Lead Photo by Teocalli
It’s time for La Grand Boucle and La Course. Is this year’s TdF more open than many a year? We should be in with some interesting racing from Ineos, Jumbo Visma, UAE Team Emirates and Movistar as a minimum. Will Pogacar repeat? Will Roglic get his second win? Will Ineos be too strong and who will prove strongest from the team? Will an “outsider” spring a surprise?
It is only certain that we will know at the end.
For La Course this may be the final year as, at last, we may see a Femmes Tour de France next year.
For TdF riders can be found here.
For La Course riders will hopefully be updated here.
Best of luck to all riders, keep the rubber side down.
Just seen that Alaphilippe gave each his team members one of his yellow jerseys. Nice.
Those Polka dot shorts! No, just nooooooooo!
Alaphilippe cracks with 13 Km to go. LJV setting the pace for Kruijswijk with Ineos riding wheel. Thomas now in second place on the road. Nibali going solo from the small breakaway group. Kruijswijk now third and Alaphilippe off the podium. 6 Km Simon Yates attacking from the main group to chase Nibali – and it all kicks off…….and settles a bit 3 Km and starting to look good for Nibali for the stage. Kruijswijk tracking Thomas coming up to 1 Km, Nibali will have the stage. Thomas leads Bernal in having taken a few seconds out of Kruijswijk and… Read more »
They just shortened Stage 20….!!!! 59 km sprint for yellow on sat….
Saturday’s penultimate stage of the Tour de France will be shortened by 71km because of landslides and severe weather warnings.
The leg will start from Albertville and conclude with the final 33km ascent to Val Thorens – a total distance of 59km.
Probably not what G would want to take second – then again maybe not………so it will either be a) manic or b) a non event. Faites vos jeux.
It’s still a long enough climb for a lot to happen. I can’t see Alaphillipe holding onto podium and I think G looks strong enough for 2nd. Battle for 3rd…
As of now Cyclingnews is reporting that even the shortened stage might still be cancelled. What drama, I hope the riders at least get a chance to improve their positions. If not tomorrow could be must see racing on the Champs.
Update, Le Tour is saying the stage will proceed in it’s shortened form. Damn the mudslides and full speed ahead.
Apparently they may cut the top 11 Km off. A decision will be made when they hit the bottom of the climb.
This seems to be the top 5 after today…… Times applied at Col de l’Iseran: 1. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos) 2. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/ Deceuninck-Quick Step) +45secs 3. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos) +1mins 03secs 4. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Jumbo-Visma) +1mins 15secs 5. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1mins 42secs Will Thomas get 2nd place tomorrow for an Ineos 1, 2. I see the keyboard warriors are now saying Bernal is a doper just because he is with Ineos! Sometime I think it’s a shame someone does not sue some keyboard warriors for defamation to make folk think twice. Hey ho, the modern world……… Looking good… Read more »
Not the best way for Bernal to take yellow, but I doubt Ineos care.
Just saw pics of the hail and mudslide. No way could they race on those roads. Sorting out the timing is going to be interesting and who knows what JA might try tomorrow? He’s got nothing to lose by attacking Bernal.
The mudslide – cyclocross time had they continued…..
Yeah, it would be one thing for riders to tippy-toe through that, but no way for cars, vehicles etc.
Oh boy. This is going to get messy! What drama!
Yeah – they are just saying there is no official timing at the top of Col d’Iseran. Anything could happen!
Heartbreak for Pinot – seems like a torn muscle or similar.
Wow! Had a catch up lunch with some old work mates and come back theoretically in time for the last climb to find a huge intervention from Mother Nature. Going o have to watch catch up on this one. Looks like the first Columbian for the Yellow Jersey in Paris. No idea where the rest are as yet. Sad that Pinot seems to have to ABN.
Tomorrow is gonna be amazing I think with the short stage today and a close GC once they figure it out. I have to fly to and back from Charlotte, NC to NYC for work so I’ll be in airports and meetings most of the day, but can still see it….
I’ll run updates here if you can’t follow a commentary………
Thanks…but between a laptop, tablet, and airport bars I should be good. Should be over by the time I have to do any real work anyway…lol…
Alaphilippe gave his Yellow Jersey to a small lad who was freezing in the rain without a jacket as he came off the podium. Class.
While I’d love to see G win a second Tour, I’d rather it not be Bernal for Ineos. I’d much prefer seeing JA win it – but that’s asking a lot. Can he hang on? If he does, it’ll be the gutsiest, and most deserved, Tour win in decades. If he doesn’t, he deserves a podium spot at the very least. Who knows who’s got what left in the tank. It’s been brutally hot in France. I heard riders were drinking 22 bottles per stage. Pinot might have something. G is going to have to attack. Kruisjwijk might have something.… Read more »
Wow Bernal away, Thomas now breaking away from the rest and Alaphilippe out the back. Pino clawing the rest back to Thomas……….a long descent though for all to close up……
Looks like Alaphilippe will get back on to the Thomas group.
