missed out Winter, and Spring and accidentally a couple of months of Summer as well. Whoops. Lets pedal out the normal excuses now, buying and selling cars (as always), buying a house (almost but not quite there), and general laziness (ah yes the one true constant!!).

So after getting off my literary bike and abandoning , I have once again got excited about cycling.

The person to blame is Ned Boulting. Those of you familiar with ITV will know him as either a football reporter or as the Tour De France reporter for ITV. Either way it was his new book, "How I Won The Yellow Jumper" that got me excited for this years Tour.

Books are not my strong point but this was one of those books. I couldn't put it down. Witty, inciteful, personal and interesting I thoroughly recommend you get a copy, if you're reading this, you'll love reading that!!

Those of you who read my last post (no doubt still waiting for part 3!) would be interested and disappointed to note that the Contador case is still rumbling on with Spanish Cycling Federation banning him, then over ruling it then the UCI and WADA appealing to CAS over the over turning.

Phew. Acronym pile up aside its a frustrating situation with the potential for last years winner and maybe this years winner being stripped of both titles.

And all the while the vultures circle ever closer to Armstrong.

Well whatever the outcomes of these cases we'll focus on the here and now, the 2011 Tour De France.

The Route:

This year it starts in Atlantic Sea! Starting in the Vendee region of western France it heads up the coast and round parallel with the English channel to the town of Lisieux.

From there it drops down to Le Mans through the centre of France to the Massif Central Mountains.

Then it heads south westerly towards the Pyranees before hugging the Mediterranean coast to Montpellier.

Finally its off into the Alps and then the long train ride up to Paris for Cav to win on the Champs Elysees!

The Teams:

So in the closed season it appears that a game of musical chairs went on (substitute chairs for teams) with riders going here there and everywhere!

Team Sky - Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas, Ben Swift

Wiggins comes into the Tour in fine form, as National Champion and winner of the Dauphine Libere. He is down to 69kg an astonishing 13kg less than at the Beijing Olympics!

Thomas has had a good season and this is his 3rd Tour so he'll be looking to get the White Jersey on his shoulders early on.

Swift originally wasn't going to be in the squad but an illness to Micky Rodgers and string of good performances and wins means he rides his first Tour. One for the future a punchy sprinter.

Leopard Trek - Andy and Frank Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Jens Voigt

Formed from the stars of the Saxo bank team but yet to fulfil the potential. Endured a tough Giro D'Italia where one of their riders, Wouter Weylandt, died in a crash on a descent. Experience by the bucket load, should win the Tour.

Garmin Cervelo - David Millar, Thor Hushovd, Tyler farrar

Millar has his autobiography newly released (I've not yet started it but it's waiting for me) and is in the twilight of his career. Has made up with Wiggo after a public falling out, and is the thinking man and reformed doper of the peleton.

Thor "God of Thunder" is the current World Champion and will no doubt be a thorn in Cav's side going for the green Jersey as will Tyler Farrar. Farrar withdrew from the Giro after the death of his close friend Weylandt so his form is an unknown entity.

HTC Highroad - Mark Cavendish

What can you say? The Manx Missile has been winning stages and races all season so the Tour will be no different. Expect him to speak his mind, get in trouble and win. A lot.

Will probably be at Team Sky when the dust settles on the Tour. British super team.

Saxo Bank - Alberto Contador

Moved from Astana to Saxo Bank about 2 days after the Schlecks and crew left en mass. Not much strength in depth, but plenty of controversy. Should he even be here?.........hell no!

Astana - Alexandre Vinokourov

Back after his doping ban and in his last tour. Unrepentant and unlikely to do much, maybe a cheeky stage win. Close the door firmly behind you on your way out Vino.

BMC - Cadel Evans, George Hincapie

Cadel was the non attacking, quiet introverted Aussie. Then he won the Worlds, discovered how to attack and ride with a fractured elbow and thumb. Hats off to him. Hincapie is the old man of the Tour, still in fine form on his record 16th Tour. Potentially holds the keys to the Armstrong case, being the only credible team mate left!

Omego Pharma-Lotto - Philippe Gilbert

The Belgian Gilbert is the best cyclist in the world currently. True. He smashed all comers (including both Schleck brothers at the same time!) in the One Day Classics and can do no wrong. Belgian National Champion he is perfectly suited to the slightly lumpy first week stages.

Other Teams - AG2R, Cofidis, Europcar, Euskaltel, FDJ, Katusha, Lampre, Liquigas, Movistar, Quick Step, Rabobank, Radioshack, Vacansoleil.

Phew! An epically long blog post it maybe but it puts you in the picture of who is where and who to keep an eye on. Stage by stage updates will appear over the next few days so watch this space!!

Why Le Tour: part Deux

2010-11-23T13:40:00.004Z

OK it's taken me months to get around to writing this, I would like to say I have numerous good excuses but, aside from actually getting out on my bike and riding a bit, there's is only one excuse.
Demotivation.
And why demotivation?
The numerous headlines and scandals that seem to erupt around cycling every few months make it hard to enjoy writing about. When it's the Tour winner even more so.
Contador is no stranger to drugs controversy having been implicated, and subsequently cleared, in the Operation Puerto investigation.
The drug in question is called Clenbuterol, and anabolic steroid used to build muscle.
Contador claims it to have come from contaminated beef, brought in Spain by a friend.
The trace amount was indeed very minuscule, however it was present on one day and not the previous or next.
The suspicion is that Contador had a blood transfusion to get some fresh red blood cells into his body and recover quicker. The Clenbuterol would have been taken whenever the original sample was taken.

Either way, however it came to be there, it's another slap to the face of professional cycling, along with the ever snowballing Lance Armstrong investigation, and paints the sport in a bad light once again.

It remains to be seen what will occur from these investigations, will Contador be stripped of his Tour win? Will Armstrong be stripped of his?
The clouds on the horizon look very, very dark indeed. Lets hope there is some light to dissipate them.

Enough of the darkness lets return to happier times. 2009 Tour De France to be precise.
Having had a taste of the Tour on British soil a window of opportunity opened to go over and watch the Tour with my Brother in 2009. We had only a few days (due to his holiday allowance) and this would be our last clear opportunity for a few years (due to his impending engagement and subsequent wedding).

So with some meticulous planning by myself a plan was hatched to try to get as many stages in as possible.
We left England late on Wednesday 15th July, and caught the Eurostar to Calais.
From there we hammered our way down to Paris to stay with a friend over night.
Reaching Paris just gone midnight and driving down a still busy Champs Elysees was an interesting experience!
Having enjoyed a comfy bed and lay in, then a quick sight seeing walk, we departed Paris (I wussed out and went under the L'Arc De Triumph) and start our trek across to the Vosges Mountains, near the German border.

Bug Graveyard on the front of the Toledo. The faithful intercontinental express, hurled us across rural France at high speed, and even flicked its way through the narrow lanes with poise and precision.

Sole shot of Paris, busy and Touristy, not my favourite combination!

Eventually we got across to the place we were aiming for, Stage 12 Tonnerre > Vittel, Sprint point at a place called Saint-Thiebauld. Upon approaching the area we could see the helicopters running parallel to use so we hurtled through the lanes to get to the village.
Alas when we got there we were greeted by the sight of the final Team Cars going through and the Gendarmes re opening the road :(

D'oh!! Having missed our first stage, we sauntered across the rest of the 100 miles through rural eastern France to our campsite in a town called Bussang. Scenery had started to change as well, we were well and truly in the Vosges mountains :)
The town of Bussang was a very odd little place, with a main road running through it, there were two focal points, a Hospital and a Casino! Oddly enough it also appeared to be a graveyard for buses, irony is not lost on the French clearly! we lost count at about 30!
After booking into the campsite http://domaine-de-champe.fr/ with a lovely stream flowing through it, we had a quick ride out and then settled for the night, knowing we had a big day ahead of us...........and that's where I'll pick up next time!

Why Le Tour?

2010-07-31T23:17:00.015+01:00

Right it probably needs to be covered at some point, and, in fairness, it is a question I get asked frequently.
So why the Tour De France?

Well for years and years I have been a keen cyclist, mainly mountain biking with a bit of BMX thrown in. However several years ago the opportunity came up to do an unofficial London to Brighton bike ride to raise money for a church trip to South Africa. Around the same time my younger brother was beginning to get into road cycling, and was starting to watch the Giro D'Italia and Tour De France on Eurosport and where ever else it was on. So I started to get into it, watching the amazing mountain stages and was in awe of the sheer physical effort they put in.
So, as is my way, I went out the week before the London to Brighton ride and bought my self a brand new Carrera Virtuoso, with loads of other kit. It was a good couple of hundred pounds worth, made all that bit easier by the fact I sold it to myself in my capacity as a Halfords employee. Discount galore!!
I then bought an old racing bike off a colleague for about a fiver, did a tiny bit of work to it and sold it to my brother for £25 (OK, OK, that looks bad on the face of it but transportation, labour and other costs incurred made the profit margin very modest!)
So off we set on our epic ride, my only practice had been the 18 mile ride I did the night before (you live and learn!!).
What a ride! Very enjoyable ride with some good friends, it was organised brilliantly with a support van stopping every 15miles or so to give us refreshments, mechanical support etc and a couple of drivers monitoring our progress.
That was the bug biting.
From then on in it was a summer passion when the football season finished.

Then in 2007 it all changed, the Tour De France started in London!!

Tour De France Prologue, 2007, London.
So on Saturday 7th me, my mate Colin and his Dad and mates rode into central London from South East London to Hyde Park. When we got there we found massive crowds and we had to carry our bikes over a bridge in Parliament square to get to Hyde Park bike-park. But what a day!!
The weather was excellent, the atmosphere brilliant and the crowds massive!
This was my first ever live bike race and the buzz was electric. We couldn't get too close to get brilliant pics but managed a few:

Afterwards we rode back out of London having watched Fabian Cancellara power his way to another Prologue victory and Bradley Wiggins get a 4th place finish. Exciting stuff!!
I couldn't wait for tomorrow's stage from London to Canterbury!

Stage 1: London > Canterbury: Sunday 8th July 2007

The excitement!!! I loaded mine and my brothers bikes onto the back of my Seat and we set off to watch the first stage from a special place. We got there nice and early to get a good spot.
Now to most people the spot we we're stood at was insignificant but for me it was incredibly exciting and nerve-racking!
The route took them straight through the borough of Bexley, and more importantly straight along one of the roads which i am responsible for in my capacity as a highways technician!
So the Tour was on my roads!!
Now because I had only started my job that February, i was not massively involved with the pre maintenance meetings and subsequent repair work, however i did get to supervise some of it and help. Ultimately the race could have been ruined if we'd not sorted some bits, especially the severe speed table, junction of Heron Hill and Woolwich Road, Belvedere. Only a few weeks before the Tour came through the speed table gradient was eased to aid the riders and vehicles. Phew!
So to the stage, having witnessed the extraordinary spectacle that is the Tour De France Caravane, and its myriad of freebies dished out, we had the long wait till the riders came through.
The freebies include bottled water, key-rings, hats, pens etc and most importantly free packets of Haribo!

