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TOUR de FRANCE 2019

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TOUR de FRANCE 2019

 

The 2019 Tour de France is the 106th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling’s three grand tours. The 3,480 km (2,162 mi)-long race consists of 21 stages, starting on 6 July in Brussels, Belgium, and concluding on 28 July with the Champs-Élysées stage in Paris. A total of 176 riders from 22 teams would participate in the race.

[From Wikipedia] -The race was first organized in 1903 to increase sales for the newspaper L’Auto and is currently run by the Amaury Sport Organisation. The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1903 except when it was stopped for the two World Wars. As the Tour gained prominence and popularity, the race was lengthened and its reach began to extend around the globe. Participation expanded from a primarily French field, as riders from all over the world began to participate in the race each year. The Tour is a UCI World Tour event, which means that the teams that compete in the race are mostly UCI World Teams, with the exception of the teams that the organizers invite. It has become “the world’s biggest annual sporting event.”  Traditionally, the race is held primarily in the month of July. While the route changes each year, the format of the race stays the same with the appearance of time trials,[1] the passage through the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and the Alps, and the finish on the Champ-Élysées in Paris.  The modern editions of the Tour de France consist of 21 day-long segments (stages) over a 23-day period and cover around 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi]. The race alternates between clockwise and counter-clockwise circuits of France

The 2019 edition of the Tour de France consisted of 22 teams.  Each squad was allowed a maximum of eight riders, resulting in a start list total of 176.  Of these, 33 competed in their first Tour de France.  The riders came from 30 countries. Six countries had more than ten riders in the race: France (43), Belgium (21), Italy (15), Spain (13), Germany (11) and the Netherlands (11).

UCI WorldTeams  –  AG2R La Mondiale; Astana; Bahrain–Merida; Bora–Hansgrohe; CCC Team; EF Education First;  Team Dimension Data; Groupama–FDJ;  Team Ineos; Team Katusha–Alpecin; Team Jumbo–Visma; Lotto–Soudal;  Movistar Team; Mitchelton–Scott; Deceuninck–Quick-Step;  Team Sunweb; Trek–Segafredo;  UAE Team Emirates  UCI Professional Continental teams  –  Cofidis;  Wanty–Groupe Gobert; Total Direct Énergie; Arkéa–Samsic

As with previous international sporting events I have featured in these pages,  my specific interest was from an  Australian competition point of view, however, the outcome will be fairly broad-based. In general, comments on each race have been taken from the cycling.com website, in some cases, other sources.

 Stage One:  6 July:  Brussels to Brussels: 194.5 kms [flat]

  1. Mike Teunissen [Team Jumbo-Visma] [Nederlands]
  2. Peter Sagan [Bira-Hansgrohe] [SVK]
  3. Caleb Ewan [Lotto Soudal] [Australia]

Mike Teunissen [Jumbo-Visma] was the shock winner on stage 1 of theTour de France   taking the first yellow jersey of the race on the uphill finish in front of the Laeken Castle in Brussels. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished second, just inches back, while Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) rounded out the podium.

The Dutchman, who won the ZLM Tour late last month, was a surprise winner on the stage, having been expected to help lead out for sprinter Dylan Groenewegen. The Dutch sprinter, along with the bulk of his lead-out, was caught up in a big crash inside the final two kilometres.  From there, Deceuninck-QuickStep took control at the front, but their sprinter Elia Viviani was caught way out of position in the final kilometre. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) launched the sprint 300 metres out, just as Viviani was moving up, before then Sagan burst past with Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) alongside him.  Behind the duo, Ewan was forced to check his sprint just as he looked to move up the middle to take the win, but it was Teunissen on the outside who finished the fastest. He sped past in the closing metres and threw his bike just far enough to seal an unlikely victory.

Stage Two: 7 July: Around Brussels: Team Time Trial 27.5 kms

  1. Team Jumbo-Visma 28.57
  2. Team Ineos 00.20
  3. Deceuninck-Quickstep 00.21

Jumbo-Visma made it two out of two at the Tour de France  following up Mike Teunissen’s  surprise stage 1 win with a dominant performance on the stage 2 team time trial. They took victory with a time of 28:57, 20 seconds ahead of Team Ineos and 21 up on Deceuninck-QuickStep.

General Classification after Stage 2

  1. Mike Teunissen [Team Jumbo-Visma] [Nederlands]: 51.34
  2. Wout Van Aert [Bel\] [Team Jumbo-Visma: 00.10
  3. Steven Kruijswijk [Ned] [Team Jumbo-Visma: 00.10
  4. Michael Matthews [Australia]:Team Sunweb: 0.00.36

 

Stage Three: 8 July:  Binche to Epernay, 215 kms

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     40.29
  2. Michael Matthews [Australia]:Team Sunweb: 00.26
  3. Jasper Stuyven [Belgium] Trek –Segafredo                                00.26

General classification after Stage 3

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     32.19
  2. Wout Van Aert [Bel\] [Team Jumbo-Visma: 00.20
  3. Steven Kruijswijk [Ned] [Team Jumbo-Visma: 00.25
  4. George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 00.25
  5. : Michael Matthews [Australia]:Team Sunweb: 00.40

Alaphilippe attacked boldly but decisively with 15 kilometres remaining near the summit of the final climb of the Cote de Mutigny and never looked back. He built up a lead over the final rolling kilometres and held on to win, while Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) came over the line 26 seconds down with a group that contained most of the pre-race favourites. Overnight leader Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) was unable to live with the pace on the final set of climbs and was finally dropped on the Cote de Mutigny, but the stage outcome was dominated by Alaphilippe, who stamped his authority over the peloton despite a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders coming into the stage.

