Good luck to Cavendish as he tries again for the record 35th stage win. Look out for Tom Pidcock - he could well win a stage especially one with a downhill finish. He has to be the best descender in recent times. 

Evenepoel has found humility, something not especially noticed before and the coverage of him I caught around the Dauphiné was really good and made you warm to someone who maybe didn’t inspire that kind of reaction before.

Roglic, of the other pretenders to the win, has been the best of the rest. However, he’s yet to get to full power and even then has never really had Pogacar’s number.

The only one who has is Vingegaard. After a punctured lung and the last to leave hospital, GPR is spot on re him getting to the start line is a victory in itself. For the race, I hope he’s a lot better than we would believe. His demolition of Pogacar last year was quite some demonstration.

For the first time in ages, this race won’t have a sprinter in yellow. It’ll likely be a GC rider from the start, unless they let a breakaway go and have a brutal fight amongst the GC group later in this stage - most unlikely imo.

I’d love to see Roglic win, after so many near misses and having to obey team orders in his last race for Jumbo Visma so Sepp Kuss won the Vuelta, having been in a breakaway that gained so much time on the rest of the GC group. No team orders and he’d have won.

Bora Hansgrohe do have some very good support riders for the mountains.

Let it all unfold and let Cav get his 35th stage win somewhere.

It’ll be fascinating that’s for sure.

Geraint not going for GC - he's helping Martinez & Benal who are the designated GC men. 

Correction think the name is Rodriguez not Martinez. 

Bardet is a Clermont supporter, iirc. Very apt to get yellow in his final season before retirement.

Cav touched it out on a day that only had a category 2 climb as the most difficult, yet so many struggled.

Pogacar had gone down with Covid but had recovered before the start of the Tour.

A couple of less strenuous days follow. Tuesday is the next tough stage. The sprinters can look for some success in this toughest of tough editions of the race.

The club sent him a lovely message after his triumph today.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fasm.clermont.auvergne%2Fposts%2Fpfbid035N6LrAkJQmr21dJ57dDMy3zfenEkE28DF56jWizRNWb8pEM7rw6ZD5na1p46sNa9l&show_text=true&width=500" rel="nofollow - https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fasm.clermont.auvergne%2Fposts%2Fpfbid035N6LrAkJQmr21dJ57dDMy3zfenEkE28DF56jWizRNWb8pEM7rw6ZD5na1p46sNa9l&show_text=true&width=500

The message translates, subject to Aber’s approval, 

“ROMAIN IN YELLOW

All our Yellow Army agrees that this jersey suits you very well! 

After his victory on the first stage of the Tour de France, Roman Bardet is draped in Yellow!

Take good care of it and MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

Bravo Romain, we’re really proud and happy for you. We will celebrate that at the Michelin”.

That's fine!

I can't explain to anyone who doesn't follow cycling how ABSOLUTELY THRILLING that stage was...we watched the last 2h. maybe 3... there were around 5 riders in a breakaway, only a handful of minutes in front. Bardet broke from the peloton and made the bridge, just as the weaker elements started to fall away... finally, there were only two left at the front, Bardet and his amazing young team-mate Frank van den Broek... We were shouting at the screen: "Don't look back! Just go for it!"

The stage was a switchback, a lot of short but fairly steep climbs followed by sinuous descents... towards the end,t he road got wider, the gap was dropping and it looked as if the breakaway couple would be reeled in - but not a bit of it! They held on by 50m or so. Chapeau!

Also, a huge result for Bardet for two reasons - although he's made the podium twice (one 2nd, one 3rd) he's NEVER worn the 'maillot jaune' - before today... and it's his LAST TOUR before retiring. He is a much-loved rider for his brave - sometimes crazy - attacks, and the result is hugely popular. 

Thanks also to van den Broek, who made sure not to contest the finish. I hope his day will come, too. 

Today’s stage has only category 3 climbs, however, I was slightly glib about them as they are 2km steep ones, referred to as the Wall of Luca (iirc).

A bit of action for the GC contenders and some small gaps might be there at they’d. More bragging rights than anything more.

Pogacar couldn’t shake Vingegaard, who looks fitter than everyone expected. Evenepoel closed a near 40 second gap to finish in front of Pog and Ving. Barguil launched a huge effort to keep his yellow jersey but came up 6 seconds short.

Geraint Thomas dropped on the ascent of the Mur de Luca.

Roglic nowhere to be seen.

