Posts from — July 2019

Saint-Flour > Albi

Distance: 217.5 kilometers.

Officially a “flat” stage, so ignore the four categorized climbs:

• Côte de Mallet 22 km (cat 4: 2.2km @ 5.2%)
• Côte de Chaudes-Aigues 40.5 km (cat 3: 3km @ 6.6%)
• Côte d’Espalion 95.5 km (cat 3: 5.2km @ 4.9%)
• Côte de La Malric 164.5 km (cat 3: 3.6km @ 4.7%)

The intermediate sprint is at 128.5 km, La Primaube, and it’s downhill to the finish.

The second longest stage on this year’s Tour and the eve of the first rest day would normally result in the sprinters going all out as the mountains are coming, while the contenders for the Yellow Jersey rode on cruise control. Then Julian Alaphilippe decided to gain some time on those behind him and all hell broke. The front of the peloton took off and stretched out. When it got hit with a crosswind at 50 km, it snapped and the majority was left behind.

Egan Bernal took the White Jersey and third place, while last year’s Yellow Jersey, Geraint Thomas moved up to second place, a minute, 12 seconds behing Alaphilippe. Movistar is now wearing the Yellow Numbers.

Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) [Yellow] 43h 27′ 15″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 229 points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) [White] 3

Stage winner: Wout Van Aert ( Bel – TJV – 088 )
Combative: Natnael Berhane ( Eri – COF – 152 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Movistar Team ( MOV – 061-068 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top Thirty below the fold:
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Saint-Étienne > Brioude

Distance: 170.5 kilometers.

Officially a “hilly” stage, which is true if a category 1 climb is now a hill:

• Mur d’Aurec-sur-Loire 36.5 km (cat 1: 3.2km @ 11%)
• Côte des Guillaumanches 106 km (cat 3: 7.8km @ 4.1%)
• Côte de Saint-Just 157.5 km (cat 2: 3.6km @ 7.2%)

The intermediate sprint is at 92 km, Arlanc, and there is a sprint finish.

While the Jerseys and GC standings have ossified to a large degree, riders are still vying for individual achievements. Today it was South African Daryl Impey and Belgian Tiesj Benoot. They waited until the last 13 kilometers and then pushed themselves to the max, with Impey winning the final sprint.

Alessandro De Marchi of CCC, a break-away specialist, was carted off in an ambulance at the ten kilometer mark after an accident that left him laying face-down in the road.

Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) [Yellow] 38h 37′ 36″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 204 points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Giulio Ciccone ( Ita – TFS – 133 ) [White] 2

Stage winner: Daryl Impey ( RSA – MTS – 105 )
Combative: Tiesj Benoot ( Bel – LTS – 162 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Trek – Segafredo ( TFS – 131-138 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top 30:
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Position: 32.8N 93.6W [ 4:00PM CDT 2100 UTC].
Movement: North [360°] near 9 mph [15 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 50 mph [ 80 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1008 mb ↑.

Currently about 20 miles [ 35 km] North-Northeast of Shreveport, Louisiana.

All Watches and Warnings have been discontinued. This is the final advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

La Fête Nationale
Bastille Day

Thank you for the help with the Revolution.

Some background.

Mâcon > Saint-Étienne

Distance: 200 kilometers.

Officially a “hilly” stage, Which translates into seven categorized climbs:

• Col de la Croix Montmain 51 km (cat 2 2.1km @ 7%)
• Col de la Croix de Thel 71 km (cat 2 4.1km @ 8.1%)
• Col de la Croix Paquet 84.5 km (cat 2 2.1km @ 9.7%)
• Côte d’Affoux 97 km (cat 3 8.5km @ 4.5%)
• Côte de la Croix de Part 133 km (cat 2 4.9km @ 7.9%)
• Côte d’Aveize 148.5 km (cat 2 5.2km @ 6.4%)
• Côte de la Jaillère 187.5 km (cat 3 1.9km @ 7.9%)

The intermediate sprint is at 33 km, Cercié-en-Beaujolais, and there is a sprint finish. Thomas De Gendt took off at the start and was at the front for all 200 kilometers. He took all of the “King of the Mountain” points and moved up from seventh to second place in the race for the Polka Dot Jersey.

Julian Alaphilippe managed to get back in the Yellow Jersey for Bastille Day.

Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) [Yellow] 34h 17′ 59″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 204 points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Giulio Ciccone ( Ita – TFS – 133 ) [White] 2

Stage winner: Thomas De Gendt ( Bel – LTS – 164 )
Combative: Thomas De Gendt ( Bel – LTS – 164 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Trek – Segafredo ( TFS – 131-138 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top Ten:
1 Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) –
2 Giulio Ciccone ( Ita – TFS – 133 ) + 00h 00′ 23″
3 Thibaut Pinot ( Fra – GFC – 051 ) + 00h 00′ 53″
4 George Bennett ( NZl – TJV – 082 ) + 00h 01′ 10″
5 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – INS – 001 ) + 00h 01′ 12″
6 Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) + 00h 01′ 16″
7 Steven Kruijswijk ( Ned – TJV – 081 ) + 00h 01′ 27″
8 Rigoberto Uran ( Col – EF1 – 091 ) + 00h 01′ 38″
9 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 071 ) + 00h 01′ 42″
10 Emanuel Buchmann ( Ger – BOH – 012 ) + 00h 01′ 45″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Position: 31.0N 93.0W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: North-Northwest [340°] near 8 mph [13 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph [ 85 kph].
Wind Gusts: 65 mph [100 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 205 miles [335 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1002 mb ↑.

Currently about 35 miles [ 60 km] Southwest of Alexandria, Louisiana.

At 1PM CDT the storm made landfall near Intracoastal City, Louisiana and lost enough energy to be down-graded to a tropical storm.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New Orleans and Grand Isle to Cameron.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Intracoastal City to Biloxi, Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Belfort > Chalon-sur-Saône

Distance: 230 kilometers.

Officially a “flat” stage, which is true for the last 90 kilometers. There are three mild climbs in the first half of the stage:

• Col de Ferrière at 37.5 km (cat 4 2.7 km 4.6%)
• Côte de Chassagne-Saint-Denis at 95.5 km (cat3 4.3 km 4.7%)
• Côte de Nans-sous-Sainte-Anne at 119.5 km (cat 4 3.5 km 5.7%)

The intermediate sprint is at 196.5 km, Mervans and there is a sprint finish.

Stéphane Rossetto ( Fra – COF – 157 ) and Yoann Offredo ( Fra – WGB – 196 ) led this, the longest stage of this year’s Tour, for the vast majority of the race. They were reeled in 12 kilometers before the end as the sprinters rushed to the finish. After 230 kilometers there was no change in the Jerseys or the General Classification.

Giulio Ciccone ( Ita – TFS – 133 ) [Yellow] 29h 17′ 39″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 177points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) [White] 6

Stage winner: Dylan Groenewegen ( Ned – TJV – 084 )
Combative: Yoann Offredo ( Fra – WGB – 196) [Red numbers]
Team: Trek – Segafredo ( TFS – 131-138 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top Ten:
1 Giulio Ciccone ( Ita – TFS – 133 ) –
2 Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) + 00h 00′ 06″
3 Dylan Teuns ( Bel – TBM – 047 ) + 00h 00′ 32″
4 George Bennett ( NZl – TJV – 082 ) + 00h 00′ 47″
5 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – INS – 001 ) + 00h 00′ 49″
6 Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) + 00h 00′ 53″
7 Thibaut Pinot ( Fra – GFC – 051 ) + 00h 00′ 58″
8 Steven Kruijswijk ( Ned – TJV – 081 ) + 00h 01′ 04″
9 Michael Woods ( Can – EF1 – 098 ) + 00h 01′ 13″
10 Rigoberto Uran ( Col – EF1 – 091 ) + 00h 01′ 15″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Position: 28.6N 91.0W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [300°] near 3 mph [ 6 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph [100 kph].
Wind Gusts: 80 mph [130 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 175 miles [280 km].
Minimum central pressure: 993 mb.

Currently about 75 miles [ 125 km] South-Southeast of Morgan City, Louisiana.

At 10PM CDT it is about 292 miles West-Southwest of me and the outer rain bands have been dumping on me for a couple of hours.

Barry is expected to make landfall as a minimum hurricane tomorrow morning west of Morgan City, Louisiana.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the coast of Louisiana from Intracoastal City to Grand Isle.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Mouth of the Pearl River to Grand Isle; Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New Orleans; and Intracoastal City to Cameron.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Shell Beach to Biloxi, Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Intracoastal City to Cameron, Louisiana and the Mouth of the Mississippi River to Grand Isle.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Mississippi coast
east of the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Biloxi to the Mississippi/Alabama border.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

There is reporting that ICE will be conducting sweeps this weekend in 10 cities, including New Orleans. The current path of Tropical Storm Barry says that isn’t going to happen.

What is the point of these announced raids? Do they think that the targets are going to hang around, even if they aren’t required to evacuate? This makes no sense.

Mulhouse > La Planche des Belles Filles

Distance: 160.5 kilometers.

The first official “mountain” stage gets a bit carried away. You are climbing from the start to Linthal (29 km) for the intermediate sprint. The rest of the stage is a series of climbs and descents in the pattern 1 3 2 1 3 2 1:

• Le Markstein at 43.5 km (cat 1, 10.8 km 5.4%)
• Grand Ballon at 50.5 km (cat 3, 1.3 km 9%)
• Col du Hundsruck at 74 km (cat 2, 5.3 km 6.9%)
• Ballon d’Alsace at 105 km (cat 1, 11 km 5.8%)
• Col des Croix at 123.5 km (cat 3, 3.3 km 6.1%)
• Col des Chevrères at 141 km (cat 2, 3.5 km 9.5%)
• La Planche des Belles Filles at 160.5 (cat 1, 7 km 8.7%)

There is a summit finish for extra points.

