Category — Le Tour

Today’s front page on the Tour site.

Bourg-St-Andéol to La Caverne

Distance: 37.5 kilometers.

An individual time trial that is reportedly as close as possible to the Olympic course in Rio.

Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) [Yellow] 58h 02′ 51″
Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Green] 309 points
Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 ) [Polka Dot] 89 points
Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) 3 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Tom Dumoulin ( NED – TGA – 114 )

Top 30:
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Montpellier to Mont Ventoux

Distance: 184 kilometers.

The first two-thirds of this stage are totally flat, but then things get interesting. The first climb is the Cat 4 Côte de Gordes followed quickly by the Cat 3 Col de Trois Termes, then a short bit of level ground before the HC climb to a summit finish on Mont Ventoux.

Race officials have announced a change: “Due to the weather conditions forecasted by Météo France atop the Mont Ventoux with gusts of wind likely to exceed 100km/h, Tour de France organizers have decided to modify the finale of stage 12 in order to guarantee optimal safety conditions.”

Thomas De Gendt had a good day: he won the stage, the Polka Dots, and the Red Numbers.

Chris Frome did not: “What a final. In the final kilometre, the moto braked suddenly in front of us, and Richie [Porte ( AUS – BMC – 091 )], Bauke [Mollema ( NED – TFS – 061 )] and I crashed into it, and then the moto behind me ran over my bike and broke it,” Froome said. “I said to myself ‘I have no bike’. And I knew the car with my bike was 5 minutes behind on the road, so I need to run.”

The decision of the race officials was to award the riders their time before the accident, which kept Frome in Yellow. The fans are causing a lot of chaos this year.

Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) [Yellow] 57h 11′ 33″
Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Green] 309 points
Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 ) [Polka Dot] 89 points
Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) 2 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 )
Combative: Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 )
2 Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) + 00′ 47″
3 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 54″
4 Bauke Mollema ( NED – TFS – 061 ) + 00′ 56″
5 Romain Bardet ( FRA – ALM – 041 ) + 01′ 15″
6 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 01′ 32″
7 Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 099 ) + 01′ 32″
8 Fabio Aru ( ITA – AST – 021 ) + 01′ 54″
9 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 01′ 56″
10 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( ESP – KAT – 141 ) + 02′ 11″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Carcassonne to Montpellier

Distance: 162.5 kilometers.

A mostly flat stage with a pair of Cat 4 climbs at the beginning. The problems can arise from high temperatures and crosswinds.

The finish turned out to be a sprint between Peter Sagan and Chris Frome. Peter won, but Chris added to his overall lead. This is the second time in this race that Chris has done the unexpected. The other contenders are getting nervous.

Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) [Yellow] 52h 34′ 37″
Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Green] 309 points
Thibaut Pinot ( FRA – FDL – 121 ) [Polka Dot] 80 points
Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) 2 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 )
Combative: Arthur Vichot ( FRA – FDL – 129 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 )
2 Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) + 00′ 28″
3 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 00′ 31″
4 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 35″
5 Bauke Mollema ( NED – TFS – 061 ) + 00′ 56″
6 Romain Bardet ( FRA – ALM – 041 ) + 00′ 56″
7 Sergio Luis Henao ( COL – SKY – 002 ) + 00′ 56″
8 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 01′ 13″
9 Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 099 ) + 01′ 13″
10 Roman Kreuziger ( CZE – TNK – 036 ) + 01′ 28″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Escaldes-Engordany to Revel

Distance: 197 kilometers.

A transition stage that crosses the border back into France. It starts with a Cat 1 climb over the highest point in this year’s Tour, the 2408 meter Port d’Envalirat. Near the end of the stage is the Cat 3 Côte de Saint-Ferréol. The rest day won’t help a lot.

Australian Michael Matthews won his first TDF stage as team mates set him to beat Peter Sagan in the sprint at the end. If you see a few of these endings you get a feeling for the work of lead off riders to set up their sprinter to take and hold the lead.

Sebastian Langeveld had to give up. While they haven’t all been as spectacular as the fall of the inflatable arch on Stage 7, there have been crashes on every stage that left riders hurting. I thought the climb at the start would have taken out more riders.

Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) [Yellow] 49h 08′ 20″
Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Green] 242 points
Thibaut Pinot ( FRA – FDL – 121 ) [Polka Dot] 80 points
Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) 2 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Michael Matthews ( AUS – OBE – 207 )
Combative: Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 )
2 Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) + 00′ 16″
3 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 00′ 19″
4 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 23″
5 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( ESP – KAT – 141 ) + 00′ 37″
6 Bauke Mollema ( NED – TFS – 061 ) + 00′ 44″
7 Romain Bardet ( FRA – ALM – 041 ) + 00′ 44″
8 Sergio Luis Henao ( COL – SKY – 002 ) + 00′ 44″
9 Louis Meintjes ( RSA – LAM – 157 ) + 00′ 55″
10 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 01′ 01″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Vielha Val D’Aran to Arcalís

Distance: 184.5 kilometers.

A mountain stage that crosses the border into Andorra for the last three climbs and the summit finish: Cat 1 Port de la Bonalgua, Cat 1 Port del Cantó, Cat 2 Côte de la Comella, Cat 1 Col de Belxalis, and the Hors Catégorie finish in Arcalis.

The four withdrawals are the result of earlier injuries catching up with people on a stage with some long climbs, high temperatures that finished in a deluge. Alberto Contador took a spill on the first stage and has been coming back very slowly.

This was Tom Dumoulin’s first stage win on the Tour.

Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) [Yellow] 44h 36′ 03″
Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 ) [Green] 204 points
Thibaut Pinot ( FRA – FDL – 121 ) [Polka Dot] 80 points
Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) 2 [White]

Team: Movistar Team ( MOV – 011-019 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Tom Dumoulin ( NED – TGA – 114 )
Combative: Tom Dumoulin ( NED – TGA – 114 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 )
2 Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) + 00′ 16″
3 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 00′ 19″
4 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 23″
5 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( ESP – KAT – 141 ) + 00′ 37″
6 Romain Bardet ( FRA – ALM – 041 ) + 00′ 44″
7 Bauke Mollema ( NED – TFS – 061 ) + 00′ 44″
8 Sergio Luis Henao ( COL – SKY – 002 ) + 00′ 44″
9 Louis Meintjes ( RSA – LAM – 157 ) + 00′ 55″
10 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 01′ 01″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon

Distance: 184 kilometers.

This is a real mountain stage with the Hors Catégorie, literally “without category”, Col du Tourmalet, Cat 2 Hourquette d”Ancizan, Cat 1 Col de Val Louron-Azet, and Cat 1 Col de Peyresourde. Lots of Polka Dot points available.

Chris Froome won the stage and the Yellow Jersey in a very unusual fashion for him – going downhill. Normally Chris breaks away on the climb, but a win is a win.

Michael Morkov had to withdraw from the race. He got banged up in a stage one crash and the mountains finished him off. He is the first rider out of this years race, which is very unusual. Normally several riders would have been lost by Stage 8.

Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) [Yellow] 39h 13′ 04″
Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 ) [Green] 204 points
Rafal Majka ( POL – TNK – 037 ) [Polka Dot] 31 points
Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) 2 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 )
Combative: Thibaut Pinot ( FRA – FDL – 121 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 )
2 Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) + 00′ 16″
3 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( ESP – KAT – 141 ) + 00′ 16″
4 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 00′ 17″
5 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 00′ 19″
6 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 23″
7 Fabio Aru ( ITA – AST – 021 ) + 00′ 23″
8 Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 099 ) + 00′ 23″
9 Romain Bardet ( FRA – ALM – 041 ) + 00′ 23″
10 Bauke Mollema ( NED – TFS – 061 ) + 00′ 23″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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l’Isle Jourdain to Lac de Payolle

Distance: 162.5 kilometers.

The start of 3 days in the Pyrennes with a cat 4 warm-up for the cat 1 Col d’Aspin near the end and a mad dash to the finish.

It turned out Stephen Cummings broke clear and finished alone taking the fourth stage win for Dimension Data. Adam Yates had a tougher finish when one of the inflated arches near the finish, deflated and caused him to crash. It took a ruling by race officials to give him the finishing time he deserved and the White Jersey.

Greg Van Avermaet ( BEL – BMC – 098 ) [Yellow] 34h 13′ 40″
Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 ) [Green] 204 points
Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 ) [Polka Dot] 13 points
Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) 2 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Stephen Cummings ( GBR – DDD – 104 )
Combative: Vincenzo Nibali ( ITA – AST – 022 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Greg Van Avermaet ( BEL – BMC – 098 )
2 Adam Yates ( GBR – OBE – 209 ) + 05′ 50″
3 Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) + 05′ 51″
4 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 05′ 53″
5 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( ESP – KAT – 141 ) + 05′ 54″
6 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) + 05′ 57″
7 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 05′ 57″
8 Warren Barguil ( FRA – TGA – 111 ) + 05′ 57″
9 Pierre Rolland ( FRA – CDT – 081 ) + 05′ 57″
10 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 05′ 57″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Arpajon-sur-Cère to Montauban

Distance: 190.5 kilometers.

