2012 Tour de France: a few reflections

Waterfront@Pauillac 2010 – does Latour 1982 make you go faster?

After just over three weeks spent following the Tour, I'm feeling a little bereft today now that it has finished. Time, then, for a few reflections on the 2012 edition. 

Some have suggested that this year's Tour was boring. I don't agree and not just because Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider ever to win the Tour plus Chris Froome's second place, seven stage wins by UK riders – three of them by Mark Cavendish. Although fewer than in previous years, Mark's stage wins take him to 23 in five years putting him in 4th place in the overall stage winners' ranking. Only Eddy Merckx (34), Bernard Hinault (28) and André Leducq (25) have won more. Mark Cavendish is now the most successful sprinter in the Tour's history.

Yes Alberto Contador was not present because of suspension. Nor was Andy Schleck due to injury. Would the outcome have been any different had they been competing? I have my doubts. Schleck surely would not have put enough time into either Wiggins or Froome in the mountains to have survived the two long time trials. Less certain with regard to Contador but he wasn't hugely impressive in the 2011 and 2010 editions. Wiggins beat Contador in the 2010 final time trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac and Wiggins' time trialling has improved considerably since then as his two stage victories this year showed. Indeed at one point Contador was even losing time to Andy Schleck. 

There were some thrilling victories by Peter Sagan – the first stage and the third into Boulogne – and by Thomas Voeckler at Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, Pierre Rolland at La Toussuire, Thibaut Pinot at Porrentruy and Chris Froome at La Planche des Belles Filles to mention a few. Then there were the two mesmerising wins by Mark Cavendish first at Tournai and then stunningly at Brive.

The French had a good Tour with Thomas Voeckler winning the Mountain Jersey competition and two stages. Long-term, even better news may well be the emergence of Thibault Pinot and Pierre Rolland's fine ride. All in all, five stage victories to the host nation. Then, of course, there are more young stars – Peter Sagan, especially, and Tejay Van Garderen. 

No – not boring at all!  

  

   

2012 Tour de France: Pierre Rolland makes it a French double – Bradley Wiggins strengthens his grip

Frenchman Pierre Rolland made it a double victory for France following Thomas Voeckler's win yesterday. Like Voeckler, Rolland was in the long escape of the day. He managed to drop his companions in the final climb to La Toussuire to win by 55 seconds from the very select group of five riders – Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Jurgen Van Den Broeck and France's youngest new Tour talent – Thibaut Pinot who came in second. The biggest loser of the day was Cadel Evans who cracked on the final climb, came in 11th and lost 1.27 to Wiggins.  

Although Sky rode a brilliant race it was a much less comfortable day for them than yesterday as there were more attacks. Evans attempted an attack on the Glandon but it was soon clear that it wasn't his day as he could keep the pace of his team mate Tejay Van Garderen and looked to be in difficulty when the attack was taken by the Yellow jersey group. Vincenzo Nibali and Jurgen Van Den Broeck attacked on the Toussuire climb. Initially it looked as though they might successfully put time into Wiggins as Froome appeared to blow, leaving Wiggins to try to catch them. However, Foome soon recovered and led Wiggins back to Nibali and Van Den Broeck. Froome even managed unwittingly  to drop Wiggins when he put in an attack once they had caught Nibali and Van Den Broeck but slowed when he realised what had happened. The attacks, however, proved to be fatal to Evans and Chris Froome is now up to second place overall.  

Stage Top 12:

    

 1.Pierre Rolland 

 2. Thibaut Pinot                    55 seconds

 3. Chris Froome                    55  

 4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck      57  

 5. Vincezo Nibali                   57  

 6. Bradley Wiggins                57  

 7. Chris Anker Sorensen      1.08

 8. Janez Brajkovic               1.58

 9. Vasili Kiryienka               2.13

10. Frank Schleck                2.23 

11. Cadel Evans                  2.23

12. Tejay Van Garderen       2.23

Overall top 10:

 1. Bradley Wiggins 

 2. Chris Froome                   2.05

 3. Vincenzo Nibali                 2.23

 4. Cadel Evans                     3.19

 5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck     4.48

 6. Haimar Zubeldia               6.15

 7. Tejay Van Garderen          6.57

 8. Janez Brajkovic                7.30

 9. Pierre Rolland                  8.31

10. Thibaut Pinot                  8.51

Other big losers today were Denis Menchov (overall 16.20 down on Wiggins), Maxime Monfort (17.41) and Nicolas Roche (10.49).

Race standings here.

Although there is still a long way to go Bradley Wiggins has undoubtedly greatly strengthened his grip on the Tour today. He, Chris Froome and Team Sky proving to be equal to all the attacks. 

2011 Tour de France: great 19th stage and all set up for grande finale

Yesterday's race to and up the Alpe d'Huez is likely to be remembered as a legendary stage, especially as in Pierre Rolland it featured a French win for the first time this Tour and on top of the famous Alpe. The racing by the favourites started on the lower slopes of the Col du Télégraphe when Contador attacked. Cadel Evans was unlucky to have had a mechanical problem soon after and lost time when he had to change bikes. However, despite the best efforts of Alberto everything came back together at Bourg d'Oisans at the foot of the Alpe d'Huez. Contador attacked again got away and looked to be heading for the stage victory having passed Pierre Rolland, team mate of Thomas Voeckler, who had been allowed to attack just before the start of the climb. However, as Contador started to fade, Samuel Sánchez and Rolland caught Contador. Soon the Frenchman proved to be stronger than the two Spaniards and Pierre rode away for a famous first Tour stage victory.

Cadel Evans and the two Schlecks finished together with Andy taking the Yellow as Thomas Voeckler had been unable to follow the pace of the leaders up the Alpe. Even so he has done an amazing job defending Yellow since he won the jersey in Saint-Flour.

Mark Cavendish and most of the rest of the field just failed to make the cut but were reinstated. However, the riders all lost 20 points off their Green Jersey totals. Mark Cavendish now has 280, Rojas 265 and Gilbert 230 points. Mark should still win the Green but it is not quite as comfortable for him as it was before these two brutal Alpine stages.

Stage 20 Gap to Gap Individual Time Trial 42.5k

So it is has come down to time trial to decide the outcome of the 2011 Tour. Andy Schleck has 53 seconds on brother Frank and 57 on Cadel Evans, who starts as favourite to overhaul Andy. However, in the Bordeaux time trial last year Andy did much better than expected, so it could well be very tight. I'd like to see Cadel win but Andy Schleck might just hang on.

'Sculpture' from the finishing line of last year's time trial at Pauillac