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.
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!
TEJAY
Wiggo and Nibali showing respect for each other
4 comments:
Nice report Master, although by the time i had finished reading the Tour was almost over - tell you are not working.
hope the recovery is all going well.
cheers
Crikey David, only just caught up on the news of your near death experience on the bike! I ride alot too and can see how that one happened! You had a lucky escape there...take care, take time to recover and put a speed limiter on your replacement bike! Philippe of Luxembourg
My tribute to Dave - based on the Offspring song
You gotta keep your bowel vacated
No more running on the footpath
-too many running injuries
Dave Sweeney peddling his way to fitness
Through North Lakes with great ease
The locals are not ready for this Tour de France locale
And if they dont see you riding then it's all over pal
If one SUV does not give way to you
You’re gonna smash it up, smash it up, smash it up, smash it up
Hey, you got some pain relief for me?
But watch out
It will get you constipated
Hey, you got some pain relief for me
But watch out
It will get you constipated
Hey if I get bogged up I dont mind
I can use two fingers I do it all the time
Hey come out you turd
By the time you hear the siren some time has come to pass
Half of your bum is scraped across the road
The bike is wasted and your Garman’s up your ass
Next Nurse Heather takes a photo of your bum and all the gore
Natalie comes to pick you up
You nearly feint and hit the floor
Now the never ending straining - Nat got the enima kit
You’re gonna squirt it up, squirt it up, squirt it up
Hey, you got some bowel relief for me?
But watch out
It will get your bowel vacated
Hey, you got some pain relief for me
But watch out
Your ensuite will be spay painted
Hey next time I get bogged up I wont mind
I can use two fingers I do it all the time
Hey come out you turd
It finally erupts and you fill up the toilet bowl
No woman’s done it harder
How’d all that come out the hole
You finish bogging then start blogging – just as hard
Your gonna write it all up, write it all up, write it all up
Hey, your telling this gross story electronically
But watch out
Your blog spot is over rated
Hey, have you shown it to Natalie
I wouldn’t try
Or you’ll find your separated
Hey please don't pay no mind
You're over 50 you upset her all the time
Hey come out and play
The real lyrics – apologies to The Offspring
You gotta keep 'em separated
Like the latest fashion
Like a spreading disease
The kids are strappin' on their way to the classroom
Getting weapons with the greatest of ease
The gangs stake their own campus locale
And if they catch you slippin' then it's all over pal
If one guy's colour and the others don't mix
They're gonna bash it up, bash it up, bash it up, bash it up
Hey, man you talkin' back to me?
Take him out
You gotta keep 'em separated
Hey, man you disrespecting me
Take him out
You gotta keep 'em separated
Hey they don't pay no mind
If you're under 18 you won't be doing any time
Hey come out and play
[ Lyrics from
By the time you hear the siren it's already too late
One goes to the morgue and the other to jail
One guys wasted and the others a waste
It goes down the same as the thousand before
No ones getting smarter
No ones learning the score
Your never ending spree of death and violence and hate
Is gonna tie your own rope, tie your own rope, tie your own
Hey, man you disrespecting me
Take him out
You gotta keep 'em separated
Hey, man you talkin' back to me?
Take him out
You gotta keep 'em separated
Hey they don't pay no mind
If you're under 18 you won't be doing any time
Hey come out and play
It goes down the same as the thousand before
No ones getting smarter
No ones learning the score
Your never ending spree of death and violence and hate
Is gonna tie your own rope, tie your own rope, tie your own
Hey, man you talkin' back to me?
Take him out
You gotta keep 'em separated
Hey, man you disrespecting me
Take him out
You gotta keep 'em separated
Hey they don't pay no mind
If you're under 18 you won't be doing any time
Hey come out and play
all the best with your recovery
Gary
Oh Gary! ;-)
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