STAGE 2



Another flat stage. We'll be trying to get Delaplace or Fonseca into the break. If this doesn't succeed we'll need Feillu to do better than yesterday.



Fonseca is on fire today he reacts to every attempt at a breakaway. After a couple of unsuccesful attemps he gets away with Saramotins(IAM) and Izagirre(MOV). At the halfway stage the break has 7 minutes.



Just after the second sprint Fonseca goes off alone. The peloton is catching up quickly and he's not pleased with the efforts from Saramotins and Izagirre. 4 minutes ahead with 70 km to go. He quickly gets wheeled in though. The cooperation in the break is non-existing.



That's it for the breakaway. 20 km from the finish line. Earlier than most of the sprinter teams would have liked.



Delaplace tries to breakaway in the final without luck. We have to depend on Feillu. Today his perfectly positioned behind Boonen and Kristoff. But he's struggling to keep their wheel.



In the end Degenkolb is too strong once again. Feillu was too weak today. Hopefully his day will come. Today he rolls in as number 13.

Stage Results

1 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano 4h17'24
2 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma-Quick-Step s.t.
3 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar s.t.
4 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha s.t.
5 Carlos Alberto Betancur Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
6 Simon Spilak Team Katusha s.t.
7 Gianni Meersman Omega Pharma-Quick-Step s.t.
8 Thor Hushovd BMC Racing Team s.t.
9 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
10 Tyler Farrar Garmin Sharp s.t.
13 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement s.t.

General Classement

1 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano 7h43'29
2 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma-Quick-Step + 6
3 Michel Koch Cannondale s.t.
4 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha + 8
5 Jimmy Engoulvent Team Europcar s.t.
15 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 12

STAGE 3




More of the same. A day for the sprinters. We'll be trying to get a guy in the break and see how it goes.



Once again we get a man in the daily break. Vachon enters the break with Lamoine(COF) and Bernadeau(EUC) they quickly gets a two minute advantage.



Vachon wins the mountain sprint but he is looking to be struggling. He didn't pick the best day to go in a break. The break has 5'23 on the pack.



Vachon alone in front or dropped behind?! None of the above. With 75 km to go Anthony Delaplace attacks from the peloton. He's gonna take advantage of the tailwind to get up to the front group.



With 45 km to go he catches the break and he immediately puts Vichot in front to push the speed up. The break has 2'50 at one time but the inevitable happens. The pack catches them with 10 km to go.



With 3 km to go Feillu sits right behind Kristoff. Boonen has a nice train in front of him as well. Degenkolb only have one man left.



This was the day Degenkolb wouldn't win. Unfortunately it wasn't Feillu either who ends up 5th on the stage. Boonen takes the win infront of Degenkolb and Kristoff.

Stage Results

1 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma-Quick-Step 3h54'04
2 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano s.t.
3 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha s.t.
4 Thor Hushovd BMC Racing Team s.t.
5 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement s.t.
6 Bryan Coquard Team Europcar s.t.
7 José Joaquin Rojas Movistar Team s.t.
8 Tyler Farrar Garmin Sharp s.t.
9 Zdenek Stybar Omega Pharma-Quick-Step s.t.
10 Adrien Petit Cofidis, Solutions Crédits s.t.

General Classement

1 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano 11h37'29
2 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma-Quick-Step + 4
3 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha + 10
4 Michel Koch Cannondale s.t.
5 Cyril Lemoine Cofidis, Solutions Crédits s.t.
7 Florian Vachon Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 13

STAGE 4



The tours first hilly stage. It's time for Brice Feillu and Sepulveda to make their mark.



Todays break is formed. 4 men including Kroon(TCS), Simon(COF), Navardauskas(GRS) and Gutierrez(MOV). We tried getting a man into the break but without luck.



As the peloton enters the first hill of the day Giant Shimano is infront and has cut the lead to 1'46.



At the first climb Sepulveda takes up the hunt alone. He battles for two climbs but is then catched again.



All the favourites attack at the final mountain. Gerrans looks great as he turns on the jet. Romain Feillu is our best best. If he makes it over in a small group he could win the sprint.



Gerrans proves to be too strong. Feillu ends up 9th beating Degenkolb by a wheel. Not the best solution betting on Roman on the hilly stages but today neither Sepulveda or Brice had the legs.


