Bad luck for Turgis!

Jeez, we're gonna see some weird National championships style AI pretty son with how fast the peloton is diminishing.

Very interesting. Will be interesting to see who is left at the end. Potentially if too many top GC riders crash out, sprinters may have a better chance of surviving in the mountains.

Stage 5 Recap / Passo Giau

It's time for the mountains, and a big one for stage 5. We're in Italy for 150km stage in the Dolomites. Passo Rolle and Passo Giau.

Race



Halfway through and a big crash in the peloton. The green jersey holder C. Ewan and N. Oliviera is withdrawn.

Just before the climb, there is a 30 man group pulled by INEOS, Quintana struggling 15 kilometers to go.



A very tough climb but the winner of the stage is Froome! Dumoulin and Nibali looking very strong as well.

Looking further down the field we got 3 unlucky riders who have to leave the race because of finishing outside the 1h 4 minutes time limit.

Results

This means, Froome gets very close to Nibali. Cavendish says goodbye with Ewan today. Gasparotto back in points. Froome gets first KoM









Remaining List

Stage 6 to be posted tonight

50% of the EF Education team out after just 5 stages... That's rough!

I got Lawson Craddock to a podium GC finish in the Vuelta when Froome (leading the race) crashed spectacularly on the final mountain descent of the Vuelta. He had to abandon.

I had mixed feelings. Elation at seeing him on the side of the road...and sadness at the crash...but mostly elation, because of what Froome and Sky represent.

PCM15

PCM18: Crashed with Nibali while he was the leader on the 16th stage and he had to abandon... Not only good things happen with crashed in pcm..

And again: c'mon emre!

Stage 6 Recap / Il Lombardia

Another tough stage and this time with twisty turns, lots of crashes expected. With 132 riders left in the peloton, I have doubts about the pace today.

The Race







Ouch! Crashes, crashes, crashes. Olivier Naesen and Elia Viviani out from the crashes. Also more people crashed out in these fierce downhills.

Coming to the last climb it was a 30 man peloton in the lead. Who will win the race?

Peloton didn't seem to react when Calmejane and Visconti attacked. And in the final sprint it was Visconti ahead of Calmejane to win the stage. What a spectacular win after joining the morning breakaway and holding on well!.

Results

Dan Martin and Adam Yates suffered time losses slipping down the order. Lots of withdrawals and Nacer Bouhanni the only one out of time limit. No changes on Po








Remaining List

Stage 7 Recap / Monte Zoncolan

A tough day in the saddle awaits the riders with a course over 4000 denivel meters and of course, an epic finish in the Zoncolan.

Race

Couple of crashes during the descent of Chianzutan and Evenepoel, Sam Bennett and Greg van Avermaet had to retire before the cobble stages..

Peloton had a big speed climbing the 2nd climb of the day Duron, but the 14 man breakaway were still 6 minutes ahead with 30 kilometers to go.



Starting the Zoncolan and Bennett - Zakarin duo have a 4 minute lead to the peloton. But 10 man favourite group came back with 4 kilometers to go. Froome seemed to be in pole position for the win, again.



Froome and Nibali were a cut above the rest and with a last meter attack it was Froome who won the stage, therefore getting the yellow jersey.

Very strong from the peloton today as everyone finished under the time limit.

Results

As results show Froome is in the lead before Belgian roads, secures his KoM as well. Gasparotto somehow stays in green.









Remaining List

Indeed. I had a race where the leader and my BeAPro rider crashed together. #1 and #2 (me) then struggled to see who would lose the least time...and tbe third place GC rider tried to attack to win the grand tour. It would have made for epic television.

Of course Sky still have a full team.

The only team to as well!

Stage 8 Recap - Ronde van Vlandaaren

Here we are in the cobbled routes of Flanders, for one of the harderst races in the calendar year. It'll be interesting to see what GC riders will do today.



Froome had a puncture early on but has returned without an issue.



While GC riders were riding at their own pace 5 favourites: Gilbert, Van Aert, Stuyven, Bettiol and Calmejane had a 10 minute gap to GC riders. While a lot chasers between them, it was sure the stage was going to be won by this group.



And an attack on Paterberg, Alberto Bettiol wins the stage 8! GC contenders managed to come bunched up with not many riders losing time against each other.

Results



The gap was 15 minutes from Bettiol to GC group, although it didn't matter much for the GC.



These 8 riders had to abandon and our not finisher count has been raised to 64.





Remaining List



Next up: Liege Bastogne Liege

I was expecting Nibali to take some time here, but I guess he's already suffering from his lack of domestiques comapred to Froome.

Shame Nibali isn’t aggressive here, Stage 8-11 should be his time to shine

Stage 9 Recap / Liege Bastogne Liege

Last stage before a well deserved rest, this time the hilly terrain of Wallonie challenges the riders.

The Race

An early breakaway of 11 riders, mainly consisting Spring Classics favourites, was formed. Halfway and the gap was 6 minutes.



Oh no! Crash in the peloton sees Valverde and Nibali on the ground. 4 time winner of this race Valverde is out of the tour! Dumoulin and Froome going very strong at the front. Break still holds 2 minutes lead with 40 to go.



10k to go and De Marchi leading the race with a minute over the breakaway. Fuglsang and Alaphilippe decided to attack from the INEOS lead peloton.



3k to go and Gilbert and Cattaneo are down! De Marchi very close to victory! Froome manages to Escape but Thomas, Alaphilippe, Bardet all crashed as well!



Despite the efforts of Barguil and Wellens, De Marchi wins the stage after attacking in Stockeu! Very good effort. Valverde and Brambilla only ones to be out of the race today.

Results









Remaining List



Next up: Hell of the North - Again fast uploads because the new game comes out Thursday! Want to finish.

Next stage will be uploaded tonight, you have been warned IT WILL HURT

Stage 10 Recap / Paris Roubaix

Paris Roubaix today, but shortened, to make the racing interesting. We'll see if the GC contenders finally struggle or not.



20 sectors to go and we had a 3 man breakaway, Vanmarcke, Van de Poel and Keukeleire. Peloton down to 50 man because of strugglers and crashes. Froome and Nibali both in it. Meanwhile Greipel and Zakarin had to abandon.



10 sectors to go and the group starting to appear in pieces. Froome losing ground to Nibali, maybe?
Bardet, Fuglsang, Dumoulin, Landa way behind this group.



Race situation on Mons en Pevele. Froome and Nibali both dropped but Nibali in better position. Still 50k to go. Can see a lot of non finishers today. Geraint Thomas in the Peloton trying to slow the pace so Nibali and Froome could catch up.



Froome cooperates with Valgren and CATCHES Nibali. This is getting tense with 5 sectors to go! Nibali ATTACKS! With Colbrelli and has a time on Froome. Provisional yellow for Nibali.

Nils Politt and Gilbert attacked from the favourites group and Politt was strong enough to catch the front 3. It will be a sprint but who will be victorious?



It is SEP VANMARCKE who wins the Paris Roubaix! Froome loses x seconds to Nibali and that means Nibali is the new yellow jersey holder!

Results











Remaining List

Brutal stage!