 Stage Four: 9 July:  Reims to Nancy: [Flat]:  213.5 kms

  1. Elia Viviani [Italy] Deceuninck- Quick Step                   09.20
  2. Alexander Kristoff [Nederlands] UAE-Team Emirates     “
  3. Caleb Ewan [Australia] Lotto Soudal                                  “

General classification after Stage 4 [no change]

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     41.39
  2. Wout Van Aert [Bel\] [Team Jumbo-Visma: 00.20
  3. Steven Kruijswijk [Ned] [Team Jumbo-Visma: 00.25
  4. George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 00.25
  5. : Michael Matthews [Australia]:Team Sunweb: 00.40

Elia Viviani claimed his first Tour de France stage win of his career on Tuesday, making amends for a barren Giro d’Italia with a well-executed sprint in Nancy on stage 4.  The Italian, whose only other appearance at the Tour came back in 2014, profited from a strong lead-out to get the better of Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) in the bunch sprint, with Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) taking fourth place.  Viviani’s victory made it two in two days for Deceuninck-QuickStep, who successfully defended the yellow jersey on the shoulders of stage 3 winner Julian Alaphilippe. With just two minor category-4 climbs on the 213.5km route from Reims to Nancy, it was a quiet day for the overall contenders, with no changes to the general classification.

Stage Five: 10 July:  Saint-Die-Des-Vosges to Colmar [175.5 kms]  

[ a hilly stage,  cuts a big loop through the heart of the Vosges, a mountain range in eastern France known for short, steep climbs and treacherous descents. With four categorized climbs, including the first Category 2 ascents of the Tour, it’s not a good day for the sprinters].

  1. Peter Sagan [SVK] Bora-Hansgrohe: 02.33
  2. Wout Van Aert [Belgium] Jumbo-Visma
  3. Matteo Trentin [Italy]

Australia’s Michael Matthews was 5th for Team Sunweb

General classification after Stage 5 [no change] – the leader on 18.44.12, second now on 0.00.14 behind, 3-5 as per Stage 4

After several near misses, Peter Sagan [Bora-hansgrohe] took his first win on stage 5 of the 2019 Tour dee France  Colmar ahead of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton Scott). The three-time world champion was simply too good for the opposition after a number of pure sprinters had been dropped on the climbs that littered the stage through the Vosges.Team Sunweb controlled the peloton for most of the finale as they rallied behind Michael Matthews but the Australian was boxed in when the sprint began and could only manage seventh. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) finished tenth and retained his overall lead in the race.

Stage Six: 11 July:  Mulhouse to La Planche Des Belles Filles [Mountain] [160.5 kms]

After five days devoted to sprinters and breakaways, the overall contenders will take center stage on Thursday for the first time in the2019 Tour. Stage 6, in the heart of France’s Vosges region, is relatively short at 160.5K. But it features seven categorized climbs, including an early Category 1 ascent that starts just 29K into the route, and a summit finish on La Planche des Belles Filles.

  1. Dylan Teuns [Belgium] Bahrain-Merida: 29.03
  2. Giulio Ciccone [Italy] – Trek –Segafredo: 00.11
  3. Xandro Meurisse [Belgium] Wanty-Gobert:  01.05

First Aussie in was Richie Porte, 11th: Trek Segafredo:  0.01.53

General Classification after 6 stages

  1. Giulio Ciccone [Italy] – Trek –Segafredo: 14.55
  2. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     00.06
  3. Dylan Teuns [Belgium] Bahrain-Merida: 00.32

Leading Australians

  1. Richie Porte: Trek-segafredo:  0.01.56

59:  : Michael Matthews [Australia]:Team Sunweb:  0.19.02  –  has dropped right down the list from a couple of days ago

Two Tour de France rookies stole the show on the first mountain stage, with Dylan Teuns of Belgium winning Stage 6 and Giulio Ciccone of Italy taking the overall race lead on Thursday.  Geraint Thomas, the defending champion, also rode strongly, going some way to answer questions about his fitness after he crashed out of the Tour de Suisse in June. Thomas rode in fourth at the top of the terrible climb to the Planche des Belles Filles ski station in the woody Vosges mountains of eastern France. But the severity of the ascent, with a final 24 percent incline and an unpaved section that kicked up clouds of dust, torpedoed other main contenders for overall victory in Paris on July 28.

Dylan Teuns had never won a Grand Tour stage before today, but not for lack of trying. The Belgian puncheur was a constant in breakaways at last year’s Vuelta a Espana but only racked up a frustrating string of near misses. Here, on his Tour de France debut, he struck gold.

Stage Seven 12 July:  Belfort – Chalon-Sur  Saone [230 kms] Flat.

After two hard days in the Vosges, riders will face the longest stage of the 2019 Tour.

  1. Dylan Groenewegan [Nederlands] Team Jumbo-Visma   02.44
  2. Caleb Ewan [Australia] Lotto Soudal
  3. Peter Sagan [SVK] Bora Hansgrohe

In a sign that he has fully recovered after a crash on the opening day, Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen won Stage 7 of the 2019 Tour de France in an ultra-tight pack finish on Friday.  Following the longest stage of this year’s race—a 230K ride away from the Vosges, with all categorized climbs appearing in the first half—Groenewegen attached himself to the wheel of Caleb Ewan to fight his way out of the group.  Then he launched his final dash for the line half a moment before Ewan, rocketing to the front at 70 kph (about 43 mph) and narrowly beating the Australian in a photo finish after more than six hours of racing.