Quintana with the stage in the bag.
I wonder if they might all end up back together by the finish…
With 2 mountain top finishes I think it will be heartbreak for Alaphilippe without a descent to claw back. Bernal, Pinot or Thomas for the win? Pinot didn’t look to have so much spark today or just saving his powder for a mountain top finish? Going to be a cracking 2 days for sure……..
I’m starting to think Alaphilippe might do this. The first climb on Friday’s stage is 12.9K at 7.5%, then there is a 30K descent followed by a second climb of 7.4K at 7%. That isn’t really any harder than today’s stage. Theoretically he could still take a one minute lead into Saturday. I wouldn’t bet on it, but depending on how everyone’s legs are on Saturday, he might stay within a minute. Everyone will be chasing down attacks, so maybe he can just sit on wheels. Should be a great two days of racing!
If Pinot has an attack left in him then Ineos have to send Bernal with him. G would then try to pace himself back. If Pinot is blown then Ineos could have Bernal pace G away from Alaphilippe. Pinot may be in a quandary as he may feel he can take Alaphilippe but would be wary of Bernal and may not want to play the first card. So the way I see it is that if Pinot or Ineos are not bold Alaphilippe may hang on but if they go for him today as well as tomorrow then Alaphilippe will… Read more »
Luke Rowe and Tony Martin expelled for a minor spat seems a bit harsh. Can’t help thinking that there is some bias in there and advantage taken to disadvantage Ineos and Jumbo-Visma when there are 2 Frenchmen in the reckoning.
From what I’ve seen of the footage, I’ve seen far worse go unpunished or at most given a fine.
The spirit of Henri Desgrange is alive and well to make random decisions!
Wonder whether that may prompt Jumbo-Visma and Ineos to work together……………
Roid Rage, clearly.
In all seriousness, if it had been a French rider or a French team, would the same have happened?
I’d love to see Ineos and Jumbo-Visma sit on the front for a while with alternating riders by way of protest.
Whatever, it’s definitely a day for sitting inside, out of the heat, watching the TdF develop.
Any idea what Movistar are up to today?
Finally all working for Landa with a sensible approach?
I thought Alaphilippe was just starting to stretch the elastic on Col D’Izoard just as Movistar knocked off the tempo.
Here we go for the Galibier……….
Seemed like they were chasing the break with Quintana and Amador in it…and then they stopped riding.
Giving them a bit of credit today I thought they were seeing if they could shake anyone out on the Col d’Izoard but gave up just as Alaphilippe looked under pressure. Then again by that point if they dropped anyone they were likely to get back on before the Galibier so it maybe made sense to ease up and save their powder. For sure, I reckon Landa will be having a go on the Galibier.
On the other hand maybe they had a good plan for a stage win……….
maybe. Go GO G!
Thomas in a crash earlier but OK.
Fulgsang out in a crash at 25 Km to go.
FYI, I have a post that says “Comment awaiting moderation.” I assume that’s you who needs to moderate and approve?
Sorted, I have a setting that holds comments with more than 2 links. I’ll probably up that as we have not had any of the silly people joining that the old site suffered from now and again.
I love the Movistar team (especially their kit). I love Quintana, Valverde, and Landa as riders. But they are one f*cked up team when it comes to racing this TdF. Yesterday, Movistar had Mikel Landa, Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde meet the press separately, with each man giving his own account of the team’s bizarre tactical approach to Saturday’s stage 14. Alasdair Fotheringham has the gospels according to Quintana and Valverde here, and a reading from the book of Landa here. This morning, the telecommunications company scrambled to have their riders ham up a show of unity for this video… Read more »
Interesting TdF factoid. Cock’n’balls. Who knew??? https://www.thelocal.fr/20190722/this-is-how-the-tour-de-france-deals-with-cock-and-balls-problems
So we enter the caldron of the final week, quite literally. I wonder whether it may pan down to who can cope with the heat best. Today should see no changes for the GC. Hopefully the last day for the sprinters before Paris will see no accidents, though will a breakaway get clear……….
I wonder if it the Tour might be decided on the last climb to Val Thorens.
