The thunderstorms cleared out, the sun came out and the humidity dropped to comfortable levels for the time trial Tuesday night.   The only downside was a shifting 10 mph predominantly NW breeze that buffeted the TTer for a good portion of the course. 

Eight TTers showed up to battle the course.  We had two newbies come out... Welcome Brian and Chris!

Alex Johnson snagged the FMT again, but this time using the "old" Cervelo. He cruised the course in a time of 24:31 (24.47 mph). Karen Busse, again took the FWT. She equaled her time of the previous week -  26:23 (22.74 mph).   Despite the breeze, Sean Kesselring rode to a PR (by 12 seconds) with a 26.48 (22.39 mph).  

See Results below Tour News:

Tour News:

Tuesday (Stage 10)  - Day 1 of 3 in the Alpes after a rest day.  Most of the GC contenders played in conservatively.  Frisky Dan Martin  attacked at the top of the last climb, which helped unhinge several top 10 contenders. Biggest loser was an aching Rigoberto Uran who lost over 2 minutes to the GC guys. The breakaway group included yellow jersey Van Avermaet, who most felt would not end the stage with it.  Not only did he hold on to it, he gained time on the GC contenders.   Frenchman Alaphilippe won his first TDF stage.  There was a unique one  mile section of packed "gravel" at the top of the Gliere climb that was very cool to see.  Froome flatted here and had to get a wheel from neutral support. Lucky for him he did not lose much time and was able to get back to the peloton fairly quickly.

Wednesday (stage 11) -   Day 2 of 3 Alpes stages -   short stage with lotsa climbing!

On the final climp to Rosiere, Team Sky displayed their dominance.   Movistar had Valverde and team mate Soler in the breakaway group with the plan to help Quintana on the final climb.  Tom Dumoulin made an aggressive move on the downhill before the final climb and managed to gain 34 seconds on the GC contenders when he hit the base of the 10 mile climb to Rosiere.    He caught and dropped Valeverde.   With about 3.5 miles to go he still maintained his 30 second lead on the GC group and was about a minute behind the leader, Nieve.   At this point Team Sky's Garaint Thomas made his move and accelerated.   Team mate Froome stayed put and waved the others ahead.  He wasn't going to chase down his team mate.  Certainly, he wasn't going to drag others up to him.  At first no one went after Thomas, thinking that Froome was bluffing.  Would Froome allow Thomas to gain so much time on him that he would not still be able to win the Tour?   Bardet finally went after Thomas and dragged Froome, Quintana, Roglic and Martin along.   When Bardet slowed, Froome sensed weakness and attacked.  At the 2.5 mile mark Thomas caught Dumoulin and sat on his wheel.   Froome and company could see Dumoulin and Thomas ahead.    Then the predictably unpredictable Martin attacked!  Only Froome could respond.  This was just what he needed.  An excuse to get up to his team mate Thomas.   With about .5 mile to go, and with Dumoulin/Thomas in site, Froome attacked Martin.  But, then Thomas attacked Dumoulin!    He passed Nieve for the win and Dumoulin managed to cross the line just ahead of Froome - both 20 seconds back.     Bardet, Nibali, Roglic a minute back... Landa 1:47 back (sorry Josh).   Thomas in yellow, Froome 1:25 back, Dumoulin 1:44 back

Didn't make the time cut:   Kittel and Cavendish

Thursday (stage 12)   Day 3 of 3 Alpes stages - historic finishing climb up Alpe D'Huez (14kim at 8%)

The stage got very interesting on the  2nd monster climb up the Croix-de-Fer (18 miles at ave grade of 5%). Kruijswijk (yeh, I had to look up the spelling), who was only 2:44 down on GC,  made his move at the base of the climb and extended his lead over the peloton to 6 minutes by the time he got to the top.   It was a daring, bold move with about 42 miles left in the race which included about 26 miles of climbing.   He fought headwinds in the valley on the way to Alpe D'Huez and managed to hold onto a lead of 4:30.  Pretty impressive.   When the GC group started up the climb, 21 year old Egan Bernal, paced the Sky train up the first half of the climb.  While there were attacks, none amounted to anything. He just maintained a strong steady pace for Thomas and Froome.  Watch for this guy in about three years.   

At the 2.5 mile mark Nibali was knocked off of his bike.  Apparently, his handlebars got hooked on a spectators camera strap.   At the time there was also thick red smoke from flairs that the idiot spectators had lit. I found myself yelling that the spectators crowding the riders as they tried to snake through the crowd.   I was happy to see a policeman slam down Mr Naked Man running along side the GC group.  For a moment it seemed that the lead 5 may have slowed a bit to allow Nibali a chance to recover a bit.  But, then Bardet attacked and it was on!   It was probably the most amazing finish I've ever seen.  At one point Thomas, Dumoulin, Froome and Bardet were side by side - mano a mano - sizing each other up - I've never seen that before on a finishing climb.  Landa managed to drag himself up the four.  With 1 km to go Dumoulin lead Thomas and Froome..... with a slight gap to Bardet and Landa.   Landa attacked and led the four into the final turn... sprint finish !   Thomas wins his second straight stage!  

Nibali fractured a vertebrae and was forced to withdraw from the Tour. He bravely finished the stage only 13 seconds back.

It was a day that saw the sprinters whittled down - double stage winners Gaviria, Groenewegen drop out,  Andre Griepel. GC Contender didn't start.  Several others as well.  

Sagan has the green jersey locked up if he doesn't crash between now and the finish of the race.  It will be 6 Green sprinter jerseys. Tying him with Erik Zabel for the most I believe.

The mountain stages in the Pyrenees should be very interesting.   How will it play out between the Sky guys.   Will Froome attack Thomas if he is having an off day?  Stay tuned.   

Riders times by start order:

Riders times by finish time:

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Brian

TT Directore

315-727-1458