Tag: #tdf2013

TDF 2013: Froome Sips Champagne into Paris: Kittel takes Stage

Chris Froome, winner of the 2013 Tour de France, wearing a slightly wistful look on his face. He remembered his mother in a short speech after his win: she died last year. (c) Benepe

Paris, France—July 21, 2013—By Jen Benepe © All rights reserved. Photos © Jen Benepe

To the delight of fans, Chris Froome, the new winner of the 2013 Tour de France rode into Paris sipping champagne, while the sun set on the Champs Elysees.

Marcel Kittel  came to the line in a final sprint, dashing all hopes of a final stage win on “the greatest avenue in the world” for Mark Cavendish, though they were bike-to-bike in the end.

Cavendish had a flat in the middle of the race in the Elysees, and had to work hard to get back to the peloton, an event that may have impacted his ability to take the stage.

Though Froome lost 53 seconds to the winner of the final stage and 43 seconds to his nearest rival, Quintana in the general classification, the Sky team sealed its second successive victory in the Tour de France.

Colombian Nairo Quintana (MOV) won both the youth (White Jersey) and climbing (Polka Dot Jersey) classifications in his debut in the race. As he accepted his honors on the podium, a large crowd of Colombians stationed near the finish line waves Colombian flags and screamed his name, “Quintana, Quintana, Quintana,” drowning out all other sounds including the voice of the master of ceremonies who remarked that there was “a large group of people here for Quintana.”

Peter Sagan who was fourth in the final stage won his second successive green jersey.

Froome who seems to maintain a low profile was also briefly upstaged when two small children of Joaquin Oliver Rodriquez climbed up the podium stairs to join their father, the smallest one barely making the stairs.

At one point Froome gamely leaned down and shook their little hands, and it was quite a sight to see. Froome who is so tall and thin he bears a slight resemblance to the Tin Man, as he stretched out his long arm he towered over them and their father by not only his own height, but also the extra height of the podium for the overall winner.

(c) Jen Benepe. Nairo Quintana (2nd), Chris Froome (1), and Joaquin Rodriguez (3) on the final podium.

It seemed like all of Paris was out to see the Tour de France on Sunday, with the exception of those who had to work. The normally sophisticated Parisian doesn’t really pay attention to the Tour, many of them using the main avenue to get from one place to another, navigating around tourists who walked at meandering paces. One could see fashionably dressed women on bikes and on foot going about their business with impatience.

Riders did not come onto the Champs Elysees until well after 8 PM. So before that fans melted in the sweltering heat, some sleeping in their self-reserved spots, or cooling their heels in the few fountains around.

Displayed on large screens positioned along the Elysees, Froome could be seen sipping champagne on his way in from Versailles alongside the Sky team car having a laughing chat with his support team.

After much anticipation, the teams came down the their first lap of the Champs Elysees, and huge roars came up from fans all around.

With a 9.40 pm finish, four at the top of the sprinters classification came to the line with Marcel Kittel who began the Tour as he started it – with a victory.

The German also won Bastia, St-Malo and Tours (stages one, 10 and 12) and held off a late challenge from the four-time winner in Paris, Mark

Marcel Kittel of the Agro Shimano team takes the win in Paris, beating out Cavendish by a wheel. (C) ASO

Cavendish.

But behind them the mood was much more celebratory: Froome came over the finish line arm-in-arm with team-mates David Lopez and Richie Porte, with an advantage of 4’20” over the best young rider – and King of the Mountains – Nairo Quintana.

“I get a lot of inspiration from reading messages from fans who say that just watching the Tour de France makes them want to get out on their bikes or start cycling,” said the champion of the 2013 Tour. “That’s what this is about. It’s one of the main reasons we’re here, why Sky is sponsoring us – to get that kind of response and support from the public back home is a really cool feeling.”

Sadly, because of the late hour, organizers at the Amaury Sports Organization decided not to allow the teams to do their normal parade around the Champs Elysees. Some, like Orica GreenEdge, did a spontaneous parade anyhow.

But for the winners it most certainly must have been a comedown. By the time he was finished with his podium finish and interviews in a closed off area for big media only, Froome attempted to reach out to a small crowd that happened to be in the right place at the right time and had the patience to wait for him to appear. But surrounded by about 15 strong-arm handlers who threatened photographers, he was whisked away into the night.

A mostly symbolic ride into Paris, Except for the Sprinters

The official start of the final stage of the 100th Tour de France was at 6.26 pm and included two category-four climbs in the opening hour: the cote de Saint-Remy-les-Chevreause (at 29.5km) and cote de Chateaufort (at 33.5km). The peloton idled along at an average speed of 35.6km/h for the first hour, and rode around the gardens of the palace of Versailles to showcase the beauty of the area for TV cameras around the world. There is no doubt that the Tour is one of the best marketing tools for travelers entertaining a visit to the country.

Steegmans (OPQ) and Rojas (MOV) were the riders who claimed the final climbing points of the 2013 Tour. There was a small crash involving Lagutin (VCD) at the 25km mark but he remounted his bike quickly and rejoined the peloton

Sky leads to the streets of Paris

The Sky team led the peloton to the site of the finish for the first of 10 laps of the Champs-Elysées while Richie Porte had the honour of leading the peloton through the first lap. After the first lap,  Lars Boom (BEL) became the first to gain any ground on the peloton.

With 53 km to go, the winner of the four most recent stages in Paris – Cavendish (OPQ) – punctured his front tire; it took him three kilometers to rejoin the peloton. At 48 km to go, Meyer (OGE) instigated an escape. He was joined in the lead by David Millar (GRS), Juan Antonio Flecha (VCD) and El Fares (SOJ).

Millar and Flecha kept the break alive and led by 20 seconds at the intermediate sprint (87km) where the Spaniard took first place for the intermediate sprint. Westra (VCD) was forced to abandon the Tour de France with 38 km to go.