The first two days have been harder than everyone expected.

Another French winner Vauquelin in his tour debut won by about 40 seconds. It was his team’s first ever stage win.

The King of the Mountains Abrahmson (Norway?) also has the Green Jersey and looks like an interesting talent for the future.

Pogacar in yellow.

Sprinter’s day tomorrow.

Jonas passed his first test fair play. Pogacar will test his fitness for sure. If he's going to crack I would expect it in the 2nd half of the tour on one of the big climbs. I was surpised to see Roglic dropped so easily. 

I fancied Pog before the start, but now I'm far less sure about that. 

As I said earlier Aber they have both done really well to get to he start line. Bit of a procession stage yesterday for the GC boys so Jonas came through well. The big tests for those boys will come later when Pogacar's team will go full gas on a hard climbing day probably late 2nd week then we will see what shape they are really in. 

Cycling rivals football in the country as the most important sport. It was introduced by the Italians in the 1930s.

Carapaz in yellow from Ecuador so it’s been a pretty unpredictable, and in a good way, start.

Early doors at the moment - all the contenders, apart from Roglic, are thereabouts waiting for their chance. Today's 4th stage featuring the Col du Galibier at 2642 metres will give the GC boys their first real test/chance. With a downhill finish stretching almost 20 kms could be a chance for Pidcock to show his prowess at descending. Jonas's fitness could be in for its first real test. 

The sight of Pogecar slaloming down the mountain with snow pockets & sheer drops on crazily winding roads had me on the edge of my seat in total awe at the skill & bravery of these athletes. Understandably, after his huge crash descending, Jonas was a little more circumspect & lost a lot of time along with all the other GC contenders including the yellow jersey holder Carapaz who lost over 4 minutes!!!!

Of course it ain't over & the professionals corrected mr about the concern for Jonas's fitness the longer it goes on. Apparently his fitness will improve from the daily slog while Pogacar's will come under scrutiny as he already won the 21 day Giro recently. As it is Pogacar & his team have made their statement now their rivals have to make theirs. The sight of some of the World's best climbers strewn in disarray down a mountainside will be an everlasting memory. 

It’s quite bizarre to see the Visma Lease a Bike team thinned out to such an extent so early in the Tour. Injuries have hit them very hard with a couple of their best mountain support riders victims of the ten pin bowling alley type crash on wet, greasy, new tarmac in the Giro. 

UAE recruited very strongly for the mountains and it showed. I like the look of Ayuso, too, 21/23 and a future Grand Tour winner.

We may well see some differences of fortunes on the uphill finishes, as they’re much more Vingegaard’s domain.

For the moment, with Evenepoel second at 45secs and Vingegaard 50ish secs, Pogacar is living up to his pre-race billing.

The weight of the Giro and the ruggedness of this Tour route overall will keep providing plenty of drama.

Here’s to Cav on this likely bunch sprint stage today.

What a great finish - I didn't think he'd still have the legs at 39yo... beat all the younger guys fair and square to become the winnerof most stages ever, overtaking the great Eddie Merckx.

A super ride.

Indeed - the man himself called it a 'win for Africa'.

If I understood right, Girmay won a stage of the Giro two years ago, but then put himself out of the race with an unusual injury - he opened a bottle of champagne while looking down at it, and got a bad eye injury!! The commentators reckoned that set him back for quite a while...

(Catching up on the last couple of days now.)

I'm not sur where you are ATM, but it's on live on S4C (UK) and on channels 2 and 3 in France - I watch at least some of it live every day... the Galibier stage, watched the last 2-3h... fascinating to see how the UAE team 'lost' Ving.'s support first, then as they approached the summit Pog attacked and very slowly opened a gap... most of the damage was done on the flatter part of the descent, though. Pog is heavier, and that helps.

Ving. not too downhearted and pointed to the many mountain stages to come.

Evenepoel lost more on the climb, but as world TT champion made it up to overtake Ving shortly before the end.

Promises to be a vintage edition if it carries on like this. 

It had me cringing in fear! I dreaded seeing him (or one of the others) disappearing over the edge... Pog himself commented that he was surprised to find water on the road (snow melt). Fortunately, they all got down safely. 

Great racing,great to watch.

You've blown it for EO now !😄😄

That has made my sporting summer. Well done Cav.

What an unfortunate way to go…

Caught up on the news while travelling - yesterday evening, the traffic news interrupted a Sports bulletin at the point of “Mark Cavendish…..’ i guessed but had to wait a bit before I could check it on the internet.

