2013 Tour De France

[DodgerKing]

This year marks the 100th Tour de France. Don't know how many are actually watching, but the first stage was already one of the most interesting stages of all time.

At the end of stage one a team bus gets stuck underneath finish line banner. This resulted in the judges changing the finishing point 3 km before the finish line. With minutes to go they get the bus out and they reestablish the finish line back to the original spot. This led to a lot of confusion. A crash then occurred taking out the top sprinters and the favorites, Sagan and Cavendish.

 

[DodgerKing]

The first 3 stages take place on the island of Corsica. This island looks exactly like Southern California. Bastia looks like Santa Barbara

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 1 is the only flat stage.

Total Distance: 132 miles
No climbing

Stage 1 leaders and overall leaders:

1.	KITTEL M.	ARG	04h 56' 52''
2.	KRISTOFF A.	KAT	00' 00''
3.	VAN POPPEL D.	VCD	00' 00''
4.	MILLAR D.	GRS	00' 00''
5.	TRENTIN M.	OPQ	00' 00''
6.	DUMOULIN S.	ALM	00' 00''
7.	HENDERSON G.	LTB	00' 00''
8.	ROELANDTS J.	LTB	00' 00''
9.	ROJAS J.	MOV	00' 00''
10.	BOECKMANS K.	VCD	00' 00''

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 2 map

More of a mountain climbing ride than the first stage, but still relatively flat

Total Distance: 97 miles
Total Climbing: 6,345 ft

Three Cat 3 climbs and one Cat 2 climb

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 2 winners

1.	BAKELANTS J.	RLT	03h 43' 11''
2.	SAGAN P.	CAN	00' 01''
3.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 01''
4.	CIMOLAI D.	LAM	00' 01''
5.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 01''
6.	SIMON J.	SOJ	00' 01''
7.	GAVAZZI F.	AST	00' 01''
8.	IMPEY D.	OGE	00' 01''
9.	BENNATI D.	TST	00' 01''
10.	LAGUTIN S.	VCD	00' 01''
11.	FAVILLI E.	LAM	00' 01''
12.	ARASHIRO Y.	EUC	00' 01''
13.	MILLAR D.	GRS	00' 01''
14.	TANKINK B.	BEL	00' 01''
15.	RIBLON C.	ALM	00' 01'

Over all leaders:

1.	BAKELANTS J.	RLT	08h 40' 03''
2.	MILLAR D.	GRS	00' 01''
3.	SIMON J.	SOJ	00' 01''
4.	IMPEY D.	OGE	00' 01''
5.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 01''
6.	GERRANS S.	OGE	00' 01''
7.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 01''
8.	LAGUTIN S.	VCD	00' 01''
9.	RIBLON C.	ALM	00' 01''
10.	EVANS C.	BMC	00' 01''
11.	ROCHE N.	TST	00' 01''
12.	BARDET R.	ALM	00' 01''
13.	VAN DEN BROECK J.	LTB	00' 01''
14.	VALVERDE A.	MOV	00' 01''
15.	PÉRAUD J.	ALM	00' 01''

Jan Bakelants is not a sprinter. He wins this stage while the sprinters are going twice as fast catching up to him. He barely finished ahead because of the huge lead he established. Watch as he crosses the finish line

 

[Ramy]

Is anyone from the U.S. even close to the leaders?

 

[DodgerKing]

Is anyone from the U.S. even close to the leaders?

As a whole the US does not have very many riders. The top 93 riders thus far are only 1 second behind the leader. Here are the current 3 US riders that are 1 second behind the leader.

61. Tejay Van Garderen

67. Andrew Talansky

84. Thomas Danielson

Tejay is a top contender. He is the only US rider of these three that can win the Tour de France. He just won the Tour of California a few months ago, beating out some of the current leaders in the Tour de France. He won it at the end in overall time.

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 3 occurring now.

Total Distance: 119 miles

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 3 results:

1.	GERRANS S.	OGE	03h 41' 24''
2.	SAGAN P.	CAN	00' 00''
3.	ROJAS J.	MOV	00' 00''
4.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 00''
5.	GILBERT P.	BMC	00' 00''
6.	FLECHA GIANNONI J.	VCD	00' 00''
7.	GAVAZZI F.	AST	00' 00''
8.	BOUET M.	ALM	00' 00''
9.	SIMON J.	SOJ	00' 00''
10.	IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI G.	EUS	00' 00''
11.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 00''
12.	BARDET R.	ALM	00' 00''
13.	EVANS C.	BMC	00' 00''
14.	LAGUTIN S.	VCD	00' 00''
15.	FAVILLI E.	LAM	00' 00''

Overall leaders pretty much remain the same:

