Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Monday 1 July 2013

#TDF13: 2nd stage – last gasp win for Jan Bakelants + 2650 metres to climb tomorrow

Tour rider taking on refreshment@Pauillac in 2010

Today saw a fine opportunistic win from Jan Bakelants just holding off Peter Sagan and the rest of the leading group by a second. An all important second that gave him not only the stage win but the Yellow Jersey too.

Tomorrow is another hill stage with four climbs in the short 145K from Ajaccio to Calvi. Will Bakelants be able to hang on to the jersey? Certainly he should have a better chance than sprinter Marcel Kittel, who predictably lost contact once the going got tough. In contrast Bakelants was up with the leading group and able to take advantage when the attack came just after the last climb of the day. Interesting to see Chris Froome test the legs of the other favourites on the last climb of the day. Good to see that Tony Martin got through the day – but another tough ride to come. 

Tomorrow's stage has four climbs – one 4th cat, two 3rd cat and a 2nd cat making 2650 metres (8694 feet) to climb. Again could be a day for Peter Sagan as he can certainly get over climbs like these with the leading bunch.     

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