The biggest cycling race on Earth, and Orica was right there in the thick of it. Here's how it unfolded for the Rocking Oger:
Stage 1
Gossy was always looking for a good result to continue his fine season. He was up front for the first sprint. He latched onto the Lotto train. Smart decision?
Under the flamme rouge the big man was in a good position. Would he be blocked though?
Nope, he would challenge for the win! Come on
Matty!
Not quite, but good enough for 2nd. Great start. Wonderful.
Stage 2
Simon Clarke tried to attack early on, but his group was brought back.
Gerro attacked with a few other guys as they caught the breakaway. Could they stay away?
He went over the climb first. With Australia cheering him on, he continued in true battling fashion.
Simon went on the attack with 10km left. No-one could stay with him!
He entered the final stretch alone! Booyah!
And it's a true Aussie fighting victory! It didn't take long, goal achieved!
And Orica's in Yellow!
Stage 3
We started the day with Yellow, and hoped to hold it at least until the end of the week, with mostly flat stages on the agenda.
Clarke got into another break, but again it was brought back.
He did manage to pick up a couple of mountain points though.
There was a big attack, which included the world's finest riders. We were in trouble, but huge props to
Daryl Impey for some amazing pace work.
Gerro managed to win the sprint behind a couple of attackers to take 3rd place. A podium in all stages so far! Wonderful!
Stage 4
Next up the TTT. Traditionally we are very strong in this discipline.
With champions from Canada and South Africa, as well as the Yellow Jersey, we powered to a very strong 3rd place finish, just 10 seconds behind Astana. Our new signing (although he wasn't at that point)
Diego Johnson was first across the line for the Kazakh team.
Stage 5
The break was caught very late, so not much organisation for the sprint.
Gossy was up there, but not in an ideal position.
However, he put in a great effort to catch up. Another podium?
Not quite. 4th place though, so another Top 5. Really racking up the points here, which means that we may inadvertedly lose
Mathieu Favre 
.
Stage 6
Gossy finally showed up for the Intermediate Sprint.
Unfortunately he was a bit back for the sprint. Still a chance thoguh.
Yep. Another monster effort. Could he get another podium even?
Looking like it! Could even be more!
An obstructed view of a very impressive third place.
Stage 7
Once again
Gossy was hanging around in the right places.
Unfortunately there was just too much congestion. Therefore, we couldn't complete a week of Top Fives.
8th place today, so an amazing week of 7 Top 10's, 6 Top 5's and 5 Podiums.
Stage 8
The first GC stage. Unfortunately it would probably be our last day in Yellow.
Mathieu Favre tried hard to stick with the early attacks.
Unfortunately he wasn't quite up to it, but
Cam was doing ok; keeping up with most of the others.
But he was around the back over the first climb. Luckily the top came early enough to regroup.
Unfortunately
Gerro would definitely lose the Yellow. It was a great run though, it has to be said.
Cam was caught out once again in a split, but he worked hard to try and close down the gap.
And it worked. All good for now.
18th place will do for the first mountain stage.
Great to see.
Simon &
Simon coming in together.
Stage 10
Nothing really happened on Stage 9, but we had another sprint stage to bring up the decade.
Unfortunately the attackers took the victory, with
Gossy down in 12th.
So that's the first 10 stages done, join us soon for the next 11.
Le Tour de France 
