Tomblaine – Gérardmer La Mauselaine

Distance: 161 kilometers.

Now the climbing becomes serious as at the end of this stage are a pair of Category 2 climbs followed by a finish at the summit of a Category 3.

This is where the battle for the Yellow begins to take shape and climbing ability enters the calculus of the race.

Blel Kadri had a very good day – he won the stage, the Polka Jersey, and the Red Numbers. He broke away and led the race for the final 130 kilometers to finish comfortably ahead of Contador and Nibali. The top thirty riders have been significantly altered by the climbs.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 33h 48′ 52″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 267 points
Blel Kadri ( Fra – ALM – 086 ) [Polka Dot] 17 points
Michal Kwiatkowski ( Pol – OPQ – 074 ) 4 [White]

Team: Astana Pro ( AST – 041-049 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Blel Kadri ( Fra – ALM – 086 )
Combative: Blel Kadri ( Fra – ALM – 086 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
2 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 042 ) + 01′ 44″
3 Richie Porte ( Aus – SKY – 007 ) + 01′ 58″
4 Michal Kwiatkowski ( Pol – OPQ – 074 ) + 02′ 26″
5 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 02′ 27″
6 Alberto Contador ( Esp – TCS – 031 ) + 02′ 34″
7 Romain Bardet ( Fra – ALM – 082 ) + 02′ 39″
8 Alberto Costa Rui ( Por – LAM – 111 ) + 02′ 52″
9 Bauke Mollema ( Ned – BEL – 061 ) + 03′ 02″
10 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 03′ 02″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

I’m not sure that either Brazil or the Netherlands wants to play this match. The Dutch coach, van Gaal, feels put upon by having to hang around to play a game to decide third and fourth place. Brazil can’t be too thrilled to take to the field again after their last massacre.

Oh, well, I’ll report the results even though only a few statisticians will actually care.

Not much of a battle:

Brazil 0-3 Netherlands

All Brazil got for this World Cup were bills. Brazil manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, will probably be replaced at a minimum. Brazil’s fans booed every time he appeared on the screen during the game.