Cycling Commentary

Tour de France Stage 18 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 18 - Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde 

The peloton is getting very close to Paris - only three stages to go! And Stage 18 is a long one at 222km or 137 miles, but it's not particularly difficult, in least in comparison to the last two days in the Pyrenees. The Tour de France 2012 contenders will have a chance to "spin their legs" and "recover a bit" in advance of Saturday's decision 54km time trial.

Stage 18 is clearly a stage for the opportunists. So long as there are no danger men in the break, the peloton will let them go for as many as 20 minutes by the end of the stage. Jens Voigt wants a stage, but it could as likely be some no-name from the depths of the general classification who wins.

• Km 67.5 - Côte de Saint-Georges1 kilometre-long climb at 10.3% - category 3

• Km 117.5 - Côte de Cahors1 kilometre-long climb at 7.8% - category 4

• Km 180.5 - Côte de Souillac2.2 kilometre-long climb at 4.7% - category 4

• Km 212.5 - Côte de Lissac-sur-Couze1.9 kilometre-long climb at 5.7% - category 4
  
  

Tour de France Stage 18 Results:

 Cav bags his second stage win!

Stage 18 Results (Top 10 Finishers

1	Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling	4:54:12
2	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
3	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
4	Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
5	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
6	Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Sharp
7	Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
8	Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
9	Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
10	Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne

General Classification after Stage 18

1	Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling	4:54:12
2	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
3	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
4	Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
5	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
6	Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Sharp
7	Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
8	Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
9	Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
10	Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne

 

Tour de France Stage 16 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 16 - Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon

Stage 16 from Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon features four monster climbs. Coming on the heals of the second rest day of the 2012 Tour de France, the 197 km or 122 mile slog up and down the major cols of the Pyrenees will make for interesting racing. The day after the rest day always presents interesting challenges for riders, as the body could either feel great or feel very flat. Most riders make it a point to ride on the rest day, but they ride easy - just enough to open the legs and promote active recovery.

The Tour de France 2012 contenders have some interesting choices to make. Nibali sits in 3rd position 2:23 down from Wiggins, but only 18 seconds behind Froome. Is he content with a podium position? or is he going to go for it and try to dislodge Froome and potentially Wiggins with a massive attack? Liewise, what will Cadel Evans in 4th position and Jurgen Van Den Broeck in 5th position do? Evans clearly wants a podium position as the defending champion, but will he attack? More importantly, can he attack? His efforts from stage 11 to La Toussuire proved futile and cost him on the final climb of the day.

It is easy to envison a day where all of the Tour de France favorites stay together, while they let King of the Mountains aspirants go. Why? Because Stage 17 on Thursday is also a monster with the third and final mountaintop finish on Peyragudes. That stage clearly represents the last opportunity to general classification contenders to make a move. No one will want to wait until the time trial on Saturday.

• Km 53.5 - Col d'Aubisque (1 709 m)16.4 kilometre-long climb at 7.1% - category H

• Km 120.5 - Col du Tourmalet (2 115 m)19 kilometre-long climb at 7.4% - category H

• Km 150.5 - Col d'Aspin (1 489 m)12.4 kilometre-long climb at 4.8% - category 1

• Km 181.5 - Col de Peyresourde (1 569 m)9.5 kilometre-long climb at 6.7% - category 1
  
  

Stage 16 Results:

 A large group including Thomas Voeckler, Chris Anker Sorensen, Jens Voigt, Gorka Insausti and Brice Feillu, none of whom were threats to the general classificaton, got away early and stayed away. In the end, Voeckler proved to be the strongest rider, securing his second Tour de France 2012 win in the streets of Bagneres-de-Luchon after mastering four monster climbs. With another amazing cycling performance in the mountains, Voeckler secured the King of the Mountains jersey, and demonstrated that the tendonitis in his knee has dissipated.

The general classification riders did as expected - they rode together for most of the day. But on the Col d'Aspin, a mountain on which Cadel Evans should have been attacking, Evans showed that he does not have what it takes to win this year's Tour de France. As the pace of the contenders, increased, Evans simply could not follow. Having lost 40+ seconds on the climb, the Aussie was able to get back on with the lead group on the descent. 