Then the team cars come through, taking the hump at 30-40mph, and watching the car almost take off was entertaining and mildly concerning..........
then the noise level rose, the Peleton must be approaching......
No its a solo rider on the first break away of the day....

Yes its David Millar!! Going for a British Victory on home soil!

In case your thinking I'm standing right in the road, the pavement extends out where I am and there are railings beside me. This enabled me to get some brilliant shots.
The surrounding fans were excited to find out that it was Millar as they were a bit clueless, and looked at me and my brother Jon funny when we jumped around excitedly!!
So now we are just waiting on the Peleton to come through, less than a minute later.
Again my position enabled me to get some good shots of the riders, picking out individuals quite by accident!

First photo is Team CSC chasing down Millar to protect Fabian Cancellara's Yellow Jersey
Red rider above is Geraint Thomas in his first Tour.

So after the Peleton had gone through and the one rider who'd dropped off the back had gone through with all the team cars we started to pack up and head back to the car. Excited and happy and it was barely the afternoon. But the story doesn't end there. Oh no.

So having loaded the bikes back on and headed home we made a few frantic phone calls and checked how far along the route they were. Could we catch them a second time?
By now it was mid afternoon and my friend Colin, whom I'd ridden into London with the day before, was around. Quickly jumping into my car I worked out where we might be able to catch the Tour going through again. The Stage route was in our favour as it was quite windy through the Kent countryside.
So with myself and my brother in the car along with Colin and his then fiancé (now wife) Hannah, I scythed through the country lanes racing to get to the Cote de Southborough a category 4 climb (130m above sea level).
The traffic was getting heavier and heavier as we approached the area so I took the decision to carry on on foot and parked the car on a steep bank by the side of the road (after turning it round so we were facing the right way to escape!).
Carrying on by foot we walked a mile or so with a large crowd of people till we reached the summit (!) of the Cote de Southborough. Within 5-10 minutes Millar popped over the hill with 2 others for company in the break away!
Cancellara and CSC still driving the Peleton on to close the gap. Eventually the stage was won by Robbie McEwan who managed to get back into the Peleton despite having a puncture in Fraser road, Erith!
David Millar moved within 21 seconds of the Yellow Jersey after picking up time bonuses out on the road.
After watching the riders all through we wandered back to the car admiring the view from the Cote De Southborough:

Thoroughly pleased with an exciting days cycling watching. When I returned home I turned on the highlights programme on ITV4 and watched the whole stage highlights, then watched the live part that I'd recorded on my digibox. Low and behold Millars break is on there and you can clearly see me in my Kona Team jersey by the railings. Fame at last! What an awesome highlight to an awesome day!
Even as I write this and go through the photos 3 years later, I have a massive grin on my face. Good times, good friends and good weather. Brilliant!

Unfortunately it would be another two years until I get to see the Tour up close again, but that's a story for another day.......

The beginning of the end.

2010-07-27T23:18:00.004+01:00

Sadly three eventful weeks of crashes, Cancellara, Cav, chain-gate, Contador and some cycling has to come to an end. So after failing to topple Contador at the top Schleck trails by 8 seconds going into the time trial.
Historically Contador is far stronger at this than Schleck, so the expectation is for him to extend his lead by anything up to a couple of minutes.

Stage 19: Individual Time Trial: Bordeaux > Pauillac: Saturday 24th

So going into the stage there are many things that could be decided by today's Time Trial.
The yellow Jersey:
If Contador has a bad day, a mechanical or crash then Schleck could steal the Yellow Jersey off him. Unlikely but stranger things have happened. Schleck is not a brilliant Time Trialist (despite being the Luxembourg Time Trial Champion!! Only he and his brother contest that each year im sure!) but has improved since last year where he lost lots of time. Has improved enough?
Third Place:
Yes it is an assumption that Sanchez or Menchov won't be 4 minute 40 seconds quicker than Schleck and steal second but it is unlikely he'll lose that much. So it comes down to a straight fight between Menchov and Sanchez with an outside chance that Van den Broeck will get in the mix a further 1 minute 30 seconds down.
Sanchez took a nasty fall on Thursday so it remains to be seen whether the 'Silent Assassin' can pick him off before Paris.
Lantern Rouge:
Bert Grabsch is 2 minutes off the penultimate place in this years Tour. A good time trial would enable him to lose the unwanted trophy. Wikipedia tells me he was the German National Time Trial Champion last year, and World Time Trial Champion the year before, hmmmmmmm
Green Jersey:
Unaffected by today's stage that will be decided on the road to Paris!
Team Jersey:
Radioshack are 8 minutes 30 seconds ahead of Caisse D'Epargne so unlikely to change the lead.
White Jersey:
Young rider jersey is held by Schleck (his last year in it at 25 years old). Gesink is 6 and a half minutes down on him, Schlecks for the taking this on.
As usual the Time Trial is run in reverse order, meaning Grabsch goes first. And prompty sets the fastest overall time (Duh!)
Today will be an opportunity for some pride to be salvaged (Team Sky I'm looking in your direction!) and for others to ease their way through to prepare for tomorrows sprint.
Grabsch time is beaten by Tony Martin, who held the top spot in the Prologue for most of the day.
He can be pleased that none of the 26 people above him were faster, and he has shed his Lantern Rouge position, he was 5 minutes quicker than the guy above him!
Tony Martin only holds onto the top spot for a few riders before Spartacus (Cancellara) beats it. He's not World Time Trial Champion for nothing you know!
Cancellara powers over the line in a fraction over 1 hr (stage distance was 52km so that's, erm, 52km/h then!) beating Tony Martin by 17seconds! By the way 52km/h is 31.2mph!! Awesome!!
As the rest of the riders cross the line Cancellara's time looks increasingly safe, especially since the conditions are deteriorating.

David Millar crosses the line 4 minutes 20 seconds over Cancellara's time, a good ride from the broken and bruised Garmin rider.
Geraint sets a blistering pace through the checkpoints 4th at the first, 5th at the second and eventually coming in 3 minutes and 33 seconds down on Cancellara. A very respectable time that puts him easily in the top ten currently. Winds beginning to pick up as well.
Wiggo's out of the start gate and making smooth progress, third fastest at the first check.
Second check shows he's slowed up a bit down to eight fastest.
Wiggo comes in and has crossed the line 5 seconds faster than Geraint! They lie 9th and 10th and with the wind picking up they are likely to stay there! Go Team Sky!
Manchov, Sanchez, Contador and Schleck are all out on the road chasing down the time gaps.
By the first check point Menchov has already overtaken Sanchez for third place, its looking a bad day in the saddle for Sanchez, his 21 second lead gone in just 18km. Poor Sammy.
Schleck approaches the first checkpoint, 23 minutes 10 seconds, 39 seconds slower than Menchov, but no ones bothered about that, they are looking for Contador..........
who crosses the 6 seconds SLOWER than Schleck
Yes 6 seconds slower
Contador now has a 2 second lead, Schleck is having the Time Trial of his life!!
Game On
Menchov thunders over the line 13 seconds slower than Geraint, a brilliant ride and 11th on today's stage has surely secured him 3rd place. He was so quick he over took Van den Broeck in the finishing straight. He started 3 minutes ahead of Menchov!!!!!
Sanchez wheezes over the 2m minutes slower than Menchov, he looks exhausted and gutted, so close yet so far.
Just Schleck and Contador left out there and Contador has had to put the hammer down. Schleck is pushing him all the way. Contador is beginning to panic a little and is showing the strain. Will he crack?
No. The next checkpoint has him up by 4 seconds on the day, giving him 12 seconds overall. Has Schleck set off too fast?
Schleck looks tired and like he has given it his all as he crosses the line in 1 hour 7 minutes and 10 seconds, 6 minutes 14 seconds slower than his team mate Cancellara.
Contador has done it!
He crosses the line in 1 hour 6 minutes and 39 seconds. He finishes up 39 seconds ahead of Schleck, 31 seconds gained on the stage.
39 seconds rings a bell though, where have I seen that before...................stage 15 per chance.
Incredibly Contador has won the Tour by the exact margin he gained back and over Schleck on the slopes of the Tourmalet on Stage 15 in the Chain-gate saga.
Seriously you couldn't write this stuff!
Amazing! In my book that makes Schleck the winner if you follow the logic that Contador shouldn't have attacked. Oh well I'm sure that debate will rumble on and on whilst Schleck has that rarest of things in cycling; the moral high ground!
For excitement today's stage has epitomised the Tour as a whole, twists and turns to the end. Can the final stage sprint offer the same excitement?

Stage 20: Longjumeau > Paris Champs-Elyesees: Sunday 25th

As is tradition, the stage starts with lots of photo opportunities, the Yellow Jersey's team with champagne, the Jerseys together, Team Jersey winners together etc.
Lance Armstrong seems to be in the spirit of things when his Team Radioshack come out wearing special black and yellow Livestrong Jerseys to celebrate their team win and Armstrongs Livestrong Cancer foundation. A noble cause to highlight the estimate 28 million cancer suffers worldwide.
Except the Commissaires don't see it that way. Orders are given to change back into their normal jerseys and the stage is delayed by 15 minutes as this happens.
Lance resists but eventually has to change, Lance 0 Commissaires 1
Once again the Commissaires use the opportunity to flex their muscle to show the Peleton who's boss, this time it's a cancer charity feeling the brunt. Well done you must be so proud our yourselves you blinkered, moronic imbeciles. That's one thing I've not enjoyed this year, but enough on that.
Quaffing of champagne and jersey swapping over the real business of hauling in the inevitable break and launching the sprinters gets under way.
Today's stage is the shortest in the Tour at 102km. Once over the line it will bring up a not insignificant 3642km over 3 weeks. That's 2185miles in 20 days (109 miles per day, the equivalent of London to Bournemouth everyday!!)
More Radioshack problems, the Commissaires (argh just go away already!!) aren't happy with their race numbers, they've had to stop to pin them on. Mean while the Peleton slows to allow them to catch up.
Schleck and Contador have a little lark around on the front with a pretend break away and then Schleck has a mechanical and has to swap bikes. Contador waits for him. Oh the irony!!
Anyway as per normal not a lot happens until they hit the cobbles and loops of the Champs-Elyesees
Finally some action! Into the first lap a mini break away goes off the front, 6 riders looking to spoil the sprinters party?
This one is soon reeled back in but another goes with 10 men in it. The mini breaks are eating up all the intermediate sprint points available meaning it will go down to the stage win to decide the Green Jersey!
The break get 25 seconds clear of the hard chasing Peleton, lead by Cav's HTC team, who also have one man tactically in the break.
3 laps to go and the gap is falling, it's going to be a sprinters day surely?
Yup with 6km to go on the final lap the whole field is together again.
Team Lampre are trying to get Petacchi to the front and Cervelo are moving Hushovd up but HTC are keeping control for now.
Its all going to come down to the last sequence of turns the quick left right. Get in a good position through them and you have the advantage. Team Sky have come to the front Geraint and Wiggo doing good pacey stints on the front for Boasson Hagen.
Going into the final corner each of the top riders has their lead out man ahead of them to slingshot them to the finish.
Hushovd goes followed by Petacchi, Cav starts to accelerate on the outside......
Cav pulls clear with 15m to go.

