Final wrap up of the Tour De France 2015

 

Dear Roulers,

I’ve recovered, from a 3 week TDF2015 sleep deficit and some flu that’s going round at work, sufficiently to write my first blog for August 2015.

The final mountain stage #20 of the TDF 2015 an absolute cracker, as the promised show down between the GC contenders on the iconic climb of Alpe d’Huez actually happened.  The talk matched the walk…er…ride.  The one-two move of Movistar’s Alejandro  Valverde and Nairo Quintana very nearly broke the Sky Train and Chris Froom’s grip on the Jeune Malliot. When the heat was on Sky rallied behind their leader.  Richie Porte and Wouter Poels should take a big bow for dragging Froome up the final 10km of Alpe d’Huez and onto the podium in Paris.

The short but brutal stage #20 must have seemed interminable to the riders as they struggled their way up the final climb. The crowds on Alpe d’Huez were as large as ever – some say one million fans lined the roads – but despite concerns over out-of-control spectators causing bother, trouble did not really materialise.  I sure French fans would have taken some heart from the fine stage win by the French FDJ rider Thibaut Pinot.

So here’s another couple of pilfered photos of GC and Jersey for the TDF 2015 podium.

20150803-Places123-TDF2015

Left to Right: Quintana, Froome, Valverde

20150803-JerseyWinners-TDF2015

Left to Right: Sagan, Froome, Quintana

The winners of the Jerseys and Awards were:

 Yellow Jersey  FROOME, Christopher  31  TEAM SKY  84:46:14
 Green Jersey  SAGAN, Peter  47  TINKOFF-SAXO  432 points
 Polka-Dot Jersey  FROOME, Christopher  31  TEAM SKY  119 points
 White Jersey  QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander  51  MOVISTAR  84:47:26
 Most Combative BARDET, Romain  12  AG2R LA MONDIALE  85:02:14
 Team  MOVISTAR  Total Time  255:24:24

Here’s the top 10 finishers in the GC

 1.  FROOME, Christopher  31  TEAM SKY  84:46:14
 2.  QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander  51  MOVISTAR  84:47:26 + 1:12
 3.  VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro  59  MOVISTAR  84:51:39  + 5:25
 4.  NIBALI, Vincenzo  1  ASTANA  84:54:39  + 8:36
 5.  CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto  41  TINKOFF – SAXO  84:56:02  + 9:48
 6.  GESINK, Robert  131  LOTTO NL – JUMBO  84:57:01  + 10:47
 7.  MOLLEMA, Bauke  141  TREK FACTORY RACING  85:01:28  + 15:14
 8.  FRANK, Mathias  181  IAM CYCLING  85:01:53  + 15:39
 9.  BARDET, Romain  12  AG2R LA MONDIALE  85:02:14  + 16:00
 10.  ROLLAND, Pierre  121  EUROPCAR  85:03:44  + 17:30

Here’s where the Australians finished:

 36.  ROGERS Michael  46  TINKOFF-SAXO  86:42:27: + 01:56′:13
 48.  PORTE Richie  35  TEAM SKY  87:02:19 + 02:16:05
 101.  DENNIS Rohan  63  BMC RACING TEAM  88:13:48 + 03:27:34
 114.  HANSEN Adam  76  LOTTO-SOUDAL  89:12:47 + 04:26:33
 151.  DURBRIDGE Luke  103  ORICA GREENEDGE  89:11:17 + 04:25:03
 152.  MATTHEWS Michael  105  ORICA GREENEDGE  89:12:47 + 04:26:33

This is who retired:

 101  GERRANS Simon  ORICA GREENEDGE  Stage 3 – DNF
 195  DEMPSTER Zakkari  BORA-ARGON 18  Stage 12 – DNF
 163  HAAS Nathan  TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN  Stage 17 – DNF
 115  RENSHAW Mark  ETIXX-QUICK STEP  Stage 18 – DNF

And in addition from Orica GreenEdge:

 104  IMPEY Daryl  Stage 4 – DNS
 102  ALBASINI Michael  Stage 6 – DNS

So before signing off, congratulations should be given to Adam Hansen who finished his 12th consecutive grand tour, despite dislocating his shoulder back in stage 2. Dear God the man feels no pain.

Now bring on La Vueleta, viva l’espana 🙂

Marv