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So this is it then, the mountains are done and all we have left is a simple race against the clock to win Le Tour.
The Route: make a saccadic glance at the profile and it looks innocuous enough but look closer and you start to wonder, the climb out of the start for instance and all the oddly spelt names. Then go and ride the course and you realise the map is certainly not the terrain. This is a very hard time trial course, uphill from the start and the kind of ascent where a rider will quickly know if they’re on a good day or not and where some can go into oxygen debt and spend the rest of the course defaulting. To help the course has been resurfaced with billiard-table blacktop. The odd-sounding names? We’re in the Basque country and if it’s on the French side it still means steep roads, a roller-coaster of a course. The section from KM4 looks level on the profile but it’s got lots of rollers to work the derailleur and countless bends, a follower in a vehicle could get travel sickness and taking the best line will save significant amounts of time. The descent down to Ustaritz is twisty and steep and then it starts to snake back up to the first time check.
After the time check comes the section to suit the more powerful riders where they can get into a tuck and turn a big gear although still up and down across a ridge and fast across to Souraïde and then an awkward descent, do riders stay on the tribars for speed at the risk of losing control? Then another climb and the second time check.
At Ordotz there’s a left turn and it’s onto a small road, a brief descent and then the “wall”. First the road rears and you think you’ve made it as it levels out by a farm, then it goes up again so if it’s listed as 900m at 10.2%, there’s plenty of 14% each time to the Col de Pinodieta, the last mountain pass of the Tour de France and a sight for sore legs. It’s a fast descent with some more bends before an open road and then a drag up to the line in Espelette.
This is not a "normal" flat, fast TT.
So who's in the mix?
The Contenders: last year Maciej Bodnar was the surprise in Marseille, he’d saved his energy for the final time trial and beat the bigger names. This year the course seems to hilly for the heavy-set rouleurs like Bodnar, Stefan Küng (BMC Racing) or Yves Lampaert (Quick Step) who have been saving themselves for today.
Among the GC contenders we’re left extrapolating among those in action yesterday. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) has the TT credentials, he won the prologue in Düsseldorf last year and has been the strongest rider in the Tour which makes him a strong pick today. Apparently he’s ridden the course three times already (which puts him on a par with this blog) but as The Cycling Podcast points out says he’s been aiming for this race. Chris Froome could still be close but has been struggling of late on the climbs.
Primož Roglič (Lotto-Jumbo) is the man of the moment, he was all over yesterday’s stage and has won plenty of TTs already and this is a course for him too.
Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) ought to be the default pick but if he was active yesterday, he was not incisive and this course isn’t the one he’d design, especially if he could draw the route this morning.
It’s hard to see other contenders. Pierre Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale) is the French champion and won by a huge margin but has spent the last few days resembling a boiling pressure cooker, Michał Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) has looked smoother but must be equally drained. Bob Jungels (Quick Step) can roll but will be drained from yesterday.
Worth reminding everyone of the top 10 in the GC.
And to finish, yesterday.
Phinney, nails.
Moody.
Stunning shot.
Roglic takes it on.
The victor
Again, CyclingTips has a gallery here that is well worth a glance.
G for the stage win.
Phinney by a nose!
It’s damp. G will ride conservatively. He’s already ridden it three times.
Craddock will be sitting in the hot seat 😀 but only for about one minute!
What time is G setting off?
15:29 according to bbc.
It's a lumpy course and any one of the top four could take the stage.
The thing that crossed my mind though is that if Froome has the legs and really goes for it to get in front of Roglic and Dumoulin then they will have to push harder meaning Thomas will need to put in an even greater effort and maybe take more risks. If Froome holds back a bit it could make Thomas's ride just that little bit easier. Just wonder if this is something that has been discussed on the Team Sky bus?
Looking forwards to it and even the mainstream media seem to have caught a whif of something special happening today!
to close to call (again) today. I think that Roglic is the one with the legs, possibly Maybe.
I think Roglic now based on nerve and legs. Might set off
Craddock managed a creditable 39 kmh. So just about evens. He looked absolutely delighted!
The only interest in this stage I have is to see Craddock cross the line (which he has) and Sagan wheelie (if he’s feeling up to it.)... in fact I’d like to see him and Craddock duke it out for last position.
Craddock was elated coming over the line, and by golly could you see the relief on his face.
Its wet, bit windy and the shots of the surf are making me want to be there..
I think I'm going off Dumoulin a bit, love his riding but he always finds something to complain about. Tom Dumoanin!
has someone shot david millars dog ?
Once again Lunge, thanks for the daily post's & Cycling Tips excellent images.
After three weeks of Le Tour I think it's to close to call, especially with the fatigue they must be suffering.
Good to see both Craddock & Sagan getting over the line with their respective injuries.
what is the colour of GTs bike for?
La Tricolour?
British TT champion
Froome not getting booed as much today.
Calm down G 😮😮
Blimey! Some of these time trial bikes are fugly! 😳
That was some ride by Froome!
Good work by Froodo and great news hopefully for G.
Froome not getting booed as much today.
Today was in the Basque country, not quite as 'french' as some of the bits in the middle
I'm a Francophile but not been impressed with the crowds on the side of the road.
Anyhoo...
G JUST WON THE TOUR DE FRANCE!!!!!
