What happens in the organisers’ dreams? The final winner is decided in this 54 km time trial. But I think the gaps will have opened naturally in the three weeks since the Grand Start in Leeds. I said it once and I will say it again: even without a second time trial, the 2013 Froome would have crushed the opposition on this route… But will the 2014 Froome be as strong as last year’s (guess we’ll never know)? It all boils down to this. If so, he will certainly be in the mix to win the stage, whose solid course is more tailored to men in great form than to true specialists like Martin, Wiggins (who?) and Cancellara (also unlikely).

I think yesterday’s win might have been my favourite of the tour. A rider almost no one would have picked for the win, going absolutely huge nearly 15km from the finish, and holding on comfortably to take it. Absolutely fantastic. Shame for Sagan mind. Also, has this been the wettest tour ever? Don’t know if there’s any records on this – points to anyone who can find them.

To quote Jens on yesterday (apparently)..

F—k, that was just another s—t day on the Tour! That was a s—t day! Those were s—t roads! That was s—t weather! That was a s—t hard tempo! Those were s—t crosswinds! Those were s—t flats! Those were s—t crashes! That was a s—t finish and that was a s—t parking lot after the finish!

I’m so over the Tour de France! I’m over smiling and signing autographs!

About the only funny thing about the day was that moment when we passed through a town called “Condom!” I had to laugh about that, yeh! Geez, maybe I should have seen that before I had six kids, haha!

But other than that there was nothing good about this day. I’m so over the Tour de France!

And we also have this..

Peter Sagan took responsibility for the crash just inside the 3km to go banner on stage 19, saying “it is I who am responsible for the fall. I feel sorry for the other riders.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-sagan-first-to-fall-in-stage-19-crash

A lot of people giving him a lot of credit for owning up. I bet he’s beating himself up quite a bit.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIqzu37PyYI[/video]

Photos from stage 19.

TTs are always hard to predict in a tour, especially this late. Tony Martin will obviously be one to watch for the win, but I’m expecting good time’s from Peraud, Tejay, Rogers, and maybe Porte. Obviously Nibali (who should set a good time with his form), Pinot, Valverde (another good TTer), Bardet, Mollema, and a few others are worth watching. As an outside favourite, Chavanel could perhaps put in a good ride too. Again, remember anyone can crash today, including Nibali. The tour isn’t over yet.

Start times for the riders mentioned:

Martin 1:39pm, Chavanel 2:11pm, Roger, 2:27pm, Porte 2:35pm, final 10 starting at 3pm, finishing with Nibali starting at 3:27pm. All UK times, and I’m expecting finishing times around the 1 hour and 10 minute mark. Remember, the Tour Live Feed App (linked below) is priceless today.

A few useful links

Live Cycling News Text Updates
Steephill
Official Tour Live Feed App
Classifications
Withdrawals
Fantasy League Standings
Loser League Standings

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-tech-one-of-a-kind-graphics

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gallery-the-tour-de-france-fans-in-the-pyrenees

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-de-france-tech-kemos-big-debut – not sure about these

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBIe5r5xrKg[/video]

Good view of the crash at the end of the backstage pass video.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76WIKBxkcpw[/video]

I’ve done TT support driving before, but in a Mercedes LWB Sprinter. I’m a bit jealous.

Now as I understand a lot of you may have never tried racing. Well hopefully today you’ll have a bit of time, so I suggest watching this

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQJ4hS9G50[/video]

It’s a lot easier than you might think – 4th cat racing is a walk in the park if you’ve got any fitness whatsoever, and you don’t need Dura Ace and carbon wheels. It is a HUGE amount of fun. It’s a bit scary starting out, but you won’t regret it.

There’s a lot to like here

Awesome threads as ever I have read them all if not contribute as this year I have mainly been busy during the day so avoiding them

Many thanks for the effort you go to doing these threads been highly informative and some great links in your OP

They are still my favourite part of STW and I appreciate them

Now will the kids watch a TT….. I doubt it

58t chainring on Martins bike

Geraint Thomas out on course now. He gets the flashy Jaguar, Porte (just going now) gets the regular estate… I feel quite sorry for Sky really – all the hype and expectations and it’s ended up as one of their worst Tours ever. Hope G puts in a good TT to help make up for it.

Tony Martin looks to be absolutely destroying all current times out there!

That said, TTs are generally pretty boring to watch so I’ll catch the rest of it on highlights.

And another vote of thanks to RealMan for these threads, fantastic work all round!

Serves sky right for not taking Wiggo and relying on a spider with no handling skills 😈

It was politics rather than talent and they have paid the price for the lack of a Plan B.

and now it’s all over, highlights?
Tony Martin going mad for the lone win then backing it up the next day.
Jens on day 1 going for it
The glimmer of a massive street party in Launceston Tasmania (though it might still come in a few years)
The 20 stories about how the Saxo Spec gets snapped

@mike don’t forget the grand depart, ’twas epic

@RealMan my thanks for these in case I forget. The links and summaries are so useful,mid never trawl through all the sites otherwise

twas epic but a little too much selfie/peloton and on in the middle of the night.

Serves sky right for not taking Wiggo and relying on a spider with no handling skills

The idea that Wiggins would have done any better or that Dave Brailsford, after two years on the trot of selecting a Tour winning team, suddenly made a massive tactical error have however been nearly as entertaining as watching the Tour itself. 🙂

Wiggins wouldn’t have come close either mentally or physically.

Sort of related:
Carlton Kirkby has just read out a tweet received by EuroSport saying exactly what I said about Thomas getting the F-type coupe and Porte getting the regular car and then speculating that Sky are expecting more of Thomas or showing that he is their number 1 now…

Wiggins wouldn’t have come close either mentally or physically.

Speculation based on whatever really, you don’t know till Paris.

Still hoping for a good battle between Peraud Pinot and Valverde today.

“He Taxied down that runway like an aircraft taking off”
Phil all the way with maybe a little warner to help out in the dull bits

Wouldn’t want to be AG2R’s tyre sponsor today..

Argh Bardet losing 5th by 2 seconds… Definitely not a good puncture.

Feel bad for Valverde…lulz…actually really do feel bad for Bardet though, fark 🙁

TJ had a good TT, shame he had a bad day.

Looking forward to watching the Women race around Paris! Excellent stuff for women’s cycling.

***Cheers RealMan, def makes le Tour even more entertaining!***