Stage 10 : Aurillac - Carmaux: 158 km After the rest day when a number of riders will have spent a lot of time with the medics, it remains to be seen how many will have pulled out of the Tour after Sunday's carnage. The car involved in that dreadful accident has been thrown off the tour. He should never be allowed back in future races of any kind. So what about the next stage? As the race heads towards the Pyrenees, we will be heading through the Cévennes for two days. These stages are rolling, but lack any significant difficulty. But the heat can take a toll on the riders. The breakaway specialists will be dreaming of victory, as will the specialist sprinters, even though the latter are going to spend the whole day suffering because today’s route is not all flat. After the first rest day, those riders who have not had a good first week and think that they won’t have too many chances beyond this will be determined to show themselves. However, at the same time, the sprinters’ teams will not want to let them slip away. Consequently, we could well see this stage finish in a bunch sprint.
The Russian Alexandr Kolobnev has been thrown out of the Tour after testing positive for a banned substance.
Stage 11 -: Blaye-les-Mines - Lavaur: 167.5 km After this stage the sprinters will not have a lot of chances left to show off their skills. They will have just two stages left on which to shine: in Montpellier and then in Paris with the finish on the Champs-Ãlysées. That’s why their teams will undoubtedly be looking to keep a tight rein on the action, just as they will do on the previous stage. But they will have to watch out. Riders of the ilk of Sandy Casar or Jérôme Pineau could try to pull off something spectacular today. The profiles of the stages that follow won’t allow them to do that. And, as there will still be a lot of teams that have not won a stage up to now, those that haven’t will be aiming to make an impression.
Stage 12 : Cugnaux Luz-Ardiden: 211 km Another sprint in stage 11 won by Cav, but we now hit the high mountains and his main aim will be to survive. The race’s first major climb, the Hourquette d’Ancizan, an off-shoot of the Aspin, makes its first appearance on the Tour. The riders then head onto the Tourmalet. They descend off that and finish with the climb to Luz-Ardiden, which has not featured in the race since 2003. That year, Armstrong crashed after colliding with a spectator, bringing Mayo down with him. Everyone waited for him, then his foot slipped out of his pedal. But in the end the American dropped all of his rivals and went on to win the stage and give himself a bit of breathing space in the yellow jersey. Following this stage, which is a long one at 211km, the overall classification will become a bit clearer and more structured.
Bringing up the rear here a bit but WTF was going on in Stage 9? Riders in the trees halfway down what looked like a small mountain? And as for the fella catapaulted into the barbed wire fence... how is he still alive, let alone competing and how is that car driver not in jail... the muppet? Unbelievable stuff.
Yes Hornet Fez, it was one of those days that needed to be seen to be believed. The car has been removed from the Tour quite rightly. Today the riders went through a downpour and I would not have been surprised if there had been more accidents. Forgot to say above that Cav with his win today takes over the green jersey, something I believe is his main aim this year.
A great days racing in the high mountains, won by a Spainard but not Contador. He looks shot to me at present and maybe should not have done the tour of Italy. I suppose it could be the cloud that still hangs over him having an effect. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, despite not being a great climber gritted his teeth and came in just behind the leaders and retains his yellow jersey. He is very popular over here and with the effort he puts in you can see why.
Stage 13 : Pau -Lourdes: 152.5 km This is a stage that will suit the breakaway specialists, the baroudeurs, who can take some big climbs in their stride, because the Aubisque features about halfway through. Last year, one of the most memorable stages was the one over the Madeleine, with the finish about 30km on from that summit. Once again, if there are plenty of attacks, it will only need one of the favourites to get caught out and his rivals will all react, and we will see a significant change in the overall order. On the other hand, a team leader who has already been struggling could try to go for glory on the Aubisque, because from there the road is all downhill. As there is no summit finish today, the best climbers won’t go all out today. They will just stay in the wheels. Other riders, those likely to finish between 15th and 30th in Paris, will contest the victory once the sprinters have been eliminated from today’s equation.