Omega prepared for the stage win

With 36 km to go, two riders from the Omega Pharma-Quickstep team went to the front of the peloton. Millar and Flecha were 10 seconds ahead. Millar remained at the front of the stage while Flecha, who was briefly joined by Muravyev (AST) was caught 30 km from the finish. With 25 km to go, Millar had a lead of 30 seconds and held off the peloton until 18 km to go. With 21 km to go, Jeremy Roy (FDJ) attacked the peloton, he caught and passed the stage leader but then retreated to the peloton. This prompted another move: Quinziato (BMC), Valverde (MOV) and Tankink (BEL) were in the lead at 17km to go. They had an advantage of 12”. Omega Pharma-Quickstep got seven men to the front of the peloton with 10km to go and Valverde’s trio was 10” ahead. The escape was over with 6.5km to go.

100th Tour ends as it began: Kittel 1st in the stage

But Omega Pharma-Quickstep team came to the front of the peloton in the closing kilometers though Argos-Shimano, Lotto-Belisol and Cannondale battled it out for the front. Kwiatkowski led Trentin and Steegmans to the ‘Flamme Rouge’ but it was Argos-Shimano that opened up the sprint as they traversed the Place de la Concorde. Kittel started his sprint with about 300m to go and held off a strong challenge from both Cavendish and Andre Greipel. The German is the only rider to win four stages of the 2013 Tour de France.

 

1. GBRFROOME Christopher 1 SKY PROCYCLING 83h 56′ 40”
2. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 128 MOVISTAR TEAM 84h 01′ 00” + 04′ 20”
3. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 101 KATUSHA TEAM 84h 01′ 44” + 05′ 04”
4. ESPCONTADOR Alberto 91 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 84h 03′ 07” + 06′ 27”
5. CZEKREUZIGER Roman 94 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 84h 04′ 07” + 07′ 27”
6. NEDMOLLEMA Bauke 164 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 84h 08′ 22” + 11′ 42”
7. DENFUGLSANG Jakob 63 ASTANA PRO TEAM 84h 08′ 57” + 12′ 17”
8. ESPVALVERDE Alejandro 121 MOVISTAR TEAM 84h 12′ 06” + 15′ 26”
9. ESPNAVARRO Daniel 139 COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS 84h 12′ 32” + 15′ 52”
10. USATALANSKY Andrew 178 GARMIN – SHARP 84h 14′ 19” + 17′ 39”
11. POLKWIATKOWSKI Michal 153 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 84h 15′ 39” + 18′ 59”
12. ESPNIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel 116 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 84h 16′ 41” + 20′ 01”
13. NEDTEN DAM Laurens 167 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 84h 18′ 19” + 21′ 39”
14. BELMONFORT Maxime 47 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 84h 20′ 18” + 23′ 38”
15. FRABARDET Romain 82 AG2R LA MONDIALE 84h 23′ 22” + 26′ 42”
16. AUSROGERS Michael 98 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 84h 23′ 31” + 26′ 51”
17. ESPMORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 106 KATUSHA TEAM 84h 29′ 14” + 32′ 34”
18. BELBAKELANTS Jan 42 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 84h 32′ 31” + 35′ 51”
19. AUSPORTE Richie 6 SKY PROCYCLING 84h 36′ 21” + 39′ 41”
20. LUXSCHLECK Andy 41 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 84h 38′ 26” + 41′ 46”
21. COLSERPA José 149 LAMPRE – MERIDA 84h 41′ 48” + 45′ 08”
22. FRAGADRET John 86 AG2R LA MONDIALE 84h 42′ 40” + 46′ 00”
23. ESPANTON Igor 111 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 84h 44′ 47” + 48′ 07”
24. FRAROLLAND Pierre 51 TEAM EUROPCAR 84h 48′ 55” + 52′ 15”
25. SVKVELITS Peter 159 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 84h 50′ 40” + 54′ 00”
26. NEDGESINK Robert 162 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 84h 51′ 05” + 54′ 25”
27. PORCOSTA Rui Alberto 124 MOVISTAR TEAM 84h 51′ 14” + 54′ 34”

Marketing the Tour de France

By Jen Benepe (c) All rights reserved, all photos copyrighted by Cyclists International

If you have ever been to the Tour de France, one of the most memorable things will be the parade of sponsors. They started early this morning in the departure area of Annecy, France.

Here are some moments from the morning hours before the riders took off for the penultimate stage 20, from Annecy, to Le Semnoz (which is only a few kilometers from Annecy; the riders will do a big ring around the area before they come back here.)

Many of the sponsors give out goodies at the Tour, which are very popular. Music is heavily featured, and participants speak through microphones, egging the crowds on.

 

TDF 2013: Stage 19: Costa Does it Again, in the Rain

Rui Costa (Movistar) won stage 19 after attacking off a chase group, and passing Pierre Rolland. (c) Jen Benepe

Le Grand Bornand, France—July 19, 2013—By Jen Benepe. © All rights reserved, Jen Benepe

Portuguese Movistar rider Rui Costa did it again, taking a chance at the head of a chase group to escape and take the final climb and descent to the finish in the Alps.

“I waited until the last mountain then I did the same thing as at Gap,” said Costa who won the stage coming to Gap by a big advantage. “I was in the escape, but I didn’t think of winning the stage until then.”

It was his second stage win at the 2013 Tour, in his fifth Tour de France.

Costa took advantage of his position in a 26-member chase group that followed two leaders initially, Pierre Rolland and Canadian Ryder Hesjedal.

Costa did it in the rain too, passing Pierre Rolland of the Europcar team who had been out for much of stage 19, and staying ahead up one of the toughest—and last mountain climbs, the Col de la Croix Fry.

Today’s 19thstage included two hors categories climbs right away, the first up the Col du Glandon, the second, the Col de la Madeleine,

Crowds were jubilant when Costa came over the finish line at Le Grand Bornand, (c) Jen Benepe

with an average 7.9 percent grade.

There were three other climbs in the 204.5 km stage before the descent into Le Grand Bornand, a category 2 climb up the Col de Tamie, followed by the Col de l”epine, and the Col de la Croix Fry, both category one climbs with narrowing, dizzying switchbacks.

