The route
1 Cobbled prologue, 12 km
9 Flat stages
3 Hilly stages, 1 uphill finish
6 Mountain stages, 5 summit finishes
1 Mountain TT on Alpe d’Huez
37 km regular ITT

Everyone expect a duel between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador. They both showed in Tour de Suisse that they are in shape and close to equally good at the moment. The route is not very heavy on TT’s which will suit Schleck just fine, just as the Luxembourg rider has teh strongest support from his team mates.
Riders like Nibali, Evans and Van den Broeck will do their bets to mix in the battle but they have all ridden a hard Giro d’Italia and will most likely suffer in the last week.
A good bet for the third spot on the podium would be Joaquím Rodriguez. The route has little enough TT’ing for him to be able to stay in the battle, but both Schleck and Contador are better climber as well as TT’ers on paper. He could make things interesting with his aggressive riding though.
Bradley Wiggins is also present at the start, but this is not a route designed for the british TT-specialist.
The French will be hoping for Voeckler and Coppel.

With nine flat stages this is really a Tour for the sprinters as well, and they are all here…
Cavendish is the big favourite for green, especially with Boasson Hagen as lead out man and fast guys like Swift and Thomas in the train as well. Some question his shape after losing the NC to Swift though.
But with Greipel, Sagan, Farrar and Matt Goss in the pack as well Sky are going to meet some serious resistance.

It’s near impossible to predict who will target the mountain classification, but riders like Rodriguez, Van den Broeck and Mollema could very well go after it as they lose time in the GC. Poels, Valverde and Brajkovic could have a good chance should they decide to go after it as well.
Voeckler have the qualities to win it being a decent climber and very agressive, but might go for the GC this time. Any of the French riders without a chance in the GC might decide to go for this one though.

With Talansky, Henao, Quintana and Sicard all somewhere else it looks like a battle between Van Garderen and Wout Poels with Poels being the favourite as he has been given the role as captain on Euskaltel. Both riders have already had a lot of racedays this season, so we will so who handles it best – perhaps we will even get to see a new star on the sky.

Finally. First day of the biggest race in the world. I bet not a lot of people had expected the project to get this far. Our goal in France will be to get at least one stage win, but it will be a tough race for us.

Stage 1

A TT with cobbles. We saw Thor beat everyone in a similar stage in Paris-Nice earlier this year, but with a Cancellara in top form it looks like an open and shut stage for Spartacus.

Søren Nissen is our first half-decent TT’er on the course, but even though it’s early on the day he only manage to get provisional 9th 45 seconds slower than Geraint Thomas.

Australian champion Richie Porte is not having the best of days and doesn’t even manage a top 5 after Tony Martin got new best time.

I believe Willy Ipsen can develop into the best stage racer in Danish cycling history, but the youngster still has far to go finishing a provisional 76th halfway through the day. Nissen is still best Falcon – STARK rider 44 seconds behind new leader Tony Martin.

An outsider to beat Martin and Cancellara today could be Dutch TT-champion and cobblespecialist Lars Boom, and he beats World Champion Tony Martin by an astonishing 19 seconds. Will anyone be able to match this?

Another rider hoping to do something today is Sky’s Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen, but the Norwegian still haven’t quite found his form in spite of his convincing performance at the Norwegian TT-championships.

Cancellara is off looking good closing in on Ivan Basso halfway through the prologue and as expected he was just on a completely different level than everyone else today beating Boom by 19 seconds.

Our best bid both today and for a stage later on is Thor Hushovd, but as predicted he is not among the very strongest today and finishes in an approved provisional 11th.

Results:
1. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack – Nissan
2. Lars Boom, BMC
3. Bradley Wiggins, Sky
4. Tony Martin, Omega Pharma – QuickStep
5. Sylvain Chavanel, Orica – GreenEdge
15. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK

The Blues wrote:
Hi.

