Posts from — July 2022

Paris La Défense Arena > Paris Champs-Élysées

Distance: 115.6 kilometers.

A Flat stage with one Category climb It ends with a mass sprint of eight laps of an oval course on the Champs-Élysées. Winning the sprint in Paris is a separate race and prestige event for sprinters.

• Côte du Pavé des Gardes 43.3 km (Cat 4: 1.3km @ 6.5%)

The intermediate sprint is at 75.6 km at Paris – Haut des Champs-Élysées (3rd lap).

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 79h 33′ 20″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 480 Points
Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Polka Dot] 72 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Jasper Philipsen (AFC – 105)
Super Combative: Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016 ) [Red numbers]
La Lanterne Rouge: Caleb Ewan (LTS – 161) + 05h 40′ 42″ Φ
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

Three more riders missed the start on the final stage: Gorka Izagirre Insausti (MOV – 063), Guillaume Boivin (ISN – 192), and Michael Woods (ISN – 198). . Covid has taken a toll on this Tour. Jasper Philipsen (AFC – 105) has to be very happy with his race: two stage wins that include Paris.

Jonas takes Yellow and Polka Dots. Wout takes Green and Super Combative. Jumbo-Visma team did very well for itself.

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Lacapelle-Marival > Rocamadour

Distance: 40.7 kilometers.

An Individual time-trial.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 76h 33′ 57″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 480 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 64 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016)
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

The Red Numbers are not awarded for Time Trials. Nathan Van Hooydonck (TJV – 017) ended his Tour early. The line up for tomorrow’s final is fairly fixed with only the second to sixteenth riders less than and hour behind. This version of the Tour was for the climbers.

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Castelnau-Magnoac > Cahors

Distance: 188.3 kilometers.

A Flat stage with two Category climbs and a Sprint finish.

• Côte de la cité médiévale de Lauzerte 135.7 km (Cat 4: 2.0km @ 6.2%)
• Côte de Saint-Daunès 152.6 km (Cat 4: 1.6km @ 6.3%)

The intermediate sprint is at 38.4 km at Auch.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 75h 45′ 39″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 460 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 64 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Christophe Laporte (TJV – 015)
Combative: Quinn Simmons (TFS – 176) ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

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Lourdes > Hautacam

Distance: 143.2 kilometers.

A Mountain stage with three Category climbs and a summit finish.

• Col d’Aubisque 76.7 km (Hors Catégorie: 16.4km @ 7.1%)
• Col de Spandelles 110.0 km (Cat 1: 10.3km @ 8.3%)
• Hautacam 143.2 km (Hors Catégorie: 13.6km @ 7.8%)

The intermediate sprint is at 58.5 km at Laruns.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 71h 53′ 34″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 451 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 64 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018)
Combative: Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

Jonas Vingegaard has picked up more than a minute on Tadej Pogačar and is now 8 points ahead of Simon Geschke in the Polka Dot jersey standings, while scooping up another stage win. It looks like Jumbo – Visma is going home with every thing except the White.

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Saint-Gaudens > Peyragudes

Distance: 129.7 kilometers.

A Mountain stage with four Category climbs and a summit finish.

• Col d’Aspin 65.7 km (Cat 1: 12.0km @ 6.5%)
• Hourquette d’Ancizan 81.6 km (Cat 2: 8.2km @ 5.1%)
• Col de Val Louron-Azet 109.5 km (Cat 1: 10.7km @ 6.8%)
• Peyragudes 129.7 km (Cat 1: 8.0km @ 7.8%)

The intermediate sprint is at 32.9 km at La Barthe-de-Neste.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 67h 53′ 54″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 416 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 64 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001)
Combative: Brandon Mcnulty (UAD – 006) ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

Tadej Pogačar is 4 seconds closer to the Yellow, but but he is running out of stages.

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Apollo 11

Commander:

Neil A. Armstrong

Pilot: Columbia Command Module

Michael Collins, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF

Pilot: Eagle Lunar Module

Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., Colonel, USAF

Launched: 16 July 1969 UT 13:32:00 (08:32:00 CDT)

Landed on Moon: 20 July 1969 UT 20:17:40 (15:17:40 CDT)

Landing Site: Mare Tranquillitatis – Sea of Tranquility (0.67 N, 23.47 E)

Returned to Earth: 24 July 1969 UT 16:50:35 (11:50:35 CDT)

It has been fifty-three years since a human first set foot on another natural body in the solar system. We are finally making steps toward doing it again.

Carcassonne > Foix

Distance: 178.5 kilometers.

A Hilly stage with four Category climbs and a downhill sprint finish.

• Côte de Saint-Hilaire 13.7 km (Cat 4: 1.5km @ 6.6%)
• Col de l’Espinas 36.6 km (Cat 3: 5.3km @ 5.0%)
• Port de Lers 125.1 km (Cat 1: 11.4km @ 7.0%)
• Mur de Péguère 151.3 km (Cat 1: 9.3km @ 7.9%)

The intermediate sprint is at 67.8 km at Lavelanet.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 64h 28′ 09″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 399 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 58 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Hugo Houle (ISN – 196)
Combative: Hugo Houle (ISN – 196 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

The field is shrinking with 5 more riders failing to start and another falling outside of the time limit.

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Rodez > Carcassonne

Distance: 202.5 kilometers.

A Flat stage with two Category climbs and a near summit finish.

