Stage 19
From Bourg d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand leads this second mountain stage in a row. The second climb of the day, Col de la Madeleine, is without a doubt the most notable one, it’s a true legend of Tour de France history. After yesterday’s Alpe d’Huez double stage, our riders are still exhausted, but today might be the best chance for Igor Antón to secure the mountain jersey. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any easier. This stage might look easy on the final kilometers, but with mountains such as the Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine and Col de la Croix Fry on a stage over 200 kilometers, this is a true tough nut to crack. And even then, it’s not getting easier as the finish to Le Grand-Bornand offers another (very) small climb. So it’s obvious that we want Igor to get into a breakaway, while Mikel Nieve should just look out to not lose any time and conserve as much energy as possible..
We hit the first mountain and are already awarded with a look at Igor Antón complete polkadot outfit, who knows his chance today and is eager to take the mountain jersey for good. With him are Luis Leon Sánchez, Morabito (BMC) and Pauriol (SOJ). Soon after this picture, riders like Klöden (RTL), ever-active Gasparotto (AST), Roelandts (LTB), Leukamans (VCD), Riblon (ALM) and Albasini (OGE) join the group. Together they around 2 minutes to the break already at the foot of Col du Glandon, which is very steep and tough and the many spectators don’t really make riding any easier here.
At least, ikurrina’s and shirts of Euskaltel – Euskadi are many here. After Mikel Nieve’s win at Alpe d’Huez any fan, be it basque or not, can show his colors today.
At top of the Col du Glandon, none of the riders offer a fight for the mountain points and thus Igor Antón takes comfortably the points. His lead is now 31 points on Daniel Martin. In the following descent, Jürgen van den Broecka (7th overall) and Sergio Henao suffer crashes but get back to the peloton in no-time. The breakaway has about 8 minutes lead.
The legendary Col de la Madeleine is up and even though it’s a long time until the finish, the crowd is as frenetic here as it was at the Col du Glandon.
No other ascent might be so constant as the Col de la Madeleine. It’s a mountain that looks like a child drew its profile. It’s a perfect route up with a nearly steady gradient of 10 %. Which, of course, makes it one hell of a climb. And it’s 20 kilometers long… so that’s that.
Of course the Spanish fans are cheering for Luis Leon Sánchez, and hopefully for Igor Antón too.
And the crowd follows the riders all the way up.
You can see the peloton down there and the break has about 12 minutes lead. That’s a good sign. But Igor Antón doesn’t look too good unfortunately. Yesterday clearly took his toll and I wonder how able he will be to perform in the stage’s finale.
At least, at top of the Col de la Madeleine, he takes the points without a problem. And a nice long descent is waiting for him now.
We already go into the last 40 kilometers and Fédrigo (FDJ), Daniel Martin (GRS) and Jerome Coppel (COF) attack at the end of the second last climb of the day. Soon after, Alberto Contador and Thomas Voeckler join them, but it doesn’t look like they will get very far, since SKY increase their pace – and they probably don’t even have a chance at the stage win today.
Contador didn’t give up and a second attack grants him around 1 minute to the peloton in the descent. You can say many things about the Spaniard, but one thing is clear: He makes every race interesting.
The once comfortable lead diminishes fast. From once 12 minutes, Contador takes about 5 minutes in an instant. And now even riders such as Betancur, Kwiatkowski, Valverde and Daniel Martin are getting serious and what to catch up to him. Nieve is safe inside the peloton, paced by SKY and Belkin.
A bit more than 3 minutes remain, and 5 kilometers still to the top. Klöden (RTL) fears the pressure of Contador already in his neck or is this an attack for the stage win? They should work together, but maybe it’s best to decrease the breakaway a bit. Igor Antón follows.
While SKY, Evans and Belkin brought back Betancur & Co., Contador is still at large and passes the 20 kilometer flag right now. Nieve looks still good but no more helpers are at his side. The peloton decreased to about 40 riders. We already know from last year’s Vuelta that Contador is a man that can win Grand Tours on stages where you wouldn’t think any major time gaps would happen. However, it’s also clear, that Contador has already lost this Tour a long time ago when he crashed in the first week. For him, it’s all about making amends and showing his excellence, after already clearly winning the second time trial.