You’ve got to love Sagan for this……
https://twitter.com/Peter_SagFan/status/1152938822201741312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1152938822201741312&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyclingmagazine.ca%2Fvideo%2Fwhile-the-peloton-suffers-peter-sagan-signs-memorabilia-on-pyrennes-climb%2F
Great stage today. Some have been casting aspersions on JA and his performances. Never mind that. Valverde in the top 10 on GC. WTF? A well-deserved rest day coming up and this race is far from over. Pinot is ascendant. G looks frail, JA is hanging in there too. What about the Dutch Shoulders? Looking ominous . . .
Was out riding so will watch the catchup. From early observations maybe a summary would be – Crap weather, Brits do better?
That was one of the best stages I have watched in years. Several guys could still win this race. I’m guessing JA won’t last in the Alps, but he has been fun to watch. I still think GT has something left. He is a smart rider. Pinot is the big question mark in my mind. Looked very strong in the last two stages, but somehow he always seems to misjudge something and blow up. Maybe this is his year. Kr and Bernal certainly look good so far too. Thursday, Friday and Saturday should be exciting.
Indeed. There was an interesting bit pre event yesterday where a bunch of Directors and ex pros were asked whether JA would make it. Most said yes other than Jens Voight (I think it was) who said he expected JA to blow massively on one day in the Alps. Sure is set up to be a great final 3 days in the mountains at the end of the week.
I don’t think JA can stick with the front group all the way through the Alps. But I’d love him to prove them all wrong. He’s a fighter, no doubt. I’m even more of a fan of him than I was.
Also, anyone able to provide more insight into Movistar’s tactics?
I suspect even Movistar can’t provide that!
4 riders up the road, none of them able to challenge for GC OR the stage win. Now 2 riders in the top 10, both nowhere near being able to challenge for the podium. But they still come to the front and ride hard on all the climbs.
It makes no sense at all; David Millar was baffled on commentary about it too.
I can understand Landa as he has a point to prove over wanting to be the sole leader I can see him wanting to distance Quintana at any opportunity.
Valverde is always a law unto himself?
The other side is that somehow they are hoping for stage wins at this point. Though surely they would have more chance by sitting in and attacking rather than driving.
Finally, perhaps it is their best way of having Movistar on the TV cameras for advertising.
In other words……..I haven’t a clue!
#FreeLanda
No one would’ve picked Alaphilippe to be in yellow at this point in the race. He went deep yesterday, but rest day today and then an “easy” stage on tomorrow, so he can recover. Transition stage. Mountains on Thursday but not a a mountain top finish. Friday and Saturday will be the deciding stages. Alaphilippe may yet surprise use! This is going to be FUN to watch!
I couldn’t agree more! Whatever the outcome of this year’s TdF, at least it’s been a real race for a change of pace. I’m sure I will do crap in terms of my OTF picks, but I am loving watching a more wide open race. Alaphilippe is like a better version of Tommy V! If Pinot can hold his form in the Alps, he may be able to be the first French winner since Hinault.
Hey Dan, I’ll try and get your bottles out to you next week.
Wiscot: Since I already won 2 of the bottles in a previous race, it would be no problem with me if you save these and give them out as a prize for an upcoming race. The bottles are great and your generosity in offering them is much appreciated. Dan
Overall…….is it Alaphilippe’s to lose? Ineos not as strong overall as previous years. Pinot and Kruijswijk looking strong and with support to close to the finish. Buchmann also strong with support. Looks like it could shape to be a cracker.
Stage result…….
Adam Yates, Bardet and dropped before the start of the Tourmalet. Dan Martin appears to be stretching the elastic. Looks like they won’t be challenging for the top 5 podium in the longer term. Movistar setting the tempo with Ineos riding wheel. Possibly suits Ineos fine? Elastic looks snapped for Dan Martin. Quintana off the back. Barguil attacks with 9Km to go. Main players happy to let him go. Attacks starting at 7 Km………FDJ setting the pace for Pinot. Main body thinning out, Alaphilippe sitting in OK at the moment. 5.6 Km to go and Barguil back in the pack.… Read more »
Once again superb tactics from Movistar. Ride your time leader out the back of the bunch, send a domestique back to help him, who gets dropped.
Astonishing ride from Alaphilippe. Can he do it day after day? Can G come back? Utterly intriguing.
Van Aert suffered a large wound in his upper leg and had a 1 hour operation to close it.
Schachmann broke his hand.
Best wishes to both (and any other injuries) for a speedy recovery.
Heck of a ride by Alaphilippe…..
EF and Uran have to be kicking themselves over their day in the crosswinds!
Overall as below…..things could get interesting from here. How will Alaphilippe do in the high mountains. Will the likes of Bardet and Quintana try to attack for stage wins and so break things up. Tomorrow could be interesting to set the trend…….
Schachmann has hit the deck too
He really limped in having bashed up his right knee. Finished and off to medical centre. A few others have come off too.