Whilst the dust settles over Renshaw’s exclusion*, it’s worth noting Cavendish’s win as a historic moment. Whilst he racks up win after sprint win, Thursday’s sprint was special. Why? Well because he surpassed the tally of 12 stage wins that the trio of Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini and Robbie McEwen have landed. In other words … Read more
What’s Nicolas Roche doing inside this inflatable paddling pool? It’s all part of his recovery technique. For more on the post-race rituals, see the video online here.
Here’s the relevant UCI rule on safe sprinting: 2.3.036 SprintsRiders shall be strictly forbidden to deviate from the lane they selected when launching into the sprint and, in so doing, endangering others. Also there’s a general rule on conduct: 1.2.079 Conduct of participants in cycling racesAll licence holders… …shall refrain from any acts of violence, … Read more
You can almost see the Eiffel Tower With Stage 10 done, the race is now past its halfway point. It almost makes you sad, the longer the race goes on the better it can get, you look in awe at the landscapes, get into the racing and follow a multi-layered drama of different contests, some … Read more
14 July is a national holiday in France, the anniversary of the French revolution in 1789. As well as a Soviet-era military parade up in Paris – I think only North Korea still does on of these – it also means massive pressure on French riders to win the day’s stage. Many people have the … Read more
Le Roi est mort! Vive le Roi de la Montagne! Appropriately enough for 14 of July – Bastille Day – we’re seeing the mountain royalty denied the crown of King of the Mountains, instead so far the jersey is being contested by flatland peasants. Here’s the top-10 in the standings after Stage 9:1 Anthony Charteau … Read more
I really feel for Cadel Evans. Six kilometres into the first mountain stage and an innocuous crash fractures his elbow. He struggles on, collects the yellow jersey in Avoriaz but the following day on the Col de la Madeleine the injury’s too much and he has to surrender the race lead. If it wasn’t for … Read more
Tick, tick, tick… that’s the sound ringing inside some teams right now. Time is already running out for some squads to take a coveted stage win. With the race well under way, the glory has been monopolised by four teams so far: Lampre: two stages (Petacchi)HTC-Columbia: two stages (Cavendish)Saxo Bank: two stages (Cancellara, Schleck)Quick Step: … Read more
I think it started last year but it’s back for 2010: the Livestrong foundation is painting the roads of France with various message. Using a giant version of an inkjet printer, a “paintjet” if you like, “people from everywhere can spread messages of hope and cancer survival to an entire world, on the streets” according … Read more
A reader who’s part of the Tour entourage has been in touch with the following information about the rest day. No rest: the town is heaving with tourists, I suspect riders wanting a quiet day will be holed up in their hotel rooms. The festival of local produce, the band music and the big crowds … Read more