While we worry about Contador’s presence, Klöden attacks another time. This time Antón can’t follow right away and decides to go his own pace.
A bit later, Igor Antón shortly accelerates and looks to close the gap on Klöden. Meanwhile, Contador has caught up with Antón's former companions in the break.
And there it is, Quintana and Rodriguez where the first to catch up to Contador, Mollema and Froome followed. And they are only a few meters behind Morabito and Pauriol. We see in the back, that Froome wants to attack.
Klöden looks set to take the deserved stage win with 10 kilometers remaining. However, when Frenchman Peraud (ALM) strikes one impeccable attack in the downhill, Igor Antón can simply watch as the Frenchman rides away. Nothing is set in stone yet for Klöden nor any other rider.
That is to say, until Igor Antón gets caught. He will use his remaining power, which havn’t got much left, to protect Nieve a bit for the sprint.
Going into the last 5 kilometers, Peraud caught up to Klöden. Remember, this is not a straight downhill finish, but it offers a small gradient uphill at the end. Only 22 seconds is their lead on a peloton in which Saxo Tinkoff make the pace now.
2.5 kilometers left, Peraud and Klöden are caught. Nieve is right behind Henao, who paces.
Valverde attacks first, Contador on his wheel and Nieve close behind.
Valverde takes a clear stage win. He was just too strong today. Nieve gets a clear 2nd ahead of Froome. Nieve isn’t a man for such a finish but he truly surprised us once more. However, we think he would have had even a chance at the stage win, if he followed Valverde’s wheel instead of Contadors, who was already quite tired after the many attacks.
Stage 19, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
7h25'50
2
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 14
3
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
s.t.
4
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
6
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
8
Andy Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
9
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
10
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
12
Jakob Fuglsang
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
13
Robert Kiserlovski
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
14
Michael Rogers
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
15
Nicolas Roche
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
16
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
s.t.
18
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
19
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Laurens Ten Dam
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Roman Kreuziger
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
22
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
s.t.
23
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
24
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
25
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
26
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
27
Romain Bardet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
28
Jérôme Coppel
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
29
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
30
Maxime Monfort
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
31
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
s.t.
32
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'03
33
Rémi Pauriol
Sojasun
+ 1'26
34
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
35
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'41
36
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
37
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
38
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'00
39
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
+ 3'07
40
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
41
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3'38
43
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ
s.t.
44
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
45
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
46
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'55
47
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 4'41
48
Sylvain Chavanel
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 4'54
49
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'09
50
Tom Slagter
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
51
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
+ 8'46
53
Geraint Thomas
Sky Procycling
s.t.
54
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol
+ 10'27
55
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
+ 11'04
56
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Astana Pro Team
+ 11'34
57
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
58
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
59
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
60
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
61
José Serpa
Lampre - Merida
+ 13'45
62
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 14'26
63
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
64
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Procycling
s.t.
65
Juan Antonio Flecha
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
66
Dario Cataldo
Sky Procycling
s.t.
67
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
69
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
70
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
71
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
72
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
73
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
74
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
75
Peter Stetina
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
76
Matti Breschel
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
77
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ
s.t.
78
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
79
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
s.t.
80
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
81
Nicki Sørensen
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
82
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
83
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
84
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
86
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
87
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
88
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
89
Robert Vrecer
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
90
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
s.t.
91
Christophe Le Mével
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 16'45
92
Alexis Vuillermoz
Sojasun
+ 17'50
93
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
94
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 18'09
95
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Sojasun
+ 19'19
96
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
97
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
98
Brice Feillu
Sojasun
+ 19'56
99
Jonathan Hivert
Sojasun
+ 20'24
100
Damiano Caruso
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 20'38
101
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
s.t.
102
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
s.t.
103
Simon Geschke
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
104
Sébastien Turgot
Team Europcar
s.t.
105
Daniel Oss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
106
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
107
Guillaume Levarlet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
108
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
109
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
110
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
111
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
112
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
113
Yoann Bagot
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
114
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
115
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
116
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
117
Arthur Vichot
FDJ
s.t.