Stage Results

1 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE 4h13'22
2 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar s.t.
3 Enrico Gasparotto Astana Pro Team s.t.
4 Matthew Goss Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
5 Michael Albasini Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
6 Simon Spilak Team Katusha s.t.
7 Rui Costa Lampre-Merida s.t.
8 Vincenzo Nibali Astana Pro Team s.t.
9 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement s.t.
10 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano s.t.

General Classement

1 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano 15h50'51
2 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma-Quick-Step + 4
3 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha + 10
4 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar s.t.
5 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
7 Florian Vachon Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 13

STAGE 5



Pretty flat stage. We'll try a different approach today. We'll be sending a man into the break and if this seems likely to go the distance we'll stick with that. If not we'll put pressure on the final climb in the hopes of tiring some of the bigger sprinters.



Vichot slips into the breakaway. The break consists of 6 men including Cummings(BMC) and Westra(AST)



The break has 1'08 as the pack enters the first hill. Bretagne goes to the front and push up the tempo.



Vichot drops the fellow escapees up the final climb, forcing the peloton to keep a high pace to catch up. Feillu sits well in the front.



At the top he has 30 seconds to the pack. It's 12 km downhill from here. With his ride today he secured the climbers jersey so he'll wear that one tomorrow. He can't keep the peloton behind him though.



On the downhill 3 guys manage to get away from the peloton. Monfort(LTB), Schleck(TFR) & Sepulveda. Sepulveda tries to take Monforts wheel. They got a small gap with 1,4 km to go. Can they make it to the line?!



They can't Degenkolb wins once again. Sepulveda ends as best Bretagne rider in 18th. Feillu was done after our own team killed him on the climbs ;-)

Stage Results

1 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano 3h19'11
2 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma-Quick-Step s.t.
3 Matthew Goss Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
4 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha s.t.
5 Thor Hushovd BMC Racing Team s.t.
6 Carlos Alberto Betancur Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
7 Gianni Meersman Omega Pharma-Quick-Step s.t.
8 Simon Spilak Team Katusha s.t.
9 Enrico Gasparotto Astana Pro Team s.t.
10 Tom Jelte Slagter Garmin Sharp s.t.
18 Eduardo Sepulveda Bretagne - Séché Environnement s.t.

General Classement

1 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano 19h09'56
2 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma-Quick-Step + 6
3 Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha + 16
4 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar s.t.
5 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
7 Florian Vachon Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 19

STAGE 6



From this stage is all hilly stages to the finish. Todays stage ends up in a hilly sprint after a long downhill. We'll be aiming to get Brice into a breakaway and hope Sepulveda has what it takes in the finale.



We end up getting both Brice and Roman Feillu in todays break. Other notables are Marcato(CAN) and Wegmann(GRS). They have 6 minutes at one time.



After the category 2 climb Terpstra is dropped. The advantage is down to 2'54 to the peloton.



Wegman takes the front as the front group enters the biggest challenge of the day. Col de Bourigaille. Brice Feillu has been working for Roman all day as he was not feeling well. Time to see if Roman can survive the climb. The group has 2'27 to the peloton with 26,8 km to go.



Roman Feillu in no-mans-land. 43 seconds behind the front 4 and 26 seconds in front of his pursuvaints. He folds and gives up. This was too much to ask.



Wegmann(GRS) and Marcato(CAN) leads as they ride under la flamme rouge. Voeckler(EUR) chases them. As does a group containing all the favourites. All Bretagne riders are too far back on the stage. It's not going to be today we'll win!



Wegmann drops Marcato and holds off the chasers. A great victory for Wegmann. All Bretagne riders lost time. Sepulveda is now well behind and should be able to go into a break tomorrow.

Stage Results

1 Fabian Wegmann Garmin Sharp 5h06'03
2 Marco Marcato Cannondale s.t.
3 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar s.t.
4 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
5 Rui Costa Lampre-Merida + 58
6 Jelle Vanendert Lotto Belisol s.t.
7 Carlos Alberto Betancur Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
8 Benoit Vaugrenard FDJ.fr + 1'15
9 Jakob Fuglsang Astana Pro Team + 1'28
10 Romain Bardet Ag2r La Mondiale + 1'57
20 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 3'25

General Classement

1 Fabian Wegmann Garmin Sharp 24h16'12
2 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar + 1
3 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE + 3
4 Carlos Alberto Betancur Ag2r La Mondiale + 1'07
5 Rui Costa Lampre-Merida s.t.
15 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 3'34

STAGE 7



A fairly hilly stage. All our riders are very tired due to the frantic pace of the recent stages. Sepulveda is pretty fresh and will be our hope today.