Overall classification after 7 stages

  1. Giulio Ciccone [Italy] – Trek –Segafredo: 17.39
  2. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     00.06
  3. Dylan Teuns [Belgium] Bahrain-Merida: 00.32

First Australian listed is 21st: Richie Porte: Trek-segafredo:  0.01.56

 Stage Eight; 13 July:  Macon to Saint-Etienne [200 kms] [hilly]

The climbs are a mix of 5-8km hills with gradients that aren’t especially frightening and much shorter ascents that include some imposing ramps on what are tight and twisting roads. It is ideal terrain for breakaway specialists, and there should be plenty of them looking to infiltrate the early attacks, further buoyed by the knowledge that the sprinters’ teams might not be too committed in chasing them down in such undulating countryside.

  1. Thomas De Gendt [Belgium] Lotto Soudal: 00.17
  2. Thibaut Pinot [France] Groupama FDJ:  00.06
  3. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     00.06
  4. Michael Matthews [Australia]:Team Sunweb: 00.26
  5. Peter Sagan [SVK] Bora Hansgrohe 00.26

Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) survived from a day-long breakaway to take the victory in a relentless day of racing on Saturday. The Belgian went away early with three others and was the last man standing, holding off a late chase by French duo Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ).  “I had a really good feeling all day so I believed in it all day,” said De Gendt. “In the morning I ate a good breakfast. This [from a break] is the only way I can win a race. I like to do it in this way. Once I get in a breakaway, that gives me energy.”

Overall classification after Stage 8.

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     17.59
  2. Giulio Ciccone [Italy] – Trek –Segafredo: 00.23
  3. Thibaut Pinot [France] Groupama FDJ  00.53
  4. George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 01.10

Leading Australians  are:

  1. Richie Porte [Trek-segafredo] 0.02.19
  2. Jack Haig [Mitchellton-Scott] 0.15.23
  3. Michael Matthews: [Team Sunweb] 0.19.25
  4. Simon Clarke [EF Educastion First] 0.46.22
  5. Rohan Dennis [Bahrain-Merida] 0.52.46
  6. Luke Durbridge [Mitchellton-Scott] 0.55.06
  7. Caleb Ewan [Lotto Soudal] 1.16.06
  8. Michael Hepburn [Mitchellton-Scott] 1.23.21

 

Stage Nine; 14 July [Bastille Day]:  Saint-Etienne to Brioude [170.5kms] [hilly]

This is an intriguing stage, another that offers encouragement to breakaway riders, Classics specialists, puncheurs in the Julian Alaphilippe mould, and even some sprinters. Like the day before, it rises and falls incessantly, although not as fiercely. There’s a very savage ascent in the form of the Mur d’Aurec-sur-Loire – 3.2km at 11% – but it crops up too early to have any lasting effect. While sure to string out and perhaps even shred the peloton, the dropped riders have plenty of ground ahead on which they can recoup their deficit.

  1. Daryl Impey [South Africa] Mitchelton-Scott: 03.12
  2. Tiesj Benoot [Belgium] Lotto Soudal
  3. Jan Tratnik [SIO] Bahrain-Merida         00.10

Australians

9th: Simon Clarke [EF Education First]                            0.01.50

27th: Richie Porte [Trek segafredo]                                 0.16.25

Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) outsprinted Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal) to take stage 9 of the Tour de France, Sunday.  “It’s the seventh time I’m riding the Tour de France and have been in a number of breakaways,” said Impey. “To finally nail it today is a dream come true. I really don’t have any words.”  The South African champion had been part of an early breakaway which split after a series of attacks in the final stages of the race, and ended up going clear with 15 kilometers remaining. The Mitchelton-Scott rider came around the Belgian in the final 100 meters to win his first Tour de France Stage. Jan Tratnik (Bahrain-Merida) was the first home from a small chase group to take third, 10 seconds behind.

General Classification after 9 stages

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     37.36
  2. Giulio Ciccone [Italy] – Trek –Segafredo: 00.23
  3. Thibaut Pinot [France] Groupama FDJ  00.53
  4. George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 01.10

18th: Richie Porte [Australia]  0.2.19

Stage Ten; 15 July :  Saint-Flour to Albi [217.5 kms]  Flat

Four short categorised climbs lie ahead, the first a fourth-cat and the other three rated third-category, but there are constant undulations as the route heads through the beautiful, ancient volcanic wilderness of the Aubrac. The rolling of the terrain and the length of the stage will make it hard for the sprinters’ teams to control the break.

  1. Wout Van Aert [Belgium] Jumbo-Visma: 4.49.39
  2. Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep
  3. Caleb Ewan [Australia] Lotto Soudal
  4. Michael Matthews: [Australia] Team Sunweb
  5. Peter Sagan [SVK] Bora Hansgrohe

Wout Van Aert [Belgium] claimed his maiden individual Tour de France win on stage 10, and on a day of racing that saw the overall standings change after a number of contenders lost significant time in the crosswinds.  Van Aert – making his Grand Tour debut – won ahead of Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) in Albi, but the stage was dominated by the splits caused with 30km to go as Team Ineos and several allies tore the peloton apart during a section of crosswinds.  The effort succeeded, with Thibaut Pinot (Groupama FDJ), Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo), Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) all conceding 1:40 on a group that contained Nairo Quintana, Julian Alaphilippe and the Team Ineos pair of Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal. Alaphilippe heads into the first rest day with a 1:12 lead over Thomas, with Bernal four seconds further adrift. For Pinot, this was a disaster of a day after his stage 8 heroics had seen him rise up the standings. He now sits 10th overall at 2:33.