CAV WINS THE STAGE FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING!!!

Another emphatic victory for Cav!! The Manx Missile was unstoppable as he shot through from behind Hushovd and Petacchi. 5 stage wins this year and second place in the Green Jersey are a huge coup considering he had such bad form in the first week. With 15 stage wins in the Tour to his name he is easily going to get up there in the most ever stage wins top 10 if he carries on sprinting like he does! Unstoppable!!
The Manx Missile has had a really mixed Tour and still come away with 5 stage wins and almost got the Green Jersey. He's got to be happy with that, it's been emotional for him.
So to round it all up:
Team Astana's Alberto Contador takes the Yellow Jersey from Andy Schleck by 39 seconds.
Andy Schleck of Team Saxo Bank takes the White Young Riders Jersey.
Anthony Charteau takes the King of the Mountains Polkadot Jersey.
Alessandro Petacchi takes the Green Jersey.
Lance Armstrong's Radioshack Team take the Team Jersey.
Mark Cavendish takes the most individual stage wins with 5 this year.
Sylvain Chavanel rounds off a successful Tour for the French by taking the Combative Jersey for the most attacking rider.
Wow what a Tour it's been, full of excitement, controversy, thrills and spills, and thankfully thus far untainted by drugs speculation mid tour, although Armstrong and Petacchi have court summons to attend to........
Bring on next years Tour, I'm going who's up for joining me.........

Tension on Le Tourmalet.

2010-07-23T23:10:00.011+01:00

Previously mentioned a few posts back was the idea of a 'brown jersey' competition for the worst/unluckiest rider in the Tour. It was an idea from the women's Tour where it exists already, maillot malchance.
Well my older brother came up with some more ideas for jerseys, so i thought I'd share his ideas.....
.........and claim the credit!

Maillot Brun/Malchance: Given to the unluckiest rider
Nominations: Lance Armstrong/Robbie McEwan

Maillot roue de la fortune:
Best bike part related incident.
Nominations: Rui Costa (see earlier post)
Andy Schlecks chain for coming off and costing him the Tour.
Sylvain Chavanel for two bike swaps on the cobbles costing him the Yellow Jersey.

Maillot Plume: Best animal intervention:
Nominations: David Millar for crashing due to a dog
Team Astana for almost running down some sheep on Col du Tourmalet

Maillot Combattant: Most aggressive rider
Nominations:
Rui Costa for brandishing a wheel
Mark Renshaw for head-butting Julian Dean
Julian Dean for elbowing Renshaw

Other possible jersey's are the Maillot Richard Tete: jersey for the dumbest spectator incident (mainly relating to the incident mentioned below)
The Maillot Meconnu hero: the unsung hero jersey, I definately nominate Jens Voigt and Fabian Cancellara for this!

Anyway the Maillot Richard Tete holder is Robbie McEwan for this reason: (quote from Procycling site)

"Being in the gruppetto?" he asked rhetorically. "[On Stage 12 to Mende] I was with one other bloke – that's not a gruppetto. F***king alone every day, I've hardly been in the gruppetto. [Stage 12], it was me and Bert Grabsch for 120k, just two of us.

"I've had two bad crashes, lost a lot of blood in the first one because I severed a small artery – the UCI anti-doping people said they could see it in my blood profile that I'd lost a hell of a lot of blood. After that, I was given a tetanus vaccination at the hospital which I told them I didn't need; they slid it in there without me knowing, which gave me fever for four days, so I'm absolutely f***king terrible just as I started to feel better.

"That dickhead jumped out in front of me and ran into me after Stage 6 – that's when I hurt my back. Since then, it's just been suffering day after day, trying to make the time limit. When it's flat, I've been trying to sprint, but maybe sprinting at 70, 75 percent because my whole right side's blocked; my hip, my leg and my back are all black and blue. So it's been far from enjoyable."

As you will have read before I am a great advocate of the job these guys do day in day out. This year seems to have been especially tough for the Peleton.
Anyway onto stages 17 and 18

Stage 17: Pau > Col du Tourmalet: Thursday 22nd

You get the feeling that the organisers had planned it to all come down to the final mountain stage. As a fitting tribute to the centenary of the Pyrenees, Andy Schleck needed to make the most of the Col du Tourmalet ascent to get the yellow jersey back and put time into Contador.
However before that there was the small matter of the Col de Marie-Blanque, a 9.3km category 1 climb (7.6%) and the Col de Soulor and 11.9km climb at 7.8%, also category 1.
The stage ends at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet, a Hors category 18.6km slog @ 7.5%
So a tough day ahead for the Peleton, not a nice day for the remaining sprinters, who must surely be yearning for the flat stage tomorrow. A difficult day for those carrying injuries as well with a lot of rocking about on the bike on the mountain ascents.

The stage starts with a nice change in the weather, wet and cold, after days of sun and heat, this could be seen as welcome......unless you have to descend from 2 category climbs in it!
It remains to be seen whether Denis Menchov will be descending like an old lady on a shopping bike ala last year or whether he's improved and can stay up right. If his form so far is anything to go by he'll be fine. Definitely need to keep an eye on that battle between him and Sammy Sanchez for 3rd place.

On another note the King of the Mountains will be decided on today's stage, a straight fight between two Frenchmen, Christophe Moreau, the oldest man in the race at 39 (yes even older than Lance!!) and Anthony Charteau.

The early break is allowed to go and Team Sky have two riders in it!! Boasson Hagen and Flecha. Well done Team Sky so good airtime awaits IF it can stay away, which is unlikely.
Sammy Sanchez takes a big smash and looks to be out sparko! Could this hand Menchov 3rd place?
The Peleton slows to allow Sanchez to ride back (Contador take note, that's the way it's done), he appears to be winded but still functioning, just grimacing a lot.
Due to this the break away gets up to 9 and a half minutes on the Peleton.
By the summit of the Col de Soulor the break is beginning to get reeled in. Interestingly the King of the Mountains points only go to the first 8 riders so the break will eat them all leaving the standings as they were.
Astana are driving hard on the front, some mountain sheep scramble up and run across the road, almost catching the riders unaware. That could have been dangerous especially for Contador, seems his luck was in today.
The break away hits the slopes of the Tourmalet and Boasson Hagen is swift unhitched. He's done very well considering he's a sprinter by nature. Good tour for him thus far. The Peleton is reducing the gap down to 4 minutes as they ascend the mountain.
Schleck is driving the Peleton on using his Saxo Bank team mates to great effect. Cancellara is absolutely giving it everything, so much so that when he peels off the front he almost comes to a complete standstill on the road. LEGEND.
The Peleton has been decimated by the pace and is scattered over the mountain. Its now just the leading few riders for the last 11km of climbing.
Bang! Schleck gives a spurt of acceleration and Contador follows him, everyone else is blown away.
Just Schleck and Contador locked into a duel up the Tourmalet.
The last of the break away are caught by the leading duo. Schleck still upping and changing the pace as they climb through the clouds (literally).
Further down the slopes Sammy Sanchez has hauled is bruised and broken body up to Menchov with the help of some team mates. The battle for 3rd is alive again.
Schleck is continuing to ride varying tempo's as Contador dutifully follows him up the mountain. Schleck is staring at Contador and saying things to him, are mind games coming into play, is he goading him?
Contador attacks!
Obviously something Schleck said rattled him, Schlecks back on his wheel with a few seconds though and normal service resumes.
A tired looking Contador is holding onto Schlecks wheel whilst Schleck ups his pace again.
Schleck emerges from the mist and cloud to see the finish line. Contador doesn't really contest the stage win, and rightly so, he's done no work today.
A valiant effort by Schleck but Contador still holds an 8 second lead.
Sammy Sanchez comes in 5th and has managed to take another 8 seconds advantage over Menchov, magnificent riding considering he was horizontal early on. He increases his lead by 21 seconds over Menchov.
Menchov comes in along side team mate Gesink, with Radioshack's Chris Horner coming in just behind after an excellent ride to put him 10th in the GC. Nicholas Roche is also right up there, as is Van Den Broeck.
Even Armstrong has had a good day, coming in 17th just 4 minutes down on the two leaders.
The Brit's fair less well however.
Wiggo comes in 88th 23 minutes down and Geraint 114th 29 minutes down.
Cav comes in 165th near the back and David Millar dragged himself across the line second from last 32 minutes after the leaders. One rider pulled out early on in the stage so only 171 remain.
The King of the Mountains jersey was won by Charteau as neither of them scored any points today!
A calm sprinters stage tomorrow, we get to see just who's made it over the mountains and still has enough left to sprint!

Stage 18: Salies-de-Bearn > Bordeaux: Friday 23rd

The Tours most visited city also signals the end of the mountains and the beginning of the sprinters dual.
A flat stage with no hills and two sprint points, most likely to be taken by the inevitable break away.
The early break goes and only 4 riders are in it, no one particularly note worthy.
David Millar spoke to the press earlier, currently lying 161st out of 171 riders he's had a torrid Tour:
"It's horrific, I've hated it. It's been miserable. I just want to get to Paris. Once I get to Paris I'll enjoy it, but at the moment it's just been excruciating. I am in no physical shape for Saturday's time trial. I'll do it at 100% but there won't be a result, not a hope. Finishing here is the number one goal, in whatever state that is."
The break have a 3 minute lead and its staying around that.
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are out on the course today, not sure why, but the only thing interesting in the bulk of today's stage. No ones even crashed today!
50km to go and the TV cameras are on Cav who's in a jovial mood as he pretends to crack a whip at the Peleton to hurry them up. Guess who my moneys on for the stage win then!
Contador has had to change bike due to a mechanical, now why couldn't that happen in the time trial tomorrow?
Schleck has been to the doctors car for some treatment for, ahem, saddle sores! Ouch!
Reda of Quikstep abandons leaving 170 riders, from the 196 that started (one dropped out before the Prologue!) 26 couldn't take the pain!
Daniel Oss has broken off the front of the break, as the gap is rapidly reducing. The sprinters want this.
Wiggo is doing a stint on the front for Team Sky's Boasson Hagen. HTC, Lampre, Milram and Cervelo are all jostling around the front end ready for their respective sprinters to be led out.
Just inside the last 2km Oss is swallowed up by the Peleton, he'd been away for 176km of the days 198km, a cracking effort by the young rider.
Petacchi, Dean, Hushovd, Cav and Boasson Hagen are all around the front, not many team mates or lead out men left. How Cav must be missing Renshaw in a situation like this.
At 275m to go Pettachi bursts out of the pack swiftly followed by Cav.
Cav's power takes him past Pettachi, and past the other sprinters to take his 4th stage of the Tour and his 14th so far in his Tour career.
Victory for Cav!
Dean takes 2nd, Pettachi finishes 3rd ahead of McEwan in 4th and Boasson Hagen in 6th. Hushovd finishes a lowly 14th thus taking the Green Jersey competition down to the Champs-Elysees.
The rest roll in en-mass (139 riders including David Millar all get +0 seconds)
Wiggo and Oss roll in a minute late after expending their energy earlier and Jesus Hernandez rounds the bunch off 6 minutes later.