On the final climb of the day, the Col de Peyresourde, Nibali attacked! Froome and Wiggins followed, and the rest of the leaders were shelled out the back. At the top of the Peyresourde, this year's likely podium of Wiggins, Froome and Nibali crested together and finished together on the run into Bagneres-de-Luchon.  The big loser of the day was Cadel Evans who lost over four minutes on the day and saw his podium chances evaporate.

Stage 16 Top 10 Finishers

1	Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar	5:35:02
2	Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank	0:01:40
3	Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:03:22
4	Alexandr Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
5	Brice Feillu (Fra) Saur - Sojasun	0:03:58
6	Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:04:18
7	Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - Sharp	0:06:08
8	Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre - ISD
9	Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team
10	Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:06:11
11	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:07:09
12	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
13	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling

General Classification after Stage 16

1	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	2:15:32
2	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:02:05
3	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:02:23
4	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:05:46
5	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:07:13
6	Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:07:55
7	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:08:06
8	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:09:09
9	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:10:10
10	Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat	0:11:43

 

Tour de France Stage 13 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 13 - Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Le Cap d'Agde

With the Alps now firmly in the rearview mirror, the peloton continue their southward push to the Mediterranean en route to the next big challenge in the Pyrennes. At 217 km or 134 miles, Stage 13 is on the long side, but it's relatively flat. Onstensibly, this is one for the sprinters. That said, if it's windy along the Mediterranean coast, it could cause some splits in the peloton, that is liklely quite fatigued from the campaign in the Alps. Woe to Tour de France 2012 favorites who fail to pay attention lest the wind or crashes get them!

Tour de France Stage 13 Results:

 Cadel Evans, apparently, loves to attack on steep category 3 climbs, as was this case on short Mont Saint Clair climb on the outskirts of Le Cap d'Agde. The echelons of the wind-shattered peloton were further shattered by the effort, which saw sprinter Mark Cavendish go out the back. But if Evans effort was intended to distance the Yellow Jersey of Bradley Wiggins or other Tour de France 2012 contenders still in the hunt, that was not the case. In fact, so strong Wiggins that he lead sprint for teammate Edvald Boasson Hagen, who was beaten on the line by the battling duo of Andre Greipel and Peter Sagan. The finish was close but the photo showed Greipel on top with his 3rd stage win of the 2012 Tour. Sagan held onto the Green Jersey; Wiggins to the Yellow, and there was no change of significance in the general classiciation.

Stage 3 Results (Top 10 Finishers)

1	André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team	4:57:59
2	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
3	Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
4	Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
5	Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
6	Julien Simon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun
7	Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
8	Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
9	Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
10	Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISD

General Classification after Stage 13 (Top 2o)

1	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	11:32:32
2	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:02:05
3	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:02:23
4	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:03:19
5	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:04:48
6	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:06:15
7	Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:06:57
8	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:07:30
9	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:08:31
10	Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat	0:08:51
11	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:09:29
12	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:09:45
13	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale	0:10:49
14	Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun	0:11:27
15	Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan	0:12:41
16	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:17:21
17	Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan	0:17:41
18	Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:18:04
19	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team	0:19:02
20	Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank	0:20:12

 

 

 

Tour de France Stage 11 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 11 -  Albertville to La Toussuire - Les Sybelles

Stage 11 of the 2012 Tour de France is relatively short at 148 km or nearly 92 miles, but it features four (4) categorized climbs and the second of only three (3) mountaintop finishes at the Tour de France. The top climbers of the Tour will certainly want to come to the front early (the first climb begins at 13km) to make their play for the King of the Mountains Jersey. It will be interesting to see if Tommy Voeckler can defend after yesterday's grueling day in the mountains and his amazing (and entertaining) win on Stage 10.

Stage 11 also represents one of the few opportunities the Tour de France 2012 favorites will have to move their way up the leader board. Vincenzo Nibali (4th on GC at 2:23) and Jurgen Van Den Broek (8th on GC at 04:48) both attacked yesterday on Stage 10, but their efforts bore little fruit. Van Den Broek did gain a small amount of time and moved from 9th to 8th on the general classification. Nibali's downhill breakaway was an effort in vanity, as he was caught on the last climb of the day, with barely an effort on his part to get away. Nibali will be particularly motivated, as he is only 17 seconds away from a podium spot and only 31 seconds away from second place.