• Côte d’Ambialet 68.9 km (Cat 3: 4.4km @ 4.6%)
• Côte des Cammazes 154.6 km (Cat 3: 5.1km @ 4.1%)

The intermediate sprint is at 147.0 km at Saint-Ferréol.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 59h 58′ 28″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 378 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 46 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Jasper Philipsen (AFC – 105)
Combative: Nils Politt (BOH – 046 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

Jonas Vingegaard lost two of his support riders, Primož Roglič did not start and Steven Kruijswijk had to withdraw after an accident. There are still mountains to climb and Tadej Pogačar is less than two and a half minutes behind him. The heat wave will be a factor, so tomorrow’s rest day is welcome.

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Saint-Étienne > Mende

Distance: 192.5 kilometers.

A Hilly stage with five Category climbs and a near summit finish.

• Côte de Saint-Just-Malmont 14.2 km (Cat 3: 7.7km @ 3.9%)
• Côte de Châtaignier 39.1 km (Cat 3: 2.6km @ 7.3%)
• Côte de Grandrieu 135.3 km (Cat 3: 6.3km @ 4.1%)
• Côte de la Fage 162.1 km (Cat 3: 4.2km @ 6.0%)
• Col de la Croix Neuve Montée Jalabert 191.0 km (Cat 2: 3.0km @ 10.2%)

The intermediate sprint is at 50.7 km at Yssingeaux.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 55h 31′ 01″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 333 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 46 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Michael Matthews (BEX – 201)
Combative: Michael Matthews (BEX – 201 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

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Le Bourg d’Oisans > Saint-Étienne

Distance: 192.6 kilometers.

A Flat stage with three Category climbs and a sprint finish. [Note: The classifications of Flat, Hilly, and Mountain are made by the Tour and not reality or the dictionary.]

• Côte de Brié 33.2 km (Cat 3: 23.0km @ 5.1%)
• Col de Parménie 110.6 km (Cat 2: 29.0km @ 5.2%)
• Côte de Saint-Romain-en-Gal 165.1 km (Cat 3: 13.8km @ 8.1%)

The intermediate sprint is at 101.6 km at La Côte-Saint-André.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 50h 47′ 34″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 333 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Mads Pedersen (TFS – 171)
Combative: Mads Pedersen (TFS – 171 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

Warren Barguil (ARK – 152) did not start and Victor Lafay (COF – 075) had to withdraw before the finish. Europe is experiencing a heat wave, so I’m surprised more riders didn’t withdraw.

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Briançon > Alpe d’Huez

Distance: 165.1 kilometers.

A Mountain stage with three Hors Catégorie climbs and a summit finish after the third.

• Col du Galibier 33.2 km (Hors Catégorie: 23.0km @ 5.1%)
• Col de la Croix de Fer 110.6 km (Hors Catégorie: 29.0km @ 5.2%)
• Alpe d’Huez 165.1 km (Hors Catégorie: 13.8km @ 8.1%)

The intermediate sprint is at 11.8 km at Le Monêtier-les-Bains.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 46h 28′ 46″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 313 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 2

Stage winner: Thomas Pidcock (IGD – 025)
Combative: Thomas Pidcock (IGD – 025 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

This was Pidcock’s first stage win on the Tour and he is the youngest rider, at 22, to summit the Alpe d’Huez. He broke away and was alone for the last 7.5 kilometers.

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La Fête Nationale
Bastille Day

Thank you for the help with the Revolution.

Some background.

Albertville > Col du Granon

Distance: 151.7 kilometers.

A Mountain stage with four climbs and a summit finish after the second Hors Catégorie climb.

• Lacets de Montvernier 49.9 km (Cat 2: 3.4km @ 8.2%)
• Col du Télégraphe 83.8 km (Cat 1: 11.9km @ 7.1%)
• Col du Galibier – Souvenir Henri Desgrange 106.7 km (Hors Catégorie: 17.7km @ 6.9%)
• Col du Granon 151.7 km (Hors Catégorie: 11.3km @ 9.2%)

The intermediate sprint is at 16.5 km at Aiguebelle.

Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018) [Yellow] 41h 18′ 02″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 304 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [White] 3

Stage winner: Jonas Vingegaard (TJV – 018)
Combative: Warren Barguil (ARK – 152 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

There’s nothing like two huge piles of rocks to shake up a bike race. Vingegaard jumped from second to first with a lead of over 2 minutes, while Pogačar dropped back to third .

Many of those who did not start were disqualified by a positive Covid test.

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Morzine les Portes du Soleil > Megève

Distance: 148.1 kilometers.

A Hilly stage with four Category climbs and a summit finish after more than 20 kilometers of climbing.

• Côte de Chevenoz 24.1 km (Cat 4: 2.2km @ 2.9%)
• Col de Jambaz 69.2 km (Cat 3: 6.7km @ 3.8%)
• Côte de Châtillon-sur-Cluses 97.3 km (Cat 4: 4.5km @ 3.9%)
• Montée de l’Altiport de Megève 145.9 km (Cat 2: 19.2km @ 4.1%)

The intermediate sprint is at 123.8 km at Passy-Marlioz.

Tadej Pogačar (UAD – 001) [Yellow] 37h 11′ 28″
Wout Van Aert (TJV – 016) [Green] 284 Points
Simon Geschke (COF – 073) [Polka Dot] 19 points
Thomas Pidcock (IGD – 025) [White] 8

Stage winner: Magnus Cort Nielsen (EFN – 146)
Combative: Alberto Bettiol (EFN – 143 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Ineos Grenadiers ( IGD – 021-028 ) [Yellow numbers]

George Bennett (UAD – 002), Ben O’Connor (ACT – 031), Alexis Vuillermoz (TDE – 188), and Luke Durbridge (BEX – 203) were not able to recover from earlier injuries over the rest day and did not start. The climbs reduced Tadej Pogačar’s lead to 11 seconds. Lennard Kämna (BOH – 044) managed to make up an 8 and a half minute deficit and land just 11 seconds behind the leader.

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