.	BAKELANTS J.	RLT	12h 21' 27''
2.	SIMON J.	SOJ	00' 01''
3.	GERRANS S.	OGE	00' 01''
4.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 01''
5.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 01''
6.	IMPEY D.	OGE	00' 01''
7.	MILLAR D.	GRS	00' 01''
8.	LAGUTIN S.	VCD	00' 01''
9.	EVANS C.	BMC	00' 01''
10.	BARDET R.	ALM	00' 01''
11.	ROCHE N.	TST	00' 01''
12.	VAN DEN BROECK J.	LTB	00' 01''
13.	CHAVANEL S.	OPQ	00' 01''
14.	PÉRAUD J.	ALM	00' 01''
15.	FROOME C.	SKY	00' 01''

 

[DodgerKing]

Today's stage is just a team time trial stage. Only 15 total miles on time trial bikes. The good thing is that we should now start to see some separation between the top contenders. Now they are all only separated by 1 second.

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 4 Team Time Trial Results by Team

Average speed was about 35 miles per hour.

1.	ORICA GREENEDGE	25' 56''
2.	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	00' 01''
3.	SKY PROCYCLING	00' 03''
4.	TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF	00' 09''
5.	LOTTO-BELISOL	00' 17''
6.	GARMIN - SHARP	00' 17''
7.	MOVISTAR TEAM	00' 20''
8.	LAMPRE - MERIDA	00' 25''
9.	BMC RACING TEAM	00' 26''
10.	KATUSHA TEAM	00' 28''
11.	RADIOSHACK LEOPARD	00' 29''
12.	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	00' 33''
13.	CANNONDALE	00' 34''
14.	BELKIN PRO CYCLING	00' 37''
15.	FDJ.FR	00' 42'

Time trial definitely created some time gaps. The overall leader now changed as a result. In addition, the top 25 or so riders are no longer separated by 1 second.

Overall Standings

1.	GERRANS S.	OGE	12h 47' 24''
2.	IMPEY D.	OGE	00' 00''
3.	ALBASINI M.	OGE	00' 00''
4.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 01''
5.	CHAVANEL S.	OPQ	00' 01''
6.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 03''
7.	FROOME C.	SKY	00' 03''
8.	PORTE R.	SKY	00' 03''
9.	ROCHE N.	TST	00' 09''
10.	KREUZIGER R.	TST	00' 09''
11.	ROGERS M.	TST	00' 09''
12.	CONTADOR A.	TST	00' 09''
13.	MILLAR D.	GRS	00' 17''
14.	VAN DEN BROECK J.	LTB	00' 17''
15.	HANSEN A.	LTB	00' 17''

 

[DodgerKing]

Cagnes-Ser-Mur to Marseille

Stage 5 for today

Total Distance: 141 miles

This too is more of a sprinting stage. Not a whole lot of climbing. Only 3 Cat 4 climbs and 1 Cat 3 climb.

 

[DodgerKing]

Ted King was eliminated from the race after finishing to far behind in the time trial ride yesterday. He was riding with a reattached dislocated shoulder after crashing in stage 1

He was one of the few American riders. He was just a Domestique rider though. He wasn't going to win anything.

Sent from my Jailbroken iPhone 5 using SatelliteGuys

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 6 Results

1.	GREIPEL A.	LTB	03h 59' 02''
2.	SAGAN P.	CAN	00' 00''
3.	KITTEL M.	ARG	00' 00''
4.	CAVENDISH M.	OPQ	00' 00''
5.	LOBATO DEL VALLE J.	EUS	00' 00''
6.	KRISTOFF A.	KAT	00' 00''
7.	ROJAS J.	MOV	00' 00''
8.	VAN POPPEL D.	VCD	00' 00''
9.	FERRARI R.	LAM	00' 00''
10.	DUMOULIN S.	ALM	00' 00''
11.	LEMOINE C.	SOJ	00' 00''
12.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 00''
13.	IMPEY D.	OGE	00' 00''
14.	FLECHA GIANNONI J.	VCD	00' 00''
15.	GOSS M.	OGE	00' 00''

Overall leaders

1.	IMPEY D.	OGE	22h 18' 17''
2.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 03''
3.	GERRANS S.	OGE	00' 05''
4.	ALBASINI M.	OGE	00' 05''
5.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 06''
6.	CHAVANEL S.	OPQ	00' 06''
7.	FROOME C.	SKY	00' 08''
8.	PORTE R.	SKY	00' 08''
9.	ROCHE N.	TST	00' 14''
10.	KREUZIGER R.	TST	00' 14''
11.	CONTADOR A.	TST	00' 14''
12.	ROGERS M.	TST	00' 14''
13.	TALANSKY A.	GRS	00' 22''
14.	HESJEDAL R.	GRS	00' 22''
15.	HANSEN A.	LTB	00' 22'

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 7 tomorrow is the first mountain "hilly" stage. Stage 8 begins the mountain stage.