General Classification after Stage 10:

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     27.15
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos    01.12
  3. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Ineos                                             01.16

20th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.03.59

 

Stage Eleven:  17 July :  Albi to Toulouse [167 kms]  Flat

Tour boss Christian Prudhomme and his deputy Thierry Gouvenou have decided against a big mountain test the day after the rest day and opted instead for what may be the most straightforward stage of the race bar the final day. With just two categorised climbs, a third-cat and a fourth-cat, in the first half of the course, this stage is clearly intended as a comparatively gentle return to action, a chance to get for the riders to get their legs re-accustomed to race pace before the four big tests that lie immediately ahead in the Pyrenees.

  1. Caleb Ewan [Australia] Lotto Soudal: 51.26
  2. Dylan Groeneweganj [Netherlands] Team Jumbo Visma
  3. Ilia Viviani [Italy] Deceuninck-Quickstep

Caleb Ewan won his maiden Tour de France stage on stage 11 in Toulouse. The Australian had to do it the hard way after one of his lead-out men crashed in the closing stage but despite remaining isolated in the sprint Ewan came around Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) to take the biggest win of his career. Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-QuickStep) finished third, with green jersey leader Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) in fourth.  After four top-three finishes in this year’s Tour de France, Ewan finally had his just reward and picked up Lotto Soudal’s second stage win of the race after Thomas de Gendt’s win in Saint Etienne.  “To be honest I can’t believe it. I’ve been close in the last four sprints I’ve done, and my team never lost faith in me. I never lost faith in my sprint. I knew if everything came together then I can be the fastest on the day, and I think today I showed that,” the winner said at the finish.  “I think with about 10km to go I got caught behind my teammate Jasper who crashed, and I was really at the back of the bunch. Roger came back for me, and he basically took me from the back of the bunch to Groenewegen’s wheel in the last few kilometres. Once I had a bit of time to recover, luckily I had the legs to be able to win.  “There’s no other race I’ve dreamt of winning since I was a young kid. I can’t believe it. The Tour de France is something so distant from Australia, something we only watched on TV. I can’t believe I’m even here, and to win a stage is a real dream come true for me.”  Ewan came into this year’s Tour de France with a point to prove. He was controversially left at home on the eve of last year’s race, with that decision part of the reason as to why Ewan would jump ship from Mitchelton-Scott and join Lotto over the winter. The Giro d’Italia provided Ewan with two valuable stage wins but he would always be judged by his performances in July. Third in the opening stage Brussels was followed by narrow misses in Nancy, Chalon-sur-Saone and Albi and it looked as though time was running out for the Australian in this year’s race.  However, he and his Lotto Soudal squad stayed the course and even when Ewan was forced to unclip his right foot and grind to a halt with 10km to go when his teammate Jasper de Buyst was nudged into the ditch the team rallied around this sprinter.  Ewan made his way back towards the front of the main field just as Jumbo-Visma imposed their dominance on the race, with Mike Teunissen the last man for Groenewegen. On this occasion, the Dutch squad simply ran out of men in the closing stages and when Teunissen’s legs failed, Groenewegen was forced to open his sprint. Even at that point only Ewan and Viviani were in contention. A corner inside the last few hundred metres ended a promising sprint from Edvald Boasson Hagen, while Sonny Colbrelli, and Alexander Kristoff were already out of contention with around 500m to go.

Overall classification after 11 stages

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     18.41
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.12
  3. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Ineos                                             01.16

19th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.03.59

 

Stage Twelve:  18 July :  Toulouse to Bagneres-De- Begorre [209.5 kms]  Mountain

Starting in Toulouse, Stage 12 of the 2019 Tour brings the race into the Pyrenees. Two Category 1 climbs near the end should serve as nice warmups for Friday’s individual time trial, as well as for the harder mountain stages coming on Saturday and Sunday.

  1. Simon Yates {GB] Mitchelton-Scott – 57.53
  2. Pello Bilbao [Spain] Astana Pro Team
  3. Gregor Muhiberger [Austria] Bora Hansgrohe

First Aussie in – Simon Clarke: 9th:   E F Education First:  0.01.28

Simon Yates [Mitchelton-Scott] won stage 12 of the Tour de France in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, outsprinting Pello Bilbao (Astana Pro Team) and Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) after the trio had emerged from an initial 42-man break group after attacking the final climb of Horquette d’Ancizan.  It was Yates who launched the decisive attack, four kilometres from the summit of the climb, bridging across to teammate Matteo Trentin. Mühlberger followed, while Bilbao chased, making the catch on the descent.  The three leaders worked well on the run-in to ensure their lead was safe from the chase group, only starting to play games in the final kilometre. Bilbao led the way, before Mühlberger took the front with 500 metres to race. Yates launched the sprint first, outwitting and outpacing his companions around the final turn and holding on to take the win.

Overall classification after 12 stages

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     26.09
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.12
  3. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Ineos                                             01.16

19th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.03.59

Stage Thirteen : 19 July :  Individual Pau Time Trial: [27.2 kms]

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France]  Deceuninck – Quickstep     00
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 14
  3. Thomas De Gent [Belgium] Lotto Soudal                            26
  4. Rigoberto Uran [Colombia] EF Education First                   36
  5. Richie Porte [Australia] Trek Segafredo 45

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) surprised his doubters to win Friday’s 13th stage of the Tour de France, a 27.2 kilometer time trial in Pau.  Known more for his punchy accelerations on steep climbs, Alaphilippe blazed a impressive individual time trial to defeat defending champion Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) by 14 seconds  The course has several twists and turns, as well as two climbs: the Côte de Gelos (1.1km at 7.8 percent) and Côte d’Esquillot (1km at 7.2 percent). Alaphilippe said that the hilly terrain gave him an advantage. “On this parcourse it was really perfect for me. The first part I went full gas and I just wanted to see what I could do in the second [half],” Alaphilippe said. “In my ear I hear from my sport director, he said I had the best time.”