It was a big disappointment for French rider Rolland who nevertheless won the most combative honor of the day, and racked up climbing points, so that now with 103 points he is only one behind Froome’s 104.

“It was a long effort,” said the Frenchman who had worked alone for three of the biggest climbs, the most difficult among them, the Col de la Madeleine.

Andreas Kloden and Jan Bakelants, teammates in the RadioShack Leopard Trek team followed Costa from the same escape group, and staying away for the remainder of the climb, and into the descent, they were second and third across the finish line where, dirty, wet and tired, they hugged one another.

Despite numerous attacks, Chris Froome kept the Yellow Jersey. “It was one of the toughest [stages] of the Tour,” said Froome after the race. “The objective was to stay on the road and follow the favorites,” he added. “They attacked in the last mountain, in the rain no less. That was difficult and the last descent in the rain was dangerous.”

Alberto Contador is still in second place, and Nairo Quintana is in third. Quintana also still holds the best Young Rider (white) jersey.

Andreas Kloden of Team RadioShack came in second. He and Jan Bakelants worked together to pursue Costa. (c) Jen Benepe

Tomorrow Froome will spend his 11th day in the Yellow Jersey. He admitted that holding the leader’s jersey for 10 stages has been taxing. “It’s been over 10 days now. There’s a lot that comes with this jersey and its mentally quite hard to stay up in that, and to wake up each morning still motivated, hungry and ready for seconds.”

Does Froome expect to win the Yellow Jersey—which is often claimed in the penultimate stage, tomorrow? “It’s going to be hard for someone to take the Yellow Jersey, but I don’t want to be complacent,” he answered.

He definitely shouldn’t be: Quintana told reporters today that he won’t rule out a final number one on the podium in Paris for himself.

The Blow by Blow

At the Col de la Madeleine

At the Col de la Madeleine, already two riders were more than 8 minutes ahead of the Yellow Jersey peloton, Ryder Hesjedal of team Garmin, and R. Izaguirre of Euskaltel.

As they approached the climb, Pierre Roland of the Europcar team took a flyer off the front, and made some distance ahead of a chase group.

The Canadian Hesjedal soon took off, dropping Izaguirre. He continued alone up the Col de Madeleine, and soon established a distance of 10 minutes and 33 seconds ahead of the Yellow Jersey group.

They had already passed the first hors categorie climb on the Col de Glandon, which—by the way—we drove yesterday. By car it is very

Jan Bakelants after the stage being inundated by reporters’ questions. (c) Jen Benepe

difficult, with interminable twists and turns both up and down. One can only imagine how it was for the riders.

By now, Rolland was in hot pursuit and he was 50 seconds behind the Garmin rider. Last year in the Tour, Rolland was the first up the Col de la Madeleine.

Behind Rolland was Izaguirre by one minute and 30 seconds: he had been dropped by both riders.

At the front of the Yellow Jersey group, the Sky team pushed the pace. Tucked in behind them was Alberto Contador surrounded by his Saxo-Tinkoff teammates.

There were a couple of groups in between, one minute and thirty seconds behind the leader Hesjedal, were Rui Costa, and Serpa.

More than 3 minutes behind was a group that included yesterday’s stage winner AGR2 Mondiale rider, Cristophe Riblon, as well as Nikki Terpstra, Mikel Nieve, Johnny Hoogerland, Robert Gesink, Juan Antonio Flecha, El Fares, and others.

Now Hesjedal was 7.8 km from the top of col de la Madeleine: he would have a steep and tortuous descent ahead of him, lacking guardrails, with straight drops down off the side of the road.

Cycling fans watching Pierre Rolland on a giant screen as he worked alone almost three quarters of the race. The rider was deflated after the stage. (c) Jen Benepe

On the ascent to the Col de la Madeleine, the 2011 Tour winner Cadel Evans who races for BMC was in trouble, and was losing contact with the peloton.

Now the Yellow Jersey was more than 11 minutes behind the leader Hesjedal.

Finally at the summit, Rolland caught Hesjedal and passed the summit ahead of him for 25 points towards the Polka Dot jersey: now he had 76 points, one less than Riblon, 28 fewer than the Yellow Jersey, Chris Froome, but only 21 fewer than the Polka Dot jersey holder, Nairo Quintana. Mikel Nieve of the Euskaltel team was in pursuit of the two leaders. Jan Bakelants was the 4th up the summit. Ahead of them was a 30 km descent.

Now the deficit to the Yellow Jersey group was more than 12 minutes. Leading the climb, the Sky team appeared to be suffering from the effort.

Three more mountains to climb: Was the Tour really over, as some people have been saying, after Froome made his advantage in the Pyrenees?

Descending from Col de la Madeleine, On the way to Col de Tamie

Now Hesjedal, Rolland and Nieve were together and heading for the next 8.6 km, 6.2 % grade climb up the Col de Tamie. It started to rain, but the roads weren’t wet yet.

Roche and Contador took control at the front of the Yellow Jersey peloton, and ahead, Rolland and Hesjedal were still in descent, Nieve had dropped back to the first chase group that included Gescke, Costa, Didier, Sicard, Kloden, and Feillu, and they were 4 minutes 40 seconds behind the leaders.

In the peloton, French champion Arthur Vichot of the team FDJ took a spill and looked hurt as he got up and walked with some

Many of the kids dressed in fantastic outfits to come watch the Tour and show their total appreciation of the race. (c) Jen Benepe

difficulty.

Now Contador’s Saxo-Tinkoff was in control over the peloton group, and they were 11 minutes 28 seconds behind.  Froome was tucked in neatly behind them in about 7th position.

On the Tamie, the Epine, and the Croix Fry ahead, the roads would be lined with people, sure to provide both excitement and distraction for the riders.

The times to the chase groups from the leaders started to come down.

Before the climb to the Tamie, there would be a sprint in Albertville, a large local town where we spent the night last night at a very nice Bed and Breakfast in the middle of town.

