Category — Le Tour

Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine

Distance: 194.5 kilometers.

A triple for Thomas Voeckler: Polka Dot Jersey, stage win, and most combative. This was a mountain stage [Category 2 – Côte de Corlier, intermediate sprint, Hors Catégorie – Col du Grand Colombie, and Category 3 – Col de Richemond] and he gave it his all – moving up 21 places from 52 to 31 in the General Classification.

Bradley Wiggins ( GB – SKY – 101 ) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) [Green] 232 points
Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 021 ) [Polka Dot] 28 points
Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 009 ) 10 [White]

Team: RadioShack-Nissan ( 011-019 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 021 )
Combative: Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 021 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Bradley Wiggins ( G B – SKY – 101 )
2 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 001 ) + 01′ 53”
3 Christopher Froome ( G B – SKY – 105 ) + 02′ 07”
4 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – LIQ – 051 ) + 02′ 23”
5 Denis Menchov ( Rus – KAT – 131 ) + 03′ 02”
6 Haimar Zubeldia ( Esp – RNT – 019 ) + 03′ 19”
7 Maxime Monfort ( Bel – RNT – 016 ) + 04′ 23”
8 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 111 ) + 04′ 48”
9 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 079 ) + 05′ 29”
10 Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 009 ) + 05′ 31”

The Rest of the Top 50:
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Arc-et-Senans to Besançon

Distance: 41.5 kilometers.

This stage is a pair of time trials, but with some hills to favor the stronger riders, rather than the pure sprinters.

Bradley Wiggins did it up right by holding on to the Yellow, winning the stage, and increasing his lead over Cadel Evans from 10 seconds to almost two minutes.

Tejay Van Gardeneren managed to win back the White by moving ahead of Rein Taaramae in the standings.

Bradley Wiggins ( GB – SKY – 101 ) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) [Green] 217 points
Fredrik Kessiakoff ( Swe – AST – 187 ) [Polka Dot] 21 points
Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 009 ) 8 [White]

Team: RadioShack-Nissan ( 011-019 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Bradley Wiggins ( GB – SKY – 101 )
Combative: [Not awarded for time trials.]

Top Ten:

1 Bradley Wiggins ( GB – SKY – 101 )
2 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 001 ) + 01′ 53”
3 Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 105 ) + 02′ 07”
4 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – LIQ – 051 ) + 02′ 23”
5 Denis Menchov ( Rus – KAT – 131 ) + 03′ 02”
6 Haimar Zubeldia ( Esp – RNT – 019 ) + 03′ 19”
7 Maxime Monfort ( Bel – RNT – 016 ) + 04′ 23”
8 Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 009 ) + 05′ 14”
9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 111 ) + 05′ 20”
10 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 079 ) + 05′ 29”

The Rest of the Top 50:
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Belfort to Porrentruy

Distance: 157.5 kilometers.

RadioShack-Nissan is in firm control of the Team category with 6 riders in the top 20. Sky has only managed to keep 4 riders in the top 50. Thibaut Pinot timed his move with precision to take the stage win, but Fredrik Kessiakoff won the race to the Polka Dots.

Three more riders are out, including Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi’s team leader.

This was definitely a stage for the climbers who faced in order: 4 – Côte de Bondeva, 3 – Côte du Passage de la Douleur, 2 – Côte de Maison-Rouge, 2 – Côte de Saignelégier, 2 – Côte de Saulcy, 2 – Côte de la Caquerelle, and 1 – Col de la Croix.

Tomorrow is a short day for time trials, and a rest day afterwards.

Bradley Wiggins ( GB – SKY – 101 ) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) [Green] 217 points
Fredrik Kessiakoff ( Swe – AST – 187 ) [Polka Dot] 21 points
Rein Taaramae ( Est – COF – 081 ) 4 [White]

Team: RadioShack-Nissan ( 011-019 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Thibaut Pinot ( Fra – FDJ – 146 )
Combative: Fredrik Kessiakoff ( Swe – AST – 187 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Bradley Wiggins ( G B – SKY – 101 )
2 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 001 ) + 00′ 10”
3 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – LIQ – 051 ) + 00′ 16”
4 Denis Menchov ( Rus – KAT – 131 ) + 00′ 54”
5 Haimar Zubeldia ( Esp – RNT – 019 ) + 00′ 59”
6 Christopher Froome ( G B – SKY – 105 ) + 01′ 32”
7 Maxime Monfort ( Bel – RNT – 016 ) + 02′ 08”
8 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 111 ) + 02′ 11”
9 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 079 ) + 02′ 21”
10 Rein Taaramae ( Est – COF – 081 ) + 02′ 27”

The Rest of the Top 50:
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Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles

Distance: 199 kilometers.

