Stage 17 may be dwarfed by the epic stage profile for stage 19 but we have three sizable peaks today (Col de Lautaret, Col d'Izoard & Risoul 1850). The final climb being 13 KM at 7.2% will see some action.
Favilli just beats Al Sulimani to the KOM points on the Lautaret climb.
Yes Al Sulimani, looking great in the polka dots, makes the break again today. Today had the terrain where a break may be allowed to get away so we were thrilled when Abdurahman managed to sneak away up the road. However, this last in the TDF quality riders always make the breaks. Today was no exception.
Reeling from his crash a few stages ago, Andy Schleck attacked early on and made the break today. Mathias Marais, also in the top 20, also made the break. That is two great climbers out front. We would have liked to have got Ahmed Al Ghanim in there, but he was well down the peloton early on and in no position to get into the day's break.
The break hit the final climb.
The break reach the final climb and have around 3'30 over the peloton. Al Sulimani is barley hanging in there after being suffering for some kilometres, he picked up 12 KOM points on the day.
Boom, the multiple winner of P-R and Flanders, senses an opportunity and attacks from the break, hoping to win another mountain stage like he did in last year's TDF. He is soon caught and passed by the best climbers in the group, Marais and Schleck.
Hippo on a Bike!
Looking at this photo is it a wonder Al Sulimani was dropped by the lighter climbers! ..... In all seriousness Al Sulimani flied the flag for the team and for Qatar today. He was dropped from the break at the same time as former GT winner Nibali.
Vengeance for Schleck!
The former multiple winner of the TDF may not win the race again but he has a stage win to remember the 2021 edition by. A great result for continental team LG. He was simply too strong for Marais, who lost contact in the final few kilometres.
Salas, Girardin and Barton were the best of the GC riders today. They finish '14 ahead of a group of Jeannesson and Sicard and almost '30 ahead of a group including van Garderen. Barton moves up to within 30 seconds of 2nd place in GC thanks to the time gaps.
Al Ghanim loses some time in the GC today and falls back to 17th in GC. However, if it were not for the breakaway succeeding this may not be the case.
Stage winner, Marcel Kittel, has long been suffering and retires.
2020 was the first year Qatari riders rode in the world champs.
2020. What a year. We topped the WT rankings in style. Consistent performances in many different terrains ensured our terrific standing. We were the best team in cycling. However, financial problems for Qatar Optics meant our roster for 2021 would be stripped of its 2020 superstars.
Qatar Optics Legend Trading Cards #7 & #8 /8:
@ sutty - Couldn't have asked for anything more from the remaining riders. Edited by The Rider on 03-04-2014 19:32
Stage 17 already. You're going way too fast. It'd be great if Al Sulimani could win the mountain jersey, but it'll be difficult. I really like that screenshot with that big ass. Looks like a grandma riding a bike.
And those flashbacks. They remember me from the 'good old time' with Felline and Izagirre. I love those times much more than the team now is. Stupid Qatar-Optics with less sponsor money.
@sutty: Who's everton1968? Stealing my lovely trading cards there haha Veeery bad boy sutty
I used this by the way https://tradingcar... Your trading cards look great The Rider.
About the race: Al Sulimani really has to bring everything to the table if he wants to have a chance against Salas. Maybe with the comfortable lead in the GC, Al Sulimani will have enough freedom from Salas? And what a stage win for Schleck.
Edited by Shonak on 03-04-2014 21:21
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
A flat stage with the last 10 kilometres containing a gentle uphill gradient all the way to the line.
Another day in the Polka dots.
Al Sulimani may not be leading the KOM classification but he did have the honour of another day in the polka dots today.
Yousef gets into the break today.
Yousef Al Ghanim, who is now really suffering from fatigue in his first GT, still managed to get into the break of the day which included Ben King, Gio Visconti and, the Belgian champ, Jan Ghyselinck.
It was your typical stage in the TDF .... until we the peloton reached 30 KM to go. The break were at 2'30 when, after the last intermediate sprint was passed, Matthews and Boasson Hagen, the two protagonists in the epic fight for the points jersey, attacked out of the peloton!
The two warriors were many people's favourites to finish 1-2 on the stage in the mass sprint, so it was a huge surprise to see them both on the attack.
They make it across to the original break.
