We are now in the Vosges and, if I may say so, this is where the chips come down. Three off-the-wall days of racing in this region, three short but different stages which reflect our desire to force riders to adapt their strategies. What can we expect from this stage? A frenzied start in which breakaway specialists will seek to capitalise on the flat 130 kilometres which open the stage before the mountain goats come out to play! The menu features three difficulties: the Croix des Moinats, the Col de Grosse Pierre “revisited” with sections at over 15% and the final climb to La Mauselaine, in Gérardmer (1.8 km at 10.3%). The favourites will have nowhere to hide. However, it is entirely possible for a long breakaway to hang on and take the stage win.

Well Sagan came soooooooooo close, this close in fact…

…but sadly will have to wait for another stage to get that win he so desperate deserves. While we’re on him (oh my) have a peek at this. He’s just brilliant. Still though, a great win for Trentin – in the interviews it didn’t look like it had settled in for him, especially as he thought Sagan had beaten him. Kinda felt like he was expecting any moment for someone to say “oh wait, computer mistake, Sagan did actually win”. That aside, there were a lot of crashes and consequently a lot of withdrawals yesterday. Check out the withdrawals link below to see (but expecting a few DNS today).

Couldn’t find a great set of highlights, these are good, but in Italian – just makes it more exciting.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6j0EFL0X78[/video]

I think if Matteo had his zip a little bit more undone he might have lost that…

Photos from stage 7.

Today? Oh man – could be anyone. Might finally be a day for a break to stay away, but I reckon we’re going to hit these climbs at warp speed and the break will have to be proper strong to stay away. Who will gain time? Who knows? With Froome out and Nibali in control the field has been blown wide open, especially with so many favourites down on the GC. Who is suffering from the crashes? Who has form? It’s so hard to tell. I reckon there might be a lot of watching, maybe a few testing attacks, and then someone is going to go hard – I’ll be hoping for Porte. But more likely Contador. Nibali seems so strong at the moment though… Not a stage I’d like to put money on any one rider.

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.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,30906_9379568,00.html – fractures in left wrist, right hand, probably good that he didn’t get to the cobbles… It’s also why I’ve been keeping out of Froome/Vuelta convos – why bother talking about it until you know the damage? Looks like the end of the season for him to me now

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/talansky-angry-with-gerrans-after-late-crash-at-the-tour-de-france – really does make sense to look where you’re going in a sprint

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gerrans-denies-causing-talansky-crash – handbags carbon wheels at dawn it is

As we’ve got a long run in to the climbs I figured you might want something to keep you entertained, so here you go…

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQz8KMrJWw[/video]

http://road.cc/content/feature/123374-nutrition-tour-de-france-rider

So this isn’t the case?

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu8sLjzOGbE[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I45JL6tH_08[/video]

And I just haven’t been posting that much bike porn, so here’s something to make up for it. Drop it like it’s hot.

I liked Porte feeding the canondale train, in his interview the were jealous of the Froome cakes. Guessing there’s a few spare now. He does need to work a bit on his interviews though, comes over a bit dry.

Our local paper ran a story on Porte’s promotion as he is a local lad
This was the pic they chose

I’ll agree he could do a bit on the interviews but he is a genuinely nice quiet guy who works hard. Good luck to him for the next 2 weeks.

In terms of GC i’d be keeping my money in my pocket. They are a very nervous bunch out there. With some of the big guns out (Froome/Cav) and lots of people carrying some gravel rash/bruises a few others are taking a shot at wins and other stuff.

Nice bike porn. Do any of the garmin riders actually use the vector pedals as PMs?!

Surprised if the GC guys aren’t all together on the last climb. Will be a few seconds here and there between them. The way it’s been going I can’t see a breakaway surviving the charge into and over the climbs.

Oh and quite a good piece about Nibali over at velonews.

That GIF clearly shows Talansky veering right quite some way and Gerrans nor deviating much from the central white line. Think Talansky needs to go apologise to Oge this morning and learn to wind his neck in. Quite what he’s doing getting mixed up in a sprint I’ve no idea anyway.

Bah! I’ve got Nibali in my losers team – hoping for a change at the top (though I think maybe he is too)

Only seen it a couple of times but looked like Talansky was going left to get out the way of the sprinters. Gerrans moved all the way over from the left to be against the barrier on the right by the time he crossed the finish line I think. Looks like a racing incident. Guessing the commissars aren’t taking any action against Gerrans.

“He does need to work a bit on his interviews though, comes over a bit dry.”
Quite a good bike rider though, in the top ten GC, plus he is still in the race.
What colour jersey is it for does a good interview?

but expecting a few DNS today

Blimey just catching up on yesterday’s news. That crash with 1k to go, broken femur for Frank and a broken nose and finger for Paul Voss.

Talansky is quite clearly a fool – at the point he hits Gerrans, Gerrans is actually further left (his left, ie away from where Talansky is coming) than he was when Talansky was last looking in the right direction. 100% Talansky’s fault – if he can’t work out a better way to get out of the way of the sprinters he shouldn’t be there.

he shouldn’t be there.