I'm just writing to let you know that even though I haven't commented yet, I have read the entire story, and I think it is a good idea and good thing you have got going.

Oh... you have to get Fuglsang and Chris or at least one of them.

A tough start as predicted but Brink managed to get us some TV time in the break. Morten and the others did what they could, but with all the best sprinters in the world in the peloton the break was always kept under control.

With 10 km to go the last four riders were caught. Well done by Morten to last as long as Paolini, Eisel and Terpstra.

In the sprint we tried to get Thor in a good position, but he had a really bad day, so we couldn’t make ourselves noticed. Not that we expected much of this terrain anyway...

Instead we saw something very surprising. With 700 m to go Cavendish was in the lead doing the leadout for Ben Swift! No one saw that one coming – least of all Farrar who was just beaten on the line.


Results:
1. Ben Swift, Sky
2. Tyler Farrar, Garmin - Sharp
3. Mark Cavendish, Sky
4. André Greipel, Lotto Belisol
5. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
27. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK

Stage 3

With a small hill just after the start at least we’ll have a little to ride for today as the stage win looks to be another one for the sprinters.

I told the guys to stay ready from the start to chase the single KOM-sprint of the day. Obviously I wasn’t the only manager with that idea, so Daniel Kreutzfeldt had to battle Sebastian Hinault, Langeveld, Eisel and Gène for the dots. A tough one but Daniel managed to get that one point allowing him to ride in the mountain jersey tomorrow.
A few more riders joined soon after and it turned in to BOTD. A break that had the same fate as the one yesterday.
Today Thor is looking much better than yesterday, so lets hope he can finder the sprinter-legs.
Terrible crash with 15 km to go. 80 riders lose contact with the peloton. Paolini even has to abandon. Too bad so early. Among the riders caught behind were strong names like Evans, Porte, Roche, Mollema, Van Garderen and Kreuziger. In deed a much more dramatic stage than expected. All of them ended up losing several minutes.
Thor called me in the radio saying that everyone on the team was ok and that it looked like Sky was sprinting for Swift again today, so I told him to go in Swifts wheel and take the sprint from there. Michael Færk Christensen did great to keep Thor in that position.

Cavendish starts the leadout from far out, but Thor is caught behind Boasson Hagen as the Norwegian leaves the front and Hushovd looses a lot of positions.
The young Swift still has a lot to learn as he’s not able to take advantage of the perfect leadout provided by the former World Champion.



Results:
1. Óscar Freire, Katusha
2. Tyler Farrar, Garmin - Sharp
3. Ben Swift, Sky
4. Arnaud Demare, FDJ - BigMat
5. Matthew Goss, Orica - GreenEdge
10. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK

Another terribly flat stage. Should be the same as the previous days.
We do our best to get a rider in the break and with 10-20 km to go the sprinters teams reel in the break and the fast guys decide the stage between each other. Hushovd will do his best to finish well.

Michael Færk Christensen got away along with 12 other riders. The guys did well but Sky, Lotto and Liquigas always had them under control. A predicted they was caught right at the 10 km mark and now we had to hope for Thor.

It’s the most chaotic sprint so far as everyone seems to mistimed the trains slightly and the last 800 km is mano a mano.

Again today we saw Cavendish doing the lead out for Swift, and today Ben did better with the support than yesterday. Still I don’t understand what the Sky management is up to though...

Results:
1. Ben Swift, Sky
2. André Greipel, Lotto Belisol
3. Matthew Goss, Orica - GreenEdge
4. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
5. Peter Sagan, Liquigas - Cannondale
14. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK

1. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan
2. Bradley Wiggins, Sky
3. Sylvain Chavanel, Orica GreenEdge
4. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
5. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
13. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK

Mountain Jersey: Daniel Kreutzfeldt, Falcon - STARK
Points Jersey: Ben Swift, Sky
Young Rider: Peter Sagan, Liquigas - Cannondale
Team: RadioShack - Nissan

Stage 5

Another stage categorized as flat, but the small hills in the finish might improve our chances of success today.