118
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
119
Vasil Kiryienka
Sky Procycling
s.t.
120
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
+ 23'43
121
Daniele Ratto
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 24'13
122
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
123
Giacomo Nizzolo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
124
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
125
Moreno Moser
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
126
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
127
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
128
Daryl Impey
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
129
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
130
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
131
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
132
Sebastian Langeveld
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
133
Marcel Sieberg
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
134
Ben King
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
135
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
136
Tom Dumoulin
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
137
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
138
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
s.t.
139
Yohan Offredo
FDJ
s.t.
140
Koen De Kort
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
141
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
142
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
143
Leigh Howard
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
144
David Millar
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
145
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
146
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
147
Sébastien Chavanel
Team Europcar
s.t.
148
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
s.t.
149
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
150
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
151
Danny Van Poppel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
152
Evaldas Siskevicius
Sojasun
s.t.
153
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
154
Richie Porte
Sky Procycling
s.t.
155
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
156
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
s.t.
157
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
158
Julien El Fares
Sojasun
s.t.
159
Juan José Lobato
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
160
Jakob Rathe
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
161
Mark Renshaw
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
162
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
163
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
164
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
s.t.
165
Manuel Belletti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
166
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
167
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ
s.t.
168
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
169
Alessandro De Marchi
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
170
Christophe Laborie
Sojasun
s.t.
171
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
172
Luka Mezgec
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
173
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
174
Michael Matthews
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
175
Maxime Daniel
Sojasun
s.t.
176
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
177
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
178
Elia Viviani
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
179
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
180
Yauheni Hutarovich
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
181
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
182
Barry Markus
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
183
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
184
Daniele Bennati
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
185
Egoitz García
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
186
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
187
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
+ 33'31
188
Aidis Kruopis
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 36'20
189
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
+ 39'51
190
Marco Haller
Katusha Team
+ 42'00
Although it wasn’t quite enough for the stage win, our goal of today’s stage was accomplished by Igor Antón bringing home the mountain jersey. Plus, we even got another second place, so that’s definitely nice. We ain’t so happy or excited as yesterday of course, but it was a wonderful stage and we are satisfied. That is to say until we get home…
General Classification
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
78h03'24
2
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+ 2'50
3
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 5'17
4
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 8'05
5
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 8'07
6
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
+ 9'51
7
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
+ 10'37
8
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 10'56
9
Michael Rogers
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 10'59
10
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'21
Spoiler
11
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 12'31
12
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 13'22
13
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
+ 13'41
14
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - Merida
+ 15'13
15
Jakob Fuglsang
Astana Pro Team
+ 18'35
16
Roman Kreuziger
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
17
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 18'44
18
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
+ 20'04
19
Laurens Ten Dam
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 20'06
20
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 20'09
21
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 20'17
22
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 22'20
23
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ
+ 22'26
24
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 23'59
25
Nicolas Roche
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 26'08
26
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
+ 28'07
27
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 28'52
28
Jérôme Coppel
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 29'26
29
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
+ 30'26
30
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 33'52
31
Maxime Monfort
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 37'41
32
Romain Bardet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 40'00
33
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
+ 42'00
34
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 42'40
35
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Belisol
+ 48'50
36
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 48'51
37
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
+ 49'14
38
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
+ 54'10
39
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h02'50
40
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Procycling
+ 1h03'58
41
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h16'23
42
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h17'34
43
Andy Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1h24'03
44
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1h25'11
45
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
+ 1h30'35
46
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol
+ 1h32'58
47
Nicki Sørensen
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 1h33'30
48
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h33'36
49
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 1h34'41
50
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1h34'45
51
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h36'10
52
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 1h38'16
53
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 1h39'32
54
Robert Kiserlovski
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1h39'53
55
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol
+ 1h41'50
56
Yoann Bagot
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 1h41'57
57
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 1h42'52
58
Sylvain Chavanel
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h44'04
59
Tom Slagter
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 1h45'14
60
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h45'21
61
Geraint Thomas
