Nibali takes a fourth stage victory as the Tour leaves the Pyrenees

The third and final day in the Pyrenees saw the riders in the 2014 Tour de France head from Pau to the Hautacam, with four categorised climbs along the way. The two third-category climbs in the opening 60km would be of little consequence on a stage that ended with two hors categorie climbs: the Col du Tourmalet and the Hautacam.

The day’s first breakaway was established by Daniel Oss (BMC) and Bartosz Huzarski (NetApp-Endura) with the pair getting 1:15 clear after 14km of racing. Over the next five kilometres they were joined by a further 18 riders, creating a 20-man escape group: Oss, Huzarski, Mikel Nieve (Sky), Jesus Herrada and Jon Izaguirre (Movistar), Yuri Trofimov (Katusha), Alessandro De Marchi and Marco Marcato (Cannondale), Lars Boom (Belkin), Jan Bakelants (OPQS), Blel Kadri (AG2R), Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ), Bryan Coquard, Kévin Reza and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Julien Simon (Cofidis), Sylvain Chavanel and Marcel Wyss (IAM), Tiago Machado (NetApp) and Florian Guillou (Bretagne).

At the top of the first climb of the day, the third category Cote de Benejacq with 118km remaining, it was Huzarski who took the points. The gap to the Astana-led peloton was 3:46.

With 100km to go the gap had been reduced slightly, to 3:25, and at the top of the second climb, the third-category Cote de Loucrup, it was Lars Boom who took the points ahead of Huzarski.

The intermediate sprint in Trebons came very soon after that second climb, with Bryan Coquard (Europcar) taking the maximum points in the lead group. Some 3km later, with 81km left to race, the leaders had extended their advantage back out to 3:52.

On the approach to the Col du Tourmalet Astana started to work a little harder on the front, the gap coming down to 3:35 as the ascent began with 67km to go. The lead group began splitting up as soon as the headed skyward, the same fortune awaiting the peloton a few minutes later.

Sylvain Chavanel (IAM) attacked from the breakaway on the lower, gentler slopes of the 17km climb and got a small gap. But three kilometres later, 59.4km from the end of the stage, Mikel Nieve and Blel Kadri joined then passed Chavanel, having broken clear of the chase group a short time earlier.

The peloton was disintegrating on the climb with riders like Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Richie Porte (Sky) getting into difficulty. The lead group too was fracturing with riders constantly getting swept up by the peloton.

With 55km to go it was just Yuri Trofimov, Alessandro De Marchi and Bartosz Huzarski that remained of the chase group, the trio sitting 44 seconds behind the two leaders. Nieve attacked Kadri a couple of times in the steep final 5km to the summit but Kadri was up to the task each time.

Kadri was first over the top just ahead of Nieve, with Trofimov, Huzarski and De Marchi summiting 1:39 later. The peloton began the descent 4:30 behind the two leaders after which Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) broke clear, trying to escape from the Nibali group on the tight and technical descent.

After 14km of descending, and with 36km still to race, Valverde had 20 seconds on the peloton, with two of his teammates — Jesus Herrada and Jon Izaguirre — having dropped back from the remnants of the break to assist their leader.

With 30km still to race Nieve and Kadri were enjoying a buffer of 1:25 over an expanded group of six chasers (De Marchi, Huzarski, Trofimov, Bakelants, Oss and Simon), 3:36 over the small Valverde group, and another 10 seconds over the peloton. Three kilometres later Valverde and his teammates were caught by a strung-out peloton, the gap to the two leaders starting to come down quite quickly.

Nieve and Kadri had 2:33 over the peloton with 20km to race and when the final climb to the Hautacam began, 14km from the finish, the gap was down to just 1:30.

With 12.2 left to race the two leaders’ alliance was over with Nieve breaking clear of Kadri. In the main field Trofimov was getting swept up, leaving just Huzarski and De Marchi between the Astana-led peloton and the two leaders.

Huzarski was caught with 10.8km to go and 200m later Chris Horner (Lampre-Merida) put in his first real attack of the race. He was quickly marked by overall leader Vincenzo Nibali, the pair breaking clear and quickly overtaking Alessandro De Marchi.

With 10km to go Horner and Nibali were just 50 seconds behind Nieve and a short time later the pair swept up Blel Kadri.

Nibali broke clear of Horner with 9.6km still to climb, heading off solo in search of the lone leader and, ultimately, a fourth stage win at this year’s Tour. The Sicilian made the catch with 8.1km to go, moving alongside the Basque rider then accelerating to ensure he couldn’t get into his slipstream.

Une ligne de TGV a été installée dans la montée d'Hautacam ! #twittcyclos #TDF https://t.co/ZPHo5yxUMQ

— Le Tour de Franz (@leTourdeFranz) July 24, 2014

After a couple of attacks in the peloton KOM classification leader Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) broke clear, heading off in search of more points to secure his lead in the competition. He caught then dropped Nieve with 6.7km to go just as solo leader Nibali hit a selfie-taking fan just up the road but managed to stay upright.

With 5.6km still to race, Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr), in the white jersey of the best young rider, attacked from a very select elite peloton. Only Tejay van Garderen (BMC) and Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r-La Mondiale) were able to follow, while Alejandro Valverde was stuck in the group, his second place overall in jeopardy.

Valverde was soon dropped by what was left of the peloton — Laurens Ten Dam (Belkin), Bauke Mollema (Belkin), Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Leopold Konig (NetApp-Endura). But the Spaniard fought back on with 4.1km to go, alongside Haimar Zubeldia (Trek).

