What a Tour for Thor. He’s worn the yellow jersey for 7 days and is now 2 for 2 in his breakaway attempts. Today he rode like the World Champion that he is with thanks to Ryder Hesjedal for helping him get the win. There was no way they could lose in a 2 on 1 scenario like that.
What got me even more excited today was witnessing Cadel dish out a serving of panache that made him World Champion last year. Cadel looked comfortable responding the explosive attacks and managed to get away on the descent to the finish putting time into Voeckler and the Schleck sisters. It couldn’t have worked out better for Cadel and BMC.
The next couple of days will be interesting. The race comes into Italy tomorrow and it’s absolutely freezing here. There’s fresh snow on the mountain tops and it’s been pouring rain. The Gendarmerie (French national police) have already crossed the border and seem to have jurisdiction over the roads of the race while in Italy (I’d be interested in finding out exactly how this works). The are 3 big climbs tomorrow but the descents will be the rider’s concern. Especially the Schleck’s.
Oz Cycling
courtesy of OzCycling.com.au
Unfortunately the ASO has temporarily prohibited OzCycling from posting their videos on YouTube. I can’t comment on the reasons behind this, but I hope they get it resolved very soon. The interviews and segments that Scotty McGrory and Dan Jones have been outstanding and I’ve seen how much work these guys put into bringing this footage to you. It will be a real shame if they have to stop.
Photos
courtesy of Veeral Patel and Sirotti
Stage 16 Profile
Stage 16 Results
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo 3:31:38
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
3 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:02
4 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 0:00:38
5 Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha Team 0:00:52
6 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:01:25
7 Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ
8 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:01:55
9 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team
10 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team Astana 0:01:58
11 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:04:23
…
42 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Leopard Trek 0:06:18
81 Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:09:59
118 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:15:06
119 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad
139 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad
General Classification after Stage 16
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 69:00:56
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:45
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:49
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:03:03
5 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:26
6 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:03:42
7 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:49
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:01
9 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:06:04
10 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:07:55
…
74 Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 1:18:20
80 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Leopard Trek 1:23:17
101 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling 1:43:17
139 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad 2:10:52
161 Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad 2:29:42
Stage 17 Preview