Sky Procycling
+ 1h46'54
62
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h48'23
63
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h48'46
64
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1h50'23
65
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h51'21
66
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h52'03
67
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h53'34
68
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 1h53'59
69
Dario Cataldo
Sky Procycling
+ 1h54'44
70
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
+ 1h59'01
71
Robert Vrecer
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h59'18
72
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
+ 1h59'39
73
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 2h02'01
74
Alexis Vuillermoz
Sojasun
+ 2h02'13
75
Jonathan Hivert
Sojasun
+ 2h02'26
76
José Serpa
Lampre - Merida
+ 2h03'10
77
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h03'54
78
Matti Breschel
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h04'09
79
Rémi Pauriol
Sojasun
+ 2h04'38
80
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 2h04'53
81
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 2h05'40
82
Christophe Le Mével
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 2h06'35
83
Daniele Bennati
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h07'02
84
Juan Antonio Flecha
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h07'13
85
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
+ 2h07'36
86
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Sojasun
+ 2h08'21
87
Simon Geschke
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 2h08'45
88
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2h10'18
89
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h11'06
90
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h11'33
91
Peter Stetina
Garmin - Sharp
+ 2h13'11
92
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ
+ 2h13'50
93
Brice Feillu
Sojasun
+ 2h13'55
94
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h14'00
95
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 2h14'24
96
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h14'46
97
Guillaume Levarlet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 2h14'51
98
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
+ 2h15'42
99
Richie Porte
Sky Procycling
+ 2h17'09
100
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h17'44
101
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h18'28
102
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2h18'54
103
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h19'08
104
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h24'36
105
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Sharp
+ 2h24'58
106
Vasil Kiryienka
Sky Procycling
+ 2h25'25
107
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2h25'27
108
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2h25'46
109
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
+ 2h26'26
110
Daniel Oss
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h26'57
111
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
+ 2h26'58
112
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
+ 2h27'17
113
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 2h28'07
114
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2h30'00
115
Ben King
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2h30'22
116
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
+ 2h32'10
117
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h33'49
118
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
+ 2h33'59
119
Juan José Lobato
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h35'11
120
Tom Dumoulin
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 2h36'43
121
Sébastien Turgot
Team Europcar
+ 2h36'56
122
Moreno Moser
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 2h37'30
123
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2h37'51
124
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2h42'32
125
Julien El Fares
Sojasun
+ 2h42'33
126
Daryl Impey
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2h42'47
127
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 2h43'26
128
Arthur Vichot
FDJ
+ 2h44'12
129
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Sharp
+ 2h45'29
130
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 2h45'38
131
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2h46'01
132
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2h46'04
133
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h46'25
134
Mark Renshaw
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h46'26
135
David Millar
Garmin - Sharp
+ 2h46'28
136
Damiano Caruso
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 2h46'54
137
Giacomo Nizzolo
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2h47'14
138
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2h47'18
139
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
+ 2h47'49
140
Sebastian Langeveld
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2h47'58
141
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h49'04
142
Daniele Ratto
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 2h50'25
143
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 2h50'45
144
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h50'51
145
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 2h50'53
146
Danny Van Poppel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h51'15
147
Luka Mezgec
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 2h52'30
148
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h52'36
149
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
150
Elia Viviani
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 2h54'02
151
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 2h54'30
152
Marcel Sieberg
Lotto Belisol
+ 2h54'33
153
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h54'39
154
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h56'09
155
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
+ 2h56'33
156
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2h56'35
157
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Sharp
+ 2h57'15
158
Koen De Kort
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 2h58'27
159
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - Merida
+ 2h58'34
160
Michael Matthews
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2h59'09
161
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
+ 2h59'42
162
Manuel Belletti
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h01'07
163
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
+ 3h01'48
164
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ
+ 3h01'52
165
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3h05'33
166
Alessandro De Marchi
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 3h08'28
167
Egoitz García
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 3h08'37
168
Barry Markus
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h11'00
169
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h11'31
170
Sébastien Chavanel
Team Europcar
+ 3h13'50
171
Yohan Offredo
FDJ
+ 3h16'12
172
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 3h16'33
173
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h17'10
174
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
+ 3h17'33
175
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h17'43
176
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 3h18'07
177
Marco Haller
Katusha Team
+ 3h19'55
178
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3h20'51
179
Evaldas Siskevicius
Sojasun
+ 3h20'54
180
Christophe Laborie
Sojasun
+ 3h26'58
181
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h28'40
182
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
+ 3h29'33
183
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 3h31'32
184
Jakob Rathe
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h34'18
185
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
+ 3h41'26
186
Leigh Howard
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 3h42'37
187
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
+ 3h56'07
188
Yauheni Hutarovich
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h57'41
189
Maxime Daniel
Sojasun
+ 4h00'14
190
Aidis Kruopis
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 4h05'17
Against the Illusion – Part 4
We had a team-meeting when we came home from stage 19. It was all in a true hurry. We had massive success on stage 18, when Nieve and Antón won Alpe d’Huez together, but that seems to be a vague memory by now. The team is packed into this hotel hall with fear. We lock the door and double-check that nobody is listening. And then Katu started to explain to the riders, who all looked a bit worried and some even frighten.