The two leaders were together at the sprint, with Hesjedal first, but at the climb to Tamie, Rolland had dropped the Garmin rider and had added a distance of 10 seconds.

The chase group was 2 minutes and 50 seconds behind, getting closer by the kilometer.  On the faces of the riders led by Izaguire, was heat and pain.

After the Tamie, and the descent into Faverges, a real fight to the finish would start.

The peloton was 10 minutes 33 seconds behind, and the pace was still being driven by the Saxo-Tinkoff team. Behind them, Cadel Evans was in a group with Mark Cavendish, some 3 minutes 30 seconds behind the Yellow Jersey group.

Rolland had promised on the rest day that he was going to make an escape one day in the days that were left. That was last Monday.

Some of the vistas the riders saw today as they attacked across the mountains. This was probably one of the best because it was momentarily flat. (c) Jen Benepe

Today is Thursday. He tried on the way to L’Alpe d’Huez, but did not have success. He had 65.4 km to go.

Nairo Quintana, who wore the Polka Dot jersey at the end of the last stage, had been dropped by the Yellow Jersey group: no more gas.

Then Hesjedal was caught by the chase group. There were 21 riders and they were now only one minute and 47 seconds behind Rolland.

But Rolland passed the top alone and took another 5 points.  The peloton –still being paced by Saxo-Tinkoff, was more than 10 minutes back with 5 km to go to the top of the Tamie.

Now there was to more climbs to go before the descent into le Grand Bornand: Could Rolland take another win for the French? He had more than 52 km to go, and he was more than 11 minutes ahead of the Yellow Jersey.

“It’s not completely impossible,” commented the reporters for France2

Col de l’Epine, and Col de la Croix Fry

Now the chase group was a little more than a minute behind Rolland: the Frenchman was well on his way to the Col de l’Epine. It was the third time the Col would feature in a Tour de France. Rolland now had 93 points, and he was 4 short of the points held by Quintana.

In the Yellow Jersey peloton, Saxo-Tinkoff Nicolas Roche paced off the front: they were 10 minutes 52 seconds back.

As Rolland approached the summit of the Epine, the chase group was one minute and 20 seconds behind. Rolland was 42.7 km from the finish. The chase was dropping back! They were one minute and 49 seconds in deficit.

Over the top of l’Epine, and now Rolland had 103 points for the Polka Dot jersey, one less than the Yellow Jersey holder Chris Froome, who had 104.

Now the only thing that lay in front of him was the last climb, the Col de La Croix Fry, and it wasn’t going to be easy. It would be eleven kilometers at an average grade of 11 percent, with narrow, winding, steep and short switchbacks and a huge screaming crowd that would either help or hinder.

But on the final climb to Col de la Croix Fry, it was Movistar’s Rui Costa who took a flyer off the front of the chase group. The skies opened up, and he established a lead over that group, then passed Rolland.

Soon thereafter behind him, Team RadioShack Leopard’s Andreas Kloden and Jan Bakelants attacked and went in pursuit of Costa. But as they completed the climb, and made the descent into Le Grand Bornand, Costa kept the two RadioShack riders at bay. Costa came in first, with Kloden following, and Bakelants third.

But some of the biggest cheers from fans were saved for Rolland who had stayed out in front for two of the climbs.  He is now one point away (at 103 points) from taking the Polka Dot jersey that is currently held by Chris Froome (104 points).

Overall individual time classification

Total distance covered: 3145 KM

RANK RIDER RIDER NO. TEAM TIMES GAP
1. GBRFROOME Christopher 1 SKY PROCYCLING 77h 10′ 00”
2. ESPCONTADOR Alberto 91 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 77h 15′ 11” + 05′ 11”
3. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 128 MOVISTAR TEAM 77h 15′ 32” + 05′ 32”
4. CZEKREUZIGER Roman 94 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 77h 15′ 44” + 05′ 44”
5. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 101 KATUSHA TEAM 77h 15′ 58” + 05′ 58”
6. NEDMOLLEMA Bauke 164 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 77h 18′ 58” + 08′ 58”
7. DENFUGLSANG Jakob 63 ASTANA PRO TEAM 77h 19′ 33” + 09′ 33”
8. ESPNAVARRO Daniel 139 COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS 77h 22′ 33” + 12′ 33”
9. ESPVALVERDE Alejandro 121 MOVISTAR TEAM 77h 24′ 56” + 14′ 56”
10. POLKWIATKOWSKI Michal 153 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 77h 26′ 08” + 16′ 08”
11. NEDTEN DAM Laurens 167 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 77h 26′ 09” + 16′ 09”
12. USATALANSKY Andrew 178 GARMIN – SHARP 77h 26′ 24” + 16′ 24”
13. ESPNIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel 116 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 77h 27′ 49” + 17′ 49”
14. AUSROGERS Michael 98 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 77h 29′ 04” + 19′ 04”
15. BELMONFORT Maxime 47 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 77h 30′ 00” + 20′ 00”
16. FRABARDET Romain 82 AG2R LA MONDIALE 77h 34′ 53” + 24′ 53”
17. ESPMORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 106 KATUSHA TEAM 77h 40′ 22” + 30′ 22”
18. BELBAKELANTS Jan 42 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 77h 43′ 12” + 33′ 12”
19. NEDGESINK Robert 162 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 77h 47′ 11” + 37′ 11”
20. AUSPORTE Richie 6 SKY PROCYCLING 77h 47′ 53” + 37′ 53”
21. LUXSCHLECK Andy 41 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 77h 48′ 08” + 38′ 08”
22. COLSERPA José 149 LAMPRE – MERIDA 77h 50′ 40” + 40′ 40”

Cycling Union Says Froome Unjustly Accused of Doping

By Jen Benepe

An organization created to protect the rights of professional cyclists while also establishing their credibility as clean riders has issued a public memo to journalists at the Tour de France asking them to stop maligning Chris Froome.

