There is one last chance of glory? This was what we wanted to offer in putting together this stage, which is going to surprise many. It’s only 125km, but what a parcours! There is barely any chance to rest. The riders will have to be on their mettle from the start to the finish at the “nearly new” summit of Semnoz. Although the yellow jersey may be safe, the podium places could well be decided on this climb, which measures 10.7km in length with an average gradient of 8.5%. We could end up with the same winner we had on Alpe-d’Huez… Rodríguez, for example. Or Froome? Or Contador. Whoever it is, it will be a rider from the top rank who will finish things off in style.
Yet another solid win for Costa… Movistar are really having a fantastic tour (except for that one tiny puncture).
Photos from Stage 19
This is the kind of stage I love to watch. Short and hard, everyone will be going all out. Lots of riders looking to get in a break, but I don’t think the GC guys will want to let them get away. If we look at what’s happened at every other summit finish it seems incredibly likely that Froome will go big. Quintana to take 2nd from Contador? Rodriguez to take 4th from Kreuziger, or even 3rd from Contador (assuming Quintana gets into 2nd)? Will Froome win again? Will he also win KOM?
A few useful links
Live Cycling News Text Updates
Steephill
Official Tour Live Feed App
Classifications
Withdrawals
Fantasy League Standings
Loser League Standings
Another day when everything remains as it was – Ro5ey’s Roulers by andy rose at the top in the fantasy league (although not by much at all), Time to do some crashing at the bottom in the loser league.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wada-says-it-cannot-validate-froomes-performance-data
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-warns-against-complacency-ahead-of-semnoz – “…more than 4,500 meters of climbing…”
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/talansky-moves-closer-to-top-ten-finish
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/tour-de-france/539541/tour-de-france-analysis-time-for-change-in-the-king-of-the-mountains-classification.html – an interesting thought, but surely it’s way too complicated – would be really hard to follow
And finally, this
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhuguhpEGnc[/video]