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And...we're back. Welcome, let's see what's going on?
The first of three mountain stages in the Pyrenees, this one should be for the breakaway meaning a ferocious start to the stage just to hitch a ride on the wagon for the day and then three sharp climbs to help pick the winner later. The GC riders will probably aim to conserve energy ahead of tomorrow’s stage but that’s a tall order on this long day.
The Route: 218km south into the Pyrenees and the best part of 150km across the plains and foothills before the climbing starts. It’s not easy going, the road rises and falls with two marked climbs and several more.
The Col de Portet d’Aspet is a short climb but steep with slopes over 10% in the final kilometres. It’s steeper still on the descent and the danger marked by the two memorials of Fabio Casartelli. Then comes five kilometres of scenic valley road and then the Col de Menté begins. It’s a got a middle section at 11-12% that’s not on the profile above and climbs up via a series of hairpin bends. The descent is fast and and also has its memorial to tragedy too before the valley and a drag uphill for the best part of 20km and into Spain (why into Spain? It does allow for a climb and descent into Luchon but also the Tour’s owners ASO own the Vuelta a Espana and tonight much of the peloton will be staying in Spanish hotels in a bid… expect the Vuelta to return in 2019 and it’s like the same edition of the Spanish race has a stage to Pau).
The Portillon’s Spanish side is a big road with several wide hairpins and the profile above represents it well, it’s a big steady ascent.
The Finish: downhill off the Col de Portillon, this is a fast 8km descent with several hairpins interspersed by sets of hairpin bends. With 2km to go the slope eases and the final kilometre is flat with a sweeping left hand corner with just 200m to go.
So, what does the route look like then?
Couple of interesting lumps in the middle too.
Who's in the mix then?
The Contenders: only eight teams have a stage win so far and plenty of team managers will be keen to send riders up the road to try and win today. Throwing riders up the road won’t be easy given the likely battle to get in the day’s move but once the move goes it’ll have to contain proven climbers who can profit from the finish. The climbs here are steep but not too long so Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) has a good chance here to repeat his win a week ago in Le Grand Bornand, he can harvest points along the way and either use his punch on the final climb to go solo or save himself for the sprint. Mikel Nieve (Mitchelton-Scott) is in good climbing form and team mate Adam Yates can try too. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) was in the break the other day and could try, the same for Rafał Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe). But it’s not easy to pick, as likely as these names sound they have to get in the move to start with. Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Samsic) could go in the move for points but his team really want a stage win more than the jersey. By contrast Omar Fraile (Astana) is a pick again, he’s a good stage hunter.
Can the GC contenders make a difference today? Yes but the day’s breakaway is likely to contest the stage win given the distance and the relatively small climbs later. Plus the big names will be worried about tomorrow where one mistake could see them pay in cash. You might watch for Romain Bardet who could jump late but if much is made of his descending skills but he’s exploited this in the past precisely because he’s struggled for opportunities on the climbs, in other words he’s attacked downhill because he couldn’t uphill. Now he can as we saw on Alpe d’Huez and he’s likely to save energy for tomorrow. Instead Primož Roglič could be the one to try, he’s got an explosive jump as we saw in Mende.
And, a couple of pics from stage 15 as I didn't post yesterday.
Not having looked in depth then at the profiles for the remaining days... If this day isn't a GC day, that implies there's only 2 days of mountains left for TD and anyone else to take on Sky for the overall win. That's cutting it a bit fine. Even if TD can beat Thomas and Froome up the hills on one of them days, he's got to take a LOT out of them in a relative context. Especially considering they're both brilliant climbers.
With the ITT being quite hilly, you'd assume Thomas and Froome will be near the pointy end.
As for today... I'll go... Errrrrm Yates.
Yates looks done already, I reckon Dumoulin has to go for it, he can't rely on Thomas or Groom cracking in two stages so needs to attack on last climb then beast it down the otherside. Not sure he has a strong enough team for it though.
Fanjeaux
Sounds a bit like Fanjo.
*s****s*
tough day but nothing happening to the top of the GC
I reckon a break with Stuy/Valgren/de Gendt/OSS/Dillier/Küng and a few others like Barguil etc.
Winner? Dunno, but a punt for Dillier.
Is it a cool stage ? I reckon it’s a hard one... those bumps aren’t as smooth as the Alps and the surfaces are rougher too. It’ll be hot and I reckon they’ll all get bothered.
