Category — Le Tour

Albi > Toulouse

Distance: 167 kilometers.

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

• Côte de Tonnac 32 km (cat 3: 3.6km @ 4.9%)
• Côte de Castelnau-de-Montmiral 77 km (cat 4: 2.5km @ 3.8%)

The intermediate sprint is at 87 km, Gaillac, and it’s rolling hills to the finish.

No one has won two stages in this Tour. There have been ten different stage winners to this point and the trend will probably continue as we are approaching the major mountain stages.

The route on this stage took the peloton from four-lane to high crowned, single lanes in the country. There were traffic circles and concrete medians to catch the inattentive. I understand “it’s traditional”, but the Iditarod does a better job of marking the route. In the midst of this they add official team cars and media motorcycles to annoy the riders.

Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) [Yellow] 47h 18′ 41″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 257 Points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 43 points
Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) [White] 3

Stage winner: Caleb Ewan ( Aus – LTS – 161 )
Combative: Aime De Gendt ( Bel – WGB – 193 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Movistar Team ( MOV – 061-068 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top 30 below the fold
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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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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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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:
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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:
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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:
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Reims > Nancy

Distance: 213.5 kilometers.

This entire stage is in France and it is classified as “flat”. The riders spend 121 kilometers on fairly flat terrain before the cat 4 Côte de Rosières (1 km 7% grade). More flat to 147 km and the intermediate sprint at Lérouville. You continue on to 198.5 km and the cat 4 Côte de Maron (3.2 km 5% grade). Expect a bunch sprint at the finish.

A fine example of teamwork at the end when Julian Alaphilippe of DQT took the lead setting up fellow team member Elia Viviani to take the stage. Viviani is the team sprinter and had the energy to win while Alaphilippe wasn’t sure of himself. The process in sprinting is to have other team members “break trail” and pull the lead sprinter in their draft so he can conserve energy for the finish. Drafting works the same in bicycling as it does in NASCAR.

Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) [Yellow] 14h 41′ 39″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 104 points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 7 points
Wout Van Aert ( Bel – TJV – 088 ) [White] 2

Stage winner: Elia Viviani ( Ita – DQT – 028 )
Combative: Michael Schär ( Swi – CCC – 117 ) [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′ 20″
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 Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – CCC – 111 ) + 00h 00′ 51″
10 Michael Woods ( Can – EF1 – 098 ) + 00h 00′ 51″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Binche > Épernay

Distance: 215 kilometers.

This stage actually includes some racing in France. It is classified as “hilly”. The riders spend 102 kilometers cruising the hills before hitting the intermediate sprint at Dizy-le-Gros. Then there are more hills for 73 kilometers, when it is time for the chamois in the race to get busy: 173 km cat 4 Côte de Nanteuil-la-Forêt, 185.5 km cat 3 Côte d’Hautvillers, 190 km cat 3 Côte de Champillon, and 199 km cat 3+ Côte de Mutigny (the final 900 meters are a 12.2% grade). Not a lot of Polka Dot points, but the real climbing is later in this year’s Tour, so the climbers will want all they can get.

Julian Alaphilippe is “the first Frenchman in the lead of the Tour de France since Tony Gallopin in 2014.” according to the official site. He was with Tim Wellens’s break-away and launched his individual effort when Wellens had a flat tire after cresting Côte de Mutigny

Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 ) [Yellow] 09h 32′ 19″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 76 points
Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [Polka Dot] 7 points
Wout Van Aert ( Bel – TJV – 088 ) [White] 2

Stage winner: Julian Alaphilippe ( Fra – DQT – 021 )
Combative: Tim Wellens ( Bel – LTS – 168 ) [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′ 20″
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 Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – CCC – 111 ) + 00h 00′ 51″
10 Wilco Kelderman ( Ned – SUN – 146 ) + 00h 00′ 51″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Bruxelles Palais Royal > Brussel Atomium

Distance: 27.6 kilometers.

The team time trial from the palace over to the site of the 1958 World’s Fair with its distinctive sculpture of a molecule.

Strong showing for the Dutch team in the first two stages. Alas, it couldn’t help the Netherlands Football team in the World Cup final in Lyon.