Montpellier to Albi

Total distance of 128 miles.

The top elevation for stage 7 is only 3,200 ft, just enough to keep the sprinters at bay but the climbers out to play.

The mountain stage isn't until stage 8. Top elevations will still only be about 6,500 ft, but there will be some 8% long grade climbs.

 

[DodgerKing]

Southern France and Corsica looks exactly like Southern California. There are areas that look like Santa Barbara, inland San Diego County, SoCal coastline, and SoCal mountains

Corsica

San Diego County, CA

Santa Barbara, CA

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 7 Final Results

1.	SAGAN P.	CAN	04h 54' 12''
2.	DEGENKOLB J.	ARG	00' 00''
3.	BENNATI D.	TST	00' 00''
4.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 00''
5.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 00''
6.	GAVAZZI F.	AST	00' 00''
7.	GALLOPIN T.	RLT	00' 00''
8.	VICHOT A.	FDJ	00' 00''
9.	MORI M.	LAM	00' 00''
10.	CHAVANEL S.	OPQ	00' 00''
11.	NAVARDAUSKAS R.	GRS	00' 00''
12.	IMPEY D.	OGE	00' 00''
13.	FLECHA GIANNONI J.	VCD	00' 00''
14.	VUILLERMOZ A.	SOJ	00' 00''
15.	GERRANS S.	OGE	00' 00''

Current Overall Standings

.	IMPEY D.	OGE	27h 12' 29''
2.	BOASSON HAGEN E.	SKY	00' 03''
3.	GERRANS S.	OGE	00' 05''
4.	ALBASINI M.	OGE	00' 05''
5.	KWIATKOWSKI M.	OPQ	00' 06''
6.	CHAVANEL S.	OPQ	00' 06''
7.	FROOME C.	SKY	00' 08''
8.	PORTE R.	SKY	00' 08''
9.	ROCHE N.	TST	00' 14''
10.	KREUZIGER R.	TST	00' 14''
11.	CONTADOR A.	TST	00' 14''
12.	ROGERS M.	TST	00' 14''
13.	TALANSKY A.	GRS	00' 22''
14.	HESJEDAL R.	GRS	00' 22''
15.	MARTIN D.	GRS	00' 22''

 

[DodgerKing]

Just an FYI. I knew when I created this thread that I would be the only one posting on it. In fact I was thinking of even stating that in my first post. Heck, I always found cycling races boring myself. Now I like to watch to pick up on the strategies and to check out the country side.

I'm going to continue to post updates after each stage for my own reference and for others that may want to check in every now and then, even if nobody else makes a single post.

Sent from my Jailbroken iPhone 5 using SatelliteGuys

 

[DodgerKing]

Stage 8 marks the first mountain stage of the race. It will take place in the Pyrenees. Even this mountain stage is not as mountainous as stages yet to come.

Total distance: 121 miles

1 Cat 4 climb
1 Cat 1 climb
1 very challenging HC climb (4,000 ft climb at 8% average) to a top elevation of about 6,500 ft.

 

[DodgerKing]

Perfect example of strategy and team work occurred in the KOM portion of the tour here in Stage 7. For those unfamiliar with cycling races, not only is there an overall leader determined by the best overall time of all stages combined (wearing the yellow jersey), as well as stage winners, there are also sprint leaders (green jersey) as points are awarded for sprint segments within the stages (the winners on the short sprint segments during the race) and King of the Mountain (KOM) leaders wearing the polka dot jerseys (those who accumulate the most points by being the first up category climbs).

Points for Climbs

HC Climbs (the toughest of all)
1st place: 25 points
2nd place: 20 points
3rd place: 16 points
4th place: 14 points
5th place: 12 points
6th place: 10 points
7th place: 8 points
8th place: 6 points
9th place: 4 points
10th place: 2 points

Cat 1 Climbs
1st place: 10 points
2nd place: 8 points
3rd place: 6 points
4th place: 4 points
5th place: 2 points
6th place: 1 point

Cat 2 Climbs
1st place: 5 points
2nd place: 3 points
3rd place: 2 points
4th place: 1 point

Cat 3 Climbs
1st place: 2 points
2nd place: 1 points

Cat 4 Climbs (easiest of all)
1st place: 1 point

Prior to stage 7 Pierre Rolland was the current KOM leader. During today's stage Blel Kadri of team La Mondiale lead the first two climbs to take the overall lead in the KOM, but Rolland was about to take 3rd during one climb which would have given him enough points to maintain the overall lead. So a teammate of Kadri passed up Rolland right as they crest the climb, taking the 3rd place finish on the climb and preserving the overall lead for his teammate. He did so just to take the extra point away from Rolland. He, himself did not care about the points he gets for the KOM.