A transition stage that will help the sprinters regain some of the time they lost today. There are climbs, 3, 4, & 3, but the heat will probably be a bigger problem.

Supermanx, Mark Cavendish, took sole position of second place for career stage wins with 29 with today’s win and got the Green Jersey back, but the climbers are about to get their chance at fame.

Greg Van Avermaet ( BEL – BMC – 098 ) [Yellow] 30h 18′ 38″
Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 ) [Green] 204 points
Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 ) [Polka Dot] 13 points
Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) 2 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 )
Combative: Yukiya Arashiro ( JPN – LAM – 152 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Greg Van Avermaet ( BEL – BMC – 098 )
2 Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) + 05′ 11″
3 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 05′ 13″
4 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( ESP – KAT – 141 ) + 05′ 14″
5 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) + 05′ 17″
6 Warren Barguil ( FRA – TGA – 111 ) + 05′ 17″
7 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 05′ 17″
8 Pierre Rolland ( FRA – CDT – 081 ) + 05′ 17″
9 Fabio Aru ( ITA – AST – 021 ) + 05′ 17″
10 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 05′ 17″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Limoges to Le Lioran

Distance: 216 kilometers.

The first serious climbing/mountain stage with category 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, and a 3 at the finish. The Polka Dot is up for the taking.

Greg Van Avermaet went from 20^th, 18 seconds behind the leader, to 5 minutes 11 seconds ahead of Julian Alaphilippe in second place. Peter Sagan dropped to 76^th place, 23 minutes 37 seconds back.

Greg Van Avermaet ( BEL – BMC – 098 ) [Yellow] 25h 34′ 46″
Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Green] 150 points
Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 ) [Polka Dot] 13 points
Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) 2 [White]

Team: BMC Racing Team ( BMC – 091-099 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Greg Van Avermaet ( BEL – BMC – 098 )
Combative: Thomas De Gendt ( BEL – LTS – 163 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Greg Van Avermaet ( BEL – BMC – 098 )
2 Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) + 05′ 11″
3 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 05′ 13″
4 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( ESP – KAT – 141 ) + 05′ 14″
5 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) + 05′ 17″
6 Warren Barguil ( FRA – TGA – 111 ) + 05′ 17″
7 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 05′ 17″
8 Fabio Aru ( ITA – AST – 021 ) + 05′ 17″
9 Pierre Rolland ( FRA – CDT – 081 ) + 05′ 17″
10 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 05′ 17″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Saumur to Limoges

Distance: 237.5 kilometers.

This the longest stage on this year’s Tour as far as just distance is concerned, but there are several other stages that will definitely take a lot more time, yesterday’s stage with the climb at the end, for example.

Peter Sagan is actually ahead of Mark Cavendish in points after today, but Mark is wearing the Green Jersey because Peter is wearing the Yellow

Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Yellow] 20h 03′ 02″
Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 ) [Green] 147 points (Worn by)
Jasper Stuyven ( BEL – TFS – 067 ) [Polka Dot] 4 points
Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) 2 [White]

Team: Orica-Bikeexchange ( OBE – 201-209 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Marcel Kittel ( GER – EQS – 181 )
Combative: Oliver Naesen ( BEL – IAM – 078 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 )
2 Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) + 00′ 12″
3 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 00′ 14″
4 Warren Barguil ( FRA – TGA – 111 ) + 00′ 18″
5 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) + 00′ 18″
6 Roman Kreuziger ( CZE – TNK – 036 ) + 00′ 18″
7 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 18″
8 Fabio Aru ( ITA – AST – 021 ) + 00′ 18″
9 Michael Matthews ( AUS – OBE – 207 ) + 00′ 18″
10 Pierre Rolland ( FRA – CDT – 081 ) + 00′ 18″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Granville to Angers

Distance: 223.5 kilometers.