This is the first mountain stage and it features an intermediate sprint followed by two Category 3 climbs [Col de Grosse Pierre, Col du Mont de Fourche], and finishing with the Category 1, La Planche des Belles Filles. The difference is obvious from the wardrobe changes that you will see below, and the much larger deficits between riders.

Another change is the loss of 9 more riders, 8 of whom did not show up for the start, including the lead rider on the Garmin-Sharp team, Canadian Ryder Hesjedal.

Sky Procycling, OTOH, had a great day with Bradley Wiggins putting on Yellow and Christopher Froome winning the stage and the Polka Dots, while retaining the yellow numbers and helmets of the lead team.

Bradley Wiggins ( GB – SKY – 101 ) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) [Green] 217 points
Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 105 ) [Polka Dot] 20 points
Rein Taaramae ( Est – COF – 081 ) 4 [White]

Team: Sky Procycling ( 101-109 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 105 )
Combative: Luis-Leon Sanchez ( Esp – RAB – 155 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Bradley Wiggins ( G B – SKY – 101 )
2 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 001 ) + 00′ 10”
3 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – LIQ – 051 ) + 00′ 16”
4 Rein Taaramae ( Est – COF – 081 ) + 00′ 32”
5 Denis Menchov ( Rus – KAT – 131 ) + 00′ 54”
6 Haimar Zubeldia ( Esp – RNT – 019 ) + 00′ 59”
7 Maxime Monfort ( Bel – RNT – 016 ) + 01′ 09”
8 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 079 ) + 01′ 22”
9 Christopher Froome ( G B – SKY – 105 ) + 01′ 32”
10 Michael Rogers ( Aus – SKY – 108 ) + 01′ 40”

The Rest of the Top 50:
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Epernay to Metz

Distance: 205.0 kilometers.

What a difference a day, or zigging when you should have zagged can make:

The biggest talking point of the stage from Epernay to Metz will be the crash that took out half the peloton with 26km to go. Not only did it force at least three men to abandon the Tour but it caused the likes of Fränk Schleck, Pierre Rolland, Alejandro Valverde, Mark Cavendish and large number of others to lose significant time. The two big pre-race favorites for the general classification – Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins -survived the carnage near Gorze and so too did most of the sprint specialists with the notable exception of Mark Cavendish. While riders like Ryder Hesjedal limped to the finish nursing horrible wounds and moral[sic] that was shot to pieces because they’ve essentially been put out of contention for the yellow jersey even before the first mountain stages, there was still the battle for the prestige of a stage victory taking place up ahead. …

… it will be the casualties that this stage will be remembered for. Tom Danielson abandoned, Schleck, Valverde, and a host of others lost 2’09”; Gesink lost 3’31” and Hesjedal and others lost a massive 13’31”.

In the end four riders have pulled out: Wouter Poels ( Ned – VCD – 126 ), Thomas Danielson ( USA – GRS – 062 ), Davide Vigano ( Ita – LAM – 049 ), and Mikel Astarloza ( Esp – EUS – 032 ). More riders may fail to start tomorrow.

In other news, Peter Sagan managed to win the stage, his third win in this Tour. There was a Category 4 climb at 145 kilometers, Côte de Buxières, and an intermediate sprint, but the crash was the real story today

Fabian Cancellara (Sui-RNT-012) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) [Green] 209 points
Michael Morkov (Den-STB-175) [Polka Dot] 9 points
Tejay Van Garderen (USA-BMC-009) 4 [White]

Team: Sky Procycling ( 101-109 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057)
Combative: David Zabriskie ( USA – GRS – 069 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Fabian Cancellara ( Sui – RNT – 012 )
2 Bradley Wiggins ( G B – SKY – 101 ) + 00′ 07”
3 Sylvain Chavanel ( Fra – OPQ – 192 ) + 00′ 07”
4 Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 009 ) + 00′ 10”
5 Denis Menchov ( Rus – KAT – 131 ) + 00′ 13”
6 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 001 ) + 00′ 17”
7 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – LIQ – 051 ) + 00′ 18”
8 Peter Sagan ( Svk – LIQ – 057 ) + 00′ 19”
9 Andréas Klöden ( Ger – RNT – 015 ) + 00′ 19”
10 Maxime Monfort ( Bel – RNT – 016 ) + 00′ 22”

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Rouen to Saint-Quentin

Distance: 196.5 kilometers.

André Greipel has taken his second stage in a row to go one up in his private battle with Mark Cavendish. This will continue as this is a much flatter Tour than last year.

Marcel Kittel ( Ger – ARG – 211 ) withdrew before the start of the stage, so the field is down to 194 riders. He was obviously having problems yesterday as he was listed in the second to the last position which is not normal for a team’s number 1 rider.