Alliances are likely to form on this stage with the intention of isolating race leader Bradley Wiggins from his teammates, particularly Christopher Froome who holds onto a tenuous 3rd place. Watch out for Denis Menchov who has been lurking in the background, only 3:03 down on GC and in 5th position. He and another of the GC hopefuls may try to gang up the the British Yellow Jersey.

• Km 40.0 - Col de la Madeleine (2 000 m)25.3 kilometre-long climb at 6.2% - category H

• Km 93.0 - Col de la Croix de Fer (2 067 m)22.4 kilometre-long climb at 6.9% - category H

• Km 113.0 - Col du Mollard (1 638 m)5.7 kilometre-long climb at 6.8% - category 2

• Km 148.0 - LA TOUSSUIRE18 kilometre-long climb at 6.1% - category 1
  
  

In and of themselves, none of the climbs are particularly difficult, althouth I have personally climbed the Coe de la Madeleine, and it is no cakewalk. If it's another hot day in France, riders will need to exercise caution on the backside of these climbs, which are steep and fast. Worse, the tar may have begin to melt, creating certain road hazards for descending cyclists, excercising little or no caution. Nibali, with his superior descending skills, may want use the descent of the Col du Mollard as a means of getting off the front for the final category 1 climb to La Toussuire. Big points are also on tap today for King of the Mountains aspirants.

Here's a good YouTube video of Stage 11.

Tour de France Stage 11 Results

Cadel Evans attacked early in the Col de Croix Fer and caught up with this faithful teammate Teejay van Garderen, the White Jersey owner, who was up the road with the early break. Evans tried, but he did not have it and quickly dropped back to the Yellow Jersey group. Ultimately, he paid for his early attack, as he had lost nearly all his mojo by the time the peloton hit the final climb up the La Toussuire. Evans was shelled, lost 01:23 to the Yellow Jersey group that included both Froome and Nibali, and with it fell into 4th place overall.

But Evans was not the only loser on the day. Menchov lost over 14 minutes and fell out of the top 10. Leipheimer, present in the early break of the day, broke and lost over 23 minutes. Valverde lost 8 minutes, and Movistar teammate Rui Costa lost 14. Ouch!

The big winner of the day was Pierre Rolland of EuropeCar. The winner of the stage to Alp d'Huez at the 2011 Tour de France show up big today as well. Going in the early break of the day, Rolland soloed to victory at La Toussuire, and picked up beaucoup de King of the Mountains points on the stage, not quite enough to take the Polka Dot Jersey, which was transferred Fredrik Kessiakoff from the Astana Pro Team.

As expected, both Nibali and Van Den Broeck also attacked on the final climb. And while they could not stay away, the managed to shell Evans in the process, with Nibali being the big winner of the day as he moved into a podium positon, just a few seconds done on Froome. Janez Brajkovic also climbed well and moved himself into 8th overall on GC.

The other amazing spectacle of the day was to see that both Froome and van Garderen were stronger than their captains. At points during the stage, both domestiques shelled their leaders "inadvertently," or so that is the question!

Stage 11 - Top 20 Finishers

1	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	4:43:54
2	Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat	0:00:55
3	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
4	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:00:57
5	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
6	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
7	Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank	0:01:08
8	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:01:58
9	Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team	0:02:13
10	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:02:23
11	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
12	Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
13	Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan	0:03:53
14	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan
15	Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun
16	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan
17	Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar Team
18	Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana Pro Team
19	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale	0:06:17
20	Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:07:27

General Classification after Stage 11 (Top 10 and Favorites - what's left of them!)