GC? No movement.
I’d like to see the Tour head north into Tarbes first then loop back into the Pyrenees.. it’s a lovely part of the country.
Can't say what will happen to the top three but the rest of the big hitters will be trying to consolidate or improve there top 10 positions unless the spy weakness in any of the top 3. There could be a break for some of the pure climbers to go for a stage but think that they may eventually be closed down. Movistar to get someone in each break so they can to the gap bridging strategy that forms the bed rock of their approach once things go up hill, Valverde to be one trys to bridge first.
Was looking at the 97 TdF on Utube last night, fans just as bonkers as today, just less of them.
Was looking at the 97 TdF on Utube last night, fans just as bonkers as today, just less of them.
Probably a bit less piss being thrown around back then, but no-one cared as much about doping did they?
I'm hoping G can hold it all together.
Big day for G and Team Sky who will control the climbs. Alaphilippe will be in the break, Martin will have a go. No change in GC. Breakaway will take the win. Stage needs nibbles to attack on the descent really.
Stage needs nibbles to attack on the descent really.
Except he's nibbling on hospital food and thinking about suing the tour organisers.............
Sadly I think things may get worse as far as behaviour is concerned, with Froome getting knocked off or hit again.
it's the dreaded post rest day mountain stage.... who's legs will decide their tour had finished yesterday ?
Except he’s nibbling on hospital food and thinking about suing the tour organisers………….
TBH any incident like that is really the fault of the organiser, the one on Ventoux last year and some of the team car stuff
TdG is up for this today!
Police currently managing to tear gas some of the riders trying to clear some protesting farmers off the route...
Nobody might be winning today at the moment!!
Where Moscon when they really need him?
The French farmers are making friends again :O/
Agro-culture init.
^ Chapeau ^
I'm going for Majka and Yates (A), today.
WTAF!
Looks like the annual French farmers' protest dropped some rather large straw bales on the road in front of the peloton and the police used mace/pepper spray on them with that then drifting into the peloton.
Little vid of it on here, first rule of using pepper spray, check which way the wind is blowing, the plonker!
So, the affected (assume the GC peloton) So we just wait until the medics have given the all clear? Or just let the break go and give the GC group average time for all??
Those French farmers are revolting aren’t they 😜
Hmm.
I think as it is neutralised they start the stage afresh and it becomes a shortened stage, so if you were in break away you're kinda stuffed..
I remember driving back from Morocco after 3 months away and just wanting to get home and have an English pint, got to ferry port to find bloody French fisherman had blockaded the port and we ended up camping in the car park for a week, they love a good strike out there!
Rather pointless..
Hope that pepper was grown in France. On seeing that picture am surprised no baton use, perhaps this an attempt at hearts and minds.
GendArmerie 😜
Probably his wife........
Loving the casual indifference being displayed by everyone in that picture.
I think this is the most French thing I've seen in the whole race!
Got to be pretty uncomfortable having Anthrax squirted in your eyes.
Fromage looks mighty sore ^^
Bit shit that.
This'll be giving the anti-Froome brigade an idea
Phew! Gilbert had me worried then. Good to see him back on the bike.
PhilGil --- Nails !!
Come on Yatesy boy. Although how anyone on Mitchelton Scott manages to climb so well with those massive helmets is a mystery..
aaaarrrrrggghhhhh!!!!
See. Helmet unbalanced him. Hurt pride and nothing more I hope.
Yates, what a shame but 10/10 for trying.
Ala pins it again I see.
QS are having an absolutely wonderful Tour 👏💃👅
Not sure if I prefer the tear gas from the French police or the Spanish police pushing spectators under motorbikes in the Vuelta...
Called it today. Just hope the “fans” don’t get any ideas on pepper spray protests. Sorry for Yates and pleased Phil Gil is still with us. No wonder he broke down after the stage. He was lucky, very lucky. And yes QS are having a fantastic tour. They’ve always been a favourite of mine. One of the longest running World Tour teams. I preferred their cyan kit though really.
Tomorrow will be a damp squib too. When there are lots of strategies, there is no strategy. Normally handicaps run in reverse order. I assume the ones at the back just have time added rather the traditional TT timing?
Im calling Dan Martin for the win off the front of the neutralised GC bunch.
and pleased Phil Gil is still with us.
