Well, well, well...  Mother Nature again was very kind.  She provided us with a 9 mph breeze from the coveted SE direction.   Oh,  and the temperature was a comfy 78 degrees.

Nine TTers rolled to the start line including one guest.  The results were the meshing of strong engines and good conditions.  We had two PRs and almost everyone had at a minimum their best 2026 time.   Tiago scorched the course with his 4th best time ever.  Needless to say he earned the FMT with a time of 21:27(27.98mph).  Wow!  Ron made the trek down from the Oswego area and it was worth it!  He crushed the course in a time of 25:12(23.81mph) - bettering his best time from last year by 10 seconds.   The FWT was set with an impressive ride by Jade.  Her time of 27:45 (21.62mph) lowered her PR by a whopping 39 seconds !  A PR was also set by Todd S who keeps taking a time off every time he comes out.  He knocked his time down by 13 seconds.    Sean, Mark and John all had their best 2026 times.  Mark had his best time in five years.   Our guest Brigette had great time, literally, and said "I'll be back!".   

TdF briefing:

Day 1 -   TTT  -   very interesting format.  I was incorrect in my last email saying the times for each team would still be totaled up.  Best single time won and Vingegaard's Visma team proved to be the best.

Day 2 -  hilly -    Pogacar lets his team mate del Toro take the victory as he soft pedaled ahead of Evenepoel and Vingegaard.  A nice gesture for his new team mate, but, almost insulting to the two charging competitors. 

Day 3 - mtn -     Pogacar's UAE team decided to reel in the break away.  Super domestique, American, Brandon McNulty powered at the head of the peloton for many miles and shed many off the back.  At the finish, Pogacar had a bit more power and grabbed bonus time reductions over the 2nd place Vingegaard.  The two would end up tied in time, with yellow jersey going to Pogacar due to time breakers.

Day 4 - hilly -   a huge breakaway !!!    American Quinn Simmons and Sean Quinn played a role.   Simmons would work hard for his team mate sprinter Pederson and led him to victory with amazing efforts.  He managed to finish 2nd in the sprint.   Sean Quinn is now 2nd overall due the break aways 10+ minute advantage over the peloton.  Norwegian Torstein Traenn is in yellow for now.   Quinn is 28 seconds back.    It is quite a story regarding Traenn.  He was diagnosed with testicular cancer 4 years ago after failing a drug test due to high levels of HCG. It turns out it was due to the cancer.   Surgery and treatment and now back better than ever.  Sound familiar?

Day 5 -   single man break away that is caught.. sprint finish.... yawn.

Tomorrow -  the Tourmalet !!!   Ouch.    

 It's been a record hot Tour.  Temps over 100 degrees!   These guys are amazing.  

Til next time!

Brian

TT Directeur

315-727-1458