Green jersey, Boasson Hagen does the lion share of the work, as the two bridge across to the breakaway. Their attack means FDJ and Lampre do not contribute to the pace setting on the peloton, no other team is willing to take up the chase and the gap grows out to the break. The break would contest the win.
Yousef gave it a great shot.
Although the finish was slightly uphill Yousef never looked to challenge for the win as he possesses a bad sprint and he is really suffering. Still, his top 10 performance (9th on the stage) is our best stage ranking in this TDF so we can't fault him today.
Boasson Hagen leads the sprint from a long ways out. If he wasn't so capable you would have written him off as soon as he hit the front so early...
Matthews wins the battle on this epic stage concerning the green jersey.
Matthews comes around Boasson Hagen in the dying metres for his fifth stage win. Boasson Hagen may well have won the stage if Matthews was the one doing the lead-out. Matthews gains 53 points on the stage and Boasson Hagen gains 42 points.
This stage has cemented the fact that this, in many people's opinions, is the best battle for the green jersey in the history of the TDF.
Boonen, who would come out of retirement to ride with us in 2021, poses for a Duvel Beer photo stunt.
Duvel Beer would join us as a co - minor sponsor for the 2021 season. If it wasn't for there financial support the team may well could have folded.
@ sutty - It is amazing what you can do with these edits! It looks like the bike is buckling under the weight of the rider!
@ Shonak - Stage 19 is next up. A brute of a stage which should answer your questions. Brutal!
@ MrUFo87 - MrUFo! I would accepted you saying this story was going too fast for the first 3 and a half seasons, but not now! (We are going much slower and have been for some time!) This TDF has taken well over two weeks I believe, and you are going at the same speed!
Sounds like you have some large grandmothers in the Netherlands!
Yep winning Milan San Remo twice with Felline and that Vuelta with Izagirre will be some of the best moments. Was bad news about Qatar Optics finances, but every team can't win everything, that is too much of a cliché!
With two flat stages to follow, this stage is the decider in this TDF. It will be the last 'major' stage in this Qatar Optics story I have been covering for so long, so lets make it a good one eh.
What better way to describe the magnitude of this stage than by stating the climbs:
-- Col d'Alles - 4 KM @ 7.5%
-- Col du Champs - 10.7 KM @ 7.6%
-- Col de la Cayolle - 19 KM @ 6.8%
-- Col de la Banette - 22 KM @ 6.6%
-- Col de Lombarde -- 20.4 KM @ 6.6%
This TDF, up to this point, has not been the hardest. However, this stage, with 6412 meters of climbing makes up for the whole TDF.
GAME ON!
Quality riders attack from the start.
You knew it was going to be an epic stage, one for the memory, when Marais (18th in GC) was the first to attack on the stage with over 189 KM to go. He is soon followed by some quality riders for the mountains. This results in a fast pace early on, which catches some GC riders off guard and results in a host of big names such as the yellow jersey himself being distanced. The big names quickly recover themselves, although the attacking continues.
Allez Ahmed Al Ghanim!
The break looks to be just about established as the top of the Col d'Alles so Ahmed Al Ghanim attacks, knowing to get away here is the best tactic to us on this gruelling stage.
Ahmed descending to the break.
Our GC leader is certainly not a bad descender and is able to join the break on the descent after the first big climb of the day.
The 8 man break is by far the strongest break of this TDF. A fitting quality break for such an epic stage. There is not a bad climber in the break today.
The climbs keep on coming.
Ahmed Al Ghanim, of course, took home the polka dots in Paris Nice but today, in this select break, he was struggling to contribute in the break. When it came to the Col du Champs and the Col de la Cayolle he could not relay and had to sit at the rear of the break throughout the whole climb. Marais, was really interested in the polka dots, and Ahmed never had a look in at cresting the KOM points first on any of the climbs.
Al Sulimani started the day wearing the polka dots.
He did not make the break and therefore would have no chance of winning the polka dots jersey, but he has had one fantastic TDF, his first GT!
Herbalife set a good strong early pace so the break doesn't manifest a huge gap back to the peloton. The gap topped at around 9'50 with 110 KM to go. However, wanting to protect their GC riders, Bank BGZ and John Deere come to the front to control the break at around the 110 KM to go point.
The Col de la Banette!