The memo from the Cyclistes Professionels Associes decries any innuendo or direct accusation against Tour de France Yellow Jersey holder, and asks that journalists and others in the cycling camp stop slinging dirt.

The truth is, they have been doing so, openly and behind his back.

Few seem to believe he could have achieved such a run up Mont Ventoux, and indeed today, the best time trial results of the Tour without “juice,” “benzina,” (Italian for gas,) “drogues,” and “le dopage,” which I don’t even have to translate for you.

Even the shrug of the shoulder, the wink, and the “I don’t know,” answer are suggestive that some people are suspicious.

Signed by their press agent, Laura Mora, the statement says that the mud slinging has been done without evidence, and that allegedly is also true.

“It’s not fair to blame someone without evidence against him – said Gianni Bugno, president of theCPA – and we demand more respect for Chris and for all the riders .. We are witnessing a daily attack against the dignity of the riders in a manner that can no longer be tolerated. “

Yesterday, after Froome was still in the Yellow Jersey after a major breakaway of 26 riders, which eventually was led by one rider to the finish (Rui Costa), a reporter asked Froome in English if he still had a condition called Bilharoze, which is a parasite that causes lesions on the legs, and is treated with a Biltricide.

What was the reason for this question, one may ask, as our ears pricked up. Froome answered that it was a “personal question,” but no he no longer had it and hasn’t had it for 6 months.

A picture via Wikipedia of the condition that Froome had which he treated with Biltricide, which you can look up in Google.us, because we can’t, we’re in France.

But questions have been swirling all around, which is only natural given that we are still in the year of the Armstrong-Oprah confessions on television, and the huge incomparability of the suspensions given to some riders (6 months, a year, or two,) versus the lifetime ban for Armstrong.

Why do you think UCI could not name the seven winners since Armstrong has been banned and his 7 Tour de France wins taken away? Because he was the only one who was taking drugs? Maybe the public believes that, but none of the reporters do.

“Many journalists like David Walsh have to keep up a story to stay in the headlines,” said an ex-pro and many times track champion in the United States who asked not to be identified for the article. “But I think that doping is really down, and we are moving forward to a different time.”

Walsh’s book “L.A. Confidential” too was full of innuendo and lacked real proof other than the statements of people who may or may not have an ax to grind with Armstrong. Just because he was right, doesn’t meant the technique was correct.

And many of Walsh’s sources, like the soigneuse Emma O’Reilly were paid handsomely by him for their statements, which is in itself journalistic suicide.

 

 

TDF 2013: Stage 17: After Time Trial, Contador No. 2

Chris Froome was first in the time trial and now still first in the Tour de France. (C) Jen Benepe

Prunieres, France–July 17, 2013–By Jen Benepe, (c) All photos, Jen Benepe copyright, all rights reserved.

Spanish rider Alberto Contador who lost so much time on Mont Ventoux last Sunday has taken second position in the Tour after besting Bauke Mollema in the individual time trail.

Chris Froome ran a magnificent race from Embrun to Chorges, riding a mountainous and often wet course that rose, then fell, then rose again to a steep, winding descent to come in first.

This is the Brit’s first victory in a time trial at the Tour de France, his third stage win in 2013 and the fourth of his career.

With 1.2 km to go, Mollema overshot a sweeping right turn and hit the barriers hard but did not fall to the ground. He had to stop and reclip into the pedals before moving again. He would finish the stage in 11th place and drop from second to fourth overall.

The Dutchman is now 6 minutes and 23 seconds behind the Tour leader, Froome. Though he was riding faster than Froome at the first check points, Contador lost a little bit of his advantage, and is now 4 minutes and 34 seconds back.  His teammate at Saxo-Tinkoff, Roman Kreuziger, is now in third position.

Bauke Mollema being photographed on top of the second mountain, before his fall near the end of the stage. (C) Jen Benepe

Still it was one of the most beautiful and complex time trials the Tour has had in recent years.

Running over two mountains, fans enjoyed the backdrops of the Serre-Poncon lake, and above it the white-crested mountain peaks. The mountains facing the time trial course are the most famous and favorite among French in the region.

Later in the day a major storm kicked up, with gusting winds and rain–thankfully after the riders had all finished.

Froome won with a time of 51 minutes 33 seconds, followed by Contador who was 9 seconds back. Joaquin Rodriguez of the Katusha team was third with 51 minutes, 43 seconds.

Contador swapped out his road bike for a time trial bike just before the 20 km mark of the 32km stage. Many other riders used road bikes on the course which was closer to a timed climb than a typical time trial. But perhaps that swap caused him to lose too many seconds against Froome.

Alberto Contador near the top of the second mountain, already in his descent. He’s smiling because there were tremendous cheers all around when he went by. (C) Jen Benepe

Many of the riders could be seen practicing the course first thing in the morning. One of the French favorites, Jean Cristophe Peraud of the AGR2 Mondiale Team, who was in ninth place overall at the start of the stage, crashed earlier in the day during a training run and broke his clavicle. When he appeared on the race course later, tremendous cheers went up from the crowd lining the roadway.

The Frenchman was 21st best at the 20km mark but, with 2 km to go in the stage, he had another terrible crash and abandoned the Tour. He had been in ninth place overall.

At first Lieuwe Westra (VCD) held the best time at each check – finishing in 54’02”. The first to beat Westra’s time was Jon Izaguirre who covered the course at an average speed of 35.6km/h, beating Westra by 4” on the same day that his brother, Gorka, was a non-starter.

American Tejay van Garderen (BMC) was fourth best at 6.5 km, 1st at 20km and 1st at the end of the stage in 53’24” (35.9km/h).

Roman Kreuziger, a teammate of Contador’s in the Saxo-Tinkoff team, is now in third position overall. (c) Jen Benepe.

Then came the rain, which came down in buckets, spoiling the course for most of the riders who came after 3 PM, but before the course had dried—-which it did by the time the top six or seven riders had started.