With 3.2km still to race Nibali had 57 seconds over the solo chase of Rafal Majka and 1:13 to the trio of Pinot, Van Garderen and Peraud. And further down the road, Valverde was being made to ride on the front of the six rider chase group, no-one willing to help him do the work.

Majka was caught by Peraud, Pinot and Van Garderen with 2.3km to go while Nibali was cruising away to victory, more than 1:10 ahead of the quartet. Valverde, meanwhile, was still doing all the work, and was drifting to beyond 37 seconds of the Peraud group, enough to lose his second place overall.

At the summit of the Hautacam it was Vincenzo Nibali who took his fourth stage win of this year’s Tour de France and extended his overall lead, yet again. He now sits 7:10 ahead of new second-placed rider Thibaut Pinot, who took second place on the stage, with Jean-Christophe Peraud third overall at 7:23. Valverde slips down to fourth, two seconds behind Peraud, but with a long time trial coming up on the penultimate stage, he should move back up on to the podium.

Rafal Majka’s third place on the stage sees him keep his lead in the KOM classification; a classification he will win when the race arrives in Paris given there’s only two more KOM points available in the three stages remaining.

The green jersey is still firmly on the shoulders of Peter Sagan (Cannondale) ahead of a stage that could suit him tomorrow. And Thibaut Pinot will spend another day in the best young rider’s jersey after gaining more time on his closest rival Romain Bardet.

And so with the high mountains of the Pyrenees now behind them, the riders have just three stages left to tackle in the 2014 Tour de France. Tomorrow’s stage 19 runs from Maubourguet to Bergerac with only a fourth-category climb 13km from the finish to contend with.

Previous stage reports

- Stage 1: Marcel Kittel takes Tour opener as Cavendish and Gerrans crash
- Stage 2: Vincenzo Nibali wins in Sheffield and takes Tour lead overall
- Stage 3: Marcel Kittel doubles up in London, Nibali holds on to yellow
- Stage 4: Marcel Kittel claims his third stage as Vincenzo Nibali defends yellow
- Stage 5: Lars Boom wins on the cobbles of stage 5 as Chris Froome crashes out
- Stage 6: Andre Greipel sprints to victory on stage 6, Nibali holds steady in yellow
- Stage 7: Matteo Trentin wins in a photo finish, Nibali secures a sixth day in yellow
- Stage 8: Blel Kadri solos to stage 8 victory, Nibali holds lead after GC shakeup
- Stage 9: Tony Martin takes solo win as Tony Gallopin rides into yellow
- Stage 10: Nibali takes back yellow as Contador crashes out of the Tour de France
- Stage 11: Gallopin wins stage 11 of Le Tour after a perfectly timed late attack
- Stage 12: Kristoff sprints to his first Tour de France stage win into Saint-Etienne
- Stage 13: Nibali climbs to a third stage win and stamps his authority on Le Tour
- Stage 14: Rafal Majka claims to stage 14 win in his first Tour de France
- Stage 15: Kristoff wins again as Bauer and Elmiger fall agonisingly short
- Stage 16: Michael Rogers wins stage 16 after late attack off the Port de Bales
- Stage 17: Majka wins again as Tinkoff-Saxo go back-to-back at Le Tour

Stage results

Go to: Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Stage 7 Stage 8 Stage 9 Stage 10 Stage 11 Stage 12 Stage 13 Stage 14 Stage 15 Stage 16 Stage 17 Stage 18

Tour de France

Stage 18

: Pau > Hautacam

Thursday 24th July (2014)