Mike Teunissen ( Ned – TJV – 087 ) [Yellow] 04h 51′ 34″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 50 points
Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – CCC – 111 ) [Polka Dot] 2 points
Wout Van Aert ( Bel – TJV – 088 ) [White] 2

Team: Team Jumbo – Visma ( TJV – 081-088 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top Ten:
1 Mike Teunissen ( Ned – TJV – 087 ) –
2 Wout Van Aert ( Bel – TJV – 088 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
3 Steven Kruijswijk ( Ned – TJV – 081 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
4 Tony Martin ( Ger – TJV – 086 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
5 George Bennett ( NZl – TJV – 082 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
6 Gianni Moscon ( Ita – INS – 005 ) + 00h 00′ 30″
7 Egan Bernal ( Col – INS – 002 ) + 00h 00′ 30″
8 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – INS – 001 ) + 00h 00′ 30″
9 Dylan Van Baarle ( Ned – INS – 008 ) + 00h 00′ 30″
10 Elia Viviani ( Ita – DQT – 028 ) + 00h 00′ 31″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Brussels – Brussels

Distance: 194.5 kilometers.

A generally level stage that starts and ends in Brussels the capital of Belgium. There are two minor challenges for the Polka Dot Jersey, the category 3 Mur de Grammont (43.5 km) followed quickly by the category 4 Bosberg (47.5 km). The intermediate sprint takes place at Les Bons Villers (125 km) for the Green Jersey. The course then continues through small villages including Waterloo on the way back to Brussels.

Mike Teunissen ( Ned – TJV – 087 ) [Yellow] 04h 22′ 37”
Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) [Green] 50 points
Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – CCC – 111 ) [Polka Dot] 2 points
Caleb Ewan ( Aus – LTS – 161 ) 3 [White]

Stage winner: Mike Teunissen ( Ned – TJV – 087 )
Combative: Stéphane Rossetto ( Fra – COF – 157 ) [Red numbers]
Team: Team Jumbo – Visma ( TJV – 081-088 ) [Yellow numbers]

Top Ten:
1 Mike Teunissen ( Ned – TJV – 087 ) –
2 Peter Sagan ( Svk – BOH – 011 ) + 00h 00′ 04″
3 Caleb Ewan ( Aus – LTS – 161 ) + 00h 00′ 06″
4 Giacomo Nizzolo ( Ita – TDD – 207 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
5 Sonny Colbrelli ( Ita – TBM – 043 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
6 Michael Matthews ( Aus – SUN – 141 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
7 Matteo Trentin ( Ita – MTS – 107 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
8 Oliver Naesen ( Bel – ALM – 037 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
9 Elia Viviani ( Ita – DQT – 028 ) + 00h 00′ 10″
10 Jasper Stuyven ( Bel – TFS – 138 ) + 00h 00′ 10″

The Rest of the Top 30:
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Cycling News has their race preview. The best way to understand the appeal of this race is to be there and watch nearly 200 riders tear through a small village at absurd speed on a road designed for horse-drawn carts.

For a different take the BBC have a rider doing the honors: Tour de France stage guide – Adam Yates profiles the 21 stages of the 2019 race.

The teams, their abbreviations, and their riders’ bib numbers:

Updated.

As always, here are the Tour basics if you want to follow along. The Tour starts on July 6^th in Brussels, Belgium for the first two stages.

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.

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Geraint Thomas crash: Defending champion will be fit for Tour de France

Defending champion Geraint Thomas says he will be fit to take part in the Tour de France despite crashing out of the Tour of Switzerland and being taken to hospital on Tuesday.

Team Ineos said the Welshman suffered “abrasions to his shoulder and a cut above his right eye”, but the 33-year-old escaped serious injury.

…

Thomas is expected to lead Team Ineos at the Tour de France after team-mate Chris Froome was badly injured in crash at the Criterium du Dauphine last week, ruling him out of action for at least six months.

Team Ineos is last year’s Team Sky. Sky Network dropped sponsorship after being bought by Comcast. They are a very talented team that has apparently used up their share of luck.