Drove south from Cherbourg today and just back from a meal with friends at local favourite restaurant. Lovely time, although not sure how I managed to stay awake. Still plenty of time to catch up on lost ZZZZsss

It’s a race for the romance of the scriptwriters.

Long may it continue.

When he was in hospital for a couple of weeks, last year, after a serious crash and a couple of hours being unconscious, the team sent someone every day and they stayed for a couple of hours.

Very interesting, too, that he is on a 4 year contract with them. 

He has been pretty subdued to far. Think he has had some sickness if I recall. 

Some serious climbs this week on Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday - look out for Pogecar trying to distance his rivals before the next rest day. 

That disadvantage is a huge advantage in the long climbs to come in the remaining stages, especially the last week.

Geraint Thomas was asked who he thought was favourite for being in yellow in Nice at the end of it all. He replied Vingegaard.

Yes its starting to get quite fascinating. I sense that Pogecar thought he would have opened up a bigger margin by now. Good stage today where he might make his move. The longer Jonas sticks around the top 2 the twitchier they will get. 

Pogacar tried his best but Vingegaard was not for being gapped.

No spoilers just in case.

Top racing. Throughly enjoyable.

The big test now will be psychological - he is still well placed going into the 2nd half of the tour but Jonas is proving that his plan of sticking close to Pogecar is working. Two more climbing days on the weekend could see Pogecar strike again but if Jonas is still close going in to the next rest day he is going to make everyone twitchy because he looks capable of a big push of his own. He has done it before to Pogecar & that will be playing on his mind. Fascinating contest & don't forget Remco who may not have the ascending/descending skills of the other two but give him reasonable terrain & he is quick. 

Perhaps on the weekend we will see Pogecar sit back following Visma & Jonas on the two mountain top finishes. He is after all the leader so somebody, sometime has to make a move. 

Hat trick for Binny, as his fellow countryfolk know him. There’s a lovely part to the Times report dedicated to a non-cycling follower. He’s a teacher in Leeds at a school that’s got a large percentage of Eritreans. 

Prior to the first stage win, the teacher was oblivious to Girmay - soon predictive text may stop trying to alter his name to Germany - and listened to the stories. He knew cycling was a big thing there but no idea about a pro in the Tour from Eritrea.

He let his pupils celebrate that day, little expecting a repeat a few days later and now yesterday marked his hattrick.

Fitting that Girmay’s idol was Peter Sagan, as he races in a similar manner. Not just a sprinter but someone capable of playing his part in breakaways. 

The green jersey looks almost sewn up, provided he gets to Nice.

Yes its a great story all round. 

More compelling viewing as man recently recovered from punctured lung (iirc), amongst other serious injuries, climbs into second on GC although lost a bit of time to the yellow jersey. An amazing feat, while Pog continues to build on his pre-race favourite tag.

Today’s start is very interesting with the immediate steep climb up the Peyresourde, followed by four more Cat 1 climbs before the finish on the Hors Catégorie (steeper than Cat 1) Plateau de Beille, after a near 200Kms of riding. 

None of the easy build up like yesterday.

The tour is his to lose now with only two riders within 10 minutes. 

Biniam Girmay has a 91 point lead over Philipsen in the Green Jersey with only one sprint stage left so barring not getting to Nice, it should be his and a wonderful moment for Eritrea and growing the appeal of pro-cycling.

EPCR should take note with the Challenge competition.

It all blew apart one or two stages from the end, when he just had no energy left. He had overdone his efforts over the 3 weeks and lost the race. Possibly Froome inherited the win, after a very long distance break for the finish put the final straw that broke the effort of Yates.

Possible a similar occurrence may befall Pogacar, unlikely yet possible.

The green jersey may not be done & dusted after all with Girmay's fall yesterday. He seems ok physically but his lead is down to 32 points with Intermediate sprints now taking on extra importance. If Pogecar is running close to empty the next few days will find out. 

Measuring Haemoglobin via the Carbon Monoxide breathing method has hit the papers this morning. 

What is it?

Visma Lease A Bike measure at the start and end of an altitude training block to see how the red blood cell count has improved, the purpose of altitude training it seems. With the blood levels amongst other things measured on the medical passport, the implication of doping effects would seem slim. 

Most other teams do it, although Jonathan Vaughters, head of the UNO X team, says they’d never use it.