Overall classification after 13 stages

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     01.09
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.26
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma                  02.12

15th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.04.44

 

Stage Fourteen : 20 July :  Tarbes to Col Du Tourmalet [117.5 kms] [Mountain]

This is the first of an unprecedented three stage finishes above the 2,000-metre mark. It will take place atop the Tour’s favourite pass, the Col du Tourmalet, which will feature for the 87th time. This, though, will be just the third summit finish here following Jean-Pierre Danguillaume’s victory in 1974 and Andy Schleck’s in 2010

  1. Thibaut Pinot [France] Groupama FDJ  10.20
  2. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     00.06
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma                00.06

First Australian rider in was  Richie Porte, 14th [Trek Segafredo]   0.02.05

Thibaut Pinot [Groupama –FDJ, won stage 14 of the Tour de France atop the Col du Tourmalet, outsprinting a select GC group in the closing metres of the mythical climb to take his third career stage win at the race.  Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) took second, six seconds back, to defend his yellow jersey and extend his lead over Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos), who cracked in the final kilometre, finishing 36 seconds down. Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) rounded out the podium just behind Alaphilippe.

Overall classification after 14 stages

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     11.29
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 02.02
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma                  02.14

12th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.06.49

Richie Porte has moved up the leader board, but after stage 14, have dropped a couple of minutes further behind the leader.

 

 Stage Fifteen : 21 July :  Limoux-Foix; Prat d’Albis [185 kms] Mountain

The 2019 Tour’s third and final day in the Pyrenees, Stage 15 begins in Limoux and slowly heads to the top of the first climb, the Category 2 Col de Montségur. A large breakaway should have forged a big lead by this point, with Peter Sagan likely to attack to score maximum points at the Intermediate Sprint in the valley on the other side.  Then things get real, with three Category 1 climbs jammed into the final 75K. The day’s penultimate climb, the Mur de Péguère, is by far the toughest, with several extended pitches nearing 20 percent in the final 3.5K to the summit. A selection will certainly be made here, with real contenders for the stage win emerging before a 25K descent to Foix and the base of the final climb.

  1. Simon Yates [Great Britain] Mitchelton-Scott 47.04
  2. Thibaut Pinot [France] Groupama-FDJ                 00.33
  3. Mikel Landa [Spain] Movistar 00.33

First Australian rider in was again  Richie Porte, 10th [Trek Segafredo]   0.01.30

Simon Yates [Mitchelton-Scott won his second stage of the Tour de France  triumphing once again from the break on the summit finish of Prat d’Albis. Thibaut Pinot [Groupama-FDJ], was once again the strongest of the GC contenders, taking second ahead of Mikel Landa (Movistar) and gaining precious time on each of his rivals. While Yates won from the day’s early break, chasing down Simon Geschke (CCC Team) on the day’s penultimate climb before going solo on the climb to the finish, it was Pinot who stole the headline with his relentless attacking on the slopes of Prat d’Albis. Pinot launched 6km from the line, dropping all but Egan Bernal (Team Ineos), Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and race leader Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), though the trio couldn’t hold his pace for long. Richie Porte has moved up one position.

Overall classification after 15stages

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     00.22
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.35
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma                  01.47

11th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.06.30

 

Stage Sixteen : 23 July :  Nimes to Nimes [117 kms] Flat

The last time the Tour raced into the Roman city of Nîmes, Alexander Kristoff burst through to claim victory after long-time breakaway Jack Bauer had been overhauled an agonising 25 metres short of a solo victory. That scenario is likely to repeated to an extent with a stage that, unusually, starts and finishes in the same location and is set up to give the sprinters their last chance to dominate proceedings before the race finishes in Paris, unless a breakaway can thwart them.

  1. Caleb Ewan [Australia] Lotto Soudal 57.08
  2. Elia Viviani [Italy]  Deceuninck-QuickStep
  3. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma

Next Aussie in was Michael Matthews , Team Sunweb

Australia’s Caleb Ewan [Lotto Soudal came from behind to take his second stage victory of the 2019 Tour de France beating Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) in a high-speed sprint in Nîmes. Deceuninck-QuickStep took control of the sprint in the final 500 metres just before a late roundabout, giving Viviani a clean run to the line. Ewan was further back but not concerned and clearly confident of his sprinting ability. He opted to start his sprint early, anticipating Groenewegen and Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) to come up alongside Viviani. The Italian had the best line along the barriers, but Ewan had more speed in his aero tuck and came down the middle of the road to win by half a bike length. Ewan admitted he had suffered during the stage but had some personal motivation to win. His win means he is the only sprinter to so far have won two stages in this year’s Tour de France. The final sprint opportunity is expected to be on the Champs Elysees in Paris on Sunday.

Overall classification after 16 stages

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     57.30
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.35
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma                  01.47

10th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.06.30

 

Stage Seventeen : 24 July :  Pont du Gard to Gap [200 kms] Hilly

This transition stage has ‘breakaway’ written all over it. With three race-deciding mountain stages just beyond it, the only concern for the GC leaders and their teams will be to reach Gap without suffering any mishaps and having expended as few resources as possible. Similarly, the sprinters are unlikely to instruct their teammates to chase down any escapees thanks to the presence of the third-category Col de la Sentinelle little more than a dozen kilometres from the finish.