1	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:43:53
2	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:02:05
3	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:02:23
4	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:03:19
5	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:04:48
6	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:06:15
7	Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:06:57
8	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:07:30
9	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:08:31
10	Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat	0:08:51

Tour de France Stage 10 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 10 - Macon to Bellegard-sur-Valserine

With Stage 10, the Tour de France peloton begins a three day campaign in the Alps. The first day after the rest day is always tricky, and riders never know how their body's will react. After 9 days of hard racing, followed by an easy recovery day, cumulative fatigue can manifest with a "bad day." You can bet that the Tour de France 2012 contenders hope that the King of the Mountains aspirants go on the attack early. If there are no threats in the break, Team Sky, now firmly in charge of the Yellow Jersey and controlling the race, will be able to ride a "comfortable" tempo. None of the main protaganists will protest a comfortable pace, as the following day to La Toussuire is nothing short of epic.

• Km 90.0 - Côte de Corlier6.4 kilometre-long climb at 5.5% - category 2

• Km 151.5 - Col du Grand Colombier (1 501 m)17.4 kilometre-long climb at 7.1% - HC

• Km 174.0 - Col de Richemond7.2 kilometre-long climb at 5% - category 3

Stage 10 features three categorized climbs, incluing the first beyond category (HC - haute categorie) climb of the 2012 Tour de France. Given the climbs, the stage is relatively long at 194.5 km or 121 miles. Tour de France riders will climb the Col du Grand Columbier for the first time (unless of course, they rode it in the Criterium du Dauphine in June). At 17.4km the Grand Columbier averages 7.1% but include two sections where the pitch hits 12%. These may serve as launching pads for one of the top climbers in the 2012 Tour de France to make a mad dash for Bellegard-sur-Valserine some 45 km and a category 3 climb of the Col de Richemond away.

Tour de France Stage 10 Results

As expected, a large group including Thomas Vockler, Jens Voigt and Luis Leon Sanchez attacked the peloton early only to be shattered into smaller groups as the massive Col du Columbier took hold. Vockler, however, found his legs and went on to claim the King of the Mountain Jersey by taking 25 points on the Columbier and 5 points on the category 3 Col de Richemond. (Apparently, his knee is no longer bothering). 

Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep managed to break loose on the down hill run into Bellegard-sur Valersine. He looked set to take the victory when from out of nowhere comes a hard charing Jens Voigt (he's a beasty boy!). Voigt was closing the gap on Devenyns, when Vockler found his second set of legs, gave chase and dropped everyone on the final 1km climb to the finish!

 Among the top contenders for the 2012 Tour, Jurgen Van Den Broeck attached the trailing field and managed to gain a few seconds over his rivals. He moved up into 8th position, while Tejay Van Guarderen dropped to 10th.

 

 Stage 7 - Top 10 Finishers

 

1	Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar	4:46:26
2	Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD	0:00:03
3	Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:07
4	Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:00:23
5	Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:00:30
6	Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat	0:02:44
7	Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
8	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
9	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
10	Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team	0:02:52

 

 

General Classification after Stage 7 (Top 10 and Favorites - what's left of them!)

 

1	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	19:59:02
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:01:53
3	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:02:07
4	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:02:23
5	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:03:02
6	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:03:19
7	Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan	0:04:23
8	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:04:48
9	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale	0:05:29
10	Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:05:31
11	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team	0:05:46
13	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:06:29
14	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:06:33
16	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:08:19
19	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:08:58
20	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:09:28
21	Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:09:30
22	Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan	0:09:45
23	Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team	0:10:46
31	Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar	0:22:51

 

Tour de France Stage 9 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 9 - Arc-et-Senans to Besancon

Stage 9 from Arc-et-Senans to Bescancon is the first real race of truth in the 2012 Tour de France. The 41.5 km or 25.7 mile individual time trial will invite the top time trialists at the Tour to come forward and show their mettle. The course is undulating and features several short climbs that will challenge the legs of the Tour contenders. 

With Bradley Wiggins in the Yellow Jersey with only :10 on Cadel Evans, :16 on Vincenzo Nibali, and :54 on Denis Menchov, the battle between the Tour de France 2012 contenders is really taking shape. All of the GC contenders in the top 4 positons know how to race against the clock. The first time trial of the Tour will demonstrate whether or not the first week of racing has contenders in their rightful position or if a reshuffing is necessary. Likewise riders like Levi Leipheimer, Jurgen Van Den Broeck and Rein Taaremae will be seeking to make up for lost time. May the strong men come to the front! 