So far with the exception of the finish yesterday [200 meters with a 14% gradient into Cherbourg] the first three stages have been for sprinters. The start has been good news for Mark Cavendish who wore the Yellow for the first time after stage one, and today managed to take his second stage win of this Tour and tie with 5-time TDF winner Bernard Hinault for career wins with 28. Eddy Merckx of Belgium is in first place with 32 stage wins.

Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 ) [Yellow] 14h 34′ 36”
Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 ) [Green] 123 points
Jasper Stuyven ( BEL – TFS – 067 ) [Polka Dot] 4 points
Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) 2 [White]

Team: Orica-Bikeexchange ( OBE – 201-209 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish ( GBR – DDD – 101 )
Combative: Thomas Voeckler ( FRA – DEN – 179 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Peter Sagan ( SVK – TNK – 032 )
2 Julian Alaphilippe ( FRA – EQS – 182 ) + 00′ 08″
3 Alejandro Valverde ( ESP – MOV – 012 ) + 00′ 10″
4 Christopher Froome ( GBR – SKY – 001 ) + 00′ 14″
5 Warren Barguil ( FRA – TGA – 111 ) + 00′ 14″
6 Nairo Quintana ( COL – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 14″
7 Roman Kreuziger ( CZE – TNK – 036 ) + 00′ 14″
8 Tony Gallopin ( FRA – LTS – 165 ) + 00′ 14″
9 Fabio Aru ( ITA – AST – 021 ) + 00′ 14″
10 Daniel Martin ( IRL – EQS – 184 ) + 00′ 14″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

As always, here are the Tour basics if you want to follow along. The Tour started on July 2nd, but I’ve been tied up with other things and couldn’t handle the daily updates.

The cartoon characters from my header are wearing the various colored jerseys that indicate the leader in the different classifications in the race.

The Maillot Jaune, Yellow Jersey is worn by the rider with the lowest time overall in the race. The eventual winner of the race may never have come in first in any stage, but was near the lead throughout the race and achieved the lowest time over the entire course of the event. The winner is normally an “all-arounder”, someone who is very good at the sprints and the hill climbing, even if they aren’t the best. Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, and Fabian Cancellara are “all-arounders”, showing up on the lists of the sprinters and the climbers, while staying in the top ten for overall time.

[Read more →]

So I finished June by editing and formatting input for a long time client. The data cost an absurd amount of money and it was really garbage.

I barely got that shipped when a tenant had major plumbing problems. I managed to locate a problem with the drain for the central air conditioning and can report that not everyone can repair everything with duct tape. Then it was installing a new wax seal on the toilet, as should have been done when the toilet was removed to install different flooring in the bathroom. The real problem required cutting a series of holes in the wall to find a leaking hot water pipe.

As a result of those annoyances I lacked the time to create a post for the start of Le Tour de France, which ran 188 kilometers from Mont Saint Michel to Utah Beach Sainte Marie du Mont. Mont Saint Michel is the mountain and fortress just off the coast that is reached by a causeway and Utah Beach was one of the D-Day landing sites in World War II. I will catch up, but it will take a couple of days create the necessary spreadsheets.

Sèvres – Grand Paris Seine Ouest – Paris Champs-Élysées

Distance: 109.5 kilometers.

The final stage, which, by gentlemen’s agreement features no attacks, but a group sprint on the nineth and final circuit on the Champs Élysées. It becomes a parade of the survivors of the race that preceded it.

Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 031 ) [Yellow] 84h 46′ 14″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – TCS – 047 ) [Green] 432 points
Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 031 ) [Polka Dot] 119 points
Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas ( Col – MOV – 051 ) 2 [White]

Team: Movistar Team ( MOV – 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: André Greipel ( Ger – LTS – 075 )
Super Combative: Romain Bardet ( Fra – ALM – 012 ) [Red numbers]
Φ Sébastien Chavanel ( Fra – FDJ – 023 ) + 4h 56′ 59″ [La Lanterne Rouge]

In a repeat of 2013 Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana finished 1-2. Chris was born and raised in the Nairobi highlands, and Nairo in the highlands of Colombia. Growing up at altitude means you have larger lungs and more efficient oxygen use than ‘flatlanders’ which is why they were also 1&2 for the Polka Dot [King of the Mountains] Jersey. No one born and raised on the Florida Panhandle will ever win the Tour.

The Tour is over and, quel dommage!, I haven’t been able to follow it I wanted to and usually do. If you don’t do all of the ground work and build the data bases and spreadsheets before the race starts, it is hard to keep up.