The penultimate climb is reached. Boom is the first to go. He hits the wall with about 8 KM still to go on this climb and about 70 KM to the finish. Not too far later the break is down to 6 riders as Wout Poels is the next to be dropped, looking totally empty. For Ahmed ..... he is now really suffering, almost running on empty. It looks ominous.
BANG! There goes Ahmed.
With about 62 KM to go, with a few hundred metres to the top of the Col de la Banette, an attack for the KOM points by Marais means Ahmed is finally dropped, alongside Anthony Anne. There is no getting back on from here, despite Ahmed dropping Anne right at the top of the climb.
Behind ... the big guns are already riding on the front of the peloton, this is causing carnage. The break are only 4:00 ahead. The peloton are down to 22 riders, 2nd place in GC, van Garderen is already dropped and looks to lose an absolute packet of time, and his podium place, today.
Breaking away on the flat!
As Ahmed is caught by the head of the peloton with 35 KM to go, on the flat before the final climb, 5 riders break away from Herbalife and Bank BGZ break away from the rest of the GC men. Under the pace of Nepomnyachshiy, Patin, Eijssen, Barton and the yellow jersey Salas are the riders to break away.
They will sustain a '40 gap when they reach the final climb. The break are soon to be caught.
The Devil still lives!
The break are caught, Maillard being the last to be caught. Girardin, Duarte and Jeannesson manage to rally before joining the two big guns in the GC up ahead.
However, this doesn't last long.
With 3 KM to go Salas and Barton break clear. The American is giving it a big go, but he can't distance the yellow jersey. The yellow jersey attacks with 1 KM to go.
Salas will win the 2021 TDF!
If there was any doubt, it is gone now. Salas takes his third stage win '21 ahead of Barton and with just 2 flat stages to go he will surely win the TDF. Barton has rode an exceptional GT, he finishes second on the stage and can be content with his efforts, he moves up to 2nd in the GC.
Girardin is the profiteer of van Garderens' bad day today. Girardin moves back up to 3rd whilst van Garderen loses 8'44 and plummets down to 10th today.
Ahmed Al Ghanim loses his top 20 placing on the day. He loses 26'17 to the stage winner. He is down to 25th in the GC. You might expect me to be a bit gutted, but I am not 1% gutted. Judging by the day's racing if Ahmed didn't make the break I suspect he would have ended up further down in the GC than 25th. Super to have a Qatari in the break on this legendary stage.
A host of riders abandon including Yousef Al Ghanim. So we are down to three riders.
This brings us up to our current season, our fifth season. With the addition of Al Sulimani to our squad, we had high hopes that a Qatari would finally win a stage for us. We were not even into February when Al Sulimani managed to win the 'race of the dolphin' thus making him the first Qatari to win a stage for us. He would go on to win the GP London, a WT 'classic' in the making.
@ Shonak - You can't deny it is great to see the two best sprinters, who are gunning for the points jersey, attacking like that. That is some great gameplay AI there if you ask me! Yousef did manage to creep into the top 10 there, no harm with that.
-- Yep, Ahmed Al Ghanim falls to 25th in GC. But I am content as there was definitely no way he could have finished any higher. -- At least he will get a top 25 in his palmares! Edited by The Rider on 05-04-2014 22:14
Stage Favourites:
****Boasson Hagen(FDJ) ***Matthews(LAM) *van der Sande(HLE)
123 riders hit the start ramp on the penultimate day of this TDF. An uphill finish of 2 KM @ 4.8% will surely not detour Matthews and Boasson Hagen in their fight for another stage win and the points jersey.
Al Sulimani leads the break.
The Qatari, who has won two races this year, was on a good day and we would have fancied his chances if the break was allowed to get away. Alas, it wasn't. Still, to get into the break on a consistent basis throughout the tour, as we have done, is a great achievement for the team. We have more than reached our target of getting into the breaks.
- 350 meters to go.
Lampre have done it again! Goss ensures Matthews is in the perfect position for the uphill sprint. Boasson Hagen's FDJ train could not match the Lampre express, as a result for the green jersey is some 11 riders back at this stage.....
But, there is fight left in the Norwegian, a whole lot of it. Boasson Hagen rockets up the final climb and looks like he may snatch the victory despite looking to be out of it just 5 seconds previously. The top 6 riders in the field break away from the rest, the yellow jersey can't be counted out of the stage win battle.