However, Pogacar and Vingegaard produced their best ever output numbers in the last climb prior to the rest day and beat the previous record for the ascent set by Marco Pantani in the late 90s. 

No one ever puts a time factor on the technological advances that have gone into the bikes and the kit worn by the riders plus the nutrition. I think they should as it would add a huge amount more context.

More to be revealed in the coming days, no doubt.

Here’s hoping for more drama on the course. 

Happily for him, it was with his partner and child and the emotions of having gone from being in hospital thinking he was going to die 12 weeks ago to dashed hopes of a third win in the Tour just poured out.

Looking back, I’d never really warmed to the Visma team and it was only when Vingegaard rose to number 1 in the team that my view of them changed. 

Congrats to Pogacar. Next year’s Tour should be compelling, especially if the main contenders are injury-free.

* notwithstanding some completely unpredicted event that befalls Pog.

(That's sport - iirc, one of Vingegaard's wins came against a Pogi who had also been injured (or had been ill?) shortly before the tour. It's a fascinating rivalry. 

(Hats off to Campenaerts for his win and heart-on-sleeve 'interview' (mainly weeping!) after his win the other day... his team left him hanging for a contract, so the stress must have been huge. (He got signed by another bunch.) Seeing him speechless as he held his mobile with his partner and baby on the screen was priceless, and moving.

Last year saw Pog fracture his wrist 10 weeks before the race and he was still wearing his wrist brace at night in the first week or so of the Tour.

Delighted to see Girmay win the Green Jersey and hope it inspires many more outside the usual geographic areas to take up the sport.

As disappointed as I am for Vingegaard not being in yellow, Girmay’s Green Jersey triumph is much more important and a lovely surprise from this year’s race. Vingegaard’s loss to Pogacar further strengthens the rivalry between them and allows even more stories and marketing to build interest. 

Vive Le Tour!!

I really should have done the same, as he is such a force for good and not just for this sport. 

In contrast to a bankrupt Bradley Wiggins, Cav has withstood much over the years and borne it with some impressive magnanimity. He and his family being burgled at gunpoint, the subject of a lengthy trial in the last year, where the perpetrators were jailed, was one of the more extreme examples. During it all, he’s managed to make sure that he’s retained sufficient of his earnings to take care of, and still be with, his family.

Hope his record of career Tour stage wins stands for quite some time and I wish him the very best of luck in his post-in-the-saddle-cycling career, what and whenever he choses to do.

         

What nonsense! If he had extreme fatigue, he would not have won the last stage.

The real reason might be that his other half has not been selected by the Slovenians so they can’t have a love-in 2 weeks in the Olympic Village.

AQ little harsh there EO - the road race was next Tuesday I think. Guy is still probably celebrating!!!

Apparently, no one understands why Pog’s other half has been excluded from the Slovenian selection. She won their road race by 11 mins.

The Slovene federation either want to make some sort of point; or that there’s been a falling out between one or both of them; or there’s some other reason that we’d prefer not to be the case.

Also, before your heart bleeds too much for Pog, his salary is doubling for next year to €12,000,000.

That is some budgetary power from UAE

From the 6 weeks I have just witnessed through Italy & France he is worth every cent. It's a shame if internal politics spoils the chances of someone to participate in what is usually a once in a lifetime event. 

The simple truth is that Pogecar, at 25, is in a position to make those sort of decisions as he is on track to become one of, if not, the greatest bike riders of all time. I would introduce a word of caution around that comment. I remember some years ago when I used to "play" a lot of golf having a discussion with a number of fellow golfers about Tiger Woods, who at that time was winning majors for fun and closing in on the record of Jack Nicklaus. My belief was that he wouldn't get there for some reason & look how that worked out. 

The facts of her ability and race results are irrefutable. She should have been nailed on to be at the starting line in Paris. 

Why have the Slovenes done this? Is it a political falling out with a bureaucrat? is it something else? Only time is likely to tell, eventually.

In the meantime, cycling doesn’t have to look back too far to find star riders who have crashed and burned metaphorically so I hope that the golden generation and their teams are made of far higher standards than those past.

Saw only the bits on the News/Round Up of the Day. His move to get the lead was great opportunism, nothing more than a 50:50 chance that he seized.

Glad he got some recompense for his efforts this summer, unlike others in Ineos.

His bike handling over treacherous terrain is something else. Going in the road race on Saturday.