Classification: 2.UWT

Category: Int. Men

Distance: 145.5km

Stage Result

1.	NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team	04:04:17
2.	PINOT Thibaut FDJ.fr	1:10
3.	MAJKA Rafał Tinkoff-Saxo	1:12
4.	PERAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	1:15
5.	VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team	-
6.	BARDET Romain AG2R La Mondiale	1:53
7.	MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	1:57
8.	KöNIG Leopold Team NetApp Endura	-
9.	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar Trek Factory Racing	1:59
10.	VALVERDE Alejandro Movistar Team	-
11.	TEN DAM Laurens Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	-
12.	SCHLECK Fränk Trek Factory Racing	3:30
13.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	-
14.	KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team	-
15.	JEANNESSON Arnold FDJ.fr	4:24
16.	GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale	4:28
17.	TROFIMOV Yuri Team Katusha	4:30
18.	ROLLAND Pierre Team Europcar	4:33
19.	HORNER Chris Lampre-Merida	4:40
20.	GADRET John Movistar Team	-
21.	STETINA Peter BMC Racing Team	4:59
22.	MOLARD Rudy Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	5:20
23.	FEILLU Brice Bretagne - Séché Environnement	5:23
24.	NIEVE Mikel Team Sky	5:25
25.	GAUTIER Cyril Team Europcar	6:40
26.	WYSS Marcel IAM Cycling	7:22
27.	MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	8:15
28.	QUEMENEUR Perrig Team Europcar	8:35
29.	ROCHE Nicolas Tinkoff-Saxo	8:55
30.	CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM Cycling	10:10
31.	HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp Endura	10:43
32.	BAKELANTS Jan Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	11:12
33.	VOECKLER Thomas Team Europcar	11:54
34.	ARASHIRO Yukiya Team Europcar	-
35.	KADRI Blel AG2R La Mondiale	13:21
36.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen Lotto Belisol	13:50
37.	SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team	14:14
38.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff-Saxo	-
39.	VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team	-
40.	ERVITI Imanol Movistar Team	-
41.	LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ.fr	-
42.	VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team	16:12
43.	SIMON Julien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	-
44.	DE MARCHI Alessandro Cannondale	16:16
45.	RIBLON Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	17:35
46.	ROY Jérémy FDJ.fr	19:01
47.	KING Benjamin Garmin Sharp	-
48.	SMUKULIS Gatis Team Katusha	-
49.	SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Garmin Sharp	-
50.	VANSUMMEREN Johan Garmin Sharp	-
51.	BUSCHE Matthew Trek Factory Racing	-
52.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	-
53.	IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel Trek Factory Racing	-
54.	DURASEK Kristijan Lampre-Merida	-
55.	LOPEZ GARCIA David Team Sky	-
56.	TANKINK Bram Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	-
57.	THOMAS Geraint Team Sky	-
58.	HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol	-
59.	GUILLOU Florian Bretagne - Séché Environnement	-
60.	BIDEAU Jean Marc Bretagne - Séché Environnement	-
61.	REICHENBACH Sebastien IAM Cycling	19:25
62.	BOOM Lars Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	19:59
63.	TAARAMäE Rein Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	20:14
64.	RODRíGUEZ Joaquim Team Katusha	20:38
65.	PINEAU Cédric FDJ.fr	-
66.	VOSS Paul Team NetApp Endura	21:04
67.	RéZA Kévin Team Europcar	21:08
68.	GALLOPIN Tony Lotto Belisol	-
69.	MENDES José Team NetApp Endura	21:45
70.	MACHADO Tiago Team NetApp Endura	-
71.	OLIVEIRA Nelson Lampre-Merida	-
72.	GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team	22:04
73.	FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team	-
74.	SCARPONI Michele Astana Pro Team	-
75.	MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale	22:28
76.	IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team	23:02
77.	TOSATTO Matteo Tinkoff-Saxo	-
78.	MINARD Sébastien AG2R La Mondiale	-
79.	SCHILLINGER Andreas Team NetApp Endura	-
80.	HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team	-
81.	OSS Daniel BMC Racing Team	-
82.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	23:42
83.	PINEAU Jérome IAM Cycling	24:39
84.	MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team	-
85.	VELITS Peter BMC Racing Team	-
86.	GOłAś Michał Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	-
87.	MARCATO Marco Cannondale	26:29
88.	SAGAN Peter Cannondale	-
89.	TERPSTRA Niki Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	27:26
90.	GERARD Arnaud Bretagne - Séché Environnement	28:14
91.	PAULINHO Sérgio Tinkoff-Saxo	28:41
92.	RAST Gregory Trek Factory Racing	-
93.	BENNATI Daniele Tinkoff-Saxo	-
94.	TIMMER Albert Team Giant-Shimano	29:19
95.	COQUARD Bryan Team Europcar	30:57
96.	GREIPEL André Lotto Belisol	31:01
97.	MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	-
98.	CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE	-
99.	ELMIGER Martin IAM Cycling	-
100.	MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE	-
101.	ALBASINI Michael Orica GreenEDGE	-
102.	CURVERS Roy Team Giant-Shimano	-
103.	HOWES Alex Garmin Sharp	-
104.	GRUZDEV Dmitriy Astana Pro Team	-
105.	KOREN Kristijan Cannondale	-
106.	FONSECA Armindo Bretagne - Séché Environnement	-
107.	DELAPLACE Anthony Bretagne - Séché Environnement	-
108.	IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team	-
109.	BONNET William FDJ.fr	-
110.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant-Shimano	-
111.	VIVIANI Elia Cannondale	-
112.	BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Belisol	-
113.	WYNANTS Maarten Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	-
114.	KEUKELEIRE Jens Orica GreenEDGE	-
115.	SABATINI Fabio Cannondale	-
116.	SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo Lampre-Merida	-
117.	VOIGT Jens Trek Factory Racing	-
118.	BáRTA Jan Team NetApp Endura	-
119.	CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale	-
120.	TUFT Svein Orica GreenEDGE	-
121.	PATE Danny Team Sky	-
122.	LEMOINE Cyril Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	-
123.	PETACCHI Alessandro Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	-
124.	LEEZER Tom Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	-
125.	MøRKøV Michael Tinkoff-Saxo	-
126.	DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale	-
127.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	-
128.	VANMARCKE Sep Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	-
129.	ROELANDTS Jurgen Lotto Belisol	-
130.	DEMPSTER Zakkari Team NetApp Endura	-
131.	JARRIER Benoit Bretagne - Séché Environnement	-
132.	EDET Nicolas Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	-
133.	NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin Sharp	-
134.	PLAZA Rubén Movistar Team	-
135.	VACHON Florian Bretagne - Séché Environnement	-
136.	INTXAUSTI Beñat Movistar Team	-
137.	KIRYIENKA Vasil Team Sky	-
138.	DELAGE Mickaël FDJ.fr	-
139.	GENE Yohann Team Europcar	-
140.	LANGEVELD Sebastian Garmin Sharp	31:09
141.	BAUER Jack Garmin Sharp	-
142.	EISEL Bernhard Team Sky	-
143.	VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team	-
144.	PETIT Adrien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	-
145.	FEILLU Romain Bretagne - Séché Environnement	-
146.	BURGHARDT Marcus BMC Racing Team	-
147.	SIEBERG Marcel Lotto Belisol	-
148.	PICHOT Alexandre Team Europcar	-
149.	PAOLINI Luca Team Katusha	-
150.	MARINO Jean-Marc Cannondale	-
151.	RENSHAW Mark Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	31:28
152.	TRENTIN Matteo Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	32:03
153.	DEGENKOLB John Team Giant-Shimano	-
154.	DE KORT Koen Team Giant-Shimano	32:04
155.	VEELERS Tom Team Giant-Shimano	-
156.	KITTEL Marcel Team Giant-Shimano	-
157.	DéMARE Arnaud FDJ.fr	-
158.	KRISTOFF Alexander Team Katusha	-
159.	ISAYCHEV Vladimir Team Katusha	-
160.	KLUGE Roger IAM Cycling	-
161.	JI Cheng Team Giant-Shimano	-
162.	KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	32:14
163.	BODNAR Maciej Cannondale	-
164.	CIMOLAI Davide Lampre-Merida	-
NQ.	ROJAS José Joaquín Movistar Team	4:04:17
DNF.	HAUSSLER Heinrich IAM Cycling	-