So just the time trial to come and then the roll into Paris and there's still all to play for in the Green Jersey, Team competition, GC and battle for the podium.
Final words from stage winner Cav
"I wasn’t sure if I was going to even start the stage. I’ve been sick the last four days with bronchitis – actually, there are a hell of a lot of guys in the peloton with the same thing so I’m not only one. But I finally had the fever yesterday and I was dead last night and never thought I could start today. We decided, ‘Oh, okay I’ll go. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t…’ Even during the stage, I was speaking with Brad [Wiggins] and he said, ‘Are you sprinting today?’ And I told him, ‘Yeah.’"
"when I saw Pettachi go, I thought b****cks I've left it too late again"

The time trial awaits and all will change, trust me!!

Chains, chances and cowardice.

2010-07-21T17:46:00.005+01:00

Today is the final rest day so it's time to recap the previous two stages and look forward to the final few days of the 2010 Tour.

Stage 15: Pamiers > Bagneres-de-Luchon: Monday 19th

When you look at a profile of this stage you begin to wonder if doing the Pyrenees towards the end of the Tour was designed to inflict as much suffering on the tired riders as possible. Yet this stages is easier than tomorrows on paper.
A leisurely category 4 climb 30km then a sprint point get the riders off to an easy start. Then come two of the legendary Pyrenean climbs, Col de Portet-d'Aspet (Category 2, 5.8km@6.8%) then a descent to base of the Col des Ares (again a category 2, 6.1km@4.7%). This is followed by a sprint point (as if a sprinter will be out front by then!!) and finally the formidable 1755m high Port de Bales followed by a rapid descent to the finish.
Any time gained on the final climb, which incidentally is Hors Category (toughest 19.3km@6.1%), will almost certainly be kept to the finish (barring crashes etc)
The usual break away attempts are reeled in before they get too far, even Contador and Astana make a cheeky attempt but Saxo Bank reel them in before the first climb.
Amongst the first over the smaller climb are Hushovd and Petacchi, both battling hard over the sprinters Green jersey and after the maximum points at the fast approaching sprint point.
Ironically enough they mop up the King of the Mountains points by being first over, not that they have many to add to.
At the sprint point Petacchi and Hushovd aren't up the front, instead Pineau, King of the Mountains contender takes some points, in a bizarre reversal of competitions. Maybe he was a bit miffed at them taking points in the climb earlier!
Final a break away succeeds and pulls out 1minute 50 on the Peleton. No GC contenders in there, only name of note is Thomas Voeckler, French Champion and previous yellow Jersey wearer in 2004 for 9 stages!
They continue to put time into the Peleton, 7minutes 15seconds up by the summit of the Col de Portet-d'Aspet, and 11minutes by the early slopes of the Port de Bales.
Saxo Bank, with Astana in close attendance, put the hammer down on the lower slopes as the gap to the break starts tumbling.
As the break hit the 10% gradient section Voeckler kicks and surges away. He holds a six minute gap to the Peleton at the summit, the win is as good as his now.
Further down the slopes Schleck takes the chase and Contador, Menchov and Sanchez follow. The group are taking it in turns and working well to reel in the escapees.
Schleck is sitting behind Contador in the midst of the group when Contador looks over his left shoulder and Schleck blasts past him on his right, catching him out completely.
Immediately gaining several metres on the pack only one person follows the acceleration, its and Astana rider but it's Vino not Contador. Yes he's got the gap!

Crunch, back wheel hops up in the air.

The sheer force of the attack has caused Schleck's chain to jump off. Contador seizes the opportunity and Menchov and Sanchez join him in accelerating past the unfortunate Schleck.
It takes to attempts to put the chain on properly and once again Schleck is on his way, adrenalin coursing through his body, anger stoking the fire of injustice deep in side.
Contador, Sanchez and Menchov are really putting the hammer down. They get up to 30 seconds ahead of Schleck.
Meanwhile Schleck is riding like a man possessed, scything through the riders who passed him, Armstrong is left looking very pedestrian as Schleck sprints past him and the rest of that group.
Schleck begins his descent, dropping like a stone down the mountain, overtaking motorbikes and anything in his wake. Gaining 10 seconds on the group ahead, it looks like he might breach the gap but the group ahead are taking turns to work and the gap begins to stretch.
Schleck is descending without help chasing the group and ultimately begins to slow his pace.
By the time he crosses the line he's lost 39 seconds to Contador, the Yellow Jersey is now Contadors by 8 seconds.
Contador steps up to the podium to collect his Yellow Jersey to a deafening chorus of boos.
Schleck passes him on his way up to receive the White Jersey and whispers something in Contadors ear.
And there is the origins of what became known as 'Chaingate'
So what's the big deal?
There is an unwritten rule in the Tour that you don't attack the respected Yellow jersey position if they have had a mechanical incident, puncture or crashed.
If you look back to the reign of Lance Armstrong, this was shown with him waiting for his arch rival Jan Ullrich when he'd crashed over some barriers on a descent. The favour was returned by Ullrich the following year after Armstrong went down having caught his handlebars on a fans bag.
Its a question of respect, sportsmanship, and decency.
You are not expected to stop dead merely to not take advantage of the Yellow Jersey's misfortune.
Contador broke that rule, smashed it to pieces.
He then had the audacity to claim he didn't see Schlecks problem. Video replays show him watching Schleck intently, as he has done for days, he knew exactly what he was doing.
His lies only further isolated him from the public, and Schleck, forcing him to issue a hasty apology over YouTube. The tainted Yellow Jersey now in the hands of a rider feeling a little bit guilty and embarrassed having been 'forced' by his team to apologise as a PR damage limitation exercise.
Schleck has the moral high ground, is a likeable racer and a genuine guy from what I've read.
Contador is equally as genuine but has a ruthless streak, is a competitive racer and the best in the world. He knew that he was suffering when Schleck attacked and he knew he needed as much time as he could get to stay ahead.
For me Schleck is riding better than Contador, and Contador chose the cowards way to the top, kicking a man while he's down.
Whether Schleck can put enough time into Contador to get the Yellow Jersey and keep it to Paris is debatable but I am routing for him all the way. At least it will prove there is a sense of justice in sport. Maybe.
The whole incident has split the Peleton and many view it from the other perspective as that's just the way it is. The sport of cycling has enough of a battle to win over the public after years of drugs and doping controversies, sticking to the traditions and unwritten rules bring it an air of decency and gentlemanly conduct. To lose that would tarnish the sport in my opinion.
Anyway tomorrow is another day and another mountain......

Stage 16: Bagneres-de-Luchon > Pau: Tuesday 20th

Today's stage sees the Peleton ascend immediately up a category 1 climb, the Col de Peyresourde (11km@7.4%) the descending into the valley and straight up the Col d'Aspin, another category one (12.3km@6.3%).
They descend down the other side to the foot of the Col de Tourmalet, starting the 17.1km Hors category climb (7.3%) up to the Jacques Goddet memorial at the summit.
At 2115m above sea level it's the highest point on the Tour and they are due to finish at the top on Thursday stage. Goddet was the Tour director for many years and set up the famous French sports paper L'equipe.
Then its a rapid and technical descent to the start of the Col d'Aubisque a punishing Hors category climb of 29.2km (4.2%) but with false descents and technical sections.
Finally its a rapid 62km descent down to Pau, 210m above sea level.
Yesterday saw a Team BMC rider withdraw halfway through the stage and today saw a Rabobank rider and
Team Footon-Servetto's leader Iban Mayoz withdraw. The rider fractured 3 ribs in a heavy fall yesterday, was already suffering slight pneumonia and a haematoma to the skin covering his right kidney.
Possibly the unluckiest team, they lost one of their quicker riders in a nasty crash in the Prologue in Rotterdam, another to a crash on the descent of Morzine, and another suffering from strong bronchitis.
Who said professional sports men weren't tough!!
Anyway onto the stage:
Wiggo, Armstrong, Sastre and Vino get into an early break up the first climb and pull out half a minute on the Peleton, extending to a shade over a minute by the first descent.
Jens Voigt has a nasty looking crash on the descent, could be a Tour ender that one!
The Peleton, with Team Astan on the front, begin to reel in the break away by upping their pace.
The results of this leave a string of riders all over the Col d'Aspin. its going to be a very long day for some riders.
At the foot of the Col de Tourmalet Armstrong and Casar are the only two riders clear, everyone else having been swallowed up by the hard charging Peleton.
Several other riders bridge the gap from Peleton to break away Cunego, Fedrigo and Moreau amongst others.
After descending the Col de Tourmalet the break away are up to 7 minutes ahead of the quiet and calm Yellow Jersey group.
Moreau picks up some valuable King of the Mountains points, taking the competition down to the final climb of the Col de Tourmalet tomorrow. Could the oldest man in the tour,at 39, take the King of the Mountains Jersey at the last minute?
As they descend towards the finish in Pau, Barredo, involved in a fight early in the tour, breaks and goes for the solo win from 42km out. Slowly he extends his lead then sees it reduced quickly and is caught with 1km to go.
Its going to be down to a good old fashioned sprint between the escapees after all that. Has Armstrong got the energy or will Cunego steal the stage win?
Armstrong kicks late but has nothing left and Fedrigo takes the stage win ahead of Casar with Armstrong in 6th.
6 minutes and 45 seconds later the Yellow Jersey group rolls in, Wiggins and Geraint amongst them.
The majority of riders roll in en-mass 34 minutes and 48 seconds later with the last rider officially being Britain's Jeremy Hunt 172nd
So an uneventful stage for the Yellow Jersey and GC contenders, Armstrong denied his swansong and a well deserved restday tomorrow (well today in real time) for the riders.
So lets see where the Brit's are
Wiggo: 21st: +17 minutes, 44 seconds
Geraint: 60th: +1 hour, 33 minutes, 12 seconds
the remainder are all over 3 hours down,
Steve Cummings: 152nd
Cav: 154th
Millar: 159th
Daniel Lloyd: 163rd
Jeremy Hunt: 165th
The Lantern Rouge is Bert Grabsch 4 hours down (give or take 5 minutes or so).
Unseen on the TV footage and commentary Jens Voigt had a nasty accident on the first descent of the day, as one of my favourite riders and a real character I thought I'd include his thoughts on it....
”I'm doing 70km an hour on the first descent when my front tire explodes. Before I hit the asphalt I actually manage to think that this is going to hurt. Both knees, elbows, hands, shoulders and the entire left side of my body were severely hurt. My ribs are hurting but hey, broken ribs are overrated anyway. Fortunately, I didn't land on my face this time and I'm still alive. I was however offered a ride on the truck that picks up abandoned riders but I'm not going to quit another Tour de France. Now, there's a rest day and Paris is not that far away,”

These guys are real men, hero's. This has been one of the toughest Tours in recent memory and yet they ride on with all manner of injuries. Nutters!

