#TDF2015: start of the mountain showdown

Profile of the last climb: La Pierre-Saint-Martin

The first part of the 2015 Tour is over. During the first nine stages you could lose the Tour but not win it. The remaining days will decide who the winner will be.  Of the remaining 12 stages seven are in the mountains and all the rest, part from Stage 21 into Paris, are lumpy. It's going to be a very gruelling time for the riders from now to the end of the penultimate stage on 25th July. 

Today is the first of three days in the Pyrennées. On paper only the climb up La Pierre-Saint-Martin is tough but a sudden steep climb of 15.3 kilometres will surely find one or two of the favourites and outsiders out. The first mountain stage has often been a crucial pointer to the overall winner.  This is the first time
La Pierre-Saint-Martin has been used as a Tour mountain top finish.

I suspect that Sky will ride hard before and up the climb seeking to distance some of Chris Froome's rivals. Today will be important for Vincenzo Nibali, even though there are plenty of mountain stages to come, he surely cannot afford to lose more time, especially if it is a significant gap. Will Chris Froome again prove to be strongest or will Nairo Quintana start to pull back the nearly two minutes he has lost? What of Tejay Van Garderen, Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Rigoberto Uran? Or could there be a French surprise as today is the 14th July – Bastille Day....

The intermediate sprint comes after the first of two Category 4 climbs, so all the contestants for the Green Jersey should still be there. Can André Griepel snatch back the Green, which Peter Sagan now leads by just three points? Also given the succession of tough mountain stages, how many sprinters will be able to make it to Paris to compete in this year's final sprint on the Champs Elysée?   

Sad news that Ivan Basso had to withdraw yesterday from this year's race diagnosed with testicular cancer.  

Wine writer M.Vinosolex – Lincoln Siliakus died on 5th July

 Lincoln at the Salon des Vins de Loire in January 2012

I am very sad to learn that Australian born wine writer Lincoln Siliakus died on Sunday 5th July after a long illness. I am very sorry that I missed the messages that told me this sad news. I met Lincoln on a number of occasions and I remember his warmth and his humour – he was a lovely man. My condolences to Anne his partner.

Farewell today in Lincoln's beloved hills in Sablet. 

Tribute to Lincoln on Les 5 du Vin. 

Lincoln remembered for his environmental work in Tasmania. 

Lincoln's blog – VinoSolex

Post on Jim's Loire – Lincoln comes home in April 2012 after being taken seriously ill in the March.  

#TDF2015: BMC win by one second – Chris Froome well placed

Team BMC just won the Team Time Trial yesterday holding off Sky by one second. Sky might well have won but they had to slow a little so as not to drop Nicolas Roche, their fifth man, who was suffering on the final climb to the finish. 

Despite this disappointment Chris Froome and Sky must be well content with their position at the first rest day. Of his rivals only Tejay Van Garderen is close at 12 seconds. Tejay gained a second on Froome yesterday but all the others lost more time. Alberto Contador is now at 1'.03", Rigoberto Uran 1.18, Alejandro Valverde 1.50, Nairo Quintana 1.59 and Vincenzo Nibali down at 2.22. Tony Gallopin is the best placed Frenchman at 2.01.

 Stage 10 Profile – the first mountain stage 

After today's rest day in Pau comes the first mountain stage with a Hors Category climb – La Pierre-Saint-Martin – to the finish. This will be the first really big test for the GC contenders. Will Sky ride hard in the second half of the stage to put their rivals under pressure? The first mountain stage can often really shake up the GC contenders with the sudden change from riding on the relative flat to a steep mountain climb. In the past such stages have produced big gaps amongst the leading contenders. 

The finish of Tuesday's stage could be very exciting!