Sepulveda slips into the morning break along with 10 others. The best rider in the GC is Bouet(ALM) who's 5'14 behind. Other worth mentioning in the break is Thomas(SKY), Velits(KAT), Hivert(BEL) & Jeannesson(FDJ)



Sepulveda lead the escapees over Col de Vence where the break has an 6 minute advantage.



Thomas takes the third mountain top and the break now has more than 10 minutes.



After the final climb of the day the 11 escapees are still together. They've got 7'41 to the pack with 59,6 to go. If the break holds to the line Sepulveda should be one of the fastest in the group. He feels great today.



The peloton is closing in on the break and the riders are attacking in shifts. But then with 10 km to go...... Nooooooooooo.... Sepulveda crashes. He was feeling good and had enough energy to keep up with the favourites if they were to catch the break. Needless to say also to compete for the stage.



Bretagne tries to wheel in the escapees in an attempt to give Roman Feillu a chance but no. The break makes it to the line and Velits wins the stage. A bunch of disillusioned Bretagne riders comes in with the pack.

Stage Results

1 Peter Velits BMC Racing Team 4h47'23
2 Jonathan Hivert Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
3 Maxime Bouet Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
4 Geraint Thomas Team Sky s.t.
5 Lars Ytting Bak Lotto Belisol + 27
6 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE s.t.
7 Ion Izagirre Movistar Team s.t.
8 Sébastien Reichenbach IAM Cycling s.t.
9 Carlos Alberto Betancur Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
10 Damiano Caruso Cannondale s.t.
26 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement s.t.

General Classement

1 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar 29h04'03
2 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE + 2
3 Fabian Wegmann Garmin Sharp + 1'03
4 Carlos Alberto Betancur Ag2r La Mondiale + 1'06
5 Vincenzo Nibali Astana Pro Team + 2'05
16 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 5'29

STAGE 8



Last stage of the tour. All our riders are tired and pretty weak. We have to hope for a miracle for us to win the stage. Let's see how it goes.



Morning break time. We have two in it. Brice Feillu and Sepulveda. Sepulveda have a shot at the climbers jersey and both are going for the stage win. Best rider in the GC is Van Avermaet(LTB) & Stybar(OGE) at 7'09.



As the break enters the third climb of the day the breakaway splits up. Stybar and Van Avermaet looks too strong for the others. They now have a gap of one minute. The other still have 2'30 to the peloton.



Stybar clears the final climb first. Van Avermaet second. In the background Caruso(CAN) and Gadret(MOV) have catched the other group and is chasing the stage. The peloton is not far behind.



As soon as the peloton reaches the top of the final climb Vachon leads off the peloton with Roman Feillu right behind him. It's all downhill from here. They need to get going if they want to have a chance. The peloton breaks and a bunch of the favourites are in our group.



It's too late. Stybar ends up with a brilliant solo win. Feillu crawls over the line in 11th position. In the overall GC Feillu ends up 17th.

Stage Results

1 Zdenek Stybar Omega Pharma-Quick-Step 3h09'49
2 Damiano Caruso Cannondale + 33
3 Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team + 57
4 John Gadret Movistar Team s.t.
5 Rui Costa Lampre-Merida + 1'51
6 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar s.t.
7 Vincenzo Nibali Astana Pro Team s.t.
8 Wilco Kelderman Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
9 Sébastien Reichenbach IAM Cycling s.t.
10 Maxime Monfort Lotto Belisol s.t.
11 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement s.t.

General Classement

1 Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar 32h15'43
2 Simon Gerrans Orica-GreenEDGE + 2
3 Fabian Wegmann Garmin Sharp + 1'03
4 Carlos Alberto Betancur Ag2r La Mondiale + 1'06
5 Vincenzo Nibali Astana Pro Team + 2'05
6 Rui Costa Lampre-Merida + 2'33
7 Jelle Vanendert Lotto Belisol s.t.
8 Wilco Kelderman Belkin Pro Cycling Team + 2'37
9 John Degenkolb Team Giant-Shimano + 3'52
10 Tony Gallopin Lotto Belisol + 4'01
17 Romain Feillu Bretagne - Séché Environnement + 5'29

Challenge info

Paris – Nice
Bretagne
Stage Win

FAILED

Race Review:

Not really close to success in this one. I still feel Sepulveda had a great chance on stage 7 untill he crashed. But besides this day not much success. Still in real life Bretagne got a 7th and 10th while ending up 20th overall. We managed 5th and 9th and a 17th in the GC. A reasonable try but none the less below our goals.