Every second counts........maybe

2010-07-18T23:43:00.010+01:00

Having left the pain that was the Alps behind them, the riders transition across to the Pyrenees in the last few days of week 2.
So far by the end of stage 14 today, the riders have been in the saddle for a minimum of 68 hours, covered 2728.4km (1695.4miles!!) and ascended to heights over 2000m above sea level.
The distance is the equivalent of cycling from London to Bucharest, the Romanian capital!
That's quite some achievement in my opinion!

Stage 12: Bourge-de-Peage > Mende: Friday 16th

A nice mixed stage with some category 3 climbs, some category 2 climbs, some sprint points, finishing in a short 3.1km category 2 climb with a gradient of nearly 10% in places.
Early breaks are reeled in quickly and young Geraint Thomas hits the deck but dusts himself off and carries on.
A break of 18 riders goes clear, none particularly significant to the lead, with the exception of Vinokourov, Astana team mate of Contador and ex-doper.
As they hit the final climb the bunch are more or less all togother, with Vino and one or two others out front still.
Halfway up the climb Contador catches Schleck napping and accelerates up the steepest section chasing Rodriges who broke away. Pulling away from him he takes on Rodriges in the sprint to the finish overtaking Vino but ultimately losing the stage to Rodriges.
Schleck comes in 10seconds later, meaning Contador has trimmed his lead down to just 31seconds.
Also amongst the Schleck group were Menchov, Sanchez and Gesink all in the top 10 in the GC
Wiggo comes across the line in 14th in the next bunch losing 31seconds on the stage winner.
Geraint comes in 5minutes after Wiggo and Cav and Millar come in together over 12minutes after the leaders.
Not a good day for Schleck, Team Sky, or the Brits.
Ironically enough the Garmin sprinter Tyler Farrar, who was involved in the incident that got Mark Renshaw expelled, retires from the race through injury picked up early on. He broke his wrist on stage 2 or 3!!
Sami Domoulin failed to even start the stage withdrawing citing fatigue after the previous days stage.
Tomorrow is a bit of an easier day with nothing more testing than a couple of category 3 climbs, dare i say it a sprint finish for Cav?

Stage 13: Rodez > Revel: Saturday 17th

Next year I think they should introduce a jersey for the unluckiest rider (as they have in the womens Tour, the Malchance jersey). Maybe make it brown (like the AG2R Mondial teams shorts)
Anyway this years runaway winner would be Lance Armstrong, strengthening his hold on the jersey by crashing in the neutral zone today.
The 'neutral zone' is as it sounds, the zone from the start town out to the wider roads where racing is prohibited by virtue of them having to follow the referees car.
Unlucky Lance!!!
Anyway onto today's stage the breaks come and go as is the norm.
With 8km to go a group splinters off the front with a minimal lead. In there is yesterdays escapee, Vinokourov, and Nicholas Roche sport the beautiful team colours above. The Peleton is closing them down at pace with the sprinters teams on the front.
Cav's HTC team are doing the lion's share of the work with Lampre assisting along with Milram.
Vino breaks off from his fellow escapees and powers to a resounding victory, hopefully not drug fuelled this year!!
The Peleton is winding up for the bunch sprint and Cav takes a useful 2nd place ahead of Petacchi and Boasson Hagen. If you take Vino out of the frame that's a remarkably similar top three to previous sprint stages.
The Brits Geraint and Wiggo roll home in the Peleton and the others filter in later, having done their relative domestique duties.
Only one withdrawal on the stage from the Cofidis rider Taaramae. 175 riders remain for tomorrows stage.

Stage 14: Revel > Ax 3 Domaines: Sunday 18th
Welcome to the Pyrenees!
Todays stage starts slowly and ambles along nicely with sprinters points up for grabs early on.
From the second sprint point 102km in the road slopes gently upwards, building up to the uncategorised (very very steep) ascent up the Port de Pailheres.
Now in terms of steepness its a 30km climb from 400m up to the summit 2001m an ascent of 1600m!!
Savage is an understatement!
From the off a break goes away and is reduced from 12 to 5 riders, including Geraint. They get up to 4minutes over the 'Peleton', rising to over 10minutes once Radioshack slow the chase.
Why, well its all about the team competition, Radioshack lead but their closest rivals had a man in the break so were chasing it till he dropped off......
As they approach the climb the break is being reeled in by Team Astana, a 5minute gap won't be enough to see the break survive.
Halfway up the climb Geraint slips off the back of the breakaway, won't be long before the pack swallows him up. Noble effort Geraint, some Sky coverage at last!
Mean while the soldier that is David Millar slips off the back of the Peleton. Hang in David, you can do it!
Schleck takes the unusual step of returning to the team car to collect food and water, an odd move by the Yellow Jersey rider, one can only assume he is going back for some advice......
Christophe Riblon has moved clear of the break away group, as they approach the summit.
Wiggo gets dropped before the 'Peleton', what's left of it, reaches the summit and then descends like a man possessed to get back in touch.
Riblon hits the final climb, having dropped his one remaining rival, and has a gap of 2 and a half minutes.
Previous winner Carlos Sastre has broken from the Peleton to try and bridge to the leader Riblon. Gaps are appearing everywhere.
Vino then tries to bridge to the Sastre group and Gesink gets dropped off the Peleton as a result.
The battle for the 3rd place is hotting up with Samuel Sanchez and Denis Menchov matching each other's accelerations. Jurgen van den Broek is still in the mix as well.
Attack by Contador! As Vino slips back into the group Contador strikes out with a fierce acceleration, matched by Schleck all the way. The catch and pass Sastre like he's on the brakes!
Menchov and Sanchez accelerate and catch the sparring duo of Contador and Schleck.
Attack by Contador again matched by Schleck. Menchov and Sanchez yet again catch up in their own personal duel.
Schleck is almost at a standstill waiting for Contador to make a move. Virtually in a track stand position (balancing so as not to put a foot down but virtually static) they eyeball each other before Contador attacks and Schleck once again sits on his rear wheel.
Amazing stuff, by now the 'Peleton' of leading riders has overtaken them whilst they mess around.
These two just breeze past them all again, effortlessly and almost mockingly.
Menchov mean while has made a break for it at the front, pursued by Sanchez who is reeling him in slowly.
Riblon crosses the line for a brilliant solo win. He broke away very early in today's stage so a gigantic effort and brilliant stage victory for him and France.
Menchov and Sanchez cross the line together, gaining themselves 14seconds back on Contador and Schleck.
3rd place will have to be decided elsewhere, definitely a battle to watch though.
Menchov has been more aggressive than I've seen him at previous Tours, maybe the Silent Assassin (as he is known) has found his voice? About time after falling off a lot last year. That job is Armstrong's now. As a previous Giro d'Italia winner he's promised much but delivered little in previous Tour's.
Schleck and Contador finish in the same group with Schleck out sprinting them to the line. Trying to gain seconds or merely to show that there was plenty left in his legs?
Wiggo comes in with one other rider, 5minutes down. Its been a tough old day out there for the Brits. Geraint comes in with the bulk of the field, 15minutes after Riblon, and Millar comes in fractionally in front of the 'Autobus' (that's the group with all the sprinters and non mountain people. It chugs along at a slow pace and is always a large group. Safety in numbers). All the other Brits finish safely in the group Autobus 37minutes down on the day.

Port de Pailheres

So after all that the top two remain the same, 3rd and 4th remain the same but clawed back some time.
Wiggo drops to 18th place, Geraint is in 58th place and the Lantern Rouge is Anthony Roux.
More mountains tomorrow and the next day..........and the next day!
In fact they are due to climb the slopes of The Tourmalet mountain twice in successive stages, but that is for later.......

Aint no mountain high enough.....

2010-07-15T23:00:00.003+01:00

So here we are the first real Alpine stage and the hardest to boot. With it being the centenary of the race going to the Pyrenees the mountain stages are favoured towards that them rather than the Alps. However this is still a formidable place to ride. Hopefully the riders will have taken advantage of the rest day and be ready for high tempo, high drama mountain climbing!
The rest day claimed several riders who spent the day assessing their injuries and deciding to slip out whilst they could. 5 failed to start Tuesday's stage:
Vladimir Karpets withdrew after cycling the last 6 stages with a broken hand. He said it was getting harder to grip the handlebars as the roads got steeper!
Roger Kluge of Milram is out with a broken hand as well, sustained in a crash on Sunday.
Simon Gerrans on Team Sky also pulled out after breaking his arm in a crash on Sunday, 7km into the stage. He then rode the remaining 182km up the mountains with said broken arm!
Tough guys these pro cyclists!!

Stage 9: Morzine-Avoriaz > Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: Tuesday 13th
Stage 9 sees the riders do battle on the slopes Col de la Madeleine the hardest climb in the Alps this year. To give you an idea of just how brutal it is the riders have to ascend 1600m up in 25km to and altitude of 2000m above sea level.
The early break away was reduced down to 5 riders and by the time they reached the Col de la Madeleine they had a 5 minute advantage over the ever stretching Peleton.
With 40km to go Armstrong gets dropped and one by one the GC contenders get left behind. Novarro of Astana sets a quick pace and only his team mate Contador and Andy Schleck can match it.
Andy Schleck is in fine form sending wave after wave of attack at Contador. Samuel Sanchez makes the junction to them only to be dropped with another Schleck attack. Then it happens again, poor Sanchez is just tapping out a rhythm whilst Contador and Schleck mess around ahead of him.
With the break away extending their lead over the Yellow Jersey to nearly 8minutes they start the 30km descent. Contador and Schleck agree to work together and set off down the mountain at speed.
Sanchez is the solo chaser, pedalling furiously to try to catch Schleck and Contador.
Armstrong and Basso cross the summit and begin descending, no sign of Cadel Evans yet or any of Team Sky.
With 3km to go the break away is nearly 9minutes and 30seconds ahead of the Yellow Jersey.
They group of 4 (Moreau dropped off) as it is now begin to size each other up for the upcoming sprint.
Ahead of them are a few corners then the last corner before the line.
Unbeknownst to them Schleck, Contador and Moreau are closing in at a rate of knots.
Coming into the penultimate corner Schleck dives up the inside much to the other riders surprise.
Alas the break away riders out sprint Schleck and Contador, with Sandy Casar taking the win ahead of Luis Leon Sanchez and Damiano Cunego. Samuel Sanchez threw his all into chasing Contador and Schleck but is paying the price. The poor lad looks exhuasted as he cruises over the line solo 52seconds behind.
Armstrong and Basso cross the line 2mintues and 47seconds after Casar, and Wiggo 5minutes
The Yellow Jersey of Cadel Evans crosses the line 8minutes down. Exhausted and emotional the weight of the Yellow Jersey was borne heavily by Evans who relinquishes to Andy Schleck.