“We have information that one of you guys might be using illegal substances.” He made it short and clear. Everyone was hearing these words. Those sounds of truth and wrath were turning the world upside-down. “Therefore, we have invited the Doping controllers to take careful samples from all of you. They will be here in an hour. The culprit will have time until then to come forward.”
Katu put them onto the wall. All of them. There was no separation. No basque rider was immune, no young rider looked innocent enough with his puppy eyes, no foreigner was too much of an easy target. I recognized that he wanted to find the liar and banish him from the team. Eventually, when the Doping investigators arrived and started taking samples, one of them was found guilty…
Oooh, dopping? An honorable way to handle the problem though!
Hope it is not Anton: he is looking so good in his KoM suit
As for the stage, Contador has been contained! I was not that optimistic at the moment he was closing on the break away... So indeed, KoM 10th place preserved and 2nd place for the stage, that makes a great day.
Only because yu won the Alpes yesterday, you can't see it clearly
Thanks guys! Appreciate it. It was a great day for us again. Contador was just too strong though and Klöden was really motivated for that stage win, while Antón started into stage already half-dead.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Good day. A 2nd place and defence of the top 10 is always nice.
Fearing the next installment though. Hoping Vrecer is the guilty party so that it won't affect the project too badly (but rather perhaps hurry the development towards the old strategy).
Thanks everybody! Stage 20 will be up tomorrow, while stage 21 and the TdF review sees the daylight on friday presumably. Weekend will be rather calm though, just updating the UCI rankings. And then, we will head already into the season's finale months... excitement!
@Atlantius: Yeah, it could pave the road again to an all-basque team again. In theory. Will see how it pans out over the seasons.
@24sebaf1: Welcome to the forum! Nice to see that you already found your way to my story. Well, yeah - there is lots of doping in stories, but here in sacred basque country its only a minor reference. Doping will never be a big issue for this story, it's a means to adjust the story to reality. But like anyone else, who uses it, I can assure that this was thought of way before the "hype" kicked in.
@Ian: Oh yeah.
@sutty68: Really? They remind me awfully on Rolland's jersey and that was just horrible. Well, I've never been much a fan of the polkadot jersey anyway.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Katu and the Doping controllers were very thorough, and all that because of a hunch I had. They took samples and they interviewed the guys. They even checked at home. I explained that he most likely was someone from the family that visited them. While all stories checked out for us and we may have believed some even more than we should have, we eventually were sure of it.
Alexander Serebryakov mixed up circumstances in his story, it didn’t check out. He told one of the guys he wife was supposed to be at home, but another one saw them at the finish one day prior of the incident. Eventually, the controllers gave out a search for the car and a few hours later, they found doping material in the garage. His wife didn’t clean out the trash yet. We got him. It was damn long night. Katu and I stayed up until 5 o’clock with the controllers. All the other riders have already gone to bed. We were the only ones left with some french guys that looked more like Film Noir detectives than a bunch of nerdy, by justice obsessed and truth-seeking men. Katu told him, that he was very disappointed after they received the phone call of confirmation. I wanted to stay longer but Katu sent out the doping guys and me to get some sleep. I waited for Serebryakov to ask him, but I fell asleep on the stairs. Not surprising, I never saw him again afterwards.