Inspired by the dots Daniel attacked right after the start. Too bad a lot of teams weren’t quite satisfied with the break. Instead Rasmus Sterebo got in a big break that got a much larger gap.

Though I have to say that I was happy to have a seat in the car in this weather…

Rasmus did his best to keep the dots on the team but competition today was just too strong and Van Avermaet will wear the jersey tomorrow.

In the peloton Liquigas is pulling for Sagan with all the fast guys including Hushovd right behind them. Going under the 5 km mark Rasmus & Co. has 47 seconds to the peloton. The break is caught, but a bit to late as the remains of the break make for a chaotic sprint placing Thor a few positions worse than he perhaps could have had on this terrain.

A well-deserved win for Greg Van Avermaet none the less.

Results:
1. Greg Van Avermaet, Acque & Sapone
2. Peter Sagan, Liquigas - Cannondale
3. André Greipel, Lotto Belisol
4. Óscar Freire, Katusha
5. Victor Cabedo, Euskaltel
10. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK

Stage 6



As planned we got Thor in the break along with Van Avermaet and Pichon. The Belgian use a lot of energy chasing mountain points, which eventually cost the Frenchman his place in the break. I told Thor to let him take the points – today is all about the stage for us.

RadioShack with Fuglsang do a lot of work in front of the peloton, so the break never get a really decisive lead allowing them to take it more easy.
On the final climb Gilbert come up from behind along with Riblon and Fédrigo. Hushovd joins them in the attack, but Van Avermaet can’t keep up and Thor is honestly starting to look quite tired.

For the last 10 km Gilbert is doing all the work as Thor has plenty to do just hanging on.
No one wants to start the sprint, so with 1 km to go Thor opens from behind. He quickly passes the two French riders, but after 200 km in a small break he can’t find the resources to beat the World Champion. Still a great ride by Thor – I’m sure he will get a stage before the race is over!


Results:
1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
2. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
3. Pierrick Fédrigo, FDJ - BigMat
4. Christophe Riblon, AG2R La Mondiale
5. Óscar Freire, Katusha

Provisional Standing:
1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
2. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
3. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan
4. Pierrick Fédrigo, FDJ - BigMat
5. Bradley Wiggins, Sky

Mountain Jersey: Greg van Avermaet, Acqua & Sapone
Points Jersey: Ben Swift, Sky
Youth Jersey: Peter Sagan, Liquigas - Cannondale
Team: Omega Pharma - QuickStep

Stage 7

This looks like the last day for the sprinters before we hit the mountains, so I have told my riders to take it easy today.

Still Rasmus Sterebo went in the early break with among others Petacchi. For a while it actually looked like the break might have a chance, but then the peloton really started stepping on it.

Rasmus give it a go with 10 km left, but can’t get away from the rest of the break. With fast guys like Petacchi and Bouhanni in the break he made the right call attacking though.
With 5 km to go a bunch of crashes split the peloton in two catching all Falcons except Sterebo behind and everything is brought back together for the expected bunch sprint.

Lotto was the only team with a train in front, but a failed train none the less as Greipel lost contact with his leadout. Both Swift, Freire and Farrar was left to fend for themselves far behind.

Right as Sagan is crossing the line in front a huge crash involving a good few of the favourites happen right under la Flame Rouge. I think at least both Contador and Andy Schleck was down as were Rasmus Sterebo.


Results:
1. Peter Sagan, Liquigas - Cannondale
2. Óscar Freire, Katusha
3. Ben Swift, Sky
4. André Greipel, Lotto Belisol
5. Matthew Goss, Orica - GreenEdge

Stage 8

First mountain stage means it’s time for the big guns to show themselves (Read: Not us).

Today all my riders did what I had told them: Nothing.