In addition to the battle between the general classification contenders, top time trial specialists like Fabian Cancellera, Tony Martin (who has ridden the week with a broken wrist), Dave Zabriski, Michael Rogers, David Millar and Maxine Montfort will be battling for stage glory. 

Stage 9 Time Trial Results

Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky put in another commanding cycling performance, winning the first long individual time trial of the Tour de France. Over the 41.5 hilly and technical course, Wiggins was the only rider to ride in excess of 30mph, finishing with a time of 51:24 (48.44 km per hour or 30.08 mph). His teammate, Chris Froome was a close second with a time of 51:59 and was the only other rider to go under 52 minutes from Arc-et-Senans to Besancon. Meanwhile, Cadel Evans, Wiggins primary general classification rival and last year's winner of the Tour de France, lost 1:43 to the Brit and now remains second overall. But instead of being only 10 seconds down to Wiggins, Evan is now almost two minutes behind with Froome a close third at 2:07.

The big question everyone should be asking is why or how did Bradley Wiggins go so much better on the time trial than Evans and the rest of the GC contenders? 

As the last two days in the medium mountains illustrate, Wiggins and Evans climb at about the same rate. Since both riders are similar in weight (Evans at 67kg and Wiggins at 69kg), they push a similar amount of power. Wiggins 2kg actually suggests that he pushes about 3% more power than Wiggins on a climb. Assuming that Evans pushes about 440 watts at threshold (6.5 watts per kg), Wiggins probably pushes closer to 450 watts. Do those 10 extra watts actually translate into 3% more speed? Maybe. But bicycle aerodynamics aslo comes into play here. Just compare the positions of Wiggins and Evans. Wiggins back is flatter and his arms form less of an air scoop, which creates additional front area friction. Likely, Evans has optimized his position to favor power over aerodynamics, but the trade off is not working for him.

Stage 9 Time Trial Results (Top 15)

1	Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling)	0:51:24
2	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:00:35
3	Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:57
4	Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:01:06
5	Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:01:24
6	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:01:43
7	Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:01:59
8	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:02:07
9	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:02:08
10	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:02:09
11	Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan	0:02:15
12	Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:02:16
13	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:02:20
14	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team	0:02:22
15	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:02:26

General Classification after Stage 9 (Top 10 and Favorites)

1	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	39:09:20
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:01:53
3	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:02:07
4	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:02:23
5	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:03:02
6	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:03:19
7	Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan	0:04:23
8	Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:05:14
9	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:05:20
10	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale	0:05:29
11	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team	0:05:46
14	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:06:29
15	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:06:33
16	Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:08:18
17	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:08:19
19	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:08:34
22	Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:09:06
23	Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan	0:09:07
25	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:10:00
28	Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team	0:10:46
29	Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:12:16
52	Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar	0:26:07
58	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:28:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tour de France Stage 7 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 7 - Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles

Let's hope that Fabian Cancellera from RadioShack-Nissan has enjoyed his weeklong sojourn in the Tour de France Yellow Jersey. Today's 199 km (123 miles) stage from Tomblaine, just south of Metz, to the ski state of La Plance des Belles Filles (the board of the young girls), is one for the pure climbers and a test for the Tour de France 2012 contenders.

• Km 112.0 - Col de Grosse Pierre3.1 kilometre-long climb at 6.4% - category 3

• Km 150.5 - Col du Mont de Fourche (620 m)3.1 kilometre-long climb at 6.4% - category 3

• Km 199.0 - La Planche des Belles Filles5.9 kilometre-long climb at 8.5% - category 1
   

Stage 7 is neither the most difficult nor mountainous of the 2012 edition of the Tour de France. The stage features two (2) category 3 climbs, each of which are 3.1 km in length at an average grade of 6.4%. But it is the summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles that will show which of the best climbers at the Tour de France are on form. The final climb to the ski station finish is 5.9 km or 3.7 miles long and gains 503 m (1,650) and averages 8.5%. As such it is about as steep, on average, as Alpe D'Huez and about half the distance. However, La Planche des Belles Filles climb features several pitches near 14% with a short-stretch from 22% to 28% near the finish.