  1. Matteo Trentin [Italy] Mitcheleton-Scott 21.36
  2. Kasper Asgreen [Denmark] Deceuninck-Quickstep    00.37
  3. Greg Van Avermaet [Belgium] CCC Team 00.41

11th:  Simon Clarke [Australia] EF Education First   0.01.23\

Matteo Trentin [Mitchelton-Scott], claimed victory on stage 17 of the Tour de after soloing clear of the break on the road to Gap, while Julian (Deceuninck-QuickStep) retained the yellow jersey after a day of relative truce among the general classification contenders.  On a day of two races within a race, Trentin rode to his third stage victory at the Tour – he previously won in 2013 and 2014 – after punching his way clear of the breakaway group ahead of the final climb of the Col de la Sentinelle. Alaphilippe and the podium contenders, meanwhile, rolled home more than 20 minutes behind, content to spare themselves for the rigours to come in the Alps over the next three days. Trentin was part of a 33-strong break that amassed an unassailable lead over the peloton on yet another day of soaring temperatures, and he proved the strongest and savviest of their number when the move began to fragment in the final hour of racing.

Overall classification after 17 stages [no change in leaders from yesterday].

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     39.16
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.35
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma                  01.47

10th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.06.30

 

 Stage Eighteen : 25 July  Embrun to Valloire [208 kms]  Mountain

The stairway to heaven stage. There are four climbs, each higher than the last, the final three topping out at 2,109 metres, 2,360 metres and 2,642 metres, respectively. In other words, at the finish in Valloire the identity of the remaining contenders for the yellow jersey will be confirmed, and one outstanding candidate may well have stepped forward or strengthened their position as the king of this mountainous Tour.  Extending to more than 200 kilometres, this will be a long day in the saddle.

  1. Nairo Quintana [Colombia] Movistar:   34.15
  2. Romain Bardet [France] AG2R La Mondiale 01.35
  3. Alexey Lutsenko [Kaz] Astana Pro Team   02.28

17th: :  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo     00.05.18

Nairo Quintana [Movistar] claimed victory on stage 18 of the Tour de France after he soloed clear of the day’s early break on the Col du Galibier, but not for the first time on this race, the day’s drama centred on Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), who retained his yellow jersey following a breathless descent into Valloire.  Alaphilippe was distanced by his direct rivals near the summit of the Galibier, but he scrambled down the other side to recoup his 20-second deficit and keep a hold of the maillot jaune. Just two days from Paris, Alaphilippe remains on course for a most improbable overall victory, though Egan Bernal (Ineos) reaffirmed his credentials on the first of three consecutive Alpine stages by gaining more than half a minute on the yellow jersey to move up to second place overall

Overall classification after 18 stages [no change in leaders from yesterday].

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep     18.49
  2. Egan Bernal [Colmbia] Team Eneos                                              01.30
  3. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.35

11th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                       0.06.30

 

Stage Nineteen : 26 July  Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Tignes [126.5 kms]  Mountain

This is the first of two consecutive stages of around the same shortish length with a finish located well above 2,000 metres. Both are likely to see the main action kick off very early and, as a consequence, the riders in the gruppetto will be hard pushed to finish inside the time limit on each of these days.

Stage results nullified, times for GC taken atop Col de l’Iseran:

  1. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Eneos
  2. Simon Yates [Great Britain] Mitchelton- Scott
  3. Warren Barguil [France] Arkea Samsic

11th: :  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo

The Tour de France was rocked by a freak hailstorm that cut short Styage 19 and produced one of the most dramatic days in its history..  Egan Bernal (Team Ineos) was the big winner during a shortened stage 19 of the Tour de FRance .  Although the jury ruled there would be no official stage winner, Bernal took the yellow jersey after the race was cancelled on the descent of the Col d’Iseran. Hail and ice in Tignes, as well as a landslide blocking the road   between Val d’Isère and Tignes, made the final kilometres of the stage impossible to pass by bike. The Colombian had attacked midway up the Iseran, launching after teammate Geraint Thomas  put yellow jersey Julian Alaphilippi  (Deceuninck-QuickStep) into major trouble on the 2770-metre mountain. Bernal caught and passed the remains of the break in the final kilometres of the climb, gaining a minute on Thomas, Steven Krujswijk (Jumbo-Visma) and Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), and two minutes on Alaphilippe.  Amid a shroud of confusion, general classification times were taken at the summit of the Iseran, meaning Bernal takes over the race lead, with Alaphilippe set to lose over two minutes to the 22-year-old.  The chaos marked the end of a frantic stage of racing, officially 126.5km long but cut to 88.5km due to the weather. Almost forgotten amidst the stage cancellation chaos was Groupama-FDJ leader Thibaut Pinot’s abandon. The Frenchman, who lay fifth overall at the start of the day, left the race after suffering through the opening 40km with what turned out to be a torn thigh muscle.

Overall classification after 19 stages

  1. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Eneos                                           00.42
  2. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep       00.48
  3. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.16

10th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.06.28

 

 Stage Twenty : 27 July   Albertville-Val Thorens [130 kms]  Mountain

The final mountain stage begins to climb the stunning Cormet de Roselend soon after getting under way in Albertville. After dropping into Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the route veers away from the main road to cross the second-category Côte de Longefoy to reach Moûtiers and the start of the interminable ascent to the finish.