Alejandro Valverde was the first to beat Thomas de Gendt’s time (by 16”) and the Spaniard was 59” ahead of van Garderen at the second check, averaging 30.9km/h for the first 20 km.

Overall individual time classification

Total distance covered: 2768 KM

RANK RIDER RIDER NO. TEAM TIMES GAP
1. GBRFROOME Christopher 1 SKY PROCYCLING 66h 07′ 09”
2. ESPCONTADOR Alberto 91 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 66h 11′ 43” + 04′ 34”
3. CZEKREUZIGER Roman 94 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 66h 12′ 00” + 04′ 51”
4. NEDMOLLEMA Bauke 164 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 66h 13′ 32” + 06′ 23”
5. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 128 MOVISTAR TEAM 66h 14′ 07” + 06′ 58”
6. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 101 KATUSHA TEAM 66h 14′ 30” + 07′ 21”
7. NEDTEN DAM Laurens 167 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 66h 15′ 32” + 08′ 23”
8. DENFUGLSANG Jakob 63 ASTANA PRO TEAM 66h 16′ 05” + 08′ 56”
9. POLKWIATKOWSKI Michal 153 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 66h 18′ 19” + 11′ 10”
10. IRLMARTIN Daniel 175 GARMIN – SHARP 66h 19′ 59” + 12′ 50”
11. AUSROGERS Michael 98 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 66h 20′ 28” + 13′ 19”
12. ESPVALVERDE Alejandro 121 MOVISTAR TEAM 66h 22′ 21” + 15′ 12”
13. USATALANSKY Andrew 178 GARMIN – SHARP 66h 22′ 22” + 15′ 13”
14. ESPNAVARRO Daniel 139 COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS 66h 23′ 52” + 16′ 43”
15. BELMONFORT Maxime 47 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 66h 24′ 13” + 17′ 04”
16. LUXSCHLECK Andy 41 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 66h 30′ 43” + 23′ 34”
17. ESPNIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel 116 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 66h 30′ 45” + 23′ 36”
18. AUSEVANS Cadel 31 BMC RACING TEAM 66h 31′ 53” + 24′ 44”
19. ESPMORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 106 KATUSHA TEAM 66h 34′ 44” + 27′ 35”
20. FRABARDET Romain 82 AG2R LA MONDIALE 66h 35′ 52” + 28′ 43”

TDF 2013: Stage 16: Portuguese Fighter Takes the Line—Alone

Rui Costa made it to the line after an aggressive attack off the front of a 26-man breakaway, and rode to the line alone into Gap, France (C) BENEPE

Froome: Contador took “unnecessary risks.”

July 16, 2013-Gap, France—By Jennifer Benepe

Today Rui Costa of the Movistar team managed to get away in the last 10 km from a break group, climb the Col de Manse and stay away from a single competitor to come alone to the finish line.

The Tour de Suisse winner was break of a 26-man break early on in the stage from Vaison-La-Romaine to Gap, traveling over mountainous areas, and ending in a category 3 climb that dropped down to the town of Gap. It was his second Tour de France stage win.

“To win the Tour de France [stage] once is very important,” said Costa after the race. “Last year I tried to win a second time, but it wasn’t possible.  So to win today is something very, very special in my life.”

Andreas Kloden of Team RadioShack Leopard, Arnold Jeanneson of FDJ, and Jerome Coppel of the Cofidis team who were part of the earlier break put in a good effort to chase Costa down, but they couldn’t reach him before the finish. They came in the order of Ribon, Jeannesson, Coppel and Kloden at the finish.

Tom Dumoulin of team Argo Shimano who was part of the big break, also stayed ahead of the peloton all the way to Gap, and received the honor of the White Jersey for best young rider.

Riblon_Jeannesson_Coppel_Kloden, were not far behind in Gap, (C) Benepe

Thomas Voeckler and Cyril Gautier who were part of the original 26-man break received big applause from the French crowd, coming in 19th and 12th to the line.  They also were still ahead of the peloton.

Behind in the peloton there was some excitement when Alberto Contador and Roman Kreuziger attacked on the ascent and the descent of the Col de Manse, which was within the last few kilometers of the stage, prompting a chase by Chris Froome. Then Contador crashed out on the descent from the Col de Manse, causing Froome to go off the road.

Chris Froome of Team Sky who still holds the Yellow Jersey said later that he thought Contador had taken “Unnecessary risk.”  “I think his team is starting to get desperate now.”

“I had to go off the road to avoid him and it took me a few seconds to get back on the road again,” said Froome. “It’s a dangerous descent, and I hope that riders are aware of that and they don’t take risks like they did today.”

“I was happy to get to the end without doing too much damage,” he said, thanking teammate Richie Porte for covering about 10 attacks from Contador, Kreuziger, and other riders.

Contador told reporters after the race that under normal conditions he wouldn’t have fallen, but he defended his action to

Voeckler, who is much loved in France, was in the break today, and made it across the line no. 19. Europcar Teammate Cyril Gautier was no. 12. (C) Benepe

attack. After all the fuss, the three top riders are still in the same position, with Bauke Mollema 4 minutes 14 seconds back, and Contador 4 minutes and 25 seconds behind Froome.

It seems that GC contender Andy Schleck is having a bad Tour overall.

First he was seriously dropped on Mont Ventoux by the aggressive actions of Froome and Nairo Quintana: then today he became part of a group that was behind the peloton again.

Mikel Nieve and Pierre Rolland were also part of that group, hurting at least for now both of their chances for a special win at the Tour.

The blow by blow

Today’s stage was bound to be one of the worst for the riders.  Long flat areas followed by continuous climbs in hot weather nearing 95 degrees Fahrenheit, would put the devil in their legs.

The 168 km stage in the French Alps included a 3-category climb at Cote de la Montagne de Bluye, a category 2 cliimb at the Col de Macuegne, and a final category 2 climb at Col de Manse before the riders would descend into Gap.