With pitches like this, La Planche des Belles Filles favors the light climbers with a high power to weight ratio (functional threshold power / weight in kg). Among the Tour de France 2012 favorites, look to the likes of Janez Brajkovic, Levi Leipheimer, Frank Schleck, Alejandro Valverde, Sammy Sanchez and Vincenzo Nibali to rise to the top. Having lost time in earlier stages, Schleck, Sanchez and Valverde will be particularly motivated. Other general classification notables such as Cadel Evans, Bradley Wiggins and Dennis Menchov will have to dig deep when the pitches kick up and rally back on the "flatter" parts of the climb.

Stage 7 will also be the first stage where the real King of the Mountains Contenders come forward. Each of the category 3 climbs is worth worth 2 points, but the final climb to La Planche des Belles Filles is worth 20 points to the winner. So, it will be interesting to see how the stage unfolds, as those in the early break of the day will clearly be seeking the coveted polka dot jersey.

Tour de France Stage 7 Results

The peloton approached the steep climb to La Planche des Belles Filles. Team Sky came to the front, put the hammer down and proceeded to decimate the field. Richie Porte pulled the bunch for the first 2km, shredding the general classification hopefuls one by one. Leipheimer was among the first to go, followed by Schleck, Brajkovic and Sanchez. Then, with 2km to go, Sky's Christoper Froome took over, and Menchov popped. Only Wiggins, Evans, Rein Taarame (a surprise from Cofidis!) and Nibali could follow. As Taarame dropped off the back, and the quartet approached the final, steep 350m, Evans attacked. Wiggins followed and Froome a counter attacked. An amazing cycling performance by Team Sky ensued as Froome took the stage and the King of the Mountains Jersey, and Wiggins took yellow, leaving Cadel in second place on the climb and on the general classification.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Van Den Broeck and Alejandro Valverde each encoutered mechanical problems as the pace of the peloton accellerated within 10km to go. As a result, their general classification hopes were dashed by the ruthless accelleration of Team Sky. Afterwards when interviewed by CyclingNews.com, Wiggins claimed it was not the team's intent to decimate the field. "We rode tempo" with the intent of claiming the yellow jersey. The Brit claimed that both he and Froome could have gone deeper, and he was surprised that there were only four left in the final selection. In his words, claiming the Yellow Jersey is "fucking great!"

 From today's clear, it is clear that it is Evans and Wiggins (and Wiggin's Team Sky) that are head and shoulders above the rest.

 Stage 7 - Top 10 Finishers

1	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	4:58:35
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:02
3	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
4	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:00:07
5	Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne	0:00:19
6	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:44
7	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:00:46
8	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
9	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:00:50
10	Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:56

 

General Classification after Stage 7 (Top 10 and Favorites)

1	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	10:21:20
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:10
3	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:00:16
4	Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne	0:00:32
5	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:00:54
6	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:59
7	Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan	0:01:09
8	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale	0:01:22
9	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:01:32
10	Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling	0:01:40
12	Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:02:02
13	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:02:11
15	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team	0:02:25
16	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:02:29
17	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:03:04
20	Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
23	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:03:27
24	Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan	0:03:39
26	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:03:43
27	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-Quickstep	0:03:47
35	Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team	0:04:50
39	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:06:57
65	Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar	0:16:13
111	Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep	0:24:39
170	Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:40:18

Top Climbers in the Tour de France 2012

A Look at Best Climbers in the Tour de France

Alberto Contador is widely acknowledged to be the best climber in the professional peloton, and Andy Schleck, who finished 2nd overall in the 2011 Tour de France, is considered a strong runner-up. But neither Contador nor Schleck are competing in the 2012 Tour de France. Contador is serving a yearlong suspension for a Clenbuterol doping positive in the 2010 Tour de France, while Schleck fractured his pelvis in a crash during the Criterium du Dauphine time trial.

Creating a list of top climbers in the 2012 Tour de France begins with an evaluation of the mountainous stage races leading up to the Tour, such as the Tour de Suisse, the Criterium du Dauphine and even the Tour of California. Most of the best climbers also come from the ranks of the Tour de France contenders.

 • Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) from Movistar Team won Stage 1 of the Tour de Suisse on the climb to Verbier and laid the foundations for his overall win of the Swiss race.

• Frank Schleck (Lux) of RadioShack-Nissan showed that he was on form at the Tour de Suisse with his commanding performances in the mountains on his bid for a second overall.

• Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Omega Pharma - QuickStep showed that he was coming back on form with his 3rd place finish at the Tour de Suisse. He's light and powerful, and can do very well in the steeper climbs.

• Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team first showed his climbing prowess in his dominant performance in the last stage of the Tour de California, which he won overall. He went on to climb well at the Tour de Suisse where he finished 4th overall.

• Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) of Movistar Team worked for teammate Rui Costa at the Tour de Suisse and still managed to come in 7th overall. He has a history of strong climbing abilities, though that record is somewhat suspect due to his role in Operacion Puerto.

• Bradley Wiggins (GBr) of Sky Procycling won the Criterium du Dauphine 2012 with commanding time trial performances and by climbing with the best in the mountains. As such, he needs to be considered among the top climbers in the 2012 Tour de France.

• Cadel Evans (Aus) of BMC Racing Team won the 2011 edition of the Tour de France by climbing well, time trialing well and riding smart throughout the 3-week race. He consistently climbs with the best, and he showed that by placing 3rd overall at the Criterium du Dauphine 2012.

• Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) of Lotto Belisol Team finished 4th at the Dauphine, and he has showed tremendous form in the mountains at both the 2010 and 2011 editions of the Tour.

• Janez Brajkovic (Slo) of Astana Pro Team first showed his climbing prowess at the 2010 edition of the Criterium du Dauphine where he beat Alberto Contador, the best climber in the world. Brajkovic finished 7th overall at the 2012 edition of the Dauphine.

• Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) of Liquigas-Cannondale has not shown much form in the run up to the Tour de France, but the winner of the 201o Vuelta and 2nd place finisher at the 2011 Giro is among the best climbers at this year's Tour.

• Denis Menchov (Rus) of Katusha Team is a two-time winner of the Vuelta and a winner of the Giro. You cannot win a Grand Tour without being a top climber. Menchov has been below the radar this year and did not compete in either the Tour de Suisse of the Criterium du Dauphine.

• Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi, the reigning Olympic Road Race Champion, climbs consisently well at the Tour de France - well enough to win the King of the Mountains Jersey in the 2011 Tour. With two podium finishes at the Vuelta, Sanchez ranks among the top climbers.

 

Other Notable Climbers:

Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale (past winner of the Giro)

Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan (podium finished at the Tour, consistent climber)

Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar (winner of the mountaintop finish at Alpe D'Huez at the 2011 Tour de France)

Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan (solid climber but old at 40)

Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin - Sharp (winner of the 2012 Giro but crashed hard on Stage 6)

Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin - Sharp (crashed out of the 2012 Tour de France in Stage 6)

 

 

 

Tour de France Stage 6 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 6 - Épernay to Metz

The peloton continues their easterly push towards the mountains from Épernay to Metz . With only one Category 4 climb, Stage 6 of the Tour de France will be one last chance for the sprinters to shine for the better part of a week. This is another long stage - 207.5 km or 129 miles.

After a week of racing, the peloton is getting pretty beat up, and many sprinters have seen the tarmac more often than they would like. There's a remote chance that the day's breakaway will survive to the finish, but more than likely, the peloton will finish in a bunch sprint to the line. Look for Cavendish, Sagan and Farrar, if he's not too beaten up,to redeem themselves. The General Classification contenders will once again seek to conserve energy and stay out of trouble, as they will want to have fresh legs for the first real mountaintop finish of the Tour de France at La Planche des Belles Filles in Stage 7 on Saturday.

Stage 6 Results

 The first week of the Tour de France, with its long, generally flat, sprint-filled stages, is as much about survival as it is about taking early stage victories. This is particularly true for teams with Yellow Jersey aspiratations. Just ask Garmin-Sharpe, who GC hopes are all but dashed after today's seemingly innocuous Stage 6 to Metz.

