Tour De France: Final Stages

[ChillDoubt]

As the TdF enters its final few days and after his heroics on Mont Ventoux last Sunday, Chris Froome can add his name to even further records tomorrow if he wins what is going down in history as probably the toughest ever stage in 100 years of TdF competition i.e. a double ascent of Alpe d'Huez.

http://www.steephill.tv/2006/alpe-d-huez/alpe-d-huez-switchbacks.jpg

It literally beggars belief. The mountain will have hundreds of thousands of supporters on its slopes and roads to it have been closed for days, such is the interest in this stage. Whoever wins will gain immortality in the world of cycling, fingers crossed it's Chris Froome, on his way to glory in yellow on the Champs Elysees on Sunday.

[jim360]

He certainly seemed to all but guarantee himself the yelow jersey for the rest of the tour today. What an unbelievable TT given the adverse conditions in the final stages.

[ChillDoubt]

Indeed jim360, must have been quite fraught today for rider and mechanic with the very changeable weather conditions.
Also, the first time I can recall seeing riders changing from road bikes to TT bikes in the middle of a stage!

[Frank97]

Very much looking forward to this tomorrow, I'll even be turning the Ashes off in order to watch.

[sunny-dave]

Tomorrow is going to be a seriously hard "sofa sport" day

++ possibly the most daunting TdF stage ever, with Froome as favourite, but he may well get isolated on the first climb and then be a sitting duck for Contador and Quintana on the second iteration

++ the second Ashes Test starts at Lords - barely drawn breath after the stunning first match at Trent Bridge

++ the Open starts at Muirfield

++ and for joeluke, I think Accrington Stanley reserves are playing a friendly against Hamilton Academicals (possibly)

[Frank97]

:-)

[ChillDoubt]

That's a bit drastic Frank! I'll have the TV on watching the Tour with TMS on via the laptop 'cos as SD says, it's a serious sofa sport day.
I'll also keep up with the Open via the iPod.

It's every bit as good as last year, another glorious summer of sport.
Murray, The Lions, it just gets better and better.

[Mattk]

The pressure is on Contador to close the gap. He made several breakaway attempts on the last climbing stage and each and everyone of them was countered by Froome. Froome very much has the psychological high ground and can almost 'mock' Contador simply by staying with him.

[ChillDoubt]

Thanks for the anecdote methyl.
Getting excited now for what will be a monumental day, where one rider will gain legendary status and take his place in sporting history.
In keeping with the rest of the day and what it entails, time to get clipped in, padded up and don a single glove.

Allez Froomey!

[AB Editor]

He's not even trying:

"I'm really happy with the result from today. I wanted to hold back a little bit for the days ahead and I was actually prepared to lose a little bit of time, so I'm quite surprised I won the stage."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/23347837

[ichkeria]

I'm not sure the double ascent of L'Alpe d'Huez will be necessarily much more difficult, but if it's a wet day the descent in between could be interesting!

[AB Editor]

Does anyone know if ITV is streaming it? Wish the BBC had it again this year - when anything goes to ITV it's a bit like it disappears into a black hole.

[ChillDoubt]

Just searching the archives but can't find who the last rider was to win both the GC and KotM at the TdF, as Froome may well win both. That too would be some feat.

[ChillDoubt]

Yes Ab Editor, ITV4 showing it live from 1 p.m. today.

[ChillDoubt]

Live streaming here(UK only):

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/

[ChillDoubt]

Nice story from week one of the race, just found it whilst trawling:

This year, Team Orica-GreenEDGE won a thrilling team time trial over Team Sky by one second in Stage 4, and it briefly gave the yellow jersey to their rider Simon Gerrans. It was life-changing for him, but that night, he went to his team leaders and asked them if he could turn it over to his teammate Daryl Impey the next day. Impey is a South African, and no one racing for his country — or continent — had ever worn the yellow jersey for even a day. Gerrans knew how it would change his life, and how it would bolster cycling in his country. So the next day, on a flat stage where everyone would finish en masse (recording the same official time), he finished behind Impey, and the yellow jersey changed hands.

As a grateful Impey celebrated on the podium, Orica team owner Gerry Ryan sought out Gerrans to deliver an important message: "You're a special person."

[Frank97]

That's a bit drastic Frank!
Don't worry Chilli, I'll still have the Ashes on the radio. :-)

[Frank97]

Just searching the archives but can't find who the last rider was to win both the GC and KotM at the TdF, as Froome may well win both. That too would be some feat.
I think that was Eddy Merckx in 1970
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Merckx#1970_Tour_de_France

[ChillDoubt]

Thanks for the research Frank. Hopefully Froome can replicate the feat.

[AB Editor]

Excellent. Thanks!