Stage Favourites:
***Schleck(ISS) **Jeannesson(FDJ) *Ellisonde(GPM)

Today we end on the fabled Col de Tourmalet, the legendary climb is the last in this TDF. If anyone wants to knock Ellisonde off the top spot, like Schleck, they have to pull off something special today.

Under the watching eyes of some Pope statue, San Marino native, Chiaruzzi, goes on the attack. The early break was a strong one which also included Pello Bilbao.

Further into the stage, quality attacked, Taaramae and Spilak included. However, a big group would arrive at the Tourmalet ready for battle.

From a long ways out French champ Jeannesson and Pinot attack, Gesink tries to go with the move but can't stand the heat. The two Frenchmen ride away from the peloton and quickly gain 1:00. Ellisonde and the big favourites ride tempo behind.

And Schleck....

stays in the group of big favourites. When with 5 kilometres to go Eijssen makes his move, he can't afford Pinot to get too far up the move. The yellow jersey also goes with this move,

Jeannesson tries multiple times to break Pinot.. but can't as we approach the finish.

Jeannesson leads Pinot into the last kilometre '45 ahead of the 6 man GC group as Schleck attacks.

Jeannesson drops Pinot in the last few hundred metres and claims his second win. What a purple patch for French cycling.
Schleck... drops Ellisonde but only gains '12 seconds, not enough Ellisonde will surely win the tour with the TT to come. Schleck retains the KOM jersey.

All our riders are suffering and not able to show themselves in front of the cameras, although all 9 are still in the race.

STAGE RESULTS:

GENERAL AFTER STAGE:

MOUNTAIN:

STAGE 19: Salies de Bearn - Bordeaux 195 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Sagan(GPM) **Farrar(RIM) *Boasson Hagen(RAB)

On this flat stage the amount of attacks were too much for the sprinter teams.

Amador attacked with 7 kilometres to go and quickly gained '50 seconds, Gallopin attacked with the peloton looking at each other with 3 kilometres to go but couldn't bridge across although finished ahead of the peloton. Huge performance by Tony. Amador wins the stage for a shock result.

STAGE RESULTS:

GENERAL AFTER STAGE:

STAGE 20: Bordeaux - Pauillac 51 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Van Garderen(JDE) **Roux(FDJ) *Martin(KAT)

A lumpy TT is the last really competitive stage of this tour, will much change?

Unlike the final Giro TT this time trial was all about the GC big boys fighting it out.
The stage went to Pinot for his second stage win and he moves up to third on the podium, displacing Eijssen who disappointed. This was the umpteenth stage win for a Frenchman in this tour.

Ellisonde... holds on to the yellow and even passes Schleck on the day, he will win the TDF.

STAGE RESULTS:

GENERAL AFTER STAGE 20:

We finish as always in the historic city of Paris.

Today was about the celebrations. After 2016 when the winner was Pinot, Ellisonde will be the French winner of his TDF, with such French performances we may expect the French to win this race many times in the coming years.

After Gazprom lead us on to the Champs Elysees, a sprint was inevitable, the large break caught before the finish.

We had Feillu and Gallopin right up there come the sprint, scrapping for a potential win....

but the winner of the final stage was world champ Boasson Hagen, Feillu can have some comfort that the world champ used Feillu as a inadvertent final lead out man.

There we have it Ellisonde wins his first GT, his first tour de France. A tour which will sadly be remembered for the horrific coach crash.
He showed no signs of relenting the lead after he picked it up on the cobbled stage, despite finishing second in the Giro.

Sagan wins the points jersey with consummate ease, Schleck takes home the KOM jersey. No white jersey was awarded. American Express take home the prizes for being the best team.

We can't be disappointed with our first TDF. Getting a stage win was huge in addition to our multiple podium finishes with Gallopin and the Feillu brothers. Even though we were non-existent compared to Gazprom, I'm sure we will be back here next year much more stronger.

STAGE RESULTS:

FINAL GC:

POINTS:

MOUNTAIN:

In the aftermath of the TDF we have some races lined up in France, Flahaut will be coaching the team here. The first such race was La Poly Normande. The team put in a decent showing both Feillu's rode hard on the front and Gallopin finished well but missed the decisive move.

that's me on the far left. In front of my teammates, Hungarian champ Cziraki and Yildiz, who were lazily chatting much of the day! REALLY! Anyhow the training program I have been on really is paying dividends, I wasn't one of the first out the back for once! As I delivered the water bottles to the leaders I definitely feel physically stronger, more so than ever.

With the tour de I'Ain later in this month my first pro season will be over.

Thanks for reading, Rogere!

RACE: St Martin de Landelles 156 KM's