I guess that is the case with a lot of these accidents. GC guys and teammates wanting to be at the front to stay out of trouble but generally getting in the way. Maybe they should just take the time splits at, say, 10k to go on the flat stages regardless of any crashes and just let the sprinters fight it out?

Gerrans vs Talansky

Gerrans vs Talansky

At least he tried to make sure his bike did not get damaged, not sure what happened to his glasses.

https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10352833_10152679793789873_2535768949525000871_n.jpg

“What colour jersey is it for does a good interview?”
It was more as team leader I’d have expected Sky, as slick media operation, to have provided media coaching.

Oh and quite a good piece about Nibali over at velonews.

If we could pick how we’re remembered, Nibali might pick that moment, where he was perfect in the storm, a graceful and brave articulation of competition.

Lovely piece, thanks for the link 🙂

Sometimes, when he corners at speed, he drags his inside hand on the ground, just to prove he can.

However, I will believe that only when I see it..

It was more as team leader

I thought he was a super-domestique filling in for their actual team leader.

I’d have expected Sky, as slick media operation

I thought they were a cycling team.

to have provided media coaching.

I thought they would be too busy providing cycling coaching.

Honestly – what?? As long as he doesn’t blurt out a load of training secrets or some racist remarks, or that he thinks freeview offers a better package, he can say what he wants. He’s a human. If you don’t like his interviews, don’t watch them. The things some people care about…

Yeah, bizarre.

Loved that Nibali article.

RealMan you have probably got a lot in common with Dave Brailsford.

I’m gonna take that as a compliment.. So thanks 😀

Talansky cant still be blaming Gerrans for that. The reason Gerrans dives right is because Talansky’s ridden into his back wheel.

That first climb is really going to sort the bunch out. Contador will attack on the last climb. Valverde will win the small bunch sprint. No change over GC.

Or an early break will stay awy with god knows who in it. Albisini?

Well done Realman you deffo came up with the DROP goods there!!
Johan Vansummerens Cervelo R5

197cm tall on a 58cm frame 😮 I thought I was pushing it bit @ 191cm on my 58cm Moda Stretta. I can only imagine he can touch the floor with his elbows never mind his hands.

Went out early this morning for a quick 20 mile spin as I have a “lot” of gardening to do today 🙁 and I’ve almost lost my voice from saying “morning” to other people out for a ride, Tour fever must be making the bike shop tills ring.

I liked Porte feeding the canondale train, in his interview the were jealous of the Froome cakes. Guessing there’s a few spare now. He does need to work a bit on his interviews though, comes over a bit dry

horses for courses, I think he’s refreshingly honest and non-corporate, but then I like ‘dry’. Loved the cake incident though.

+1 aracer’s opinion of Talansky, he needs to quietly collect his toys and put them back in his pram.

Good roundup of the first week on ITV4 at the moment while they wait for live coverage to start.

As soon as it does, I’ll head over to Eurosport for the better commentary!

+1 aracer’s opinion of Talansky, he needs to quietly collect his toys and put them back in his pram.

Yep and Phil just gave it 80% on Talansky too.

Get in, Simon Yates is in the break! Or at least, in the chasing group trying to connect to the break which, predictably enough, has Sylvain Chavanel in it.

Would love to see Chavanel do it today.

Right I reckon bertie will have a bit of a go on the first hill then go properly on the second and take back 30 seconds minimum on Nibali. Porte to go with him and to gain a few seconds on Nibali but lose to bertie.

You heard it here first.

(Don’t go putting money on this actually happening.)

I dunno, Yatesy is a good little climber and Chavenel has history with these sort of breaks in this “not quite climbing” terrain, I reckon the break might just hang on to this one while the peloton all look at each other.

Thinking the break might just get it today, bit of a lack of desire to go for it this morning, bit of a recovery day before the mountains start.
Sky being 2 men down kind of dents their attacking power. Thinking with the number of drop outs a bit of a regroup might be in order.

Is the white jersey awarded on cumulative time, like yellow, or another way (as well as the rider being under 25)?

White is the highest placed rider on GC under 25.

Quality break this. Maybe a bit short on numbers to make it to the finish.

White jersey is cumulative time but the only contenders for it are riders who are under 25.

Kadri should go well on this sort of terrain too. Gap still going out, nearly 7 minutes.

I reckon the peloton will be happy to let this go and just use it as a bit of a recovery, maybe with a few exploratory digs later on.

“Sport, I get to live it”.

No, you get to drive people around in the back of your car.

Bloody hell, look at the change in weather!

Break in torrential rain, peloton still in the dry but rolling into the downpour. I reckon this’ll help the break, might mean the peloton less willing to take risks on the descents.

All kicking off now. 🙂

Gap to the break has tumbled, now the break are attacking each other…

Blimey Kwiatkowski blown out the back.

Oops, Geraint Thomas in amongst that group that misjudged the corner…

Good to see Richie Porte staying with the Contador/Nibali group, shame that G will lose time cos of that little spill on the corner.