In last place was Britains David Millar, 42minutes down having been out on the road for 6hours and 20minutes.
The reason why was revealed later, riding with ripped intercostal muscles round his ribs, his body was over compensating and the left side of his back was causing him pain, in turn over stretching his left thigh. So with the whole of his left side severely weakened he hit the Col de la Madeleine, the scene of his only retirement from the Tour in 2001. Already 30minutes down before the 25km climb and with 80km remaining, Millar found a second wind and dragged himself up the climb and hurled his broken body down the descent to finish the stage, remarkable given his condition and the fact he'd been riding solo for nearly 6 hours.

Stage 10: Chambery > Gap: Wednesday 14th
Happy Bastille Day everyone! Despite the usual plethora of French riders breaking away to gain vicotry on their most famous of days, this stage was last claimed by the froggies back in 1995! Will their luck be into today?
Standing in their way will be 3 big climbs, the toughest of which is a category 1 Col de Leffray a 7km with a 9% gradient.
After several failed attempts a four man break goes clear, joined a bit later by two more riders as they approach the Category 1 climb. With a 14minute lead over the Peleton in places the break away seems certain to stay away today.
With the spectacular final descent under their belts the escapees begin to attack each other. Sergio Paulinho of Radioshack claims the satge win by the width of a wheel rim from Vasil Kiryienka.
The peleton cruised in 14 minutes behind with the exception of Nicholas Roche. The Irish rider made a jump with a couple of km to go and pulled out nearly a minute on the Peleton, enabling him to leapfrog a few riders including Wiggo, and claim 15 place in the GC. Shrewd riding indeed.
David Millar finished at the back of the Peleton, happy to have an easier day than yesterday!

Stage 11: Sisteron > Bourg-les-Valence: Thursday 15th
Robbie Hunter withdraws from the race before the stage start, after breaking a bone in his elbow after a fall yesterday.
The first Brit to leave the Tour this year is Charlie Wegelius, after coming down with a stomach bug and unable to keep any food or drink in he has been withdrawn.
Now safely out of the Alps, this stage had sprinters written all over it.
Come to think of it every stage has sprinters and riders written all over it:
Still you know what I mean.
As per usual the early break went away but there was no chance the sprinters teams would let them stay out all day.
Saxo Bank have the Peleton stretched out as the crosswinds and headwinds wreak havoc. Jens Voigt and Fabian Cancellara once again doing the lions share of the work to keep Andy Schleck safe up front.
With 20km to go the Peleton haul in the remaining two from the early break and normal sprinting service is resumed as HTC head the pack.
With a few hundred metres to go Mark Renshaw is leading Cav out perfectly with Garmin coming up on the outside. Julian Dean the lead out rider for Tyler Farrar of Garmin shifts his weight towards Renshaw who responds by thrusting his head towards Dean. Four times this happens as Dean visibly leans on Renshaw and changes line, then they realise their respective riders.
Cav powers to a comfortable victory, his 3rd stage of this years Tour and his 13th Tour stage in total.
Behind him Renshaw sees Farrar coming up and shifts to block him and slow him, cynical and deliberate, no doubt seeking revenge for Dean's interference a moment before.
And thus the furore began.
The commissars decided that Renshaws actions were unacceptable and he was declassified from the results immediately, then they decided to expel him from the Tour entirely.
To quote the chief commissar moron, Jean-Francois Peschuex
"We've only seen the pictures once, but his actions are plain for all to see. This is a bike race, not a gladiator's arena."
Now don't get me wrong, Renshaw was out of order for blocking Farrar and that deserved a fine or declassification. But to throw him out, incidentally the first rider in 13years to be thrown out, for his reaction to a dangerous move by Dean, is a massive over reaction.
Its no secret that the comissaires don't like Cav, that was evident enough last year when he was penalised for shutting out Hushovd when it was the course that narrowed and Cav stayed on line. His declassification from the stage cost him the Green Jersey and it looks like the ruling today may well do the same.
The power tripping commissars obviously watched the replay on a fuzzy hand held TV somewhere because they seemed to have missed the infringement by Dean and run out of batteries to watch it a second time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L8VLgLX7AM

It remains to be seen what impact it has on Cav's Tour.
Tomorrow its a bit of a curve ball, normally an easier day between the Alps and Pyrenees, its set to be a tough one with numerous climbs scattered through the day. Maybe sees some major losses by the already suffering GC contenders who aren't called Schleck or Contador. Maybe the commissars will step in and go on a power trip again? Who knows?

Up, up, up and away.....

2010-07-13T09:10:00.010+01:00

So yesterday was our first rest day in this years Tour, and a chance to reflect on the previous two stages in the mountains, especially stage 8.

Before I get onto the excitement of stages 7 and 8 a small addition to stage 6.
Unbeknownst to me, partly because I basking in the glory of another Cav win, was the fight that occurred after the main bunch crossed the line. It would appear that some where in the depths of the stage Spanish rider Carlos Barredo and Portuguese rider Rui Costa had a coming together, difference of opinion or perhaps it was the Spanish rider pointing out his countries superiority in the World Cup. Either way it resulted in a ruckus that wouldn't have been out of place in a WWF ring (yes I am aware it's WWE these days but I'm old school....)
Costa, in the blue corner, was clearly so aggrieved he took his front wheel out and attempted to fix it onto Barredo's head. Unsurprisingly after cycling for 227.5km he didn't manage to muster much strength and Barredo hit back with a left right combo and a mêlée ensued.
The Tour often throws up beautiful photos taken in the right place at the right time. This brawl proves that:

Stage 7: Tournus > Station des Rousses: Saturday 10th
The usual break away strikes out after a few km, with King of the Mountains, Jerome Pineau, out for maximum points over the days hills. Surprisingly most riders managed to stay upright and the main excitement was to be found in the yellow jersey, Fabian Cancellara, yo-yoing on and off the back of the Peleton. With several category 2 climbs on the route its no surprise to see him lose touch and find his yellow jersey threatened. With this knowledge Sylvain Chavanel, whom Cancellara reclaimed the yellow jersey from days earlier, set off from the front of the Peleton in search of the early break away members.
And he found them.
And overtook them all.
In a truely sensational ride he rode his way back into the yellow jersey he'd so cruelly lost on the cobbles.
A ride made all the more impressive when you consider he spent two weeks of April in a coma after fracturing his skull on the cobbles of the Paris-Roubaix race. Thats April THIS YEAR in case you were wondering!! I doubt even Cancellara is begrudging him his moment of glory.
As for the plucky Brit? Unfortunately young Geraint Thomas had a bad day on the hills and came in on his own at over 5minutes behind Chavanel.
Wiggo faired better and came in with the other GC contenders 1minute 47seconds behind Chavanel.
With Cancellara and Geraint suffering today, Cadel Evans moved up into second place. A genuine GC contender he only needs a minute and a half over Chavanel to claim the yellow jersey.
As we continue to head upwards stage 8 sees the true Alps come into play.
Two snippets for you to end on, they climbed nearly 1000ft today, and Stijn Vandenbergh is the first to be eliminated for being outside the time limit!

Stage 8: Station des Rousses > Morzine-Avoriaz: Sunday 11th
With a rest day fast approaching, stage 8 gives the riders an chance to give it all in the knowledge that they can rest and recuperate for longer. In theory.
In practice it was business as usual, with a slow speed crash disrupting the Peleton in the early km's. The King of the Mountains, Jerome Pineau was effected, as was Lance Armstrong, and Cadel Evans although not seriously.
Then Armstrong hit trouble at the exit from a roundabout and once again was on the deck.
I'm beginning to wonder if he's going to get a job as a Highways inspector after his retirement, such is his tendency to inspect the roads up closely, my job is not safe!!
Anyhow his team picked him up and paced him back to the Peleton, just in time for the category 1 Col de la Ramaz.
Only for him to be involved in yet another crash that forced him to stop and get off briefly.
Once in a stage is unfortunate, twice is unlucky, three times is a hint! One has to feel sorry for him though, whatever your views on the man, none of these were his fault and its a sad way to lose time in the Tour.
So with the finish at the top of the category 1 Morzine 1796m above sea level the main contenders start the gruelling 14km ascent together (800m altitude gain).
Wiggo manages to hold on to the pack until 3.6km to go but gets unhitched and is left to fight his way up the mountain solo.
With 1km to go the attacks started to come but the real one of note came at 700m to go.
Andy Schleck burst out from the middle of the group and accelerated up the road. Contador tried desperately to stay with him but couldn't and it was left to Samuel Sanchez, the Olympic Champion to challenge Andy for the win. After some trading of places Andy managed to time his burst to perfection and claim the stage win and put time into Evans, Contador and other GC contenders.
Chavanel suffered on the mountains and enabled Cadel Evans to claim the yellow jersey.
With a tough mountain stage out of the way, the Brits did not fair very well.
Wiggo dropped 1minute 45seconds on Andy Schleck, putting him 2minutes 45seconds behind the yellow jersey of Cadel Evans.
Geraint Thomas had a torrid day in the mountains, coming in 27minutes and 49seconds after Schleck, putting him down to 69th, 30minutes and 51seconds off the yellow jersey he was so close to a few days previously.
An honourable mention to Charlie Wegelius, who came in 6minutes 30seconds down on the leader, well ahead of Armstrong and lies 83rd currently.
David Millar has not enjoyed the mountains and subsequently lies in 117th nearly an hour down on the yellow jersey. All the Brits are still in the race though.
No retirements today and no one eliminated either.
181 riders go into the well deserved rest day.
Its been an exciting first 8 stages, no doubt stage 9 in the Alps will provide some drama then it's up to the Pyrenees to change the race!

Tarmac, Tears and Triumphs....

2010-07-10T01:44:00.000+01:00

So as promised some thoughts on the 6 stages and prologue.

Prologue: Rotterdam: Saturday 3rd
The prologue is usually the stomping ground of powerful consistent riders and especially track cyclists. Wiggins has previously been very good at this, however he struggled this year. This is primarily due to two reasons:
1) the weather: in the few days before the prologue, rain was predicted late in the day, thus Wiggo opted to go out early on. However the rain came early and scuppered any advantage. In fact it dried up towards the end and gave the later riders, traditionally those in the top placings the year before, an advantage.
2) priorities: in previous years Wiggo's priorities have been to win the Prologue and similar Time Trials later on. After last years surprising 4 place, Wiggo has emerged as a potential GC contender. This means that his focus is less concentrated on the Prologue and more on the whole Tour.

Aside from this there were strong showings David Millar and Geraint Thomas (3rd and 5th respectively)
It was won by the awesome powerhouse that is Fabian Cancellara. Cancellara is on course to been the longest yellow jersey holder not to win the tour. The list of his past victories however is immense, Prologue victories abound as do victories in the one day classic races.