Well my summary for today was rubbish as a sprinter won. The peloton were not bothered as the ones who came in first would not have an effect on the overall leaders. Thomas Voeckler continues to wear the yellow jersey despite suffering over the high mountains. His team are really working hard to keep him to the fore.
Stage 14 : Saint-Gaudens -Plateau de Beille : 168.5 km This is the last of the big Pyrenean stages. There are six tough tests: the Col de Portet-d’Aspet, the Col de la Core, the Col de Latrape, the Col d’Agnes, the Port de Lers and the finish at the Plateau de Beille. These climbs don’t have the same notoriety as the Aubisque and Tourmalet, but the cumulative amount of climbing will make for a great stage. At 168km, it’s short, but there will be attacks right from the start. It is no secret that the big guns will show what they are made of on a stage like this. Note also, that every rider who has previously won at Plateau de Beille has gone on to the win the Tour that same year…
Today we had one of the best displays from a French rider for many years. Thomas Voeckler who is not known for his ability to climb mountains did just that. Time and again he was attacked by the "big guns in the mountains" and every time he gritted his teeth and went with them. The clenched fist at the end of the stage said it all. If only some highly paid footballers were as committed.
Stage 15 : Limoux - Montpellier : 192.5 km We needed to get to the Alps as quickly as possible, but without making the transfers too long. Finishing in Montpellier enables us to achieve this objective. On stages of this type, the heat can be punishing. If the sun is beating down, it’s going to cause some real damage because the riders will already have expended a huge amount of energy. If some riders decide to make the going tough today, it could really have an impact on some of the team-mates of key riders. Let’s not forget that all of the favourites depend on those team-mates… Every day, there’s a real race within a race! This stage should go the way of the sprinters, whose only chance of victory after this will come on the Champs-Ãlysées.
A good day today for Cav. Another stage win and he strengthened his hold on the Green jersey. Thomas Voeckler continues to keep the Yellow jersey, something that not many expected when they first arrived in the mountains. Tomorrow is a well earned rest day before they get into the Alps.
Stage 16 : Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux : Gap 162.5 km It’s the start of the final week. The race heads into Gap, crosses the Col de Manse, then drops down again into the finish after completing a small circuit. As we’re heading towards the Alps, this stage is not flat, which is what you would expect, but it isn’t too hard either as it just rises steadily throughout. It will suit a rider who can cope with the climbs pretty well. Be aware also that something often happens after the second rest day, and it may be something completely unexpected. In 2003, for example, in order to avoid crashing into the prone figure of Joseba Beloki, Lance Armstrong opted, on pure instinct, to indulge in a bit of cyclo-cross over an Alpine meadow. That stage ended up making the headlines without any previously expecting it to.
Stage 17 : Gap - Pinerolo : 179 km After this stage the sprinters will not have a lot of chances left to show off their skills. They will have just two stages left on which to shine: in Montpellier and then in Paris with the finish on the Champs-Ãlysées. That’s why their teams will undoubtedly be looking to keep a tight rein on the action, just as they will do on the previous stage. But they will have to watch out. Riders of the ilk of Sandy Casar or Jérôme Pineau could try to pull off something spectacular today. The profiles of the stages that follow won’t allow them to do that. And, as there will still be a lot of teams that have not won a stage up to now, those that haven’t will be aiming to make an impression.
Stage 18 : Pinerolo - Galibier Serre-Chevalier : 200.5 km We return to France and there are three very big cols on the menu. The Agnel will be tackled for the first time ever from this side, then there’s the Izoard and its legendary Casse Déserte, followed by the Galibier. This will be our chance to celebrate the centenary of this mythic climb’s first appearance on the race route back in the 1911 Tour de France. In addition, the finish, located at an altitude of 2,645 metres, will be the highest in the race’s history. It will remove from the history books the place held since 1986 by the 2,413m Col du Granon. This stage will certainly see a match-up between all those riders who are in contention for the overall title, as will the stage the following day. Whoever is leading the race runs the risk of succumbing to such physical demands.