An intermediate sprint three quarters of the way to Gap, in Veynes, would give sprinters Peter Sagan who held the Green Jersey, and Sylvain Chavanel, second runner up, another opportunity to gain more points. And in the end, it was Sagan who still keeps the coveted distinction.

The day started with the tension that many of the team felt after Mont Ventoux where Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana dominated, and battled it out to the top in the first and second place.

Today’s stage would test the leaders’ ability to hold onto their placements, with Froome leading by a full 4 minutes and 14 seconds to Bauke Mollema, who actually came in eighth in the stage, then Alberto Contador who was left climbing on the mountain behind Froome and Quintana.

An early break was established today, and as the riders wound their way through cavernous gorges carved in stone, the peloton which contained Froome and other GC contenders was 7 minutes and 20 seconds behind.

Among the 26 break riders was one of France’s favorites, Europcar’s Thomas Voeckler who yesterday vowed to make more of a difference in the last week of the Tour as the Team searched for a new co-sponsor.

With Voeckler was his teammate Cyril Gautier, Adam Hansen (LTB), Phillipe Gilbert and Manuel Quinziato (BMC), Laurent Didier, Tony Gallopin and Andreas Kloden (RTL), Blel Kadri and Cristophe Riblon (ALM), Nicolas Roche (TST), Yuri Trofimov (KAT), Mikel Astarloza (EUS), Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ), Rui Costa (MOV), Jerome Coppel and Daniel Navarro (COF), Manuele Mori (LAM), Peter Velits (OPQ), Ramunas Navardauskas (GRS), Michael Albasini and Cameron Meyer (OGE), Tom Dumoulin (ARG), Thomas De Gendt and Johnny Hoogerland (VCD) and Jean Marc Marino (SOJ).

With 60 km to go, the group was still ahead by 8 minutes and 51 seconds. But still ahead of them was the Col de Manse, lined with screaming, and some, drunk fans.  At 55 km they were 9 minutes and 8 seconds ahead, as more carved rock canyons beckoned, running along the creamy blue waters of l’Ouveze river.

A lot was hanging on this stage: while Mont Ventoux put a huge dent in the GC classification for the likes of Alberto Contador, today’s stage was one of the few left where the teams and riders that hadn’t won a stage so far, could possibly do so.

Meanwhile, several riders were fallen by digestive trouble today, among them the sprinter Mark Cavendish of team Omega Pharma Quickstep, and he was joined by Bram Tankin (Bel), Davide Malacarne (EUC) and Maarten Wynants. Is something going around? Remember Cavendish had similar complaints at the beginning of the Tour.

TDF 2013: Stage 13: Good Luck for Cavendish

Cavendish wins stage 13 tdf 2013 (ASO) At the same time, Valverde lost time in a split and with a puncture.

July 12, 2013.–By Jen Benepe –With reporting by LeTour.fr.

Mark Cavendish and Team Omega Pharma Quickstep wouldn’t let it happen to him again. Once humiliated at the line in stage 12, never again in Stage 13 as he crossed the line.

The best sprinter of this generation won his 25th Tour de France stage in St-Amand Montrond: thirteen must be his lucky number.

But it was bad luck for Alejandro Valverde, who had ranked second in the general classification in Stage 12 into Tours when Omega Pharma-Quickstep picked up the pace at the 56 km makr, and split the peloton into three groups leaving behind the Movistar team leader who had suffered a flat.

Ultimately five teammates waited for Valverde but he lost 37” to the yellow jersey’s group that was paced by Belkin and Omega riders at a time when the second peloton was behind by 1’20”.

The 173km stage from Tours to St-Amand-Montrond began at 1.30pm after the longest neutral zone so far this year (14.3km). There were 181 riders in the race with Boasson Hagen (SKY) the non-starter because of a fractured right scapula. The conditions were warm with temperatures over 30 degrees during the stage that featured only one categorised hill – the côte de Crotz (cat-4 at 77.5km). The intermediate sprint was in Saint-Aoustrille (112.5km).

After a furious chase by Plaza (MOV) the peloton lost contact with the Valverde sextet and this prompted the Movistar group to wait for the second peloton that still had a fair chase on its hands to catch the yellow jersey group.

Far from a standard sprint stage, several of the big GC teams battled it out in the front, pushing the pace throughout.

Omega Pharma started the battle, and the Saxo-Tinkoff team kept on punching through to the end when it realized that Froome was vulnerable.

This was a day when a sprinter won, but many of the GC specialists lost. Froome keeps his overall lead but he is now only 2’28” ahead of second, Bauke Mollema with Alberto Contador edging closer to the overall lead, just 2’45” behind the Sky team’s leader.

The mountains are beckoning.

 

TDF 2013: Stage 12: Smiles for Kittel, Tears for Cavendish

July 11, 2013 — By Jen Benepe

Cavendish, TDF 2013, before stage 12 (ASO)

In a complex finish into Tours, France, Marcel Kittel of the Agros Shimano team took the win away from Mark Cavendish as they battled it out to the line.

It really looked like Omega Pharma Quickstep’s Cavendish would win the final sprint, but he may have been delivered a little too early by his lead-out man, Kurt Stegmans.

That gave Kittel the opportunity to use Cavendish’s slipstream and then come out to beat the Manx Missile to the line, which he barely did by a wheel length.

If only Cavendish had thrown his bike–he looked sideways to see Kittel, but it was too late.

Kittel was all smiles after his third stage win in the Tour this year.

A crash less than 1 km from the finish took out most of the Lotto-Belisol team and their sprinter Andre Greipel, who weren’t there to compete.

It was a quick end to a long day that saw a breakaway which formed at kilometer 8, stay away most of the stage.

The break in stage 12, TDF 2013 (ASO)

There were no hills in the 218 km stage from Fougères to Tours which would take riders through five departments – Ille-et-Vilain, Mayenne, Sarthe, Main-et-Loir, and Indre-et-Loire.

The consensus among experts was that the stage would end in a sprint, and that Cavendish, who has been much maligned since the shoulder “nudge” to Tom Veelers in stage 9, will not just be looking for a win, but will do everything he can to vindicate his loss and humiliation that day.