General Classification

1.	NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team	80:45:45
2.	PINOT Thibaut FDJ.fr	7:10
3.	PERAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	7:23
4.	VALVERDE Alejandro Movistar Team	7:25
5.	BARDET Romain AG2R La Mondiale	9:27
6.	VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team	11:34
7.	MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	13:56
8.	TEN DAM Laurens Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	14:15
9.	KöNIG Leopold Team NetApp Endura	14:37
10.	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar Trek Factory Racing	16:25
11.	ROLLAND Pierre Team Europcar	17:48
12.	SCHLECK Fränk Trek Factory Racing	21:33
13.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen Lotto Belisol	29:58
14.	TROFIMOV Yuri Team Katusha	32:30
15.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	34:30
16.	FEILLU Brice Bretagne - Séché Environnement	37:37
17.	HORNER Chris Lampre-Merida	39:28
18.	NIEVE Mikel Team Sky	41:34
19.	GADRET John Movistar Team	41:41
20.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	50:01
21.	KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team	50:34
22.	GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale	52:40
23.	THOMAS Geraint Team Sky	56:26
24.	GAUTIER Cyril Team Europcar	57:15
25.	BAKELANTS Jan Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	1:01:06
26.	KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	1:08:55
27.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff-Saxo	1:12:36
28.	VELITS Peter BMC Racing Team	1:18:27
29.	GALLOPIN Tony Lotto Belisol	1:24:55
30.	JEANNESSON Arnold FDJ.fr	1:26:53
31.	WYSS Marcel IAM Cycling	1:30:53
32.	MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	1:31:50
33.	STETINA Peter BMC Racing Team	1:41:10
34.	CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM Cycling	1:44:47
35.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant-Shimano	1:47:29
36.	FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team	1:47:55
37.	VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team	1:52:35
38.	TANKINK Bram Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	1:52:47
39.	ROCHE Nicolas Tinkoff-Saxo	1:52:52
40.	IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team	1:52:57
41.	VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team	1:53:40
42.	VOECKLER Thomas Team Europcar	1:54:08
43.	SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team	2:04:23
44.	MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team	2:07:48
45.	MAJKA Rafał Tinkoff-Saxo	2:07:50
46.	DURASEK Kristijan Lampre-Merida	2:15:10
47.	SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo Lampre-Merida	2:19:25
48.	SCARPONI Michele Astana Pro Team	2:21:10
49.	DE MARCHI Alessandro Cannondale	2:21:58
50.	VOSS Paul Team NetApp Endura	2:22:45
51.	MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	2:24:15
52.	MOLARD Rudy Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	2:27:47
53.	RODRíGUEZ Joaquim Team Katusha	2:30:57
54.	KING Benjamin Garmin Sharp	2:35:03
55.	CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale	2:38:36
56.	SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Garmin Sharp	2:38:45
57.	ROY Jérémy FDJ.fr	2:41:14
58.	GUILLOU Florian Bretagne - Séché Environnement	2:41:55
59.	GOłAś Michał Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	2:43:32
60.	PINEAU Jérome IAM Cycling	2:45:38
61.	ARASHIRO Yukiya Team Europcar	2:46:05
62.	HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol	2:48:00
63.	SAGAN Peter Cannondale	2:48:43
64.	HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team	2:49:10
65.	MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale	2:50:17
66.	HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp Endura	2:50:59
67.	KEUKELEIRE Jens Orica GreenEDGE	2:51:03
68.	IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel Trek Factory Racing	2:53:12
69.	RéZA Kévin Team Europcar	2:57:07
70.	MACHADO Tiago Team NetApp Endura	2:57:57
71.	OSS Daniel BMC Racing Team	2:58:05
72.	ALBASINI Michael Orica GreenEDGE	3:01:44
73.	BáRTA Jan Team NetApp Endura	3:01:47
74.	VANSUMMEREN Johan Garmin Sharp	3:02:44
75.	ELMIGER Martin IAM Cycling	3:05:14
76.	EDET Nicolas Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	3:06:12
77.	LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ.fr	3:06:21
78.	KADRI Blel AG2R La Mondiale	3:06:35
79.	BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Belisol	3:10:10
80.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	3:13:27
81.	REICHENBACH Sebastien IAM Cycling	3:13:28
82.	KIRYIENKA Vasil Team Sky	3:14:02
83.	ERVITI Imanol Movistar Team	3:14:20
84.	DELAPLACE Anthony Bretagne - Séché Environnement	3:14:36
85.	MARCATO Marco Cannondale	3:15:56
86.	QUEMENEUR Perrig Team Europcar	3:16:23
87.	OLIVEIRA Nelson Lampre-Merida	3:21:29
88.	DE KORT Koen Team Giant-Shimano	3:25:57
89.	TAARAMäE Rein Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	3:26:17
90.	PLAZA Rubén Movistar Team	3:26:44
91.	PAULINHO Sérgio Tinkoff-Saxo	3:27:27
92.	BUSCHE Matthew Trek Factory Racing	3:28:24
93.	DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale	3:29:41
94.	MINARD Sébastien AG2R La Mondiale	3:30:04
95.	BOOM Lars Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	3:30:29
96.	LOPEZ GARCIA David Team Sky	3:31:36
97.	TERPSTRA Niki Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	3:31:42
98.	TRENTIN Matteo Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	3:33:59
99.	GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team	3:34:18
100.	BENNATI Daniele Tinkoff-Saxo	3:35:20
101.	VACHON Florian Bretagne - Séché Environnement	3:35:31
102.	RAST Gregory Trek Factory Racing	3:35:45
103.	PICHOT Alexandre Team Europcar	3:36:10
104.	SMUKULIS Gatis Team Katusha	3:36:12
105.	VOIGT Jens Trek Factory Racing	3:36:15
106.	PINEAU Cédric FDJ.fr	3:36:27
107.	VANMARCKE Sep Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	3:39:02
108.	SIMON Julien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	3:40:08
109.	COQUARD Bryan Team Europcar	3:40:34
110.	LEMOINE Cyril Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	3:42:38
111.	CURVERS Roy Team Giant-Shimano	3:44:38
112.	SABATINI Fabio Cannondale	3:45:14
113.	WYNANTS Maarten Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	3:46:24
114.	BODNAR Maciej Cannondale	3:47:06
115.	ROELANDTS Jurgen Lotto Belisol	3:47:23
116.	CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE	3:47:24
117.	BIDEAU Jean Marc Bretagne - Séché Environnement	3:47:54
118.	INTXAUSTI Beñat Movistar Team	3:52:02
119.	TOSATTO Matteo Tinkoff-Saxo	3:54:25
120.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	3:55:23
121.	MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE	3:57:20
122.	MENDES José Team NetApp Endura	3:58:45
123.	RIBLON Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	3:59:12
124.	EISEL Bernhard Team Sky	3:59:56
125.	DEGENKOLB John Team Giant-Shimano	4:01:00
126.	HOWES Alex Garmin Sharp	4:03:16
127.	GENE Yohann Team Europcar	4:06:06
128.	KRISTOFF Alexander Team Katusha	4:06:45
129.	IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team	4:08:27
130.	GERARD Arnaud Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4:10:14
131.	LEEZER Tom Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	4:10:15
132.	TUFT Svein Orica GreenEDGE	4:12:41
133.	GRUZDEV Dmitriy Astana Pro Team	4:14:30
134.	KOREN Kristijan Cannondale	4:15:08
135.	PAOLINI Luca Team Katusha	4:18:33
136.	MøRKøV Michael Tinkoff-Saxo	4:19:32
137.	FONSECA Armindo Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4:19:46
138.	KLUGE Roger IAM Cycling	4:20:45
139.	LANGEVELD Sebastian Garmin Sharp	4:22:05
140.	BAUER Jack Garmin Sharp	4:24:24
141.	SIEBERG Marcel Lotto Belisol	4:28:04
142.	SCHILLINGER Andreas Team NetApp Endura	4:30:04
143.	VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team	4:30:11
144.	NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin Sharp	4:31:29
145.	RENSHAW Mark Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	4:31:35
146.	TIMMER Albert Team Giant-Shimano	4:31:45
147.	DELAGE Mickaël FDJ.fr	4:32:05
148.	BURGHARDT Marcus BMC Racing Team	4:33:57
149.	DEMPSTER Zakkari Team NetApp Endura	4:34:01
150.	JARRIER Benoit Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4:34:55
151.	FEILLU Romain Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4:37:01
152.	PETACCHI Alessandro Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	4:38:14
153.	GREIPEL André Lotto Belisol	4:38:17
154.	PATE Danny Team Sky	4:40:02
155.	VEELERS Tom Team Giant-Shimano	4:41:07
156.	ISAYCHEV Vladimir Team Katusha	4:46:29
157.	PETIT Adrien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	4:47:35
158.	DéMARE Arnaud FDJ.fr	4:48:11
159.	BONNET William FDJ.fr	4:48:41
160.	MARINO Jean-Marc Cannondale	4:49:25
161.	KITTEL Marcel Team Giant-Shimano	4:53:25
162.	VIVIANI Elia Cannondale	4:55:07
163.	CIMOLAI Davide Lampre-Merida	5:05:24
164.	JI Cheng Team Giant-Shimano	5:30:36