The battle will finish on the Champs-Élysées!
Matthews takes another stage win, Boasson Hagen just runs out of road and finishes 3rd on the day. As only 20 points were on offer for the stage winner, Boasson Hagen retains the points jersey with a narrow margin of 8 points.
Whoever wins the final stage will take home the points jersey.
After we finished a great Giro I was back in Belgium for what I thought would be a unremarkable tour of a Duvel beer factory in Breendonk. It turned out to be anything but. What happened there, to me and Abdulatif, may well have ramifications for the whole world.
@ Shonak - The viewing figures are through the roof in Qatar! All of our finishers will come back as heros especially Al Sulimani and Al Ghanim (they will be made Sheiks!).
That brings us to the start of this very race. I had my doubts that we could manage to send 7 Qataris to a the TDF relatively early on in the Qatar project, but we managed it. We sure did!
The final stage ends on the Champs-Élysées, after a one year absence from the fabled street. We have 3 Qataris about to complete the TDF, fantastic.
Most eyes will be turned towards Boasson Hagen and Matthews and the battle, which is still raging, for the stage win and the green jersey.
Celebrate!
There was a carnival atmosphere for the first few kilometres and rightfully so after such a race. However, with a break wanting to establish itself the celebrations were soon curtailed.
We just can't resist!
The flat stage doesn't suit our Qataris here, a break drifts up the road with no Qatar Optics rider present. But then we thought ' Screw it! ' The break were 2'20 ahead of the peloton when Al Sulimani attacked out of the peloton.
We had to make the break on this landmark TDF for Qatar.......
...... And We Did!
Al Sulimani managed to ride across to the break on the final stage.
He would go on to take the only KOM point of offer on the day, before we reached those coveted streets of Paris.
Al Sulimani preparing to take that KOM point.
Al Sulimani has shown well in the KOM competition. He would finish 4th overall, which is some going considering the polka dots competition at the TDF is geared towards the GC men.
The break on the Champs-Élysées.
Those darned sprinter trains would, to no one's surprise, catch the early break for one final time. It didn't stop Al Sulimani and co giving it one last go before some real fighters attacked out of the bunch late on.
Stannard on the attack.
Stannard and Puccio attack with under 10 KM to go, even those two won't be able to hold off the peloton.
-- We have a casualty. Bauke Mollema falls, and to the shock of everyone commenting, none of his Rabobank teammates help him out. A costly move. Mollema would drop from 9th to 10th in GC because of this.
All attacks are nullified and the much awaited sprint is coming up.
FDJ show up, at last!
For all the sprinter stages up until today Lampre had the dominating hand over everyone else, but not today. Sylvestre, at the time he was latern rouge, delivers Pernet with his team leader Boasson Hagen in the wheel. Lampre are caught off guard...
Pernet gives Boasson Hagen the perfect lead out.
Can the green jersey win on the final stage?
Yes He Can!
Boasson Hagen takes the win, by a bike length, and wins the points jersey. Matthews finished second, beating by the better sprinter and better team on the day. The French would be pleased Bouhanni rounded off the podium for WT relegation candidates Cessna. Ibai Salas wins the TDF.
Our story is complete.
STAGE RESULTS:
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
FDJ - BigMat
3h47'14
2
Michael Matthews
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
3
Nacer Bouhanni
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
4
Cyril Gautier
YouTube
s.t.
5
Gerald Ciolek
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
6
Simone Ponzi
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
7
Matthew Goss
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
8
Marko Kump
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
9
Salvatore Puccio
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Matteo Trentin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Leigh Howard
ExxonMobil
s.t.
12
Ibai Salas
Herbalife
s.t.
13
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
14
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
15
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
s.t.
16
Fabio Duarte
ExxonMobil
s.t.
17
Lars Boom
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
18
Tosh Van der Sande
Herbalife
s.t.
19
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
20
Wout Poels
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Romain Sicard
YouTube
s.t.
22
Björn Thurau
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
23
Tony Gallopin
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
24
Tejay Van Garderen
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
25
Brent Miles
ExxonMobil
s.t.
26
Axel Sylvestre
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
27
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
28
Chris Barton
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
29
Thomas Bonnin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
30
Elia Favilli
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
31
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
s.t.
