Stories from l'Alpe d'Huez

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Stage 18 of the 2-1 Tour de France lived up to expectations. So many stories.


Do I talk about the story of Teejay van Garderen, so close yet so far?

Contador and Team Saxo Bank team tactics failing?

Rodriguez, Quintana, and Froome smashing the peloton?

The ride of Richie Porte powering up the hill to rejoin when Froome was being challenged?

The controversy of Froome taking on drink and food within the last kilometers?

Quintana taking advantage and riding away from them all, riding for a place on the podium and then Rodriguez inching back at the line?

The heroic ride of Riblon biding his time in second place for so long of the stage and then finally attacking taking the stage for his country?

The story of Porte nursing a limping and flat Froome to the line?

Contador finishing with a desperate, lethargic burst trying to limit his losses?


So many stories. Thank you Alpe d'Huez, you never fail to disappoint.

Should Froome be worried?

During last year's tour I wrote a blog post titled 'You are only as strong as your team.........leader' where I wrote about how Chris Froome almost tore the tour apart by almost upstaging his team leader and eventual winner Bradley Wiggins. Fast forward twelve months and this week we saw the brilliance of Chris Froome during stage 8, where he took a stranglehold on this years race, with amazing support of his team, notably Australian Richie Porte.

But....Stage 9 saw things take an unexpected turn and I could have very well titled this post 'You are only as strong as your....team.' Full Stop.

Poor Richie Porte had a tough day and couldn't keep the pace and ended up losing a huge chunk of time and team Movistar worked well to isolate Froome from his team and really test the waters of possibilities, although disappointingly not doing much more than that.

So the question needs to be asked...Should Chris Froome be worried?

Well, firstly it is the Tour de France and anything can happen. The race is three weeks long and there is so much to come.

Secondly, Chris Froome was, coming into this years race, a red hot favourite. The tour is Froome's ultimate goal this year and his form has been great. But is Team Sky the Team Sky we saw powerful and dominating at last year's race? On paper the answer would have to be no. And although they are certainly a strong team they have shown that they are far from unbeatable.

Stage 9 has certainly opened up the race once again. Katusha (Rodriguez), SaxoBank (Contador) and Movistar (Valverde) will all be bouyed by the events of yeserday which in turn will hopefully lead to some motivated attacks in the mountain stages to come.

All bodes for an exciting next two weeks, in which yes, Chris Froome should be worried right up until he is standing on that podium in Paris!

It's a wrap! Vuelta 2012

image from here

They saved the best for last. Grand tours that is. After a great start to the year with the Giro we went into Le Tour with great expectations only to be left feeling a little lackluster. Thankfully the Vuelta saved the day with some of the best racing we have seen all season.

I have mentioned before my excitement to see Alberto Contador back in the action so it is no surprise that I am thrilled that he took home the red jersey.

But mostly it was the excitement of the racing that made this the tour of the year.

Perhaps the Tour de France powers that be can learn something from this years vuelta? With shorter stages, greater and tougher climbs and perfect time trial placement the Vuelta had a good recipe for success. Throw in a couple of extra flat stages early on to whet the sprinters appetites and of course a full contingent of fit and healthy riders we have a fantastic scenario for a Grand Tour.

Caps off to Contador, Rodriguez, and Valverde for providing such great racing and ending the year on a high.


Long live the Vuelta ;)

Time trial sets up more excitement - Vuelta

The much anticipated time trial at the Vuelta didn't really pan out as expected.

I myself, expected to be blogging about how much time Rodriguez lost and how his chances for overall classification honors were dashed, but no so. Rodriguez has arguably raced the best time trial of his life to actually hold onto the red jersey, albeit by the narrowest of margins, one second over Contador.

The unexpected and perhaps underestimated ITT winner was Astana's Frederik Kessiakoff who rode a near perfect race against the clock to take the win for the day.

As for the general classification the 'big 4' are still all in contention setting up no doubt what will be an exciting few days to come.

Contador is poised in second place, with Froome, who probably under performed in the time trial in third, while Valverde also put in a stellar performance to stay in touch in fourth place.

	Joaquim Rodriguez	40:26:15
	Alberto Contador	0:00:01
	Christopher Froome	0:00:16
	Alejandro Valverde	0:00:59

A tale of four climbers - Vuelta Stage 8

Valverde, Rodriguez, Froome and Contador. They are the four riders who have stamped their authority on this year's vuelta and it is just a matter of time before one of them is crowned the champion. But which one?

Valverde taking Stage 8

Stage 8 saw the Vuelta again live up to it's expectations with an explosive finish to an all round exciting day.

Australia's Cameron Meyer was aggressive as part of the lead group proving himself as an up and coming GC contender. His never say die attitude saw him pound away at the pedals even when faced with the great climbers surging behind him. Even when caught he hung on only dropping back within the last kilometer after his legs had declared enough for the day.

In what was a fast and furious race it really was the last kilometer of racing that brought the goods, what all loyal cycling fans had been waiting for - riders on the attack.

Perhaps it is the Vuelta's shorter stages and time bonuses inciting more aggressive riding, or perhaps the return of Contador, the eagerness of Valverde and the unleashing of the 'Froomedog' from his master Wiggins, no doubt it is the combination of all of these factors, and as a cycling fan it is just magic.

Froome was first to attack as they rounded one of the tight bends of the final climb towards the finish but it was to no avail, he was easily reigned in before Contador turned on his legs in a beautiful change of speed and attacked in his familiar style.

He quickly distanced himself from the chasing three and with 150m to go, taking a quick glance over his shoulder, looking like he had the race all but won.

But fellow Spaniards Valverde and race leader Rodriguez would have none of that. Within the next 50m they began to round him up and it would seem out of nowhere they were in Contador's shadow,  fast approaching.

Contador tried in vein to hold them off but they would be too strong with Valverde again showing why he is one of the best at this scenario taking the win ahead of Rodriguez and a somewhat bewildered Contador.

Froome was left to skulk over the line 15 seconds behind in 4th place.

Rodriguez still holds onto a narrow lead in the general classification 33 seconds ahead of Froome and Contador closes the gap edging within 7 seconds of Froome. Valverde is in fourth place.

There is little doubt that one of these riders will be this year's winner. Many have laid bets on Chris Froome taking into account his brilliant time trialling ability. Valverde and Rodriguez will have to be concerned heading towards the Stage 11 time trial and Contador, a strong time trialist in his own right will no doubt need to be at his best on the day.

I still feel it will come down to the Contador vs Froome battle, but with explosive and exciting racing as we have seen so far I don't really mind who wins, I am simply relishing it as it all unfolds.