Mountains Classification

1.	MAJKA Rafał Tinkoff-Saxo	181
2.	NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team	168
3.	RODRíGUEZ Joaquim Team Katusha	112
4.	PINOT Thibaut FDJ.fr	89
5.	PERAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	85
6.	DE MARCHI Alessandro Cannondale	78
7.	VOECKLER Thomas Team Europcar	61
8.	VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team	54
9.	VALVERDE Alejandro Movistar Team	48
10.	VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team	48
11.	BARDET Romain AG2R La Mondiale	44
12.	KöNIG Leopold Team NetApp Endura	44
13.	KADRI Blel AG2R La Mondiale	43
14.	SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo Lampre-Merida	36
15.	NIEVE Mikel Team Sky	36
16.	MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	34
17.	ROCHE Nicolas Tinkoff-Saxo	33
18.	MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	26
19.	KIRYIENKA Vasil Team Sky	24
20.	ROLLAND Pierre Team Europcar	22
21.	HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team	22
22.	SCHLECK Fränk Trek Factory Racing	20
23.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff-Saxo	19
24.	HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp Endura	17
25.	BAKELANTS Jan Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	17
26.	KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	17
27.	TROFIMOV Yuri Team Katusha	16
28.	MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team	13
29.	TEN DAM Laurens Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	12
30.	GAUTIER Cyril Team Europcar	12
31.	EDET Nicolas Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	12
32.	VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team	11
33.	IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team	11
34.	THOMAS Geraint Team Sky	10
35.	SIMON Julien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	10
36.	MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	9
37.	MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale	9
38.	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar Trek Factory Racing	8
39.	OSS Daniel BMC Racing Team	8
40.	SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Garmin Sharp	7
41.	LEMOINE Cyril Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	6
42.	CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM Cycling	6
43.	DURASEK Kristijan Lampre-Merida	6
44.	ELMIGER Martin IAM Cycling	5
45.	RIBLON Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	5
46.	VOIGT Jens Trek Factory Racing	4
47.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	4
48.	PINEAU Jérome IAM Cycling	4
49.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	4
50.	QUEMENEUR Perrig Team Europcar	2
51.	BOOM Lars Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	2
52.	LANGEVELD Sebastian Garmin Sharp	2
53.	CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE	2
54.	FEILLU Brice Bretagne - Séché Environnement	2
55.	VELITS Peter BMC Racing Team	2
56.	GALLOPIN Tony Lotto Belisol	2
57.	SAGAN Peter Cannondale	2
58.	TAARAMäE Rein Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	2
59.	TERPSTRA Niki Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	2
60.	GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team	1
61.	JARRIER Benoit Bretagne - Séché Environnement	1
62.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant-Shimano	1
63.	RéZA Kévin Team Europcar	1
64.	MACHADO Tiago Team NetApp Endura	1
65.	BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Belisol	1
66.	RAST Gregory Trek Factory Racing	1

Points Classification

1.	SAGAN Peter Cannondale	408
2.	COQUARD Bryan Team Europcar	253
3.	KRISTOFF Alexander Team Katusha	217
4.	KITTEL Marcel Team Giant-Shimano	177
5.	NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team	169
6.	RENSHAW Mark Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	153
7.	VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team	147
8.	GREIPEL André Lotto Belisol	143
9.	GALLOPIN Tony Lotto Belisol	105
10.	DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale	99
11.	PINOT Thibaut FDJ.fr	90
12.	KADRI Blel AG2R La Mondiale	83
13.	NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin Sharp	82
14.	ELMIGER Martin IAM Cycling	78
15.	OSS Daniel BMC Racing Team	78
16.	MAJKA Rafał Tinkoff-Saxo	77
17.	ALBASINI Michael Orica GreenEDGE	77
18.	MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	76
19.	PERAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	76
20.	DéMARE Arnaud FDJ.fr	74
21.	DE MARCHI Alessandro Cannondale	73
22.	FEILLU Romain Bretagne - Séché Environnement	71
23.	BARDET Romain AG2R La Mondiale	69
24.	GAUTIER Cyril Team Europcar	68
25.	VALVERDE Alejandro Movistar Team	67
26.	CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM Cycling	66
27.	VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team	64
28.	KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	64
29.	VOECKLER Thomas Team Europcar	61
30.	WESTRA Lieuwe Astana Pro Team	57
31.	ROGERS Michael Tinkoff-Saxo	54
32.	VANMARCKE Sep Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	53
33.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant-Shimano	51