32
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
33
Logan Chaix
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
34
Davide Malacarne
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
35
Kohei Uchima
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Ian Stannard
E.ON
s.t.
37
Rigoberto Urán
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
38
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
39
Jérémy Maillard
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
40
Tom Slagter
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
41
Rémy Beauvais
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
42
Anthony Roux
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
43
Danny Van Poppel
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
44
Yann Valade
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
45
Joseba Larralde
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
46
Jarl Salomein
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
47
Alexey Tsatevitch
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
48
Víctor Cabedo
ExxonMobil
s.t.
49
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Herbalife
s.t.
50
Jack Bobridge
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
51
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Jasper Stuyven
YouTube
s.t.
53
Michel Bruno
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
54
Filippo Fortin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
55
Ben King
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
56
Fabio Aru
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
57
Tom Dumoulin
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
58
Alexandre Pliuschin
ExxonMobil
s.t.
59
Janez Brajkovič
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
60
Henri Patin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
61
Omar Lombardi
LG
s.t.
62
Eros Capecchi
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
63
Olivier Martin
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
64
Illya Matoushkin
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
65
Abdurahman Al Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
66
Roman Kreuziger
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
67
Julien Theron
Alstom
s.t.
68
Raul Mora
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
69
Mattia Cattaneo
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
70
Thomas Damuseau
Alstom
s.t.
71
Thomas Nissen
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
72
David Gutiérrez Palacios
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
73
Jelle Vanendert
YouTube
s.t.
74
Andy Schleck
LG
s.t.
75
Gaël Le Bellec
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
76
Lawson Craddock
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
77
Matthieu Halleguen
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
78
Chris Froome
YouTube
s.t.
79
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
80
Arkaitz Durán
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
81
Anthony Anne
RIM
s.t.
82
Fernando Miguel Lopes
ExxonMobil
s.t.
83
Gianluca Brambilla
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
84
Kevin Denis
Alstom
s.t.
85
Robert Gesink
YouTube
s.t.
86
Rik van der Laan
Herbalife
s.t.
87
Joshua Berry
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
88
Romain Hardy
RIM
s.t.
89
Romain Bardet
Volvo
s.t.
90
Matthias Frank
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
91
Grégory Joseph
RIM
s.t.
92
Andrey Amador
Herbalife
s.t.
93
Mathieu Delaroziere
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
94
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
s.t.
95
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
96
Lionel Pere
Herbalife
s.t.
97
Alessandro De Marchi
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
98
Borja Mora
Volvo
s.t.
99
Rémy Di Gregorio
Alstom
s.t.
100
Mike Rudling
E.ON
s.t.
101
Giovanni Visconti
Volvo
s.t.
102
Kenneth Andreasen
E.ON
s.t.
103
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
s.t.
104
Johan Andersen
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
105
Ian Bibby
E.ON
s.t.
106
Yohan Fouche
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
107
Eduard Prades
Volvo
s.t.
108
Vincenzo Nibali
E.ON
s.t.
109
Anthony Delaplace
Alstom
s.t.
110
Robin Girardin
Alstom
s.t.
111
Raúl Cienfuegos
Volvo
s.t.
112
Roberto Ezquerro
Volvo
s.t.
113
Francisco Javier Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
114
Fabian Bruno
E.ON
s.t.
115
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
116
Guillaume Malle
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
117
Bryan Duque
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
118
Mathias Marais
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
119
Juan Valerón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
120
Eugenio Alafaci
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
121
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2'28
122
Abdulatif Al Yazeedi
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 5'40
123
Remy Husson
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
Final Standings:
KOM Rankings:
Ibai Salas takes home multiple jerseys. He had some stiff competition in the form of his GC rivals and breakaway men such Marais, but he was the most consistent and will be happy to add this jersey to his collection. Al Sulimani finishes 4th, not bad for his first GT!