Fabian Cancellara (Sui-RNT-012) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) [Green] 155 points
Michael Morkov (Den-STB-175) [Polka Dot] 9 points
Tejay Van Garderen (USA-BMC-009) 4 [White]

Team: Sky Procycling ( 101-109 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: André Greipel (Ger-LTB-114)
Combative: Matthieu Ladagnous ( Fra – FDJ – 144 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1. Fabian Cancellara (Sui-RNT-012)
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBr-SKY-101) + 07
3. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra-OPQ-192) +07
4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA-BMC-009) +10
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor-SKY-102) +11
6. Denis Menchov (Rus-KAT-131) +13
7. Cadel Evans (Aus-BMC-001) +17
8. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita-LIQ-051) +18
9. Ryder Hesjedal (Can-GRS=061) +18
10. Andréas Klöden (Ger-RNT-015) +19

The Rest of the Top 40:
[Read more →]

Abbeville to Rouen

Distance: 214.5 kilometers.

André Greipel took this stage, after getting out maneuvered by Mark Cavendish at the finish of Stage 2. Even though he is a constant threat to win stages, he is over 4 minutes back at 73^rd. It is very easy to lose time in the race, but extremely difficult to make it back. You have to break free of the peloton, the main group of riders, to make up time on them. The entire group gets the same time as the first person in the group to cross the finish.

Maarten Tjallingii (Ned-RAB-158) is the latest rider to withdraw, but most other things are generally unchanged.

Fabian Cancellara (Sui-RNT-012) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) [Green] 147 points
Michael Morkov (Den-STB-175) [Polka Dot] 9 points
Tejay Van Garderen (USA-BMC-009) 4 [White]

Team: Sky Procycling ( 101-109 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: André Greipel (Ger-LTB-114)
Combative: Arashiro Yukiya (Jpn–EUC – 022 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1. Fabian Cancellara (Sui-RNT-012)
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBr-SKY-101) + 07
3. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra-OPQ-192) +07
4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA-BMC-009) +10
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor-SKY-102) +11
6. Denis Menchov (Rus-KAT-131) +13
7. Cadel Evans (Aus-BMC-001) +17
8. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita-LIQ-051) +18
9. Ryder Hesjedal (Can-GRS=061) +18
10. Andréas Klöden (Ger-RNT-015) +19

Orchies to Boulogne-sur-Mer 197.0 kilometers.

Peter Sagan (Svk-LIQ-057) took his 2^nd stage win today, but because of the way time is recorded he is still in 15^th overall, 23 seconds behind Cancellara, who made his time in the Prologue time trial.

Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp-MOV-169) and Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr-SKY-109) are the first two riders out, withdrawing before the stage began. There were a number of accidents yesterday, and they may have been injured.

While the same people continue to wear the important jerseys, the top ten has changed. Philippe Gilbert (Bel-BMC-004) who was in 7^th has dropped to 104^th overall 7 minutes and 58 seconds back.

The new top ten:

1. CANCELLARA Fabian (Sui-RNT-012)
2. WIGGINS Bradley (GBr-SKY-101) + 07
3. CHAVANEL Sylvain (Fra-OPQ-192) +07
4. VAN GARDEREN Tejay (USA-BMC-009) +10
5. BOASSON HAGEN Edvald (Nor-SKY-102) +11
6. MENCHOV Denis (Rus-KAT-131) +13
7. EVANS Cadel (Aus-BMC-001) +17
8. NIBALI Vincenzo (Ita-LIQ-051) +18
9. HESJEDAL Ryder (Can-GRS=061) +18
10. KLÖDEN Andréas (Ger-RNT-015) +19

At the end of the second stage, Visé to Tournai 207.5 Kilometers, none of the jerseys changed backs, and the top ten remains the same.

It wasn’t boring because the Supermanx, Mark Cavendish of the Isle of Man, is still piling up stage wins. He waited until the leaders were past the 250-meters-to-go point, and zipped in for his 21^st stage win. He isn’t winning based on pure speed, he just knows when to make his final sprint to edge out everyone else.

I’m messing around with multiple computers which limits my time, so I wasn’t very good at ‘finding the REAL official site’. It wasn’t the site that dealt with results last year, and looked like it was set to do it again this year. Nor was it the site linked to by the BBC. They have an all new site that they are actually updating, but in a totally different format so that none of my spreadsheets will work without a lot of screwing around.

I will get it done, but it will take a while.

