@Maxime86: Thanks so much
@Selwink and Cycleman: Seems Weening is a popular guy.
Stage 15, Mont Ventoux
Here it is. The big one. On Bastille day the peleton traverses the most interesting and well known climb in cycling history. Who will join the legends who have won here, Sky hope it will be Froome.
Our guys and Katusha controlled the tempo all day. The French may be dreaming of a breakaway victory, but we were having none of it. Meanwhile I had already come up with a killer plan.
Just as the peleton approached the climb, we took to the front hard. There was a chasing group filled with Frenchmen and a breakaway, also filled with Frenchmen, just ahead.
At the foot of the climb, I attacked, with Froome in my wheel. The plan was to gain an advantage then pace him up.
But once we had a gap, I dropped, seemingly exhausted, (faking it ) Froome was forced to take control, or waste my effort. Not wanting to look bad, he took to the front, with 14km left! This was going to be interesting.
Give credit to that man! He was flying, I didn't expect this. Rodriguez was losing time, and he wasn't looking like stopping. Maybe I made a mistake.
Uh oh, Froome was out of the woods, and looking towards Ventoux. Is this the same guy who got dropped by Henao, who is he?
Froome had cracked, but so had Rodriguez, this wasn't looking good.
He'd done it! What a result! I have underestimated Froome majorly, he really is a competitor, he hasn't won back yellow, but he's a whole lot closer.
I come in behind Kwiatkowski, for 7th place
What a reversal! Henao's dreams are over, he comes in with the domestiques.
Froome won with 1:18 from Rodriguez, hopping to 3rd in GC, now only 4:13 off. Henao drops to 9th, and is 12:13 behind, game over for him.
Edited by The Hobbit on 02-03-2014 14:25
Just read through the whole thing and I'm loving it.
But the rider must have 800 in all stats, because he can control the race without any problems. In that case I'm surprised this is the only cycling job he could get.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
@Jesleyh: Oh man, that is a serious fail, I've been calling it Venteaux for ages, wow, that's gonna take some getting used to. Sorry everyone!
@Baseball: well, I've struggled to control races in the past, and I couldn't reel in Froome here, I basically died trying to stick with Kwiatkowski, so he's not as OP as you might think
@Sutty and Selwink : Unfortunately so.
@Welker: No, you can't
@Cycleman: I considered that might be the reason.
Bastille Day thoughts
Well, what a day. Froome has risen from failure to a real threat. I have underestimated him badly, I see that now. A move I thought would break him, well that failed! He solos all the way up Ventoux, and takes minutes out of the other GC contenders. There will be no false help from me any more, I can't afford to give him even a chance to win, he's far too close. This is war.
I don't care about discovery now, there is nothing they can do, even if they find out I'm not even trying to help. This time I didn't check my emails. I don't need threats from blackmailing crime lords to motivate me, this is my mission. Froome cannot win, I will not let him.
Edited by The Hobbit on 03-03-2014 17:08
@Ollfardh: Now, that would be too easy You have given me an idea though...
@Cycleman: I agree
@Ian: Thank you very much, it is very motivating to hear things like that, especially from someone with such experience.
@Jesleyh: Sorry!! That part was pre written, before I realised. I guess old habits die hard, so I'll try to double check the next bits for mistakes.
Stage 16
One of the most visited Tour towns is our finish today, Gap. The tricky descent into it could mean a win for the breakaway or late attack. The entire Sky team is shattered bar me and Froome, who is riding on pure determination. He might try an attack, but there are still important stages to come, who knows?
Whatever his intentions he missed the first but attack. Horner, Rodriguez, Kwiatkowski and Quintana set off. With no teammates except me, and all the big leaders here, Froome was in trouble...
The chasers were Michael Rogers and uh... That's it. Contador and Froome had all heir team working for them, and it wasn't really helping
When Contador attacked, Froome wasn't placed well. Time to react. Contador had found himself a new teammate, whether he knew it or not.
Over the top. The GC men were catching the breakaway, with myself, Contador, Sagan and Rolland just behind. Froome was currently losing a minute to us, and another one to the GC men.