Yes G, YES!!!!!! I’m chuffed for him, feels like a different feeling to Froome and Wiggo winning, calmer, less out there than Wiggo’s win, better received than Froome’s.
I’m buzzing here, it’s bloody brilliant.
Great ride, he's always had it in him. Bad luck for Froome having tumbles and punctures that gave G his chance, but fair play to Sky for always having super strong GC backup riders in big races up until the high mountains.
Excellent result. Yellow couldn't have gone to a more deserving man.
Chuffin brilliant!!
So, that's the first Tour win by a British born rider then I think
Ha yeah it is @Pickers
Absolutely made up for Thomas
Was nice to see Brailsford show a bit of emotion too. That obviously meant a lot for him too
Can I just say how chuffed I am that I was wrong. 2 months ago I said that Tao Geoghegan Hart would be the next British winner of a grand tour, I was wrong and I’m overjoyed that I am wrong. Tao will win one through.
Was nice to see Brailsford show a bit of emotion too. That obviously meant a lot for him too
Welsh boys together, isn't it.
Great result. Not sure what happened to the couple of seconds for the stage win but that doesn't affect the overall result so probably isn't an issue.
How come Mitchelton Scott riders weren't wearing helmets...? 😉
Go G, fantastic race !
Not ashamed to say I welled up a bit with that Thomas the Bike interview. A great day for G, looking forward to tomorrow procession round Paris.
Not ashamed to say I welled up a bit with that Thomas the Bike interview. A great day for G, looking forward to tomorrow procession round Paris.
Well said, such a humble bloke who cant quite believe what he has just done
What a fantastic end to a really tough Tour.
Huge congratulations to Geirant, such a humble chap who has depth of quality on and off the road..
And Fromage played it right and straight, left all his frustration on the bike and has to be respected to his stoicism during a very tricky Tour.
Tom however, what a super bloke. He’s been humble and greatful for every stage he’s been in.
So, we have three genuinely humble role models for Cycling. I do hope that kids who want someone to follow could do much worse when choosing a role model.
Wonderful for Geirant, truely wonderful.
Spot on by gee.
It strikes me as amazing how we have now had two uk winners of the tdf who basically have been transformed from track riders. When you think about all the great riders of the past who have been brought up on the road but have never managed to overcome their weakneses to win a grand tour. Somehow both wiggins and gee have undergone complete transformations as riders.
Be interesting to see what happens next year at sky. Froome obviously still got lots left and id bet on him to beat gee if he was fresh. But how can you not make your defending champ the team lead?
Ask Wiggins about that!
When you think about all the great riders of the past who have been brought up on the road but have never managed to overcome their weakneses to win a grand tour.
I think David Millar summed it up today by pointing out that to be a GC contender these days you first need the engine. The super lightweight climbers don't do GC now.
Anyway, really chuffed for G. Can I call him that?
[whisper] pssst bikebouy, it's Geraint btw (I know you like your own pet names for the riders but...)[/whisper]
interesting contract negotiations coming up for G. Froome defends the Giro and G the tour ?
Congratulations to Dan Martin too winning the Combative Rider of the Tour award.
Delighted for G, and Team Sky. Their objective for the year in what has been a hostile environment. Thought Froome showed his class throughout. Easily the best team. I hope you heard Luke Rowe on Eurosport giving commentary after his ride. It was insightful.
The TT above all other stages showed what you need for GC. An engine in a lightened chassis. Pure climbers are not going to win GC. Quintana, Martin, Bardet, and dare I say Bernal, all fabulous riders who I love to watch. All found wanting on what was a cracking TT stage. I’d love to have raced that stage, myself!
Team Sky will already have a plan for Bernal’s TTing skills, I’m sure. But I expect Froome will be rested and back next year for number five. G has already achieved more than he probably thought possible on more than one stage. The stars aligned this year, next year will be back to usual.
The strongest rider won, and I think the order is fair. Roglic paid for yesterday. I wonder which he’d have preferred. Podium or stage. I’m guessing “multiple stage winner of the TDF”.
But I expect Froome will be rested and back next year for number five.
similarly for Tom, he's doesn't have to defend the giro next year (but will froome feel obliged to ? ) so I imagine he will be gunning just for the tdf next year.
But how can you not make your defending champ the team lead?
By keeping on honest and picking your team according to the form at the time (or ensuring you don’t choose too many egos for each event)
I suspect Froome knew defending the TdF would be risky and highly unlikely this time around but a risk worth taking to get all three titles, when opportunity knocks you can’t turn it down. I’m sure Froome will be returning to focussing on the TdF next year and claim his 5th. Losing today’s TT only by 1 second to the world TT champ after all he’s achieved in the last year will be a huge boost and reinforce to him he’s still got it and can challenge next year.
the question is will team Sky now target Froome for the TdF specialist and G as a Giro specialist and dominating 2 of the 3 GT’s every year?
Geirant not Gairant, apologies.
Spellcheck and my fat thumbs...
Wonder what he’s doing now 🤣🕺🥂🥂🥂
Absolutely brilliant that Geraint has the yellow jumper. But this s### about Froom not being really British is bollocks. Who cares where he was born! Like him or loath him Froom rode like a gent.
Personally it was Dan Martin's amazing willingness to give it a go again and again that made the tour for me. And Cavendish. His determination to finish the stage despite knowing he'd missed the cut makes him a real hero.