Key occasions
10km to go: Vingegaard’s teammates take up the cudgels, Campenaerts using for him as Visma getting their man into yellow.. And now begins the descent.
12 km to go: It’s Wellens in polka who’s main. Ben O’Connor is a kind of kicked out the again of the sector. Wellens picks up some extent as they summit the Grand Mare.
13 km to go: Right here comes the Grand Mare, 1.6k of climb. There’s splits all around the area. Alaphilippe’s chase for at this time is over. The favs comes into sight: Pog, Vingo, S Yates.
15km to go: Soler is giving his all to launch his teammate, Pogacar. The street is thinning and so is the peloton.
Ted Raney will get in contact: “Belgian TV sharing an anecdote the place Poulidor visited Anquetil on his loss of life mattress, and Jacques instructed him “Poupou, I’m forward of you once more.”
18 km to go: That final climb, the Cote de Bonsecours, was the climax of the 1947 Tour, as gained by Vietto. Arising: the Côte de la Grand’Mare, by means of Rouen’s suburbs.
20 km to go: Martinez is caught, and that’s the tip of the breakaway. Now right here come the workforce ways, as one other climb comes, and Tobias Halland Johannessen takes the only mountain level. Marc Soler for UAE, the Pogacar workforce, takes up tremendous domestique duties.
One other crash!
24 km to go: Alaphilippe goes by means of carnage, steering by means of simply as they arrive over. Roglic escapes however among the many fallen is Valentin Paret-Peintre, in tears along side the street, and his race seems over. Who else? We are going to discover out. Ben Healy was caught on the again, when he was one of many favourites for at this time.
25 km to go: The break is over, with Lenny Martinez main excessive, Abrahamsen following, the sprinters dropping to the again, and the hole to the peloton is underneath 20 seconds. So, we await the large weapons. Martinez takes the 2 mountain factors as Wellens takes some extent. It’s a solo break now of 17 seconds. “Don’t look again,” says his radio. Martinez seems again nearly instantly.
30km to go: Very gradual change for Alaphilippe, he ended up getting a brand new bike. Some chasing and lack of power for him in chasing again for the previous world champion, who went so near profitable this occasion. By the best way, Abrahamsen takes the dash. There was some nastiness within the chase for minor factors, involving Girmay. Extra later…? Jonathan Milan beat the Eritrean, after their latest spat.
35km to go: This breakaway – do they imagine? The remainder of the pack appears to have adopted Monday’s sponsored-by-Mogadon angle to racing. In the back of the group, Julian Alaphilippe has a puncture.
38 km to go: Ted Raney will get in contact: “Hello John, because the race is quiet in the intervening time, maybe you might fill the time by explaining how Imatra is meant to show kilometres cycled into digital foreign money.”
Andrew Benton does too: “Howdy John, its solely becoming that you just’re running a blog at this time’s stage – Brewin in a foolish French accent rhymes with Rouen. It’s nominative determinism once more! Was there ever a French comedy duo known as Raque and Rouen? Perhaps not. And that’s in all probability a great factor.”
The Brewins have drive by means of Rouen a few tines, recollections of holidays in Normandy in 1086.
Justin Koole: “Busy at work & totally benefit from the Brit humor and rhetoric : )) I could also be 1 of two in W Michigan that totally benefit from the 21 days of the TDF. Au revoir!”
Tim Hoy: “I had a marvellous impromptu evening out in Ostend in the summertime of 1983. Being younger carefree and naive my pal and I bought off a ferry from Dover at midnight however couldn’t discover wherever on the dock to pitch our tent. So we went into an all evening bar. Being English we had no concept there have been such issues so bought hopelessly drunk while the barman performed David Bowie’s Low all evening. We then fell asleep on a 5am prepare to Brussels and awoke alone in a locked prepare in the midst of a marshalling yard.”
Went there on a faculty journey in 1991, to a fairground. Favorite reminiscence, an in any other case taciturn historical past trainer paying us on a experience, and breaking into broad Manc: ‘me ‘eads gone.” Humorous what you bear in mind.
40 km to go: The Cote Jacques Anquetil had its impact, and now they go for St Adrian, the place a dash comes. The main 4 appeared more likely to break up however got here again collectively. As an alternative, they’ve dropped round a minute. Within the pack, first point out of Pogacar, who’s watching Vingegard and Evenepoel like a hawk.