Lucky escape really having seen pictures of where he landed! I hear though that he won't be riding tomorrow, don't know if anyone is able to confirm.
Tomorrow will be a damp squib too. When there are lots of strategies, there is no strategy. Normally handicaps run in reverse order. I assume the ones at the back just have time added rather the traditional TT timing?
Isn't it meant to just be like a F1 GP start; all starting together, no neutralised zone. Once they're away they'll form into team strategies as normal.
I'd have thought it's do or die tomorrow for Dumoulin, Roglic, Bardet. Short stage, big climb to mountain-top finish, can't see when they can attack otherwise. Having said that, the TT on Saturday is going to be seriously tough on tired legs - 1 in 5 on the final climb?!
3 cols in 65km , tomorrow should be brilliant !
Lucky escape really having seen pictures of where he landed! I hear though that he won’t be riding tomorrow, don’t know if anyone is able to confirm.
Acording to Cycling Tips,he's out
The Belgian would climb out of the ravine with the help of multiple moto drivers, medical personnel, police officers, and Quick-Step director Brian Holm. After being looked over by the race doctor, he remounted his bike. He would finish the stage within the time limit, but later abandon the race due to injuries to his left knee.
Anyone else starting to become a bit of an Alaphilippe fan?
I suspect Warren B might not be. But I am most definitely a fan.
Just some nice touches today. Waiting for Yates after the crash (would have been even cooler if he'd then ignored the orders to ride on), then the unbelieving shakes of the head before that 300m celebration to the line.
just watching highlights show...... PhilGil could have been so much worse. But a thumbs up and ride on
#mancrush
Anyone else starting to become a bit of an Alaphilippe fan?
Completely. He looks so happy at the point when he knows he's got it. And QS too of course, they keep the whole season animated
He would finish the stage within the time limit, but later abandon the race due to injuries to his left knee.
Rode the remaining 50k out with a broken knee cap!
Alaphilippe
Me too, lovely to see such an exciting rider and One who is so happy to boot!
Did you hear the post race interview with him where he said he waited for Yates a bit? He appeared to feel that he didn’t think it was fair to take the advantage over a crashed rider but as soon as he saw that Yates wasn’t really up to the descent any more he carries on. That’s some really fine sportsmanship.
Rode the remaining 50k out with a broken knee cap!
Hard
As
Nails
It’s the Quick Step ethos:
Ride fair but hard, play by the rules, be a gentleman.
There are a lot of teams in the Pro Peloton who have long since dismissed the second, smudged the first and didn’t even know the third existed.
That’s some really fine sportsmanship.
It's good to see sportsmanship amongst the riders on the tour (when there's no fisticuffs!!) - I noticed that when Gilbert dropped back to the peleton, all the lead out riders (read Sky) spoke to him / checked on him.
Did anyone else’s blood run cold when they saw the drop Phil Gil had fallen down? I can see why there had been a death in previous years (yes I know it wasn’t exactly the same sort of accident), I wouldn’t like to fall down there in full MTB downhill body armour, never mind a single layer of Lycra.
It’ll really suck having the injury but he will probably realise he was fairly lucky not to come off much worse - I bet it was terrifying heading towards that wall just after the Fabio Casartelli’s monument.
It was a bit of a weird crash, it's like he hit the apex too fast and straight and once he'd unclipped his left foot the bike got really squirrely and he seemed to accelerate. Hard to judge how fast they're going from behind.
Anyone else starting to become a bit of an Alaphilippe fan?
I've been a fan since the TdF 2016 when he was in a breakaway with Pantano and Majka before a mechanical delayed him.
Agree he shows great sportsmanship.
’ve been a fan since the TdF 2016 when he was in a breakaway with Pantano and Majka before a mechanical delayed him, only to be taken on a 200km 2-up TT with the Panzerwagen the following day 🙂
Alaphilippe is some descender. It was beautiful and frightening in equal measure.
Yesterday must have helped in LeFevere's hunt for a new title sponsor. Mind you, if the QS all stars can't secure new sponsorship after the season they've had you have to wonder about the future of pro cycling. BMC will be sponsored by a Polish shoe company?! next season.
Wot kneepads for the tdf?
That tat!
I thought that 🙂
Tricky to pull off if you haven't got legs like that!