With his second place finish in the stage, Ciccone qualified to wear both the Yellow and the White Jerseys. When he selected the Yellow, the right to wear the White Jersey fell to the second place young rider, Egan Bernal.

NBC (on the right side bar) has a nice video digest of the stages.

Giulio Ciccone ( Ita – TFS – 133 ) [Yellow] 23h 14′ 55″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 144 points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) [White] 6

Stage winner: Dylan Teuns ( Bel – TBM – 047 )
Combative: Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Trek – Segafredo ( TFS – 131-138 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top Ten:
1 Giulio Ciccone ( Ita – TFS – 133 ) –
2 Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) + 00h 00′ 06″
3 Dylan Teuns ( Bel – TBM – 047 ) + 00h 00′ 32″
4 George Bennett ( NZl – TJV – 082 ) + 00h 00′ 47″
5 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – INS – 001 ) + 00h 00′ 49″
6 Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) + 00h 00′ 53″
7 Thibaut Pinot ( Fra – GFC – 051 ) + 00h 00′ 58″
8 Steven Kruijswijk ( Ned – TJV – 081 ) + 00h 01′ 04″
9 Michael Woods ( Can – EF1 – 098 ) + 00h 01′ 13″
10 Rigoberto Uran ( Col – EF1 – 091 ) + 00h 01′ 15″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Position: 27.9N 89.4W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West [275°] near 3 mph [ 6 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph [ 85 kph].
Wind Gusts: 65 mph [100 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 140 miles [220 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1001 mb.

Currently about 165 miles [ 265km] Southeast of Morgan City, Louisiana.

At 7 PM CDT Barry is a little stronger, and it is slowing. This is bad news. The slower it moves the more rain that will fall.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the coast of Louisiana from Intracoastal City to Grand Isle.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Mouth of the Pearl River to Grand Isle; Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New Orleans; and Intracoastal City to Cameron.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Intracoastal City to Shell Beach.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Intracoastal City to Cameron, Louisiana and the Mouth of the Mississippi River to Grand Isle.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Mississippi coast east of the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from the Mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City, Louisiana and Shell Beach to the Mississippi/Alabama border.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Saint-Dié-des-Vosges > Colmar

Distance: 175.5 kilometers.

This entire stage is in the Alsace which has been an area of dispute between France and Germany for centuries, which explains the mixture of French and German place names. It is classified as “hilly”. The riders spend 41 kilometers on the fairly flat terrain of the Alsace plain before climbing the cat 3 Côte de Grendelbruch (3.4 km 4.9% grade). Back down to the plain for the intermediate sprint at Heiligenstein (71 km). The riders stay in high gear until 109.5 km and the cat 2 Côte du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (5.9 km 5.8% grade). Back to high gear until 140.5 km and another cat 2, Côte des Trois-Épis (4.9 km 6.8%). They still aren’t done because at 156 km Côte des Cinq Châteaux (cat 3 4.6 km 6.1%) awaits. After all that expect a bunch sprint at the finish.

Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) [Yellow] 18h 44′ 12″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 144 points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 17 points
Wout Van Aert ( Bel – TJV – 088 ) [White] 2

Stage winner: Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 )
Combative: Toms Skujins ( Lat – TFS – 137 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Team Jumbo – Visma ( TJV – 081-088 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top Ten:
1 Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) –
2 Wout Van Aert ( Bel – TJV – 088 ) + 00h 00′ 14″
3 Steven Kruijswijk ( Ned – TJV – 081 ) + 00h 00′ 25″
4 George Bennett ( NZl – TJV – 082 ) + 00h 00′ 25″
5 Michael Matthews ( Aus – SUN – 141 ) + 00h 00′ 40″
6 Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) + 00h 00′ 40″
7 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – INS – 001 ) + 00h 00′ 45″
8 Enric Mas ( Spa – DQT – 025 ) + 00h 00′ 46″
9 Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) + 00h 00′ 50″
10 Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – CCC – 111 ) + 00h 00′ 51″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Position: 27.7N 88.0W [10:00PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Southwest [245°] near 9 mph [15 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 30 mph [ 45 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [ 70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1009 mb ↓.

Currently about 120 miles [ 190km] Southeast of the Mouth of the Mississippi River.

To provide ample warning to areas that may be affected by this system, the National Hurricane Center has begun to issue advisories.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Mouth of the Mississippi River westward to Cameron Louisiana.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Mouth of the Mississippi River northward to the Mouth of the Pearl River.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from the Mouth of the Pearl River to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

This started as a low pressure trough up in the Ohio River valley that drifted south and entered the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachee Bay near St Marks, Florida.

The center is at 30.0N 84.7W with wind speeds of 25mph and a pressure of 1011mb. The general motion is south at about 5mph. Conditions are conducive for further development.