With teammate Dave Zabriskie off the front in an all-day chase group and only 25kms to go on the stage, disaster struck an already stricken Garmin-Sharpe team. An enormous, high-speed crash in the peloton that took down an already injured Tyler Farrar, Tom Danielson and Christian Vandevelde. Worse yet, Garmin-Sharpe's general classification best hope, Ryder Hesjedal went down hard, ultimately losing 9+ minutes on the stage. Later on, Tom Danielson abandoned the race, their best climber and another GC contender, done! The final blow was that Dave Z was caught by a charging peloton with 1.5km to go.

Other teams were not spared the wrath of Stage 6. Frank Schleck, Robert Gesink, Janez Brajkovic, Pierre Rolland and Alejandro Valverde all lost time.

And, oh yeh, Peter Sagan won his 3rd Tour stage!

Stage 6 - Top 10 Finishers

 

1	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale	4:37:00
2	André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team
3	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
4	Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
5	Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
6	Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol Team
7	Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
8	Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team
9	Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
10	Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team	0:00:04

 

 

General Classification after Stage 6 (Top 10 and Favorites)

 

1	Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan	5:22:36
2	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:00:07
3	Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
4	Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:00:10
5	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:00:13
6	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:17
7	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:00:18
8	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:00:19
9	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan
10	Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:22
17	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:00:28
18	Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:00:29
20	Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:00:40
21	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team	0:00:42
22	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:00:45
24	Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan	0:01:29
31	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:02:27
34	Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team	0:02:40
37	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:02:43
38	Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team	0:02:46
40	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:02:50
51	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:04:13
114	David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Sharp	0:14:17
115	Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar	0:14:17
151	Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep	0:19:47
181	Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:27:49

 

Tour de France Stage 5 - Preview and Results

Tour de France Stage 5 Rouen / Saint-Quentin

Stage 5 is another long (197km, 122 mile) flat stage from Rouen in North Central France to Saint-Quentin in an easterly direction en route the the Jura Mountains. After having hit the Tarmac yesterday, sprinters Mark Cavendish, Tyler Farrar and Bernie Eiesel will be seeking their revenge. With no categorized mountain stages, Stage 5 is going to be a sleeper. The Tour de France 2012 contenders will just be trying to keep their noses clean during the stage that will likely feature a no-name breakaway group who get chased down by RadioShack, Lampre and other ambitous sprinter teams.

Lance Armstrong Betrayed by Former Teammates

Stage 5 would be a complete sleeper were it not for today's public disclosure of cyclists who reportedly betrayed Lance Armstrong. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, Dave Zabriski and Jonathan Vaughters have all confessed to doping and turned Lance in at the same time. The cyclists will receive a six-month ban from USADA at the beginning of the 2013 cycling season. It is unknown whether or not Vaughters will be suspeneded.

Tour de France Stage 5 Results
The final kilometer into Saint-Quentin featured a slight uphill finish that might have been perfect for Peter Sagan. But a crash just within the 3km mark that saw Tyler Farrar thrown to the tarmac for the 3rd day in a row, also ensnared the Green Jersey Sagan. Mattie Goss went for it; Greipel, Haedo and Cavendish followed with Greipel blowing past Goss in the final 200 meters to take the win.

The GC contenders played it safe with the result that there were no changes in the general classification.

Stage 5 - Top 10 Finishers

1	André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team	4:41:30
2	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
3	Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
4	Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
5	Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling
6	Tom Veelers (Ned) Argos-Shimano
7	Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Katusha Team
8	Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
9	Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
10	Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar

General Classification after Stage 5 (Top 10 and Favorites)

1	Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan	24:45:32
2	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:00:07
3	Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
4	Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:00:10
5	Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling	0:00:11
6	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team	0:00:13
7	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:17
8	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:00:18
9	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Sharp
10	Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:19
13	Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team	0:00:22
23	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:00:26
24	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team	0:00:28
26	Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	0:00:29
27	Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team	0:00:35
31	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:38
33	Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:00:40
37	Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar	0:00:45
38	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-Quickstep	0:00:45
47	Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan	0:01:29
154	Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin - Sharp	0:12:02
180	Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep	0:17:42
190	Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:21:51