34.	EDET Nicolas Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	51
35.	MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	46
36.	BOOM Lars Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	45
37.	LEMOINE Cyril Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	44
38.	DELAPLACE Anthony Bretagne - Séché Environnement	44
39.	RéZA Kévin Team Europcar	42
40.	BENNATI Daniele Tinkoff-Saxo	42
41.	VIVIANI Elia Cannondale	41
42.	PICHOT Alexandre Team Europcar	40
43.	MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale	39
44.	KöNIG Leopold Team NetApp Endura	38
45.	FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team	32
46.	CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE	32
47.	TRENTIN Matteo Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	31
48.	VOIGT Jens Trek Factory Racing	31
49.	DEGENKOLB John Team Giant-Shimano	31
50.	MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	30
51.	VACHON Florian Bretagne - Séché Environnement	29
52.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	29
53.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	29
54.	VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team	29
55.	ROY Jérémy FDJ.fr	29
56.	BAUER Jack Garmin Sharp	29
57.	TERPSTRA Niki Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	28
58.	ROLLAND Pierre Team Europcar	28
59.	SCHLECK Fränk Trek Factory Racing	28
60.	QUEMENEUR Perrig Team Europcar	28
61.	CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale	27
62.	MARCATO Marco Cannondale	27
63.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen Lotto Belisol	26
64.	BAKELANTS Jan Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	26
65.	MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team	26
66.	SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo Lampre-Merida	26
67.	BUSCHE Matthew Trek Factory Racing	26
68.	PETACCHI Alessandro Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	25
69.	BODNAR Maciej Cannondale	25
70.	KIRYIENKA Vasil Team Sky	24
71.	GERARD Arnaud Bretagne - Séché Environnement	24
72.	TEN DAM Laurens Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	23
73.	HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp Endura	23
74.	BáRTA Jan Team NetApp Endura	23
75.	SABATINI Fabio Cannondale	22
76.	KEUKELEIRE Jens Orica GreenEDGE	21
77.	RIBLON Christophe AG2R La Mondiale	21
78.	BIDEAU Jean Marc Bretagne - Séché Environnement	20
79.	LEEZER Tom Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	20
80.	KLUGE Roger IAM Cycling	20
81.	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar Trek Factory Racing	20
82.	NIEVE Mikel Team Sky	20
83.	VEELERS Tom Team Giant-Shimano	20
84.	THOMAS Geraint Team Sky	19
85.	PAULINHO Sérgio Tinkoff-Saxo	19
86.	EISEL Bernhard Team Sky	19
87.	FONSECA Armindo Bretagne - Séché Environnement	19
88.	SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Garmin Sharp	17
89.	LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ.fr	17
90.	RAST Gregory Trek Factory Racing	17
91.	PETIT Adrien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	17
92.	RODRíGUEZ Joaquim Team Katusha	16
93.	GENE Yohann Team Europcar	16
94.	PINEAU Jérome IAM Cycling	15
95.	JARRIER Benoit Bretagne - Séché Environnement	15
96.	HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol	14
97.	CIMOLAI Davide Lampre-Merida	14
98.	IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel Trek Factory Racing	13
99.	SIMON Julien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	13
100.	JEANNESSON Arnold FDJ.fr	12
101.	WYSS Marcel IAM Cycling	12
102.	TAARAMäE Rein Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	12
103.	FEILLU Brice Bretagne - Séché Environnement	11
104.	GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team	11
105.	TIMMER Albert Team Giant-Shimano	11
106.	ROCHE Nicolas Tinkoff-Saxo	10
107.	DEMPSTER Zakkari Team NetApp Endura	10
108.	KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team	9
109.	ARASHIRO Yukiya Team Europcar	9
110.	HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team	9
111.	MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE	8
112.	KOREN Kristijan Cannondale	8
113.	IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team	7
114.	SCARPONI Michele Astana Pro Team	7
115.	ROELANDTS Jurgen Lotto Belisol	7
116.	CURVERS Roy Team Giant-Shimano	7
117.	TROFIMOV Yuri Team Katusha	6
118.	IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team	5
119.	GRUZDEV Dmitriy Astana Pro Team	5
120.	JI Cheng Team Giant-Shimano	5
121.	TANKINK Bram Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	4
122.	SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team	4
123.	GUILLOU Florian Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4
124.	BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Belisol	4
125.	SMUKULIS Gatis Team Katusha	4
126.	GADRET John Movistar Team	3
127.	VOSS Paul Team NetApp Endura	3
128.	MARINO Jean-Marc Cannondale	3
129.	ISAYCHEV Vladimir Team Katusha	3
130.	DE KORT Koen Team Giant-Shimano	3
131.	PAOLINI Luca Team Katusha	2
132.	LANGEVELD Sebastian Garmin Sharp	2
133.	DELAGE Mickaël FDJ.fr	1
134.	BURGHARDT Marcus BMC Racing Team	1