Stage 1: Rotterdam > Brussells: Sunday 4th
A flat stage comprising of a lot of coastal roads on the dykes of Holland, suited to sprinters or maybe a break away, but cross winds could complicate things.
In the end it was a dog running into the Peleton (honestly it's one thing to bring your dog to watch the race another to have it off it's lead, idiots!) that started the days chain of events off.
Ivan Basso and David Millar the biggest named riders affected.
Then on the final right hand turn leading to the sprint straight, Mark Cavendish was shoulder to shoulder with Oscar Freire resulting in them missing the corner and crashing into the riders on the outside of them.
So a sprint finish without Cav.
Not exactly as easy as that, within sight of the line there was another huge pile up, stretching across the whole of the road and blocking all but the 20 including Fabian Cancellara the Yellow Jersey and many other top contenders. Due to the crash happening in the last 3km everyone is given the same time so no losses incurred. Cavs team mate Adam Hansen suffers a broken collarbone and is forced to retire.
As for drama that would have been enough for one stage but in the final sprint a rider collided with the sprinter Tyler Farrar resulting in Farrar draging the riders bike down to the finish, whilst Alessandro Petacch to a comfortable win. Cav's lead out man Mark Renshaw came in second so had he stayed upright this would have been an opening Cav victory!

Stage 2: Brussells > Spa: Monday 5th
Less flat than yesterday, some category 4 hills and rain. A recipe for excitement? A nervous Peleton with many riders nursing wounds from crashes means its going to be tense out there.
Well as per usual the Peleton allowed the break away its moment of glory before starting to reel it back in.
Except thats not exactly how it panned out. On the last big descent of the day the roads had become treacherously slippery with the rain and chaos ensued.
The Peleton is scattered as riders tumble and one of the break away riders, Sylvain Chavanel jumps off the front in solo break.
Amongst those tasting the tarmac are Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Alassandro Petacchi, and numerous others.
Sylvain Chavanel rides into the Yellow Jersey as Fabian Cancellara leads the Peleton across the line in a go slow protest after the danger of greasy narrow roads and a big, nervous Peleton threatened a premature end to some riders Tour.
Totalling up the damage 3 riders retire, Christian Vandevelde the biggest name out with broken ribs, others suffering nasty facial cuts and other injuries.
Tyler Farrar has a suspected fractured elbow but continues on!

Stage 3: Wanze > Arenberg Porte du Hainaut: Tuesday 6th
So called the Hell of the North, todays stage promises action by the bucket full. As if the first 2 stages weren't eventful enough, today sees the race take on the formidable Belgian pave or, to me and you, cobblestones!
A quick glance at the Peleton and it's glaringly obvious that a lot of them have been getting intimate with the tarmac. Lance Armstrong, Andy and Franck Schleck and many many more are patched and plastered up.
Such is the war of atrition this year that 96km in there is a crash on the normal roads and another retiree.
Then they hit the cobbles, 13km broken down into 7 different sections.
Damiano Cunego one of the bigger riders takes a tumble with some others on a cobbled section but all carry on.
Now into France the cobbles claim another victim as Frank Schleck hits the deck hard. Again. This crash holds up Tony Martin (white jersey holder), Sylvain Chavanel (yellow jersey), Armstrong, Contador (regining champ) and many more. Frank Schleck retires with a broken collarbone.
This crash was high up in the Peleton and thus split the riders in front of it off in a mini break away.
Included in this break are Fabian Cancellara, Andy Schleck, Geraint Thomas, Cadel Evans (current World Champion), Thor Hushovd (Cav's main rival).
Hushovd out sprints the rest to win and claim the green jersey.
Fabian Cancellara's effort and Sylvain Chavanels bad luck (2 bike changes) swap the yellow jersay back in Cancellaras favour.
Geriant Thomas profits from Tony Martin being held up and gains the white jersey.
All of that group manage to put time over on Contador and even Wiggo manages to come in ahead of him.
Lance Armstrong has a puncture and loses time to Contador and looks knackered having had to chase to get back in touch with the Peleton.
All in all the Hell of the North lived up to it's billing and put some interesting time gaps into the Peleton.

Stage 4: Cambrei > Riems: Wednesday 7th
Another sprinters stage and surprisingly uneventful.
The usual teamwork for the sprinters 'train' was there and it seemed certain for a Cav launch to victory.
Mark Renshaw lead him all the way to 200m to go but an early attack from Pettachi sees him take the stage win with Team Sky's Edvald Boassen Hagen coming in third. Cav sat up with 50m to go after realising the sprint was lost. Worrying show of form from the Manx missile. All other time gaps remained the same.
Cav was in no mood to talk afterwards, letter the old adage of 'actions speak louder than words' ring true as his helmet was unceremoniously launched from his tour bus.
Not a happy bunny methinks

Stage 5: Epernay > Montargis: Thursday 8th
Flat enough to be another sprinters stage if the break away doesn't stay away.
The early break was swallowed up as per usual leaving a perfect bunch sprint.
Team Garmin had the advantage and were pacing Tyler Farrar up to the line but once again Mark Renshaw delivered Cav to the last 200m and Cav did not disappoint this time. Out sprinting all around him leaving Pattachi (8), Hushovd (5), and Farrar (10) to fight over the other placings whilst Boassen Hagen came in third for the second day running.
So Cav gets his first win on this years Tour and boy did it mean a lot to him. As he stood there on the podium tears streaming down his face, it was hard not to feel for the lad who bears the responsibility of bringing results for his team, shoulders the burden of expectation and lives with the pain of yesterdays disappointment. Cocky and arrogant he may appear but he is just as human as the rest of us.
May this be the first of many Cav victories this year.

Stage 6: Montargis > Gueugnon: Friday 9th
Today's stage is the last before the roads start to go upwards in a big way.
The break goes from the 1st kilometre but is reeled in by the last 10km enabling another bunch sprint to take place. Team Sky, Lampre, Garmin and HTC all get their lead out trains into a good position but ultimately going into the last few hundred metres it was Cav against Pettachi and Farrar, with Cav coming out on top. Farrar managed a creditable second place with his fractured elbow heavily strapped/cast and Pettachi was in third. Geraint Thomas came in 11th after helping Boassen Hagen to 8th.
However as sometimes happens there was a split after the 14th rider. Only 3 seconds but that enabled Geraint Thomas to close the gap to the yellow jersey of Fabian Cancellara from 23 seconds to 20 seconds.
As we go into the mountains tomorrow this could prove vital with Thomas better in the mountains than Cancellara. Could we see a Brit in the yellow jersey tomorrow?

Watch it unfold live at 2:30 on ITV4, that's what I'll be doing with out a doubt!

So the first seven days have gone past and what have we learnt?
Well we have seen a lot of big crashes and big riders retiring, which could have a knock on effect for their respective GC contenders later on.
The Brits have been at the fore but not the expected Wiggins and Cav, but Geraint Thomas. Thanks to some clever riding he's sitting pretty in 2nd place overall and leading the young riders competition (white jersey). Cav has had a roller coaster week with crashes, let downs and topping it off with two wins.
Wiggo has stayed out of trouble and picked up time when presented with the opportunity. He will be looking to shine in the mountains.
The rest have largely stayed out of trouble and done their domestique duties well, with one notable ride from Steve Cummings on Team Sky who rode in the break on stage 5.

Onwards to the mountains!!

Rule Britannia?

2010-07-09T00:02:00.003+01:00

Well as promised some musings on the first few days of the 2010 Tour de France.

Lets start with some stats so far:

5 stages + Prologue (time trial)
6 days
987.4 km (617.13miles)
Yellow jersey (maillot jaune) (22hrs 59mins 45secs) Fabien Cancellara
Last place (Lantern Rouge) (23hrs 37mins 44secs) Grega Bole
10 withdrawals, 188 riders remaining.
7 British riders, 3 in the top 15 currently

So what's all the fuss been about?

Going into the tour several things were getting newspaper coverage, none more so than more allegations of previous drug use by Lance Armstrong, and American federal investigation and more drug related issues.
And for the Brits? Well the hype has all been around the World Cup failing and Andy Murray at Wimbledon so aside from the 'golden boy' Wiggins potential being talked up, and the odd bit about Cavendish's injury hit preparations the focus has been on Team Sky.

The first British team to be entered into the Tour de France for many years, Team Sky have been criticised for their approach to the season, not just the Tour.
Dave Brailsford, team director and also the British Cycling team director, has assembled a crowd of top riders, majority of them British, sourced the best kit, and got the top trainers in with one goal in mind:
replicating the success of British track cycling on the roads.

Can Bradley Wiggins win?
Anything can happen, its along way and he's stayed out of trouble thus far. With an unconvincing Prologue he's had to be on his toes to avoid losing more time but will be happy with his current standing.

What about the other Brits?
Well the majority of the Brits in the race are what is called 'Domestiques', that is to say they are there to assist their team leader however they can. Sometimes this means giving up your bike and waiting for the team car, fetching water bottles, burning yourself out at high tempo on the front to catch breaks, pacing them back after crashes etc
Heres the other Brits in reverse order from their current standings:

Charlie Wegelius (174) has ridden several tours and is considered an experienced domestique

Daniel Lloyd (152) is on his first Tour after riding two Giro's previously (Giro is the 'Tour' of Italy)

Jeremy Hunt (134) is on his first Tour but is a very experienced rider (pro since 1996)

Mark Cavendish (107) is on his 4 Tour, has won 11 stages (British record) and is the worlds best sprinter

Steve Cummings (67) is on his first Tour and is one of the Team Sky domestiques

David Millar (15) is on his 9th Tour. After a 2 year suspension for doping offences, he returned and is now the leading voice in drug testing and clean riding. A truly reformed character he is experienced and respected amongst the peleton

Geraint Thomas (2) the welsh lad is on his second tour, had a storming prologue and rode in a clever break over the cobbles to elevate himself to the lofty position he holds currently. Unexpectedly he may yet cause an upset if you believe the rumours, and they are just rumours, that he is a good climber as well. I suspect we've not seen the last of this lad, Future winner? very possibly. If he keeps it up he may well be in with a shout for the White Jersey (best young rider).

So that's the background to it a deeper stage by stage analysis will follow after tomorrows stage, another flat stage for the sprinters before we hit the mountains on Saturday.

Remember live stages are on ITV4 2:30 - 4:30pm and highlights 7-8pm. Hats off to ITV4 without them I'd be very annoyed at the lack of coverage!

Consolidation and Cycling

2010-07-07T22:14:00.003+01:00

Right as usual lame excuses first. Been busy moving house/buying houses/not buying houses (delete depending upon day of the week!!!)

Cars:
Right as promised earlier in the year I have started to reduce the fleet from its once heady heights of 7.
Currently the following has taken place:

The faithful servant that was my Seat Toledo V5 has departed for pastures new after suffering the ignominity of blowing up on the M25 late one night. Dutifully fixed up by yours truely it was punted out for £600 or so, not bad considering it had been run nearly into the ground by myself!

The green/blue little Ax i had was loaded onto my trailer and dropped off at a friends place down in deepest darkest Sussex.

And yesterday a deal was agreed on the Volvo 850 T5 and within a week or so that will be gone as well. Reducing me down to a mere 4 cars!

The new kid on the block, the Skoda Octavia vRS is filling in beautifully from the Toledo. Its quick, practical, smart, subtle yet aggressive when needed.

