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.

Left to Right: Quintana, Froome, Valverde

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