With a pretty good effort, I brought these guys up to e front group. Never hurts to have another head for Froome to topple.
The stage was won by Rohan Dennis
Kwiatkowski and Rodriguez were the best GC men.
I was happy with my efforts, and finished last of the front group. There's no point in giving Sky any more credit.
I am our best rider, in 15th, 1:11 of Dennis, but the same time as Rodriguez. Froome comes in 40th, at .2:42, losing 1:31... So he falls to 4th, Contador takes 3rd. I knew it was worth it!
@Jesleyh: I guess so, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Stage 17
A hilly time trial, if it can be called hilly, more mountainous. Mountains + Time Trial = Froome
Uh oh. And the worst bit is, there is nothing I can do.
The problem was, Sky was doing stupidly well... It's something about hilly time trials they seemed to master. Even Eisel set the fastest provisional time!
Even so, Tony Martin was the big favourite, as the champion, and winner of the last time trial.
The course took him 53:46, provisional 1st.
Bradley Wiggins was also a big favourite for this race. He could steal it, if Froome wasn't on top form, which I doubt. It took him 52:07, 1:39 faster than Martin.
Oddly, Dombrowski and Thomas also beat Martin. Boasson Hagen then went 2nd, only 41 seconds off Wiggins. Sky had 4 of the top 5 at this point! Domination
Then Froome set off, surely he would take the win, but by how much?
Froome was flying, he was first at checkpoint 1. Henao was second, so it didn't look like he'd be losing much ground. I wasn't trying, but then again, why should I?
Froome set the best time at checkpoint 2. Henao came second on the line, showing how important climbing was. Maybe Rodriguez had a chance then?
Froome finished in 50:44. 1st place. Great. A good 1:22 better than Wiggins.
Now it was down to the other favourites.
Contador: 6th, 1:53 lost
Quintana: 4th 1:47
Rodriguez: 5th 1:53
Well, nothing massively drastic, thankfully. 4 of the top 10 from Sky, including all the podium, not so good. What an odd time trial. A random mix of punchers and time trialists riding well, with stupendously odd results. Froome is back on the podium, but that's it, Rodriguez keeps yellow.
He's now only 3:50 off though!
@Sutty: Reminds me of that 'tack launching bike' Cactus Jack (i think) posted a while ago.
Stage 18, Alpe D'Huez
Another classic mountain. This time it will be more decisive, as the penultimate summit finish. Froome will need to take back time here. With so many mountains on the par cours, and a long finish, it should be one for pure climber, rather than a punchy one, so Rodriguez is in trouble.
Despite his best efforts, Froome didn't find himself in the group of favourites, (well, I might have had something to do with it ) now he had to chase Horner, Contador and Rodriguez. With him were Quintana and Kwiatkowski. It was a battle of the generation on l'Alpe!
But Froome was caught in the crossfire, and no one was left (after my suspicious disappearance as soon as he asked for help, ( ) ) to aid him. This left him behind everyone, a long way to go on your own, but waiting could be the last decision he made as as a Tour favourite.
Flashbacks to Ax 3? As Froome drops, he is beaten to it by Henao, the mercurial climber is off on his own again! Maybe I'm not the only traitor in Sky??
Or maybe not? Froome powers back past Henao and I. He's on the chase, but has 1:30 to make up.
The front group has forgotten about Froome. It seems my off camera efforts have payed off. They are launching attack after attack, too many to be shown with photographs. What a finale!
Rodriguez is soloing to the top, denying the pre race doubters. Froome is catching fast behind though, where will he come.
Horner is the first to be caught, Froome moves into 4th.
Rodriguez is out of sight though. My tactics early stage were successful. Froome was blocked by me when the attacks came, and as such, even he cannot solo Alpe D'Huez.
4th place and 50 seconds lost. Could be better, but could be worse.
Myself, Wiggins and Henao come in 4:00 later.
Froome stays 3rd in GC, but surely 4:35 is too much.
You have given me an idea though...
