Stage 7 – 9 of the 2019 Tour de France
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and into the region of burgundy the pelaton heads yesterday it was the first serious Mountaintop finish and there was a sorting out in the general classification but still there’s no big favorite who has emerged at the top yet the defending Champion Garren Thomas has shown that he is right amongst the contenders hello and welcome to the stage this is Matthew Keenan with you for what is the longest day of this year’s race classic transitional stage as the journey continues South this one from balfor to Shalon s it is the longest stage of the race at 230 km the start of the stage is reasonably lumpy as they ride away from the German Border in the vge mountains a few categorized climbs category 4 climb early cat three in the middle then a cat four climb the last Sprint the battle for the points that comes towards the back end of the stage and then it’s a flat run home to the finish in magazine such as winning magazine about enjoying some fly fishing for some downtime throughout the off [Applause] [Applause] seon thankfully they’ve got the safety equipment on as this is alongside the waterfall the national nature reserve of the Ravine of B the beautiful waterfall but all those walking paths and the safety equipment to be able to go along the side of that waterfall they were put in place in 1983 and along with the fly fishing that’s added quite a bit to this as a tourist attraction for the town number 171 lilan cagean he’s not quite in the form of two years ago when he was a stage winner at the station Deus he got the better of the Yambo vismar Rider Robert King on that occasion it was Lotto yumbo at that time but Lotto no longer a sponsor of the team calan just looks like he’s 5 or 10% off where he was 2 years ago burst on the scene on his first season in the prop pellon with a stage victory at the volar spa following year collected a stage win at the tour to France he’s been pretty consistent but not quite as good as those two huge [Applause] results no threats from these two in terms of the king of the mountains classification this is a category 3 climb so they’ll both get points two points for the first Rider across the top one point for the rider in second position on the one climb so far throughout the stage it was Johan Alfredo who went over the top in first [Applause] place their team manager wabio Uno he summed it up yesterday by saying we didn’t learn a lot everyone amongst the favorites are pretty close to being equal at this point and yesterday was just their first opportunity what they really wanted to achieve yesterday was take a little bit of a look at them against their Rivals and they’re pretty happy with the outcome in fact as Maxim mfour leads the peleton over the seconds behind one of the outcomes yesterday was that Nano kintana looked as good as he has looked at the tto France for a few years [Music] here’s Rosetto number 157 the man that had that nasty fall in training in March this year taken out on the road by cat maybe crossing a black cat is bad luck the G to Sanden peton was in by without too much Fan Fair having gone through my various notes not a lot to tell you about the Church of sandini other than the fact that it’s just been around for a couple of hundred years small parish and a small little town of San Sandi Maxim mfor still setting the tempo followed then by Yambo vimar Tony Martin the C quickstep no longer up the front Casper Asen is the rider that’s been doing a lot of the paac making today as he did yesterday he did an enormous amount of work yesterday it was good just to see him still in the race on stage four because he had a horrific crash on stage three lots of support for TBO Pino and also Roman bar day third climb of the day this one 3 1/2 km long it’s the steepest one with an average gradient of 5.7% and they’re onto the base of the climb Robbie it’s time for the hash tour media medal at the top of the table that’s good I thought I’d missed out now at the top of the table we’ve got Garen Thomas and George Bennett both on Five Points Daryl limpy Caleb Yan Alex daet Andre GLE there on three San’s got two votes let’s go to today’s one vote Roman b day he’s brutal honesty I had a leg problem I’m ashamed of my performance just one just one vote or just one leg just one leg I like that from Roman B no excuses he was asked about mechanical issues and he had a little bit of a problem I think near the top of the climb with a gear slip as he stopped right on the finish line but no excuses from bade and to say that he was ashamed of his performance that shows the amount of pride that he has when he comes to the tour yeah and it’s a fair comment from him to say that because he he absolutely would have hated the way he performed but I I wonder if the way he said it I had a leg problem a little bit um sarcastically or he’s saying I actually have a leg problem some sort of injury or it came out the leg problem element of that quote came out in a team statement he didn’t talk to the metor up to the stage yesterday put that in a press release and then spoke again this morning where the I’m ashamed of my performance part comes out and he was pretty