In the meantime, at the end of the first stage Fabian Cancellara is in the Yellow Jersey he won in the Prologue time trial, and holds the lead among sprinters, but the stage winner, Peter Sagan, is wearing the Green Jersey. Michael Morkov is the first to don the Polka Dots, while Tejay Van garderen won the right to the White in yesterday’s time trials.

Sky is the first team to put on the Yellow Helmets, something new this year, as the leading team.

The top 10 are:

1. CANCELLARA
2. WIGGINS +07 seconds
3. CHAVANEL +07
4. VAN GARDEREN +10
5. BOASSON HAGEN +11
6. MENCHOV +13
7. GILBERT +13
8. EVANS +17
9. NIBALI +18
10. HESJEDAL +18

The race starts on 30 June with a Prologue in Liege, Belgium and will finish on 22 July in Paris, so I thought I should explain some of what I’ll be ranting about.

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 is very good at the sprints and the hill climbing, even if they aren’t the best. Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, and Fabian Cancellara are “all-arouders”, showing up on the lists of the sprinters and the climbers, while staying in the top ten for overall time. Cadel Evans of Australia is last year’s winner. He started racing mountain bikes, so he has the all-around talents.

[Read more →]

The ABC reports the two year suspension of Alberto Contador of Spain from cycling and the loss of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d’Italia wins. Contador will not be eligible for the Olympics or this year’s Tour.

They didn’t buy his story about the steroids being in the meat he was eating during the race.

Alberto, that is Mexico [and probably the US for all we know], not France. The French get upset with people who mess with their food [unlike the US where they get subsidies]

In the world of sled dog racing ‘The Eagle Bites’ –

Mike Ellis and his beautiful Siberian Huskies are out of the race. Coming down Eagle Mike leaned a little to far to steer away from some trees, and got slammed into an ice patch, separating his shoulder. He managed to pop his arm back into the socket, but there is no way he can care for the team with the pain involved, so he scratched at Central. Mike and Sue’s Siberians are acknowledged to be the best looking team in any race.

Dave Dalton is still in, but he got slammed into the ice and was winching from bruised ribs at Central. Water gets very hard below 32°.

Rookie Misha Pedersen had a different sort of problem – one of her team pulled a Houdini on Eagle to look around the neighborhood, and she was put on hold until the dog was located. The musher is responsible for the team, and you can’t check in without every dog that left the previous check point.

There were a lot of people repairing sleds after coming down Eagle Summit.

That’s all of the important sports news … 😈

Creteil – Paris

Distance: 95.0 kilometers.

This is the parade into Paris along the Champs Elyees.

Cadel Evans is the first Australian and, at 34, the oldest rider to win the Tour in nearly nine decades [1923]. No word if he asked for a beer instead of champagne at the start of the stage. He has been on the verge of winning for several years, only to be injured in accidents.

Mark Cavendish won his fifth stage on the Tour this year and his third consecutive win in Paris. Mark moves into a tie for sixth place in the all time rankings with his 20^th win. Thor Hushovd, who has now won 10 stages, is the only active rider who is even close.

Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 ) [Yellow] 86h 12′ 22″
Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 ) [Green] 334 points
Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 021 ) [Polka Dot] 108 points
Pierre Rolland ( Fra – EUC – 188 ) 11 [White]
Φ Fabio Sabatini ( Ita – LIQ – 097 ) + 3h 57′ 43″ [La Lanterne Rouge]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 )
Super Combative: Jérémy Roy ( Fra – FDJ – 138 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 3,430.0 kilometers [2,131.3 miles] at an average speed of 39.8 kph [24.7 mph].

THE ENTIRE LIST OF FINISHERS:
[Read more →]

Grenoble

Distance: 42.5 kilometers.

The individual time trials are on tap today in a loop out from Grenoble. With less than a minute separating the top three in the general classification, people will be pushing it, especially Cadel Evans of Australia.

Tony Martin won the trials, but Cadel was only 7 seconds behind in second, and Alberto came in third at + 1′ 06″. Andy Schleck has to settle for second … again.

I saw a presentation on the bike that Cadel rode for the time trials. Wonderful piece of carbon fiber, and you can buy one for only €12,000 [$17,240 US – plus tax, tag, title, transportation, dealer prep]. Remember, it’s almost lighter than the cash it takes to pay for it, so even a small child can carry it.

Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 ) [Yellow] 83h 45′ 20″
Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 ) [Green] 280 points
Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 021 ) [Polka Dot] 108 points
Pierre Rolland ( Fra – EUC – 188 ) 11 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Tony Martin ( Ger – THR – 175 )
Combative: [Not awarded for time trial.]

They’ve gone 3,335.0 kilometers [2,072.3 miles] at an average speed of 39.8 kph [24.7 mph] →.

OVERALL STANDINGS:
[Read more →]