13 riders hit the mountain first, but the favourites seem determined to win this one. Both Valverde and Van Garderen attack early.

Chris Anker is pulling the favourites group over the first mountain. Hs's looking strong and really deserves better than just helping someone else.
Andy isn’t looking too good today as he’s struggling to keep up with Nibali, Contador and Van den Broeck.

With 5 km to go Mollema put in a good attack giving him more than a minutes lead to Contador/Nibali.
But Contador is not that easy to get rid of and Mollema is caught again on the final km.
I had hoped that attack would have gotten a better fate…


Results:
1. Alberto Contador, Saxo - Tinkoff
2. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas - Cannondal
3. Bauke Mollema, Rabobank
4. Jurgen Van den Broeck, Lotto Belisol
5. Ivan Basso, Liquigas - Cannondale

Mountain Jersey: Bauke Mollema, Rabobank
Points Jersey: Ben Swift, Sky
Youth Jersey: Peter Sagan, Liquigas – Cannondale
Team: RadioShack – Nissan

sutty68 wrote:
Who is your best placed rider now

Stage 9

A short but hectic stage with no less than five climbs. Another one for the favourites it seems.

Christopher Juul-Jensen said this morning that he wanted to really test himself today with the rest day coming tomorrow and all, so I told him to find a good spot in the front of the peloton and wait for the right moment. And he did just that while Wiggins sent Geraint Thomas to the front pulling the peloton up the Col de Peyresourde. He even manages to pull it completely apart with Juul-Jensen in the first group about two minutes in front of the peloton. The peloton get back together.

As Yohann Gène attacks near the top Christopher is right in his wheel and passes Peyresourde as the first rider.
Next mountaintop is Col d’Azet and Juul-Jensen is in a close battle with Fédrigo. Christopher wins putting him within two points of the mountain jersey. Going up Col d’Aspin the front duo gets company from Hesjedal, De Gendt, Vande Velde and Lowe. That group is too strong and Christopher only get two points. One more and he had held the jersey.

Final climb and Hesjedal is in front with De Gendt. And Klöden spices things up just as the favourites catch up with Juul-Jensen, but the attack is quickly neutralized.

Hesjedal is alone in front with the favourites almost four minutes behind.

The Canadian goes uncontested to the top and behind Nibali is starting to pull away from the others. Contador counterattacks and once again Andy is looking out of form.


Unfortunately both Brink and Sterebo missed the time limit today.

Results:
4. Ryder Hesjedal, RadioShack - Nissan
3. Thomas De Gendt, Vacansoleil - DCM
1. Alberto Contador, Saxo - Tinkoff
2. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas - Cannondal
5. Joaquím Rodríguez, Katusha

1	Ryder Hesjedal	RadioShack - Nissan	36h09'39
2	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	+ 1'25
3	Alberto Contador	Team Saxo - Tinkoff	+ 1'30
4	Vincenzo Nibali	Liquigas - Cannondale	+ 1'49
5	Bradley Wiggins	Sky Procycling	+ 2'17
6	Andreas Klöden	RadioShack - Nissan	+ 2'27
7	Jurgen Van den Broeck	Lotto Belisol Team	+ 2'48
8	Ivan Basso	Liquigas - Cannondale	+ 2'55
9	Steven Kruijswijk	Rabobank Cycling Team	+ 4'16
10	Janez Brajkovi�	Astana Pro Team	+ 4'30
48	Christopher Juul-Jensen	Falcon - STARK	+ 33'24

Mountain Jersey: Ryder Hesjedal, RadioShack - Nissan

Points Jersey: Ben Swift, Sky

Young Rider: Tejay Van Garderen, BMC

I have just been told that the team had a good trip to Austria. They tried to win every day but didn’t manage to pull away a stagewin even though they had several podiums.
Kasper Jebjerg almost won the points jersey and Christoffer Stevenson won the mountain jersey after wearing it almost throughout the race.

Well done boys!