45 km to go: Martinez leads the group out entrance, and the hole is being prolonged. Jonas Vingegaard was fortunate to not be on the tip of a harmful wobble in the back of the pack.
50 km to go: Right here we go, as the primary clim approaches. One other crash out the again and now the assaults start amidst the leaders.
First crash of the day!
53km to go: A contact of wheels in direction of the again of the sector. Matteo Vercher of Complete Energies has some street rash, after a smash into some street furnishings. Sepp Kuss, a giant title, has to remount, as does Fedorov of the Astana workforce.
55km to go: The Tudor workforce is instructed to take positions on the entrance of the group. The hole is lengthening, again as much as 1’ 45” however the roads are narrowing, suggesting some winding climbs arising.
60 km to go: A large open area, and which means the wind can gust, and trigger a break up within the pack. The wind is whipping them alongside, and the hole has dropped to 1’ 24”. Van der Poel set off on the entrance of the peloton, taking it up.
65km to go: That main group have been out for over 100km now. Reminder they’re Kasper Asgreen (EF Training-EasyPost), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) and Thomas Gachignard (Group TotalEnergies).
Carlos Rodriguez, the Ineos chief, wants a change of wheel.
70km to go: A descent splits the peloton, and shortly sufficient they may take that flip into crosswinds. They’re heading north, and with the Training Easypost workforce hoping Asgreen can land a win however with Ben Healy and Nelson Powless to make use of, too.
80km to go: “Hello John. We’re sitting baking within the solar ready for the tour simply exterior Les Andelys. Ambiance is mild and there was no combating over the crap from the Caravan (they have been going so quick I bought hit by a lump of Brie and have pretty bruise on my thigh!!) Extra common updates please, we’ve no concept what’s happening as all of the radios round us are in very quick French. Kate and Steve xx”
The reality, Kate and Steve, is that that is, like Monday, with out a lot fight, constructing as much as the large bangs that come round from 49km to go.” The speak is of a crosswind at 64km to go.
85km to go: Roland Marshall will get in contact: “Howdy Mister Brewin, I felt Coquard was very unfortunate to get a yellow card for his half within the Philipsen crash, or quite to be the one one to be sanctioned thus. Rex was equally if no more culpable and but bought off scot-free. We haven’t heard a peep out of him, whereas (a visibly distressed) Coquard had the nice grace to point out regret (after having summersaulted off his bike a little bit earlier, no much less) for what even Alpecin-Deceuninck have accepted as an unfortunate accident. Biking’s yellow playing cards look set to grow to be the equal of soccer’s VAR/.”
The hole continues to be at two minutes.
88km to go: Mike Gresley will get in contact: “Hello John – I see you’ve already dropped the gag as soon as, however how about some love for the 2005 Supergrass album “Highway to Rouen”. A vastly under-appreciated album from a band that ought to be recognised as one of many greats. In my humble opinion no less than.”
Noticed them dwell as soon as, at Lansdowne Highway, supporting Oasis in 2000. They bought blown away by the wind. Not for me, and Oasis weren’t any higher. My one time seeing them.
90km to go: Training Simple Submit, Asgreen’s workforce, is sat up the entrance right here, the workforce of Jonathan Vaughters. You used to know them as Garmin. Ben Healy is their hope for at this time.
100km to go: Into breezy, woody territory they head, the hole dropping under two minutes. It’s round 50km to go that the climbing really begins and after that an intermediate dash. On the TNT protection, the superb Jonathan Harris-Bass is regaling us with tales of Josephine Baker, and Charles the Bald, son of Charlemagne. Carlton Kirby – he of the Kirbygasm – is displaying some spectacular data of Marvin Gaye’s misplaced weekend in Ostend. Having been myself to Ostend, Marvin will need to have very down within the dumps.
105 km to go: Simon Thomas will get in contact: “Hello John, “Miguel Induráin (Spain) additionally gained three consecutive Excursions and is at current the one man to win 5 Excursions in a row (1991-95)“. In certainly one of his first Excursions (86 I feel), his dad turned up midway by means of the stage and instructed him to desert as he was wanted at dwelling to get the harvest in.”
110km to go: No prix de combativité handed out on Monday. That means what we thought, not a lot occurred past the crashes. Not a lot fight right here at this time however we’ve got a protracted option to go.
115 km to go: The hole stays at two minutes, in full management of the Alpecin workforce. Keep in mind, although, there’s loads of motion within the final 50 – 4 categorised climbs within the final 50 clicks.
