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What a stage yesterday was, awesome bit of racing. and you know what, today looks just as good too.
175km across the heart of the French Alps. It starts with 27km down the Tarentaise valley, big roads and accessible to plenty trying to get in the day’s breakaway only non-climbers going in the move may soon discover their error with the first two kilometres of the Col de la Madeleine between 9-10%. In total it’s 25km at 6% but it climbs like a staircase, a steep section, then it flattens and there’s a descent, then it climbs up before another flat section ahead of the final pitch to the pass which is labelled at 2,000m to sound impressive but actually 1,993m. It’s followed by a very fast descent.
There’s a valley section but it’s not benign, they tackle the wonderful Lacets de Montvernier, or at least they’re scenic when filmed from the helicopter but also serve to break up the monotony of the Maurienne valley road.
The comes the Col de la Croix de Fer, another staircase climb, 29km at 5.2% but the mean average includes a descent along the way. It’s a hard climb and this time goes beyond 2,000m and followed by a reciprocal descent that’s not too technical and got some climbing on the way down and then a quick 10km valley section that’s a slight uphill drag, short but enough for some to flounder.
The Finish: the famous 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez. There are actually 23 to the finish once you include the extra two bends once inside the ski resort. It’s 13.8km at an average of 8.1%, but the main climb is consistently a steep 9-10%. The climb is regular and the famous hairpin bends matter, as they’re engineered and flat so that tourist coaches can pass with ease and so offer the cyclist a change in rhythm. As an engineered road it’s also got large rock walls to reflect the heat making it more of a furnace and the temperature is raised further by the dense crowds expected although more barriers than ever are planned. The slope eases into town and there’s a final bend to the left and then the 220m finishing straight.
Love an Alp.
And the main passes.
Who will fancy it today? Let's have a look.
The Contenders: the breakaways are faring better than the Giro. Where almost none could succeed in the May this time Alaphilippe managed it this week and Mikel Nieve was very close yesterday. Only once again the problem is finding unattached climbers capable of pulling of a stage win, coupled with those who are still fresh for today because likes of Nieve, Barguil or Navarro must be cooked from their efforts. Robert Gesink (Lotto-Jumbo), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) and the obvious choice of Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) who went in the moves yesterday but didn’t insist. Pierre Rolland (EF-Drapac) also tried but it didn’t work out and he might find the longer climbs suit him but the efforts yesterday could cost him. Which leaves FDJ’s David Gaudu as a long range shot although as we saw on Tuesday he was too keen, too obvious and used up energy.
Otherwise Team Sky are likely to try and control things but how much work do they want to do from the start? Chris Froome was covering plenty of moves yesterday and could try instead to launch one big move but it’d have to be done politely, to wait for someone else to attack Thomas and for Thomas to hesitate such that Froome can say his move was defensive. Still Geraint Thomas has a good chance especially as the flat top suits him.
Dan Martin has a great chance, especially if his UAE-Emirates team can help contain the breakaway so that he can jump on Alpe d’Huez. Romain Bardet can’t be counted out and Primož Roglič was looking very smooth yesterday. Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) was climbing very well yesterday but will he pay for his efforts today? Nairo Quintana (Movistar) had a sluggish day yesterday but could still turn things around.
Thought it may be worth posting the GC to give a bit of context to things too.
And of course, yesterday, and what a day it was.
Barguill
Chuffed for this fella.
But gutted for this one, not his year.
Once again, I could have posted all of this album from CyclingTips so look yourself here.
Chateau, Cav, chateau! Could have climbed off in to the broom wagon, but kept on plugging away.
Today? Well, for GC it's hard to see past Froome or Thomas. As mentioned yesterday, the latter looks far stronger at the moment, so who knows! Maybe it all comes down to the ITT between them. If G gets any more time today, however, tactics may have to change.
I'd love to see a solo break win it though, but who?
really excited for today's stage, spent the summer of 2016 living and roadie guiding on those mountains, i wonder how my strava times compare to the pro's.....
My day is planned around this. The rest of the tour I could miss but not this. Go Froodo!
One assumes the school holidays have started already in France, otherwise it seems odd to have such an epic stage mid week!
Could have climbed off in to the broom wagon, but kept on plugging away.
I can totally understand this. In his shoes, if this was the last stage of possibly my last tour, I'd want to finish it on my bike.
David Millar wrote about Cav here, it’s well worth a read.
Another cool stage bro’
Lets start with predictions: Thomas De Ghent from a break, Barguil in the top 3, MrNibbs top 5.