Unsurprisingly since acquiring it in April (the week before my brothers wedding) i have covered 4000 miles or so, although it did get a break a few weekends back when i crazily decided to take the Polo on a 400 mile round trip to Bristol, via Dorset!
Remarkably, considering it doesn't ever go anywhere, it made it there and back unscathed. Yes it was slow, yes it was noisy and doesn't have a stereo, but shockingly it was quite relaxing and liberating. A real sense of achievement compared to tanking it there and back in the comfort of the Skoda.
Resting on the campsite:

The trip down to Dorset had a purpose, mainly to attend my good friend and ex-youth leader/Pastor Matt's 40th birthday.
Matt's blog recently mentioned cycling, another of my hobbies, and it seems only fitting to include something about the Tour De France in here somewhere. SO tomorrow there hopefully will appear a blog post about the first 5 days.
Watch this space>................

2 steps forward, 2 steps back!

2010-03-19T00:14:00.004Z

Once again its been an extended absence from blog writing. I need to come up with some decent excuses!!!

Progress, momentum, advancement, call it what you will. It is one of life's challenges to keep 'IT' up. So often it feels like progress in one thing means that other things slacken off. Like a juggling act or spinning plates trying to keep things going in one area and not letting other areas slow is such a hard thing to do.

Personally for me this year has been one of the most challenging for a while and we are barely three months in!!! Not all those challenges are negative though.
This year i hope to break some personal milestones and achieve some personal goals.

Finally after a few years break I got stuck into the Ax GTi Turbo project. No turning back time! After dropping the car at a friends workshop we then proceeded to strip it down, remove the engine and start with avengence cutting and fabricating parts.

It was a real feeling of nervousness as the angle grinder was taken to the front end of an otherwise good condition Ax! Still no pain no gain! The ball is well and truely rolling with the whole project now and feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Can't wait to get back out on track in it sooooooo much fun awaits!

However one spinning plate that was unexpected was the issue of my Father being diagnosed with an illness that takes months to get over. The term Post Viral Fatigue is fairly vague but the essence of it is that you have no energy levels and get tired out very easily. For someone who runs their own business with employees etc this is not a good situation. However now that we are 7 or 8 weeks into this situation we have had to adapt out of necessity. Its hard work and stressful at times, but I puts into perspective all those who care for family members who are ill or disabled. I take my hat off to those people, legends the lot of them!

As posted last time, my brothers wedding is fast approaching and the headache of the Stag Do has befallen me. As I write this it's still a fair way off being sorted and its only a few weeks off. Couple to the aforementioned complication with my Dad, alot of the little bits he would do have fallen to me, I'm begging to feel like it's my own wedding! Less said about that the better I think!

So to one of the other plates that needs constant spinning, Housing.
After moving about for so long and never being in one house for more than a year, my current abode has served well for 2 years or so, some stability which was most welcome. However it is being sold so I have but a few months remaining there.
Time to move onwards and upwards.
I look forward (that's a lie!) to the new and exciting or should i say scary process of buying a house! Having found a way of getting a sizeable deposit the process will begin in earnest after the wedding, I know what i want but it's just a case of waiting for something to come up at the right price and in the right area.
How this goes remains to be seen but I'm trusting in God to provide, he's been spot on thus far with supplying me last gasp housing.

I think that's enough waffling and excuse making for now, life is to frenetic and chaotic to include everything, be it bad(NOT a good time to be working in the public sector believe me!) or good (my niece is the cutest thing in the world ever!) so I'll sign off on the dictionary definition of progress,

"a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage"

the wheels are still turning,
Tim

Where did the time go??

2010-01-30T23:39:00.005Z

Hmmmm. How slack no blog post for December or most of January.

Now we all know Christmas is a busy time of year but surely that's no excuse for not updating this.

It isn't however i will expand on a few excuses as to why I have been busy:

The weather:
OK this is a biggy really. Since the 17Th of December we have had freezing temperatures and snow on and off. Fun for most people, alas not me. Unfortunately i was the Highways Technician 'On Call' that night. I started getting calls at around 8:30 pm and finally got back into bed and asleep around 4 am!! Tired doesn't scratch the surface!! So since then on and off the snow has made my working life quite manic and stressful.
Everyone seems to think it is their right to have their footpath or side road gritted.

Question: Did Bexley come anywhere near to running out of salt?
Answer: No. Unlike other boroughs and councils we prioritised early on and committed to doing the main roads and hotspots like Doctors/High Streets/Stations.

Why is it that a sprinkling of white powder causes the majority of drivers to panic. How hard is it too drive on snow a few yards till you hit a main road? Driving standards appear to be plummeting even in the 9 years i have been on the road!

The problem I have now that the snow is gone is potholes (well if you discount the flooding from the snow thawing!). Once again like a nasty rash they have cropped up with avengence!
Most of my time the past two weeks has been spent filling (well supervising it) and raising repairs on potholes. This pattern looks set to continue till spring hits and we get some respite from rain/snow/freezing temps.

Excuse 2:
Cars; Well it wouldn't be me without this being an excuse.
Shocking as it is (i.e. not at all) I have added yet ANOTHER car to the fleet.
Yes shockingly I joined the ageing hoards of Volvo Estate drivers pootling around!
OK the situation is not quite that dire, this is no standard pensioner spec Volvo.
Some figures for you:

Volvo 850 T5 Auto
N reg 1996
219,000 miles
Lowered, 18" alloys, tinted windows
225bhp
2.3 litre 5 cylinder turbo
£300

So another addition to the ever growing fleet has distracted my attention from this blog.
What can I do I'm a sucker for a bargain!

Final is excuse is that life is just too busy!!
Honestly in between trying to maintain the roads of Bexley, and buying more cars there is far too much to squeeze in!
And it isn't going to get any easier either. In between now and the end of April the following things need to be attended to:

Organising stag do/attending stag do for young brother
Attending wedding of aforementioned brother
Finding a new residence to live in
Rebuilding the Ax GTi Turbo in time for Track Day at the end of April
Selling off half the fleet
Family things (non wedding related)*

Too little time, too many things!

*that's a highlight really because it means i get to look after my gorgeous 4 month old niece Poppy! Absolutely adorable little thing :)

So don't be surprised if this isn't added to for a bit!

Tim

Saving the environment......

2009-11-03T18:54:00.004Z

So the same old question was asked of me again today.........

Why do you own 4 cars?

Now ordinarily my response is........Why not?

However today's response was, actually I own 5!!!!

Yes another addition was added to 'The Fleet' as they have come to be collectively known by me.

Allow me to try and explain......
Lets start with what I currently own:

Ford Fiesta 1.1 LX - My first ever car i spent thousands of pounds on it over the 8/9 years I've owned it. Was almost written off by a neighbour at one point when I got car number two (should have been written off but insurance chose to repair?!)
Citroen Ax GTi - the desire for a bit more power took over and i ended up with an eBay bargain for a mere £400. Has progressively been turned into my track car with various upgrades and is currently awaiting a full turbo conversion.
Seat Toledo V5 - when I got my current job several years ago it required something a bit smarter and this came up on eBay for a bargain price. Fully loaded top of the range it has done shed loads of miles in my ownership, and averages 1250 miles per month.
Volkswagen Polo 1.0 Mk1- Another eBay bargain (£300) that came up on a dreary Saturday when i was bored, the week before my birthday a couple of years back. A speculative bid saw me win and ad the retro Polo to the collection. Rare car and appreciating in value.
Citroen Ax 1.1 TRE - The week before an Ax Owners Club meet this popped up for sale locally very cheaply. The chance to turn up to an Ax meet in an Ax was too good to miss so it was paid for and found to be in exceptional condition for its age. Now a rare sight its beginning to reach classic status

12
3 4
5

So why do I still have five cars?

Reason 1: Well it's my environmental contribution. I can only drive one at a time therefore i have saved four cars being on the road at the same time as me, thus reducing pollution by 4 vehicles! Significant reductions in Co2 surely?

Reason 2: I'm a sentimental fool and get too attached to cars. Buying cars is and emotive thing for me. Its not a cold callous thing, not merely a means to get from A to B. Its an extension of who I am, who I aspire to be, and who I was once.

Reason 3: I'm a hoarder! I am one of those people who will keep things 'just in case' it is needed or is of value in the future.

Now when you look on the face of it these are quite trivial reasons, but the truth of the matter is if i had the space I would have more cars!!

Driving and working on cars puts a smile on my face, as well as frustrating, annoying and bemusing me occasionally.

Each of these cars evokes a memory, an emotional response within.
Memories of happy days, of forgotten friends, of life changing events, of near misses and life lessons. Some tinged with sadness, some with regret others sheer elation.
A photograph can capture an essence of something but when you run your hand down a bonnet that you once used to slide across in a 'Dukes of Hazzard' stylee its hard not to reminisce of those glorious summer days when you were care free and the world was at your feet.
It's one of those passions that isn't rational or particularly sensible, it takes up my time and money, but at the end of the day it's a part of me and who I was created to be.

Consolidation or Acquisition?

Well that's dependant on many factors. In truth I am saving money for a house so the fleet will have to be slimmed down. Other factors involved in this are the general health of the cars, the main one being the Toledo V5 not coping so well with the mileage these days. Having just crossed 128,000 miles (34,000 in my possession) its feeling decidedly queasy so it's probably time to upgrade again to something newer.
This opens up the possibility of utilising the 'Governments Scrappage Scheme' (you know the supposedly 'environmental scheme' to boost the car industry....I can't think of a better oxymoron!) to get a new car and lose one of the fleet as well as part exchanging the Toledo thus reducing the fleet by 2 and only adding 1.

Aside from this its most likely to be last in first out so watch this space for some dramatic update about how I've gone eco and got a G-Wiz.

Or alternatively keep on asking the question why do you have so many cars?

hopefully at least now you'll have part of the answer.

The Highwayman

Welcome, the kettle's on....

2009-10-09T23:57:00.002+01:00

Well. I've finally succumbed to writing a blog. It has been on the horizon for a while, the threat has been lingering like in a grey cloud (1 Kings 18:44-45) and has now darkened the skies.
Only hopefully it will do the opposite and bring some enlightenment. Well that's the general idea behind this I think!

When I was contemplating this whole blog thing a month or two back, ideas were whizzing around my brain like gnats on a dusky evening (only pausing to bite me to bits during football training annoyingly).

Do I stick to my comfort zone and write about things i could easily fill pages with?
Do I stick to one subject and make it a topical blog?
Do I make it a spiritual blog?
Do I make it funny, informative, edgy, controversial?

Time will tell which direction it really heads, but my aim is to have something of an amalgamation of my life. Only jazzed up to make it sound exciting!! Hopefully it will make interesting reading, you might even learn something useful (unlikely but possible), or maybe just entertaining.

Whatever it works itself out to be, one thing i hope it won't work out to be is a ranting whinging blog full of pessimism and negativity. Someone else can do that, or most probably has already done that.

I will try to balance it so it isn't all just technical bludgeoning about resurfacing schemes or self glorifying outrageous bragging!

Whatever it is I hope you enjoy reading it!

cheers

The Highwayman