I mean, come on, let’s stop re-playing that footage –enough already! But it wasn’t to be.

This is the first Tour that Cavendish has raced in where he is being accompanied by his now-wife Peta Todd. You remember her? We introduced you to her several years back.

Well, now they have a cute little girl, and she’s along for the ride too. That makes winning extra important.

LeTour.fr asked the Olympic sprint champion from the London Games, Anna Meares, who she thought would win the stage.”Cavendish, Kittel, Kristoff, Goss and Sagan,” was her reply. Well, she was right about the top two, almost.

Robbie McEwen was out on the course early this morning filming the last part of the course so that he could send it back to the Orica-GreenEdge team.

Cavendish during the stage 12, TDF 2013 (ASO)

The three-time winner of the Tour’s green jersey who retired from racing last year is now a consultant for the squad and he advises the riders on tactics.

We’ve gotta get a stage win for Gossie soon,” he told LeTour.fr this morning while he was downloading files from a GoPro camera.

“The road to the finish is fairly uncomplicated,” he explained while viewing the final kilometre.

“Going into the second last turn, there’s a round-about but this is a fairly sweeping turn and the guys will be able to keep pedalling through that section and the final turn [about 100m later] is not as sharp as shown in the diagram.”

But his sprinter Matt Goss never got to do the sprint because one of their riders was taken out early in the lead-up to the finish, when he slid out in the first sweeping turn.

And so it was, every team with a good sprinter in the ranks was aiming for the finish in Tours.

Early on in the stage, five men started a break and they were already 1’45” at 8 km from the start.

At 31 km the leaders were ahead by 7’20”, and included Romain Sicard (FRA) EUS, Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) AST, Anthony Delaplace (FRA) SOJ, Manuele Mori (ITA) LAM, and Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) VCD.

Coming into the stage, Movistar continued to lead the team classification with an advantage of 4’34” over Saxo-Tinkoff. There were three from the leading team in the top 10 of the overall rankings: Valverde (2nd), Quintana (8th) and Rui Costa moved up from 9th after the time trial.

Soon, the pace of the peloton has picked up a lot and the advantage of the escape has dropped to 6’50”.

Team Sky kept the Yellow Jersey leader, Chris Froome, safe and near the front should there be any crashes near the end. Froome is still in yellow at the end of Stage 12 (ASO)

A fall in the peloton with Alexandre Geniez (FDJ) and Blel Kadri (ALM) occurred when the peloton was 6 minutes and 15 seconds behind the leaders. The advantage slowly came down.

At 80 km to the finish, Omega Pharma-Quickstep, Lotto-Belisol, Argos-Shimano and Sky led the peloton as it slowly closed in on the escapees who were now ahead by 4’50”.

As they approached 21 km to the finish, there were only four riders ahead, and that included DelaPlace, Mori, Flecha, and Gavazzi with a one minute advantage over the peloton. Could they hold them off?

With less than 15 km to go, Mori, DelaPlace and Gavazzi had been absorbed by the peloton, while Flecha stayed out in front. Flecha made a final attempt, establishing a greater distance ahead of the peloton by 15 seconds. A sprint finish was guaranteed.

At 5 km to go, the peloton was together, and Orica GreenEdge was in the front, and then there was a crash of one in the team as they came around the corner. Their sprinter, Matthew Goss was in third place.

With a little more than one kilometer to go, Peter Sagan was about third back. Two lead out lines were forming on both sides, Agros Shimano for Marcel Kittel was one, Omega Pharma Quickstep on the other side for Cavendish and then there was a big crash in the field, that included Philippe Gilbert, and a lot of Lotto Belisol riders.

The peloton during stage 12, TDF 2013 (ASO)

Tony Martin was near the front, as was Omega Pharma Quickstep’s Tony Martin, battling it out with Agros Shimano, Greipel was left behind in the crash, though Sagan was still in the bunch.

Cavendish had a long lead out by Stegmans as they turned the corner, but Marcel Kittel followed Cavendish’s wheel and took Cavendish to the line.

Overall individual time classification

Total distance covered: 1961.5 KM

RANK RIDER RIDER NO. TEAM TIMES GAP
1. GBRFROOME Christopher 1 SKY PROCYCLING 47h 19′ 13”
2. ESPVALVERDE Alejandro 121 MOVISTAR TEAM 47h 22′ 38” + 03′ 25”
3. NEDMOLLEMA Bauke 164 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 47h 22′ 50” + 03′ 37”
4. ESPCONTADOR Alberto 91 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 47h 23′ 07” + 03′ 54”
5. CZEKREUZIGER Roman 94 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 47h 23′ 10” + 03′ 57”
6. NEDTEN DAM Laurens 167 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 47h 23′ 23” + 04′ 10”
7. POLKWIATKOWSKI Michal 153 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 47h 23′ 57” + 04′ 44”
8. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 128 MOVISTAR TEAM 47h 24′ 31” + 05′ 18”
9. PORCOSTA Rui Alberto 124 MOVISTAR TEAM 47h 24′ 50” + 05′ 37”
10. FRAPÉRAUD Jean-Christophe 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 47h 24′ 52” + 05′ 39”
11. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 101 KATUSHA TEAM 47h 25′ 01” + 05′ 48”
12. DENFUGLSANG Jakob 63 ASTANA PRO TEAM 47h 25′ 01” + 05′ 48”
13. IRLMARTIN Daniel 175 GARMIN – SHARP 47h 25′ 05” + 05′ 52”
14. AUSEVANS Cadel 31 BMC RACING TEAM 47h 26′ 07” + 06′ 54”
15. ESPNIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel 116 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 47h 27′ 17” + 08′ 04”
16. AUSROGERS Michael 98 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 47h 27′ 41” + 08′ 28”
17. LUXSCHLECK Andy 41 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 47h 27′ 45” + 08′ 32”
18. ESPMORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 106 KATUSHA TEAM 47h 28′ 47” + 09′ 34”