STAGE 27: Le Bourg D'Oisans - Risoul 1850 119 KM

Stage Favourites:
*****Szmyd(IBA) ****Atapuma(SAH) ***Serpa(CAR)
**De Weert(SWI) *Pires(NES)

The penultimate stage is one of the mountains. We have the col de lautaret (29 KM @ 4.4%) then the col d'Izoard (19 KM @ 5.9%) and we finish on the Risoul 1850 (13.5 KM @ 7.25).

Barguil is the first to attack on the stage! We haven't seen much of the Frenchman but he has always been around the top 15 in GC, he attacks as soon as the road kicks up.

7 riders ride across to join him in the break of the day. They are: Houle, Bono, Monsalve, Preidler, Louder and the 7up duo of Muravyev and Erviti.

Muravyev led the break over the first 2 climbs of the day therefore amassing 46 KOM points.

It was bizarre that neither Louder and Bono contested these points as they would have ended up in an unassailable KOM lead. Louder started the day with 38 KOM points and Bono started with 40 KOM points whereas Muravyev started with just 6.

The peloton, with the usuals on the front, start to chase the break and on the descent of the Izoard Serpa is dropped! He is not the only casualty, Geschke started in 12th, would also be dropped here and lose a packet of time.

The break have started the final climb. With 11 KM to go they have 2'40 on the red jersey group, who are putting up an indifferent chase. Serpa is still dropped, but tries to regain contact.

It is in the balance whether or not the break will stay ahead for the win as Szmyd puts in a big attack. Further up the road Monsalve decides it is now or never and puts in a big attack for Sahin Sucuklari.

Paulinho, Clarke, Di Gregorio and Tschopp attack out of the peloton with 3 KM to go as Szmyd catches the tail end of the break. Out front Barguil eats up Monsalve and passes him ....... The stage win is there but Szmyd is finishing fast!

The young rider was the first to attack on the stage and the first to cross the finish line, how is that for a memorable performance!

Monsalve showed very well for 2nd whilst Erviti just managed to hold off the red jersey for 3rd on the day.

There is one big move in the top 10 in the battle for 8th! A good showing from Di Gregorio means he moves up to 8th place whilst Serpa slips to 9th. There is clear dissention in the Cartoon Network ranks, highlighted by Bochman finishing higher than Serpa on the penultimate stage.

Join us later today for the final stage.

Stage Favourites:
*****Petacchi(BOR) ****Davis(BOR) ***Veelers(CAR)
**Hinault(TMO) *Feillu(NES)

We have finally made it! The final stage is here, after many breakaway wins will we end off with a sprint on the Champs-Élysées?

The fight to get into the break was a tough one. 11 riders managed it, they were: Kvasina, Deeny, Wurf, Monsalve, Stamsnijder, Roth, Champion, Thomel, Nys, Preidler and Marinangelli.


The break reach a max of 6'00 with 85 KM to go before the peloton under the guise of Petro China and Borussia Dortmund speed up.

After many kilometres in no mans land, stage winner Parra, managed to bridge across to the break to make it 12 man strong.

As 8 breakaway riders distance themselves from the rest of the break with 26 KM to go we have some attacks from strong riders out of the peloton. The attackers are: Bodnar, Rosseler and Offredo.

It is not long before the three race to the head of the field, a good move. But today, despite the lack of strength of the sprint trains throughout this TOTC, the teams of Petro China and Borussia Dortmund have a seemingly iron and unbroken will to get the win.

The attackers are soon to be caught by the sprint trains. I don't believe it! We are going to have a mass sprint!

Boeckmans is finished. It is now up to van Hummel to lead out Bozic. The rest of the sprinters are still very much in contention, including Petacchi who is on the wheel of Davis.

Bozic doesn't want to sprint too early, so he slows up thus many sprinters are level with each other with 200 meters to go.

Petacchi .... gets blocked in. He is behind Hinault and Feillu, and will need a lot of luck from this position.

Bozic starts his sprint and regains the race lead, Impey comes up fast after some good luck in not being blocked......

Petro China take there third win in style with a win from their 100% leader, two wins for Bozic, I doubt we will hear complaints from them! Impey gets a really lucky run today and finishes with his best result (outside of the TTT). Petacchi rounds out the podium, despite finishing the fastest, if he had an ounce of luck he would have multiple stage wins to his name.

Szmyd finishes safely and wins the GC!