How the storyboard will look: Mad 20mins after the gun for a break the size of a small European country with the GC guys letting them out to 7mins. Then the climbs appear and a small inner faction work well together to break up Sky perceived dominance, counter that with Sky pacing until the last bump then launching a few satellites up the road to see who is still up there. Mov bouys with try hard here, countering every move Sky do but Quinty might have a good day and make some time up.
After yesterday’s Froomidge spin class I reckon he has this if the break fails to work well together, can’t see G beating Froomidge, purely because of team orders.
I love this area, ridden routes all over here. Actually not a massive fan of “the alp” becuse there are better and more scenic climbs around the corner.
Long shot: Andy Shleck
In his [s]shoes[/s] disco slippers
FTFY.
https://cpofficial.com/mark-cavendish-shows-off-flashy-nike-mercurial-cycling-shoes/
Do we think then that Froome is going to have to beat G on merit, or will G be told "He's the leader, you have to surrender"...
Obviously G didn't get the "You must be domestique for Froome" as he left Froome lonely and pacing himself back with Dan Martin. But you'd assume Froome gave permission for that via team radio ? "no worries, he can go, i'm fine" sort of thing.
It's interesting...
We'd assume that Froome can claw back the difference to G over the ITT, but you never can be sure, especially as G seems to be climbing well. I can't imagine any world in which Sky let Froome be beaten overall.
Yep, there are kids everywhere. Buzzing in town this morning - lots of helicopters above, too.
Looking at todays stage, was yesterday a phoney war? Much tougher today. Froome will want to put time into Dumoulin. Can G hold his wheel up the final today, much tougher than yesterday.
Good article lunge,....... Well done cav
Honest opinion? Froomidge is the leader, you only have to look at how much he’s on the mic calling out stuff. G knows this, I don’t think he’s political enough to fight his own corner in a meeting, he’s an awesome rider no doubt but when teams are built around 1 bloke for GTs there is only 1 bloke who wins that team race (not necessarily the stage or tour)
Yesterday was a show of respect to G for all the previous GTs he’s buried himself in honour of either Wiggins’s or Froomidge. G had not a cat in hells chance of doing what he’s doing now in the Wiggins era, but Froomidge isn’t wiggins he’s a considered leader and a damn fine one too IMO.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Poels had a crack at today’s stage, he’s awesome and by letting him go would be a show of talent amongst the squad as a warning to others in a “see, there’s more in Sky than Froomidge or G”
IMO
Gutted for Cav, but just didn't seem to have the legs, age and all those injuries adding up?
May be a bit dull, but Sky have played a blinder... the way i see it, a GC contender will often like to have someone up the road so that they have someone to bridge across to and have power in numbers. What Sky seem to have done is not do it for a stage, but do it with the whole race, placed G up the road so that a Froome who has the succession of Grand Tours in his legs and may take a while to "ride into" the race and who tends to get better as the 3 weeks pass, has a team mate ahead, he goes to the press conferences, he has to stay late to be tested more etc. whilst Froome has a lot of pressure taken off him, he still has a really strong team to shepherd him and he has Geraint as the ultimate plan B.
As Sky are a business, i wonder what makes more business sense, Froome winning 5th Tour and 4th GT in a row, or Sky showing how powerful they are by producing a third Tour winner in 6 years?
Froome today with G in a 1-2. I think winning on AdH is such a big milestone. Froome was holding back yesterday and I think did all he needed to set up G for the win. But having said that, being the single minded professional I do think that another climber could win in a breakaway if the GC are marking each other.
Mad for orders. We will see. But I wouldn’t be leaning on the ITT. You are all aware that G won the National TT the week before the TDF this year? He is flying at the moment and I hope he can hold onto the current form.
Lunge Thanks for these daily posts,also that David Millar link was a good read.
Looking forward to today's stage,alas I'll only get to see the highlights...
I don't see an issue with continuing to work with each other as opposed to 'for' one over the other, secure the point where Sky have it wrapped up first and then worry about who's top dog.
Still lots of hills to ride over and down again, much could happen yet.
Gutted for Cav but great article. I know he's had his detractors and he has (had?) a tendency to be a mardy gobshite at times, but what he did yesterday cements his legend status as one of the best but also one of the honorable ones.
Thanks for doing these Lunge. They're great.
I sort of half-watched the first week as a sort of appetiser, but now the fun and games in the mountains has really started its getting my full attention. Yesterdays stage was absolutely bloody brilliant!
