Tour De France

[Mellor]

Given his past I've never taken to him but he would have at least taken Nibali to the wire. Not sure anyone can now. It's a great tour though. Sky controlled the event in 12 and 13. This year is more haphazard. All makes you realise just how good Froome and Wiggins are. I miss Wiggins and Cavendish. Froome has my utmost respect but he doesn't feel 'one of us' in the same way as the others. Sky meanwhile are losing their Britishness which is sad but typical. They were 'our' team, the pinnacle of British cycling. Now they're just like the others and it will get worse I expect.

[Mellor]

Tough day on which Gallopin broke away to stunning effect maybe 2k from home to win the stage. Yellow on Bastille day, brilliant stage win today. Gallopin and the French in general are having a good tour.

Big mountains arrive on Friday. Men will then be sorted from boys in a terrific tour to date.

[daib0]

Yep ...


Thurs 17th July






Fri 18th July






Sat 20th July

[daib0]

oops, didn't all come out ...

[Mellor]

Not unlike Berkshire

[Mellor]

Men and boys today on the last climb. Tough tough sport.

[daib0]

For others looking in here's the Beeb summary, and classifications -


Tour de France: Nibali wins stage 13 to extend overall lead

Italian Vincenzo Nibali extended his overall lead in the Tour de France by winning stage 13 from Saint Etienne to Chamrousse. The Astana rider proved strongest during the long final climb to come out on top ahead of Rafal Majka, who took second, and Leopold Konig in third. Nibali holds a lead of three minutes, 37 seconds in the overall standings.

Alejandro Valverde is now second with Romain Bardet third after Team Sky's Richie Porte fell well off the pace. Porte, who took over as his team's leader following the withdrawal of reigning champion Chris Froome and had been second at the start of the stage, fell back with 12km remaining as the 18km-long climb took its toll. He finished almost nine minutes behind Nibali and is now 16th in the overall standings.

This preceded a gripping end to the stage involving the overall leaders, which saw Movistar's Valverde initially attack before he was instantly drawn back in by Nibali. The Italian then launched an attack of his own to reel in Tinkoff-Saxo's Majka and Netapp-Endura's Konig before then going out on his own with 3km left and driving on to victory.



Stage 13 result
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 5hrs 12mins 29secs
2. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff - Saxo) +10secs
3. Leopold Koenig (Cze/NetApp Endura) +11secs
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +50secs
5. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +53secs
6. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +1min 23secs
7. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) Same time
8. Laurens ten Dam (Ned/Belkin) +1min 36secs
9. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) +2mins 09secs
10. Fraenk Schleck (Lux/Trek) Same time

General classification after stage 13
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 56hrs 44mins 03secs
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +3mins 37secs
3. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +4mins 24secs
4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +4mins 40secs
5. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +5mins 19secs
6. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) +6mins 06secs
7. Bauke Mollema (Ned/Belkin) +6mins 17secs
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel/Lotto-Belisol) +6mins 27secs
9. Rui Costa (Por/Lampre) +8mins 35secs
10. Leopold Koenig (Cze/NetApp Endura) +8mins 36secs

[NottinghamWhite]

Reading through those riders names I'm sure we've been linked with most of 'em in the last few weeks

[daib0]

Reading through those riders names I'm sure we've been linked with most of 'em in the last few weeks

[Mellor]

Heartbreak in the last 20 metres. Amazing after 200+ kilometres.