Yesterdays stage was the most dramatic so far in the Tour with so many 'highs and lows' ! Please excuse the pun!
The stage was all about the domestiques Christopher Froome 'The White Kenyan' and TJ Vangarderen (Tejay) the American who both outshone their Team Leaders Wiggo and Cadel!
Things really got interesting on the second climb of the day (The Madeleine and the Croix de Fer, which is tackled via the Glandon,) after a breakaway had escaped and then TJ attacked and escaped the Wiggo group, you knew BMC were setting things up for Cadel to attack and when he did I yelled out in excitement which I never do watching hours of Le Tour coverage!
Cadel exploded away caught TJ and then they tried to work together to increase the gap to Wiggo.
Only Cadel wasn't strong enough to keep up with TJ!
The attack maxed out at 20secs which was exciting enough!
It proved Wiggo did not have the explosive power in the mountains that say the likes of the Schleck's have or Lance or Contadore had!
In fact I never remember seeing Cadel attack like that though Mckenzie and Tomilaris reminded us about The Worlds a couple of years ago when Cadel attacked and won!
The work that the Sky team put in all day specially Rodgers, who is riding with such vigor this year, was amazing.
Eventually the only 'trusted lieutenant ' left for Wiggo was Christopher Froome and he steadily worked his way back to Cadel and TJ before they crested the Glandon.
On the last ascent - La Toussuire - Les Sybelles,
you knew Nibali would attack and you knew Cadel did not have the legs to survive
so you feared the worst!
When Nibali did finally attack with about 12km to go it was very impressive , he gapped Wiggos group and the excitement just built and built.
But it was the White Kenyan - Froome who steadily worked Wiggo back up to Nibali and in the process dropped Cadel.
TJ stayed with his teamleader even though he was clearly capable of riding off the front on the day.
Then we saw the moment that told us The White Kenyan is a future Tour winner!
Froome attacked and gapped Wiggo and Nebali with such ease that Wiggo got left stranded on his own until the call came over the radio for Froome to stop and wait for Wiggo.
So what an insight into future winners of the Tour this stage provided.
Next year Froome but he might have to be in another strong team as Wiggo is without doubt a hugely strong performer and has the edge on TT.
Tomblaine / La Planche des Belles Filles Froome show his power on the toughest section on monster wall!
Tejay at 23 years of age will assume team-leadership at BMC as Cadel will retire and should be capable of winning the Tour within two years!
Froome does all the donkey work for Wiggo and still manages to outperform him on yesterdays stage! Here they drop Cadel
The stage was all about the domestiques Christopher Froome 'The White Kenyan' and TJ Vangarderen (Tejay) the American who both outshone their Team Leaders Wiggo and Cadel!
Things really got interesting on the second climb of the day (The Madeleine and the Croix de Fer, which is tackled via the Glandon,) after a breakaway had escaped and then TJ attacked and escaped the Wiggo group, you knew BMC were setting things up for Cadel to attack and when he did I yelled out in excitement which I never do watching hours of Le Tour coverage!
Cadel exploded away caught TJ and then they tried to work together to increase the gap to Wiggo.
Only Cadel wasn't strong enough to keep up with TJ!
The attack maxed out at 20secs which was exciting enough!
It proved Wiggo did not have the explosive power in the mountains that say the likes of the Schleck's have or Lance or Contadore had!
In fact I never remember seeing Cadel attack like that though Mckenzie and Tomilaris reminded us about The Worlds a couple of years ago when Cadel attacked and won!
The work that the Sky team put in all day specially Rodgers, who is riding with such vigor this year, was amazing.
Eventually the only 'trusted lieutenant ' left for Wiggo was Christopher Froome and he steadily worked his way back to Cadel and TJ before they crested the Glandon.
On the last ascent - La Toussuire - Les Sybelles,
you knew Nibali would attack and you knew Cadel did not have the legs to survive
so you feared the worst!
When Nibali did finally attack with about 12km to go it was very impressive , he gapped Wiggos group and the excitement just built and built.
But it was the White Kenyan - Froome who steadily worked Wiggo back up to Nibali and in the process dropped Cadel.
TJ stayed with his teamleader even though he was clearly capable of riding off the front on the day.
Then we saw the moment that told us The White Kenyan is a future Tour winner!
Froome attacked and gapped Wiggo and Nebali with such ease that Wiggo got left stranded on his own until the call came over the radio for Froome to stop and wait for Wiggo.
So what an insight into future winners of the Tour this stage provided.
Next year Froome but he might have to be in another strong team as Wiggo is without doubt a hugely strong performer and has the edge on TT.
Tejay at 23 years of age will assume team-leadership at BMC as Cadel will retire and should be capable of winning the Tour within two years!
TEJAY
Wiggo and Nibali showing respect for each other