Its going to be really interesting to see how the whole G/Froome thing plays out today. And what a stage to do it on!!
I think the froome vs G 'palace intrigue' is being over hyped.
Froome is obviously still number one, as someone above stated this is actually taking pressure off Froome. Less interviews and post race stuff. I think Froome will have a surprise planned for today.
I hope big Tom can stay in contention and Nairo can attack on his preferred terrain. Landa seemed to be struggling yesterday, hopefully he's better today to work with Nairo. I still think Movistar are the best option to crack Sky, no other team seems close. Where are Astana?
Yesterday was a show of respect to G for all the previous GTs he’s buried himself in honour of either Wiggins’s or Froomidge. G had not a cat in hells chance of doing what he’s doing now in the Wiggins era, but Froomidge isn’t wiggins he’s a considered leader and a damn fine one too IMO.
This for me, I think that Froome understands how hard the team has worked for him. It was an almost perfect stage for sky yesterday. Looking forward the competition now have to mark two sky riders rather than one and that makes for a very interesting dynamic.
I fancy De Gendt today or Uran as an outside bet. He lost a massive chunk of time yesterday, maybe saving his legs to save his Tour? It's a hard one to predict as every decent climber wants the Alpe on their palmares. G to retain yellow until the Pyrenees.
"Froomey knows how to win a three-week race,” he said. “For me now, whatever happens, it’s been a successful Tour. It’s an amazing feeling to win the stage and take the jersey. I’m super happy with that.”
“Obviously I’d love to stay up on the podium as long as possible but the main thing is winning and Froomey is our best chance. There’s still half the race to go.”
Thomas is still very much making the right team noises - wonder if he'll do what Chris Froome did to Bradley Wiggins a few years ago...
Slowpuncheur: I fancy Uran...
Uran is out according to letour having not recovered from his crash
I think the froome vs G ‘palace intrigue’ is being over hyped.
A few years ago at one of the Revolution track meets there was a Lizzie vs Marianna "match" that was being hyped beyond all belief. Poor Vos couldn't really understand it, she was just like "I'm friends with Lizzie, we're mates off the bike and competitors on it" but the way it was being portrayed was some epic grudge match.
The Sky thing is the same, the media are desperately trying to find some sort of angle on it - perhaps fondly imagining an all-out ruckus on the bus as half the team sides with G and half with CF.
Yesterday's stage was a blinder and it was nicely planned too. They knew where they each were on the mountain, who they were with and they played it to perfection. It's potentially saved CF from a lot of post-race interview stuff, media commitements etc that the yellow jersey has to endure therefore allowing him better recovery, maybe he;ll be a bit less marked and maybe it'll just allow him some flexibility as people mark the yellow jersey. Nicely done.
When the organisers introduced the yellow jersey the riders didn't want to wear it as they'd become an obvious target. I think this still applies.
Having G in yellow is a great insurance policy: he's the target so Froome gets a better recovery each day. If/when G tires then CF takes over and only has to defend for a few days rather than a couple of weeks. If CF doesn't pick up and G doesn't tire then the team carries on defending G.
Uran is out according to letour having not recovered from his crash
Ah bugger. I thought he might have just done a Barguil and deliberately lost time so he wouldn't be marked. De Gendt then.
Good on EBH ^^. Don't praise Sky too much though, I think they are massively more aware of the politics in the peleton now compared to when they started and a favour like this, in Brailsford's eyes at least, is a down-payment for a favour in the future.
Brailsford probably had an invoice for the 150 euro typed up within the hour 🙂
What struck me about yesterday was that Froome and G seemed so much stronger than anyone else. Dumoulin just about hung in there, looked like it was in thanks initially to a bit of luck on the decent, and that he was really digging deep. The other teams must be scratching their heads at this point.
It is a good place for Sky to be in with G ahead because it takes some of the pressure off Froome and allows for more tactical antics like yesterday. At end of the tour the only way G will be the leader is if Froome crashes out.
Today at the alp:
Quintana has got to do something or it's out of reach for him.
Expect the inevitable crowd related incident
Quintana has got to do something or it’s out of reach for him.
When did Quintana last do anything other than look around for someone else to go on the front?
I'm going for a Froome win with G on his wheel today. Hopefully there'll be some fireworks along the way though 😀
Let’s be honest.
contador retired
Porte crashed out
Nibali too old
Bardet not good enough yet
TvG never really cut it.
Qintana might have a go on the big hills today.
Dumoulin not really a top climber.