1
Ibai Salas
Herbalife
110
2
Mathias Marais
Ribena - France Télécom
94
3
Chris Barton
Bank BGZ - Schuller
70
4
Abdurahman Al Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
49
5
Andy Schleck
LG
42
6
Jérémy Maillard
Cessna - Specialized
38
7
Elia Favilli
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
34
8
Fabio Duarte
ExxonMobil
32
9
Robin Girardin
Alstom
28
10
Anthony Anne
RIM
28
Spoiler
11
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Lampre - UniCredit
26
12
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
26
13
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
24
14
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
21
15
Thomas Bonnin
FDJ - BigMat
20
16
Raúl Cienfuegos
Volvo
19
17
Kenneth Andreasen
E.ON
18
18
Borja Mora
Volvo
18
19
Lars Boom
Argos Oil - Wii
17
20
Tejay Van Garderen
John Deere - Electronic Arts
16
21
Wout Poels
Rabobank Cycling Team
13
22
Bryan Duque
Ribena - France Télécom
13
23
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Herbalife
11
24
Robert Gesink
YouTube
10
25
Arkaitz Durán
John Deere - Electronic Arts
10
26
Eduard Prades
Volvo
10
POINTS Rankings:
Many people will associate this TDF with the battle between Boasson Hagen and Matthews for the green jersey, and rightfully so. Together the two riders almost won 50% of the stages here. That legendary stage 18, where both riders attacked together, will live long in the memory. This green jersey battle has been the 'best' in history for most people.
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
FDJ - BigMat
450
2
Michael Matthews
Lampre - UniCredit
433
3
Ibai Salas
Herbalife
279
4
Gerald Ciolek
Argos Oil - Wii
177
5
Chris Barton
Bank BGZ - Schuller
155
6
Leigh Howard
ExxonMobil
140
7
Fabio Duarte
ExxonMobil
137
8
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
131
9
Cyril Gautier
YouTube
129
10
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
110
Spoiler
11
Robin Girardin
Alstom
104
12
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
104
13
Jasper Stuyven
YouTube
98
14
Tejay Van Garderen
John Deere - Electronic Arts
95
15
Alexey Tsatevitch
B&O - Red Bull
86
16
Matthew Goss
Lampre - UniCredit
84
17
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Cycling Team
79
18
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
79
19
Tosh Van der Sande
Herbalife
76
20
Romain Sicard
YouTube
75
21
Andrey Amador
Herbalife
74
22
Giovanni Visconti
Volvo
72
23
Borja Mora
Volvo
72
24
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
69
25
Simone Ponzi
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
69
26
Robert Gesink
YouTube
67
27
Marko Kump
B&O - Red Bull
66
28
Björn Thurau
Ribena - France Télécom
65
29
Abdurahman Al Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
63
30
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
63
31
Tony Gallopin
B&O - Red Bull
63
32
Nacer Bouhanni
Cessna - Specialized
63
33
Omar Lombardi
LG
63
34
Eduard Prades
Volvo
62
35
Lawson Craddock
John Deere - Electronic Arts
57
36
Ben King
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
57
37
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Herbalife
56
38
Salvatore Puccio
Rabobank Cycling Team
56
39
Kenneth Andreasen
E.ON
55
40
Matthias Frank
B&O - Red Bull
54
41
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
53
42
Arkaitz Durán
John Deere - Electronic Arts
52
43
Víctor Cabedo
ExxonMobil
49
44
Andy Schleck
LG
47
45
Rémy Beauvais
Fuji - Avia
47
46
Thomas Bonnin
FDJ - BigMat
45
47
Janez Brajkovič
Fuji - Avia
43
48
Vincenzo Nibali
E.ON
41
49
Mike Rudling
E.ON
40
50
Mathias Marais
Ribena - France Télécom
39
GC Rankings:
Ibai Salas wins his first TDF. He came in as the hot favourite after finishing 2nd in the Giro and proved the many who backed him to be correct. In the end he wins convincingly, if Elissonde or Pinot where around if would have been some GC battle. Barton rides the GC of his life and ends up as the runner up and the fan favourite and ever aggressive Robin Girardin ends in 3rd.