  1. Vincenzo Nibsli [Italy] Bahrain Menda.. 51.53
  2. Alejandro Valverde [Spain] Movistar Team 00.10
  3. Mikal Landa [Spain] Movistar Team           00.14
  4. Egan Bernal [Colmbia] Team Eneos               00.17

First Australian in today was Luke Durbridge [Mitchelton-Scott]   0.8.27

Egan Bernal [Team Ineos], is one stage away from sealing the overall victory at the Tour de France,  crossing the stage 20 finish line at Val Thorens hand-in-hand with teammate and reigning champion Geraint Thomas as the pair finished safely among the lead group on the shortened stage 20.  Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) took the stage win as the last man standing from the early break, holding off the peloton and redeeming what has been a tough campaign for the 2014 Tour champion. Movistar duo Alejandro Valverde and Mikel Landa launched late bids for victory, but had to settle for second and third, 10 and 14 seconds down.  Bernal and Thomas rolled in three seconds after Landa, while Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) moved up into third overall after former race leader Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) was dropped 13km from the finish of the micro-stag

Overall classification after 20 stages [one to go]

  1. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Eneos                                           52.52
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain] Team Ineos 01.11
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma                  01.31
  4. Emanuel Buchman [Germany] Bora- Hansgrohe                        01.56
  5. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep       03.45

11th:  Richie Porte [Australia]  Trek Segafredo                                      0.12.05

 

Stage Twenty-One : 28 July   To the Champs-Elysees [126kms]  Flat

Finally, the climbs are almost over and the Eiffel Tower and Paris’ other celebrated landmarks will soon be visible on the skyline. The Tour’s final stage has long been a victory parade, with the yellow jersey and his teammates toasting each other with champagne and then leading the race onto the Champs-Élysées for several laps of fast and furious racing, concluding with arguably the most prestigious bunch sprint of the season and well-deserved laps of honour.

And the result:  Egan Bernal [Team Ineos] sealed overall victory at the 2019 Tour de France  finishing safely in the peloton on the Champs-Élysées.

Caleb Ewan [Lotto Soudal] won the final sprint, beating Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) and Niccolo Bonifazio (Total Direct Energie) with a perfectly executed late surge on the most prestigious sprint finish in cycling. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished tenth in the sprint but had already mathematically won a record-breaking seventh green points jersey.  “I can’t believe I just won on the Champs Elysees,” Ewan said.  “When we rolled onto the Champs Elysees, I almost had tears in my eyes, it was such a surreal feeling. I can’t believe I just won the stage.”   ……….It was Ewan’s third win in what was his debut at the Tour de France.  “The Tour de France started off quite slow for me. It was like I could never get there. But the second half has been unbelievable, I’ve won every sprint in the second half,” he said, explaining how he came from behind.  “The sprint was quite messy and we were quite far back but I was patient and waited. I didn’t know how many guys were in front of me and so I waited and then ran at the three guys across the road. I went down the right, most sprinters I’ve talked to, said don’t go down the right because its bumpy. But luckily I had the speed to come through in the end.”

Meanwhile, for the overall winner –  The 21st and final stage of the 2019 Tour de France covered 128km from Rambouillet to the iconic finishing circuits on the Champs-Élysées in Paris – a mostly celebratory ride to close out the race that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the race leader’s yellow jersey.  Bernal was greeted outside the Team Ineos bus in Rambouillet by a huge crowd of supporters waving Colombian flags and cheering for the 22-year-old. He took the start line wearing the yellow jersey, happy to ride alongside his teammates into Paris, where he would be officially crowned the overall winner of the Tour de France.  In the early part of the stage, riders were seen congratulating one another on finishing off a very tough and unpredictable three weeks of racing.  Bernal wore his yellow kit and rode a custom yellow Pinarello team bike surrounded by his teammates. He was also given a customary glass of champagne from the Team Ineos car, as were all of his teammates, as the toasted to their first and second place finishes in the overall classification and the team’s seventh Tour de France victory.  Bernal hit the finish line alongside 2018 Tour de France winner and runner up this year Geraint Thomas. The two pointed at each other in celebration as they passed the crown of Tour de France winner. They were joined by third placed Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma). Thomas finished 1:11 down on Bernal, with Thomas at 1:31.  Bernal again struggled to believe what he had achieved, almost crying on the podium.  “Wow. It’s incredible. It doesn’t seem true. I’ve won the Tour de France but I’m struggling to understand it all. I’ll need some days to realise what has happened,” he said.  “I saw my family after the finish and we celebrated together. It’s all incredible.”  “It’s the first Tour win for a Colombian and so everyone is so happy. I’m very proud to be the first Colombian to win the Tour. Now I want to go home, celebrate with my family and take it all in,” Bernal said.

 Stage 21 result

  1. Caleb Ewan [Australia] Lotto Soudal] 04.08
  2. Dylan Groenewegan [Nederlands]; Team Jumbo Visma
  3. Niccolo Bonafazio [Italy] Total Direct Energie

Final Overall classification after 21 stages in 2019 Tour de France  [Yellow Jersey]

[top 10 positions, followed by Australians remaining in the event at the end]

  1. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Eneos                                57.00
  2. Geraint Thomas [Great Britain – Wales] Team Ineos 01.11
  3. Steven Kiuijswijki [Nederlands] Team Jumbo Visma      01.31
  4. Emanuel Buchman [Germany] Bora- Hansgrohe            01.56
  5. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep       04.05
  6. Mikel Landa [Spain] Movistar Team                                  04.23
  7. Rigoberto Uran [Colombia] EF Education First                 05.15
  8. Nairo Quintana [Colombia] 05.30
  9. AleJandro Valverde [Spain] Movistar Team 06.12
  10. Warren Barguil [France] Arkea Fransic                           0-07.32
  11. Richie Porte [Australia] Trek Segafredo                              12.42

Other Australians to finish

  1. Jack Haig [Mitchelton-Scott] 1.36.59
  2. Simon Clarke [EF Education First] 2.11.43
  3. Michael Matthews [Team Sunweb] 2.16.34
  4. Luke Durbridge [Mitchelton-Scott] 3.15.36
  5. Caleb Ewan [Lotto Soudal] 3.54.34
  6. Michael Hepburn [Mitchelton-Scott] 4.07.32

