Monday 21 July 2014

Mountain Shakedown

A weekend in the Alps really sorted the men from the boys in the Tour de France, before a transfer stage on the flat gave the sprinters a go.

The real story was Nibai extending his lead with a win and a second place on the big mountain stages, and Richie Porte fading out of the top ten with two days of suffering on the climbs that lost him a huge amount of time. Rafal Majka took a big win in Risoul to stamp a mark for the future, but the GC is now made up of guys racing for the remaining podium slots behind the Italian. Of these people Valverde looks strongest, with solid climbing performances, but there is some serious competition from the American BMC ride Van Garderen, as well as French hopes resting on the shoulders of Bardet and Pinot who might possibly give the French something to dream about in their home race.

Sunday’s flat stage didn’t shake up the GC but gave plenty of excitement in mixed weather as a two man break went out made up of Jack Bauer and Martin Elmiger who held on for much of the day. Bauer was the strongest of the two and broke for the line only to be overhauled on the line by the rampaging sprinters as Kristoff powered through for another win. We were left with a destroyed-looking Bauer and a thrilling finish on what could have been a fairly dull, routine day.


Simon Yates left the Tour last night as Orica Green Edge want to keep him healthy after giving him a stunning début into the race. Expect more from him in the future.

Elsewhere this weekend was in fact the National downhill championships, rather than the other week when I got confused. Won by Rachel Atherton and Josh Brtyceland this decides the sleeve wearers for the next year.

In other mountain bike news there was more video action from Bike Park Wales.


Also, there was this, which has since been removed but deserves more internet shaming.


A

Posted by Anonymous at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)