Youth Classification

1.	PINOT Thibaut FDJ.fr	80:52:55
2.	BARDET Romain AG2R La Mondiale	2:17
3.	KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	1:01:45
4.	DUMOULIN Tom Team Giant-Shimano	1:40:19
5.	IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team	1:45:47
6.	MAJKA Rafał Tinkoff-Saxo	2:00:40
7.	MOLARD Rudy Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	2:20:37
8.	KING Benjamin Garmin Sharp	2:27:53
9.	SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Garmin Sharp	2:31:35
10.	SAGAN Peter Cannondale	2:41:33
11.	HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team	2:42:00
12.	REICHENBACH Sebastien IAM Cycling	3:06:18
13.	DELAPLACE Anthony Bretagne - Séché Environnement	3:07:26
14.	OLIVEIRA Nelson Lampre-Merida	3:14:19
15.	TRENTIN Matteo Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	3:26:49
16.	COQUARD Bryan Team Europcar	3:33:24
17.	DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE	3:48:23
18.	DEGENKOLB John Team Giant-Shimano	3:53:50
19.	FONSECA Armindo Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4:12:36
20.	JARRIER Benoit Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4:27:45
21.	PETIT Adrien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	4:40:17
22.	DéMARE Arnaud FDJ.fr	4:41:01
23.	VIVIANI Elia Cannondale	4:47:57
24.	CIMOLAI Davide Lampre-Merida	4:58:14

Teams Classification

1.	AG2R La Mondiale	242:40:57
2.	Belkin-Pro Cycling Team	28:33
3.	Movistar Team	1:05:47
4.	BMC Racing Team	1:12:25
5.	Team Europcar	1:26:50
6.	Team Sky	1:32:46
7.	Astana Pro Team	1:39:06
8.	Trek Factory Racing	2:05:49
9.	Lampre-Merida	2:29:02
10.	FDJ.fr	2:30:20
11.	Tinkoff-Saxo	2:52:42
12.	IAM Cycling	3:15:06
13.	Team NetApp Endura	3:18:42
14.	Omega Pharma - Quick-Step	3:26:22
15.	Lotto Belisol	3:30:33
16.	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	3:34:10
17.	Team Katusha	3:59:38
18.	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	4:44:05
19.	Garmin Sharp	5:44:30
20.	Orica GreenEDGE	7:00:47
21.	Cannondale	7:11:39
22.	Team Giant-Shimano	7:35:47

Peter

nibali’s on astana, last time i checked..
Alan

Let’s run a sweepstake or two.
How long before we find out what he’s on?
What is he on?
- Tricky Dicky
  
  Not sure if you are trolling or not, and I wouldn’t put my hand in the fire for most riders, but I’ll bite.
  I actually think what he has done is not unusual or suspicious in any way. The riders he is beating would usually be blown away by the likes of Froome, Contador & Quintana. Peraud is a good rider but, let’s be honest: he would have lost minutes to one of the big 3 when they go full gas on a mountain top finish whereas Nibali is not eeking out more than fairly small gaps day by day. The w/kg outputs on the climbs are comparatively low. His times on the big climbs are massively slower than the doped era.
  He also has a pretty good reputation going right back to his neo-pro days of doing things the right way and waiting for the peloton to clean itself up - do some research - some of the “good guys” in Italian cycling (like Pinotti & Vanotti) do believe in him.
  - Dave
    
    Aside from the sole dodgy point of riding for a team with some history in the form of Astana, he looks pretty clean to me.
    
