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.

[ChillDoubt]

Latest via the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/23351104

Sounds like the mountain is buzzing, live on ITV 4 in 20 minutes.

[ChillDoubt]

Still weather dependent as to whether we'll see the 2 ascents or not, rain around apparently.
It's been threatening in the south of France for the last day or two but has not materialised into anything substantial, hopefully it will remain that way.

[Mattk]

Assuming he wins the whole thing I fear he may not get the plaudits he so richly deserves as Wiggo was there first.

[ChillDoubt]

I hope he does Matt, once it is made apparent to non-cycling sports fans that Froome assisted Wiggo greatly in a far easier Tour, this one is far more challenging, plus Froome is the first Brit to ever win the Ventoux, and with some aplomb at that.
Just watching live now and that descent today looks treacherous, almost dangerous.

[Khandro]

The climbs themselves are not necessarily tough, I've done several myself at my own pace, (though not Alped'Huez) it gets uber-tough when you have to race up 'em.
I hope he's not on dope, I have to say I thought his eyes looked a bit shifty when he was being interviewed on the subject.

[bibblebub]

It's also live on Eurosport, and switching between that and ITV means that you don't usually miss anything because the advert breaks are taken at different times.

[ChillDoubt]

I hope he's not on dope, I have to say I thought his eyes looked a bit shifty when he was being interviewed on the subject.
------------------------------
I'd stake my life on it he's clean. Don't forget, David Walsh (nemesis of Lance Armstrong) has been embedded with Team Sky for the build up to the TdF and has remained with them throughout. That, along with the anti doping procedures in the race, along with the blood passport means that if there was the vaguest hint of impropriety we'd have heard about it long before now.

[bibblebub]

Anyone else think that the idiot spectators on stages like today's deserve a good slapping?

[ChillDoubt]

Yes, they do bibble.
Ascent 2 to start shortly, where I fully expect Porte to keep Froomey in touch with Contador before he blows him away with about 4 k's to go.

[ChillDoubt]

Looks like it will be Teejay VanGarderen to join the cycling gods with 3 km to the aummit as Quintana drops Froome and Porte, Froome looking a little spent.

[ChillDoubt]

But Riblon is reeling the American in! Can a Frenchman win the most iconic stage in TdF history?

[ChillDoubt]

Riblon wins! Wonder what his odds were? Just have to wait and see now how much Froome loses to Quintana, as Contador is out of it.

[AB Editor]

Future pub quiz question?

[jim360]

Haha!

Great job by Froome, all things considered -- although perhaps a bit sneaky at the end to grab that extra bit of food.

[ChillDoubt]

As Boardman said, a bit harsh considering the logistics of getting sustainance to them on what was nothing more than a mountain path in one section!

[jim360]

Looks like Froome did end up getting a time penalty, but only 20 seconds, so he leads Contador by five minutes.

[AB Editor]

Today has been pretty brutal.

Anyone spot the parrot in Y-fronts?

[Frank97]

Yes, lol!

[ChillDoubt]

Yes, I believe because so may buried themselves yesterday it was almost impossible to go deep again today. Even Quintana looked dis-interested!
Great day for Froome, who pretty much sealed the GC today.

[Khandro]

^ //Great day for Froome// really, why? I think it was a great day for Costa, he actually won a stage in the Alps by one minute!