125km to go: The 4 males and true forward of the pack: Kasper Asgreen (EF Training-EasyPost), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) and Thomas Gachignard (Group TotalEnergies).
130km to go: A reminder of the GC standings, which might be very completely different by the tip of at this time.
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1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin – Deceuninck 12:55:37
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2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Group Emirates – XRG +4
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3. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Group Visma – Lease a Bike +6
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4. Kévin Vauquelin (FRA) Arkéa – B&B Lodges +10
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5. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Group Visma – Lease a Bike “
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6. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar Group “
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7. Joe Blackmore (GBR) Israel – Premier Tech +41
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8. Tobias Johannessen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility “
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9. Ben O’Connor (AUS) Group Jayco AlUla “
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10. Emanuel Buchmann (GER) Cofidis +49
140 km to go: David Kemp will get in contact: “Miguel Indurain (Spain) additionally gained three consecutive Excursions and is at current the one man to win 5 Excursions in a row (1991-95).”
The article under, from 2001, did say that. Froome is the one rider to a few in a row since if we’re avoiding a sure American podcaster, who in all probability nonetheless thinks he did seven in a row. However any recollections of Large Mig are completely satisfied ones. His was a golden period.
145 km to go: Alpecin, the workforce of Mathieu van der Poel, are main the peloton by means of le campagne. The bucket hat seems on development for these on the roadside.
150 km to go: Appears the chasing pack is completely satisfied to maintain the breakaway at two minutes, and they’ll decide them up later.
155km to go: Heartwarming story from Reuters on Monday:
Eleven bicycles belonging to Cofidis, stolen in a single day earlier than the second stage of the Tour de France, have been recovered, the workforce’s common supervisor Cedric Vasseur mentioned on Monday following the third stage of the race.
“I had Christian Prudhomme (the Tour’s director) on the cellphone in the course of the stage. He was with the prefect to inform us that the bikes had been discovered within the afternoon”, Vasseur instructed France TV after the conclusion of the third stage.
The workforce had earlier reported that 5 of the 11 bikes had been recovered. “A number of the employees combed the realm and managed to get their palms on 5 bicycles, which had been thrown away by the criminals in undergrowth close to the lodge”, the workforce mentioned in a press launch.
The race goes full gasoline, nearly 50km per hour. We’re in Macron nation right here, within the sense that Manu comes from right here. Asgreen catches up with the breakaway they usually welcome him into their four-man brotherhood.
160 km to go: Van der Poel takes a consolation break because the peloton deigns to the race chief and sits up. Asgreen is giving the whole lot up the hill as he chases that trio of escapees.
Huw Morgan will get in contact: “Simply been to Amiens to look at the depart. All the time a wierd expertise “watching” biking dwell. We drove an hour and 10 minutes for our 10 month outdated child to mainly gawp at a 150 younger males on their bikes. Wout and Pogacar stopped proper in entrance of us so we really feel fortunate. My spouse’s sense from watching all of them at the beginning was that Jonas seems good and Pogacar seems good. We anticipate a Royal rumble in Rouen.”
Let’s hope Mrs Morgan is correct.
165 km to go: They go away Amiens behind, town of Jules Verne, the place Federico Fellini made Clowns, having crossed the Somme. Not that the peloton is considering of such deep tradition as Kasper Asgreen, a Traditional winner, units off to hitch a breakaway that’s already go nearly two minutes on the pack. No panic simply but, lengthy option to go.
Off they go in Amiens
173 km to go: And we’ve got two breakers within the wind, Lenny Martinez and Jonas Abrahamsen, are these taking it up. The phrase on the radio is that the wind is excessive. Will we be seeing echelons already? Thomas Gachingnard goes in chase. None of those are GC contenders so the peloton is relaxed sufficient. There’s loads of battles ready up the street.
Nick Wayne on Bryan Coquard, culpable, if unluckily, within the exit of Philipsen: “Out of curiosity, what about these yellow playing cards? Was it thought-about that he didn’t advantage one? If it was talked about, I missed it. Not that he deserved it because it appeared unintended.”
Coquard: “Clearly, it wasn’t my intention to trigger a crash; I didn’t wish to take any dangers. I used to be clearly thrown off steadiness, I nearly misplaced my shoe. Even when it wasn’t intentional, I wish to apologize to Philipsen and Alpecin-Deceuninck. Even when I’m not a nasty man, it’s not nice.”