    Riding for a team with some dodgy stuff in the past doesn’t really mean anything though. Cadel Evans rode for Telekom in the formative years of his career and currently rides for a Jim Ochowicz team, but despite those is still regarded as the cleanest Tour winner of the last decade.
- Michele
  
  Makes me wonder why you follow cycling when you are going to be so cynical about every TdF winner.
  
  Found it interesting how some were using the huge time difference between Nibali and the 2nd place GC rider as evidence that he must be on something. There’s nothing better than comparing apples with roof tiles.
  
  When was the last time to the big GC favourites crashed out of the Tour? You can’t compare time gaps from last year, or 2012 with this year. It doesn’t work that way.
  
  I never like saying ‘should’ve, would’ve and could’ve’, but:
  
  Would the same suggestions be made if Froome and Contador were still racing and they, along with Nibali, held a 7 minute plus lead over Pinot and the rest? I doubt it.
  
  No offense to Pinot, Peraud and Valv.piti, but they are not, nor were they expected to be in the same league as Nibali. For the past week now they have been more concerned with marking each other / protecting their GC spot, then attacking Nibali.
jules

clearly knocking fans’ phones out of their hands is the new craze among the pro peloton!
- Arfy
  
  Looked like she was less of a fan and more interested in waving to the TV cameras while asking her friend on the phone “can you see me? can you see me?” Even the motorbike rider following Nibali tried to get in on the act.
SebL

It’s also interesting to compare times of winners on the Hautacam climb on previous TdFs. For instance, Nibali did the 13.3 km of that climb in 37.20 min yesterday. That is 2.40 min behind Riis on his 1996 victory of that stage. Of course, we know now that Bjarne was on the juice at that time.

stats here: http://www.fillarifoorumi.fi/forum/showthread.php?38129-Ammattilaispy%F6r%E4ilij%F6iden-nousutietoja-%28aika-km-h-VAM-W-W-kg-etc-%29&p=2240376#post2240376

Interesting to see that on that list, all of the top 25 performances were done from the mid-90s to 2000!

As for the cynicism, I reckon that’s a pretty unsurprising reaction from cycling fans - if you were a loyal fan of Lance when he was dominating the sport, feeling disgusted after finding out that he was a huge cheat only sounds normal to me.

As to whether the same suggestions would be made to Froome and Contador if they were still racing, I can’t say, but what I can say is that they were certainly done to Froome the year he won the TdF.
- Michele
  
  It’s is interesting to compare times. But really it’s akin to comparing the winning scores between AFL grand finals; there are just far too many variables to take into account:
  
  - Whether; hot, or raining
  - Just before / after a rest day
  - Stage no. of the race, e.g. first or second week
  - Wind
  - Where the climbs actually starts [that in itself is a floating target]
  - Circumstances of the race and tactics used.
  - How many climbs tackled on the stage prior
  - What the whether was like on the previous climbs on that stage
  - PEDs
  - Etc. etc. etc.
  
  The valid point is made that the top 25 times on Hautacam were done in year 2000 or earlier.
  
  However, we all know doping was just as rampart and even more sophiscated in the 2000s. Most crucially, the average speed at the Tour was at it’s highest during the 2000s. Hautacam was climbed quite a bit in the 2000s.
  
  So ‘logic’ would dictate there be a few more fastest times from the 2000s in the top 25.
  
  The reason they’re not is because of the variables above.
  
  In other words: Nibali’s time neither proves or disproves he is doping.
SebL

Doping is not on your list of ‘variables’, and that’s really, in my view, the one that is important.

Weather: TdF always at the same time, so likely to get similar kinds of weather.
Stage in the race: Pyreness generally in 2d or 3d week so similar sort of stage in the race

Wind: nope for most of the climb, the road follows a protected mountain side. Wind at the top sometimes, because it’s an open plateau up there. But it’s at the top when it’s finished.

Start of the climb: in the list, it’s taken from the same place.
Number of climbs before: Hautacam is generally a finish, cos it’s a cul-de-sac. And Pyrenees stages tend to combine several climbs, so Hautacam will be 2d or 3d climb.

Peds: always packed during that stage (although, I concede that this year we have new variable with selfie-taking, but it looks like the riders manage it OK)

Also, I never said that my list could be used as evidence for Nibs doping or not. The list simply shows that the fastest times (and not just a couple, but 25 of these) were done during an era when doping was happening a lot. Make of that what you will.
- Michele
  
  Hi SebL - I do have PEDs on my list [Performance Enhancing Drugs, not Pedestrians :) ]. Definitely one of the many, many variables.
  
  The weather does vary, and quite a bit in the Pyrenees. And Hautacam is exposed to the winds.
  
  The Pyrenees are either tackled in the second or the third week, depending on the anti-clockwise / clockwise route taken. Riding the Hautacam in the second week is a lot different than riding it as the last ‘proper’ col to climb in a 3 week race.
  
  So yes, PEDs do impact on time, but I still would vouch that combination of tactics, weather, time of stage in race etc. are all bigger influences.