Final Team Result

  1. Movistar Team 58.15
  2. Trek Segafredo          47.54
  3. Team Ineos 57.52
  4. EF Education First 25.57

 Points Classification [Green Jersey]

  1. Peter Sagan [SVK] Bora Hansgrohe                    316 pts
  2. Caleb Ewan [Australia]                                     248 pts
  3. Elia Viviani [Italy] Deceuninck-Quickstep 224 pts
  4. Sonny Colbrelli [Italy] Bahrain –Merida            209 pts
  5. Michael Matthews [Australia] Team Sunweb 201 pts

   Mountain Classification [King of the Mountains: Polka Dot Jersey]   

  1. Romain Bardet [France] AG2R La Mondiale   86 pts      
  2. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Eneos                    78 pts
  3. Tim Wellens [Belgium] Lotto Soudal                     75 pts                                      

Young Rider Classification [White Jersey]

  1. Egan Bernal [Colombia] Team Eneos             57.00
  2. David Gaudu [France] Groupama FDJ 23.58
  3. Enric Mas [Spain] Deceuninck-Quickstep 58.20
  4. Caleb Ewan [Australia] Lotto Soudal                3.54.34

Combativity Classification

  1. Julian Alaphilippe [France] Deceuninck – Quickstep

From news.com report regarding Caleb Ewan [Australia]

Aussie freak Caleb Ewan has cemented his reputation as the fastest man in the world after saving his best for last in the frantic sprint to the finish on the iconic on the Champs-Elysees on Monday morning.  Ewan is again the toast of the cycling world after finding a way to hit the line first despite being crunched deep in the pack while winding through the Paris streets, just a few hundred metres from the finish line of the final stage of the event.  Ewan’s stunning dart to the line handed him his third stage win and marked him as a man to be feared when the peloton returns to France in 12 months.    The Australian burst through on the right side of the cobbled avenue, hugging the fence, to beat Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen and Italian Niccolo Bonifazio, despite only being able to get a late launch.  “It’s unbelievable,” Ewan said.  “When we rolled onto the Champs-Elysees, to be honest I almost had tears in my eyes when I rolled through there. “It’s such a surreal feeling and I can’t believe I just won the stage.”  The stage victory was the Australian’s third of his debut tour, putting him second after Peter Sagan in the points classification, and continuing a successful season that includes two stage wins on the Giro d’Italia and two on the Tour of Turkey. “The Tour de France started off quite slow for me. It was like I could never get there. But the second half has been unbelievable, I’ve won every sprint in the second half,” Ewan said.  “The sprint (on the final stage) was quite messy and we were quite far back but I was patient and waited. I didn’t know how many guys were in front of me and so I waited and then ran at the three guys across the road.  “I went down the right, most sprinters I’ve talked to said don’t go down the right because its bumpy. But luckily I had the speed to come through in the end.”

It was just 12 months ago that Aussie team Mitchelton-Scott GreenEDGE dramatically left Ewan off their team for the Tour, resulting in the rising star’s move to Lotto Soudal.  After not being able to get a start on the 2018 Tour, Ewan’s debut has been worth the wait.  The 25-year-old seems certain to be jostling for stage wins for many years to come.  Even sprinting legend Mark Cavendish was left in awe of the Aussie on Monday.

Meanwhile, Australia’s best result in the overall classification was Richie Porte.

From AAP: ‘Long touted as a potential Tour de France winner during a luckless career, Australia’s Richie Porte finished 11th  overall, 12 mins 42 sec behind winner Egan Bernal of Colombia”.  Porte had hoped for an even better outcome this year after two disastrous events in 2017 and 2018. He had remained in 10th position for a number of days, his best position from Stage 15,  but dropped back in time and position over the concluding stages………Porte was philosophical, while disappointed,  after the event, stating that he had hoped for a better outcome……Halfway through the event,   “Keep on keeping on,” was the message from Richie Porte as he crept into the top 10 at the Tour de France. The enforced withdrawal of Jakob Fuglsang during the 177km 16th stage to Nimes continued the Tasmanian’s gradual progression up the standings. Since stage 10, his overall position climbed from 20th to 19th, 15th, 12th, 11th and then  10th, with his best result a fifth place in the individual time trial around Pau.

And from the ‘Examiner’ Tasmanian Cycling News –  “Richie Porte took little consolation from recording his second-best Tour de France finish.  The Launceston 34-year-old slipped out of the top 10 on a “terrible” penultimate stage in the Alps to finish 11th overall, bettered only in his nine Tours by fifth place in 2016.   Porte finished 19th and 23rd in 2013 and ’14 respectively but had failed to finish the last two Tours.  “I didn’t come here to come 11th, that’s no secret, but I think I fought with everything we had and we didn’t have great luck but we had a great team here, a good atmosphere and the three weeks went really fast,” he said.  “It’s been three years since I made it to Paris so bit of a miracle to get here and it’s been a great three weeks.  “The good for me personally would have been the time trial (fifth place), the bad probably the Tourmalet and the ugly was stage 20 (38th place) – I had a terrible day and exploded – but otherwise I think there was probably more good than bad.”   Porte was the team leader for Trek-Segafredo which finished second in the teams classification but director Steven de Jongh was not mincing his words.  “With Richie, we wanted to be top 5,” he said. “That was the expectation, but we also must not forget that Richie finished his last Grand Tour in 2016, and after that, he always crashed out.   “Coming back and finishing in 11th was not what we expected he’d do, and he’s also disappointed in that, but in the end, at least he finished the Tour again. Now he knows again what it is and what he needs to do to be up there and I think that will help him in future Grand Tours.”

 

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