Alpecin co-manager Phillip Roodhoft: “Jasper is the sufferer of one thing he’s completely not concerned in, that’s clear. To be trustworthy, the 2 others who collided, I feel it’s not about blaming. It’s only a silly crash. Issues can occur, and the results for us as a workforce, however primarily for Jasper, are very unhealthy, however what are you able to say? Unhealthy issues occur typically.”
And but, Coquard is on a yellow.
Jeremy Boyce is in contact: “As you say, completely different profile at this time. With 2 flat levels and a tt to come back, however the mountains actually and metaphorically looming, it’s perhaps a day for the gc groups and contenders to point out themselves and put some stress on their rivals? Will the Vismas have a go, or are they already working fearful of UAE/Pogacar ? Or retaining their playing cards shut/powder dry ?”
James Irwin will get in contact: “Love your soccer work, each written and on the Soccer Weekly pod. (Thanks, James, actually appreciated). Thought I might say Bonjour from Gournay-en-Bray, about 60km into at this time’s stage of the Tour. On vacation with my household on a campsite about two hours away and we’re huge biking followers so determined we needed to come alongside. Loads of ambiance on this village for the race. Needs to be a great ending to the stage at this time as soon as it reaches Côte Jacques Anquetil. Will get pleasure from studying your dwell updates whereas we sit right here for the following few hours. Cheers, James Irwin (with spouse Tracey and daughter Charlotte, 13.”
Take pleasure in, workforce.
Jacques Anquetil, a Rouen native and five-time Tour winner, is remembered with a monument on the Côte Jacques Anquetil climb, which at this time’s route contains.
The legend was profiled right here in these pages in 2001:
Jacques Anquetil (France) 1961, 1962, 1963
Grasp Jacques got here of Norman farming inventory, and was a superlative time-trialist whose power in opposition to the clock made him the primary man to win 5 Excursions. Well-known as a person who favored to dwell effectively – champagne, cigars, oysters – he raced as much as 230 occasions a 12 months and made no bones about the truth that so as to take action it was essential to take medication. Died of abdomen most cancers in 1987.
Solely Chris Froome has gained three Tour de France in succession since as we’re not counting you realize who.
The départ fictif is in session within the metropolis of Amiens, and the street to Rouen begins. Now they know the way Joan of Arc felt…the streets are full. The Tour de France has visited Rouen 18 occasions since 1957, and it’s the 14th time for Amiens, although the primary since 1977. That 12 months, a end in Rouen noticed Dutchman Fedor den Hertog take the stage, the yellow jersey finally taken by Bernard Thévenet, a two-time winner with a combined status. Rouen hosted a 2012 stage, gained by sprinter supreme Andre Greipel, the GC winner that 12 months was…Bradley Wiggins…yeah, Le Tour is Le Tour.
Right here’s Monday’s stage report from Jeremy Whittle.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider had been contesting the intermediate dash at Isbergues when Coquard moved to the correct and touched shoulders with one other rider, earlier than swerving throughout into the Belgian’s path, inflicting him to crash.
“I’m not a nasty man,” a visibly distressed Coquard mentioned on the end. “I apologise to Alpecin, even when I didn’t imply to do something. I nearly misplaced my shoe and there was nothing I may do.”
Preamble
Bonjour, tout le monde. Le Tour is Le Tour as we are saying yearly. The casualties pile excessive, with Jasper Philipsen becoming a member of the checklist yesterday and Remco Evenepoel on the deck, however again up quickly as they sped into Dunkirk. These flat levels are sometimes the place the ache is sharpest, the velocity they rattle alongside at. At this time, nonetheless in northern France, will likely be a bit completely different, with a Traditional-style configuration, with numerous climbs earlier than within the final third, the powerful will get going, with repeated nasty climbs. One for the breakaway golf equipment, and onerous work for the workforce captains, a day of rouleurs and puncheurs. And likely Tadej Pogacar.
Per William Fotheringham’s pre-Tour information.
A welter of little hills within the finale together with the Rampe Saint-Hilaire, a 750m “wall” within the metropolis centre, 5km from the end; there will likely be large stress for all of the contenders making an attempt to get in place for these. Evocatively, one of many late hills is the Côte de Bonsecours, the place Jean Robic staged a final-day heist to win the 1947 Tour, however within the Pogacar period there’s not a lot probability of a repeat.