Tour de France, July 2013
Stage 20
There will be some questions and debate after yesterday’s reveal. We try to stay positive and concentrate on the second last stage. It’s going to one hell of a ride up to Semnoz. Our goal is easy: Protect Nieve as long as possible and try to maintain the 10th place overall. This will be tough since none other than Contador is only roughly 10 seconds behind us, but maybe one of the other riders will show signs of weakness today? Let’s hope it won’t be Mikel Nieve.
Azanza is our guy for the break today. He leads a large second breakaway group the last kilometer of the first climb. The second breakaway up ahead is only a few seconds ahead and should be caught in the downhill. The peloton is already over 2 minutes behind. We don’t think that Azanza has a chance today for the win and instead we rather want him to help Nieve maybe later on.
As the break climbs up Mont Revard, their lead is probably not enough for the final ascent up to Semnoz. Only 7 minutes for Azanza and his companions. In the group though are quite some excellent riders: Klöden takes another shot at a stage win after yesterday’s very good performance. Dyachenko, Gautier, Van Rensburg, Slagter, De Clerq, Bagot, Vuillermoz, Tony Martin, Hoogerland, Visconti & Caruso. It’s many familiar faces we have here today who try it probably one last time.
Semnoz is up, the last mountain of this year’s Tour de France. Immediately Hoogerland, De Clerq and Dyachenko attack. It’s still about 15 kilometers to the finish, Azanza gets the command from Katu to wait and work first before we start attacking.
With about 10 kilometers to go, there havn’t been any attacks yet. Riders like Contador, Quintana or Rodriguez still wait for the right moment.
But well, it only lasts so long. Betancur and Contador attack a bit later on, Nieve still has some helpers here and with SKY chasing, we don’t want to get into a game of cat & mouse with Contador.
Klöden meanwhile caught the group, and Dyachenko immediately tries another attempt. Azanza just barely hangs in there, while other riders have already dropped. Klöden is the only one able to follow Dyachenko.
Contador is on fire – once more. Nieve had no chance to react. He can't contest anymore for the Top 10. Contador passes the breakaway riders one by one and is close to catching up to Azanza. There goes our Top 10 ranking. Rodriguez and Quintana, both on the podium, meanwhile reacted too and got a gap on the peloton. Froome tries to follow Fuglsang in the back.
As Contador passes the last remaining group, Klöden and Dyachenko can only look past as they give in. Especially for the german, former Grand Tour contender, who has been very active during these 3 weeks, it must feel bad to once more lose the stage so close.
Froome is at the side of Azanza, Purito and Quintana a bit ahead of him. They one catch Contador any more though.
Contador takes a clear stage win today, what a comeback from him in the last week after this massive, horrifice crash to begin with. Caruso sprints and is likely to take 2nd place. Froome gets third, and Azanza takes 10th. A nice last result for him. Nieve obviously loses time on Contador and thus loses his 10th rank overall, as he arrives in Group Peraud. Igor Antón loses unfortunately his Top 25 ranking but hey – he has won the mountain jersey for good now.
Azana’s third Top 10 ranking meanwhile allows him to be the best Euskaltel – Euskadi rider in the points classification; quite a great sign for the future of this rider.
Oh, I thought it was one of the Tour riders that were doping, but it's really no surprise to hear that Serebryakov was the guilty.
No creative excuses from him/his wife as in the "good old days"?
Anyway sad that Nieve fell out of top 10, but the mountain jersey secured is great news (who cares about a top 25 anyway?)
Shonak wrote:
Serebryakov is one of the Tour riders. Admittely, he didn't show much during the 3 weeks but it was time to get rid of that doper for good.
Oh? I searched through the stage resuts of stage 19, but he didn't appear, so I guess he missed the time limit there (I now see he was in stage 18)?
.Doping seems to become a trend in PCMdaily. Hope is not Nieve or Anton