Who else would you expect to be winning? Especially with a big grudge against the French press.
Situ:
A break of about 30 (a population of a small European Country 😜) have punted off the front, the gaps about 1:50 to GtheYellowJumperPumper.
Barguils in it.. 🔥🚀
Who else would you expect to be winning? Especially with a big grudge against the French press.
While I agree with the rest of what you say, I’d add in that Froome has won the last three consecutive GTs, so should be showing some signs of fatigue. (As far as I can remember, the only riders to have achieved three or four consecutive GTs are Merckx and Anquetil. Exalted company for Froome.)
Nice post CFH 👍
Rules are rules, understand why the technical aspect are there but sportsmanship is indeed a thing to behold.
€150, that’s the price of a coffee in Monaco... 💃🖖
I'm hoping yesterdays comments were kidology from Geraint, I think he should sit on Froome's wheel and make him take yellow from him - he can go on the attack once they get to the barriers (AdH is too packed to really make an attack work nowadays). I'd love to see him win.
Barguil for todays stage
Sky may even end up tactically losing the jersey today - keep Kruijswijk within easy reach a few seconds ahead on GC and he can have yellow for a few days, take the pressure off Sky and maybe avoid the endless "who's the team leader?" questions for a bit.
Expect the inevitable crowd related incident
Mayor of Alpe d'Huez has banned the sale of beer today so hopefully less likely although there will obviously be people all the way up the hill with the own supplies.
Mayor of Alpe d’Huez has banned the sale of beer today
They'll all be pissed on wine or fruit cider or schnapps instead!
Groenewegen and Uran both out due to injuries from the cobbles. Starting to be convinced that the cobbles were a bit much this year.
Andre Griepel, Pawel Poljanski and Rick Zabel now out. Are there going to be any sprinters left by the time the race reaches Paris?
Looks as though all the top sprinters now out! Gaviria and Griepel too...
And now Gaviria!
Cav did say it was the hardest he'd ever seen before it started.
Sagan's now my pick for every sprint day left in the tour
Kruij’s leading, if he stays clear he could be in Yellow by the end of the stage..
Anyone watching tv could give an update as to his facial features and colour 😜
he looks ok
All the pure sprinters out.......
So is this route just too tough for a weighty sprinter or is there just not enough juice doing the rounds to ride not normal?
Not huge fan of a sprint finish stage but seems a shame that it seems to be beyond them all.
Well you could argue that it’s better they climb off than another week and a half in agony.
Its not unusual for sprinters to leave the Tour, does seem to be a large proportion this year I’ll grant you.
Kruijswijk looking ok, reminds me of Rosettos break in Tdy. Even if he manages the stage win, or yellow jumper I think it will be incidental to the overall result, certainly he's going to burn all his matches!
G working for Froome, he's next on the front...
All the pure sprinters out…….
So is this route just too tough for a weighty sprinter or is there just not enough juice doing the rounds to ride not normal?
Faster average speeds, shorter stages and tough climbs one after another mean the cut-off time becomes harder to achieve for the heavyweights so out the back door they go?
Champs Elysees will be quiet this year...
I don't think Froome looks 100% comfortable........
He never does 😂
And Nairo goes pop.
Every time I hear Bardet, this comes into my head...
Champs Elysees will be quiet this year…
I'm sure Sagan will be happy to add that to his impressive list of wins.
Well this is going to be interesting, does Froome need to lay down a marker
'Fans' over the barriers and moto chaos.
Kruijswijk has had his chips now surely?
What happened to Bardet? He's dropped of the tracker (watching tracker at work).
Froome awesome, cycling "fans" on the roadside are tossers.
What happened to Bardet? He’s dropped of the tracker (watching tracker at work).
He's still in the mix
Thought Froome was away! Come on G!
Bardet, Froome, Thomas and Dumolin in a group to duke it out for the win
Nibali poleaxed,possibly by a fan. Not good, lot of ahloles outthere
eurosport reporting froome was punched. froome responds by jumping the gap and passing course leader.
top job
This is awesome stuff.
COME ON GERAINT!
💥brilliant stuff again!
Oh Yes
Brilliant!
What a finish.
Unappreciated by the chumps booing on the audio at the finish.
Wow!
SUPER G!!! 💥
well it was worth putting a quid on him!
didn't mean to, mind.... thought i was betting 10p.... damn that decimal point!
That was good.
Wow.
Another fantastic ride by Dumoulin.
Great stage!
Nibali so impressive there as well
Hat, Super G.