1
Ibai Salas
Herbalife
80h58'12
2
Chris Barton
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 3'07
3
Robin Girardin
Alstom
+ 5'40
4
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
+ 6'48
5
Fabio Duarte
ExxonMobil
+ 6'49
6
Romain Sicard
YouTube
+ 6'59
7
Matthias Frank
B&O - Red Bull
+ 7'31
8
Kenneth Andreasen
E.ON
+ 8'04
9
Tejay Van Garderen
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 11'08
10
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 11'39
11
Kohei Uchima
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 12'54
12
Cyril Gautier
YouTube
+ 14'09
13
Andy Schleck
LG
+ 14'21
14
Thomas Bonnin
FDJ - BigMat
+ 23'04
15
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 23'49
16
Jérémy Maillard
Cessna - Specialized
+ 23'51
17
Robert Gesink
YouTube
+ 28'01
18
Mathias Marais
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 28'09
19
Andrey Amador
Herbalife
+ 28'59
20
Henri Patin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 31'16
21
Rigoberto Urán
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 32'09
22
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
+ 35'51
23
Roman Kreuziger
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 37'37
24
Arkaitz Durán
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 39'23
25
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 41'20
Spoiler
26
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
+ 49'27
27
Rémy Beauvais
Fuji - Avia
+ 50'05
28
Julien Theron
Alstom
+ 50'29
29
Fernando Miguel Lopes
ExxonMobil
+ 50'30
30
Anthony Anne
RIM
+ 51'11
31
Chris Froome
YouTube
+ 53'44
32
Johan Andersen
B&O - Red Bull
+ 54'28
33
Yann Valade
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 56'46
34
Lawson Craddock
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 58'04
35
Edvald Boasson Hagen
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1h00'10
36
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Herbalife
+ 1h03'40
37
Mattia Cattaneo
B&O - Red Bull
+ 1h03'47
38
Romain Bardet
Volvo
+ 1h07'41
39
Thomas Damuseau
Alstom
+ 1h08'51
40
Thomas Nissen
B&O - Red Bull
+ 1h15'13
41
Wout Poels
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h20'19
42
Olivier Martin
Cessna - Specialized
+ 1h27'57
43
Eros Capecchi
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 1h32'46
44
Lars Boom
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 1h34'24
45
Tom Slagter
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 1h34'27
46
Logan Chaix
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 1h34'31
47
Gianluca Brambilla
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 1h37'39
48
Lionel Pere
Herbalife
+ 1h38'14
49
Alexey Tsatevitch
B&O - Red Bull
+ 1h38'40
50
Jelle Vanendert
YouTube
+ 1h39'11
51
Giovanni Visconti
Volvo
+ 1h43'17
52
Michel Bruno
Cessna - Specialized
+ 1h46'35
53
Jack Bobridge
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 1h47'13
54
Tosh Van der Sande
Herbalife
+ 1h47'19
55
Fabio Aru
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 1h48'21
56
Elia Favilli
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 1h49'50
57
Ben King
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 1h53'46
58
Romain Hardy
RIM
+ 1h55'48
59
Alexandre Pliuschin
ExxonMobil
+ 1h58'13
60
Brent Miles
ExxonMobil
+ 1h59'21
61
Rémy Di Gregorio
Alstom
+ 2h01'48
62
Davide Malacarne
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 2h05'14
63
Fabian Bruno
E.ON
+ 2h05'35
64
Abdurahman Al Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 2h05'52
65
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h08'41
66
Michael Matthews
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 2h11'11
67
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
+ 2h15'20
68
Yohan Fouche
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 2h16'01
69
Tony Gallopin
B&O - Red Bull
+ 2h16'57
70
Raul Mora
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 2h17'50
71
Vincenzo Nibali
E.ON
+ 2h21'00
72
Anthony Roux
FDJ - BigMat
+ 2h23'27
73
Matteo Trentin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 2h24'46
74
Simone Ponzi
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 2h25'17
75
David Gutiérrez Palacios
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h27'39
76
Bryan Duque
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 2h38'50
77
Janez Brajkovič
Fuji - Avia
+ 2h39'34
78
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h40'57
79
Víctor Cabedo
ExxonMobil
+ 2h41'20
80
Raúl Cienfuegos
Volvo
+ 2h43'14
81
Rik van der Laan
Herbalife
+ 2h44'15
82
Salvatore Puccio
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h49'09
83
Marko Kump
B&O - Red Bull
+ 2h50'58
84
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h53'04
85
Anthony Delaplace
Alstom
+ 2h57'52
86
Björn Thurau
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 2h57'53
87
Jarl Salomein
Cessna - Specialized
+ 2h58'04
88
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h59'19
89
Borja Mora
Volvo
+ 2h59'40
90
Gerald Ciolek
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 3h01'50
91
Eduard Prades
Volvo
+ 3h07'49
92
Ian Bibby
E.ON
+ 3h13'36
93
Mathieu Delaroziere
FDJ - BigMat
+ 3h18'49
94
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
+ 3h21'37
95
Nacer Bouhanni
Cessna - Specialized
+ 3h26'49
96
Jasper Stuyven
YouTube
+ 3h27'15
97
Omar Lombardi
LG
+ 3h32'08
98
Matthew Goss
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 3h34'07
99
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
+ 3h38'42
100
Roberto Ezquerro
Volvo
+ 3h41'39
101
Joseba Larralde
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3h47'07
102
Alessandro De Marchi
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 3h49'31
103
Mike Rudling
E.ON
+ 3h58'48
104
Filippo Fortin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 4h00'02
105
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
+ 4h00'07
106
Grégory Joseph
RIM
+ 4h04'49
107
Eugenio Alafaci
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 4h06'05
108
Joshua Berry
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 4h13'34
109
Francisco Javier Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h13'56
110
Guillaume Malle
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 4h16'05
111
Illya Matoushkin
Fuji - Avia
+ 4h21'52
112
Leigh Howard
ExxonMobil
+ 4h22'01
113
Danny Van Poppel
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 4h22'45
114
Gaël Le Bellec
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 4h23'04
115
Abdulatif Al Yazeedi
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 4h24'35
116
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h26'28
117
Kevin Denis
Alstom
+ 4h34'43
118
Ian Stannard
E.ON
+ 4h36'27
119
Juan Valerón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h43'26
120
Matthieu Halleguen
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 4h48'36
121
Tom Dumoulin
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 4h52'46
122
Axel Sylvestre
FDJ - BigMat
+ 4h57'43
123
Remy Husson
Fuji - Avia
+ 4h59'22
@ Shonak - Well it was uphill. We couldn't have asked for more from our Qataris.
We have done it! With the end of the 2021 TDF I can safely say my mission with Qatar Optics has been completed. There were some hard times for the team during these 4 3/4 years but it was all worth it. In these years cycling has really flourished in Qatar, it is evident in the higher quality riders coming through and the huge interest back in the middle eastern state. Qatar may have no GT winners or world champs just yet, but they are certainly on the right track.
List of the major achievements for Qatar Optics:
68 stage wins
2* Milan San Remo (Felline 2019,2020)
Kuurne Brussel Kuurne (Yildiz 2021)
Paris Nice (Sicard 2020)
The Desert Classic (Felline 2020)
Tirreno Adriatico (Felline 2020)
Giro d'Italia - 8 stage wins (2nd Duran 2020)
Tour de France - 1 stage win (7th Sicard 2020)
Vuelta a Espana - 3 stage wins -- (2nd I Izagirre 2019, 3rd Duran 2020)
To me the above 'achievements' pale in significance to the achievements below we have achieved:
Have Qatari riders competing on the u-23 circuit.
Have Qatari riders competing in the world champs.
Increased number of riders coming from Qatar.
Setting up a continental team for Qataris to race more often.
Riders from Qatar earning wins in prestigious races.
We have now completed the three goals we set when we started this story and I feel it is now time for me to step aside from here. This may be the end of this Qatar Optics cycling story but it is only the end of the beginning for cycling in Qatar. I am sure that in the coming years Qatar will have riders competing at the very top and I am grateful to know that this Qatar Optics project will have made that possible.
I will take charge of the team for two more races this season (San Sebastian/ Vuelta a Espana) before having a long rest before the start of the next season. I will be coaching at the WT level next season. I have yet to win a GT, or a monument besides Milan San Remo, as DS and I will be in a good position to do so next season. With a huge number of new riders and races entering the fray in the coming season I relish being a part of it all.
Finally ..... thank you very much to all the well wishers and commenters who have stopped by and supported us here, especially the regulars. You have been integral to this story. You have really helped so we can say that ......
Wow, I think I never commented on this, but congrats man. I was following this (not that close, to be honest) and it was really interesting project with great pictures. Hope you'll buy PCM13 or even PCM14 in few months and continue with story writing.
You're going way too fast. 
It'd be great if Al Sulimani could win the mountain jersey, but it'll be difficult. I really like that screenshot with that big ass. 
Looks like a grandma riding a bike. 
Who's everton1968? Stealing my lovely trading cards there haha Veeery bad boy sutty 