harsh critic on himself Roman B so one vote we like Roman B we hope he can bounce back and show something in the mountains a little bit later on pass the AG to sbar little church at 113 km to go in fact it’s a little bit further back than that because the pelaton is well behind the break this one goes back to the 15th century and the bell tower was refurbished in 1897 two votes to the defending Champion garant Thomas he’s been questioned all the time about where’s the form you’re not considered the big favorite to spite you the defend and his response was I stain a bubble I talked to my wife about our dog and other stuff in Cardiff and he was so I’m right with you on that unsung hero of the day we’re singing his Praises over the top of the final categorized climb of the day thean and it’s Johan Alfredo who leads them over the top Rosetto in second position the pelaton backing off they’re trying to let these guys just get back out towards that 4-minute Mark cuz from here it’s moving out towards some wide open roads in the last 50 km or so as they approach the finish line and the teams of the sprinters can really set the agenda from that moment on just again on the youngsung hero David Gau all the work that he did he still managed to finish 23rd on the stage directly behind venzo nibble and he is the third youngest guy in the race he’s 2 2 years old he’s a former winner of the Tula air the race of the future which so often forecasts future contenders for the tour kintana Bernal two Colombians we speak of they’ve won it in the past the same year he won the T avanir 3 years ago when he was first year out of the Juniors first year under 23 he also won the peace race you know the peace race you know how hard it is it’s not very peaceful well a lot like the tour to laer is the Junior version of the tour to France but it much shorter the peace race is something you compar to being like the amateurs jro now it’s not in Italy but it’s that standard of race that’s the level that it’s at so we we commentated on David goodu last year here in the tour to France and he looked like a teenager riding around in the pelaton but from and he was already good then but he’s certainly really coming of age over this last 12 months he’s developed a lot as a professional and I don’t think it’s going to be a whole lot longer that he’ll be riding in service of someone like Tio P many expect him to be the next big thing for French cycling he was 34th last year in his first tour this year at the tour of romedy where garant Thomas was third Gau was Fifth and he won a stage leage best on leage the toughest of the one day spring Classics in terms of the climbing involved he was sixth there’s a lot for the French to get excited about David good so he’s our unsung hero of the day from yesterday’s stage O’Neil’s pollet was spoken quite a bit about him over the last few days the tall German from team katusa made it into the break yesterday and he’s been very very aggressive already in this tour to France I said he’s of course quite happy to take it easy today and that’s a very good decision on a stage like this but I won’t be surprised to see him in more breaks as this tour goes on he’s very resilient recovers well from hard efforts and they need someone stepping up and getting them some results he was 10th when Peter Sagan won a couple of days ago in colmart let’s see what they can do in the Sprint today with the likes of pollet and Rick Sable and michco Hower along with Yen Debush they’ve got some fast men in the team and should be able to form a decent lead out they don’t have one of the absolute fastest sprinters but if they can get the teamwork right they can really challenge for a top position in the Sprint and that’ll be a good confidence booster just have to choose where they go for normally it’s for Yen Debush he’s intrinsically the fastest in the team but he also said in the lead up to the tour if I’m feeling like I haven’t quite got it on the day then we can always change it around and Marco or Rick can take it on and do the Sprint so we can swap positions that Gap it’s come down around a minute now Julian Ella Philip at 6 seconds in the general classification I don’t expect him to go trying to Sprint for the Victory and and be amongst the top three and getting time bonuses and take it back I’m sure we’ll see him form part of the lead out train for ell of viviani just like he did in N A few days ago and that was when he was in the yellow Jersey [Applause] to see the L Jersey part of that lead out train that has been one of the highlights for a lot of people watching the race it’s not the first time it’s happened and it won’t be the last time but it is very very rare to see the yellow Jersey make that sort of move and it probably made the difference for theic quickstep cuz it allowed then merku and rezzi just to wait that little bit longer until they opened up the gate for to slip through and take the stage win I I don’t remember seeing a yellow jersey in the Sprint lead out since Yan ol back in the ’90s there’s one other one last stage 2012 it’s different when it’s the last stage though and it was Bradley Wiggins assisting in the lead out for Mark Cavendish but that’s the last stage the race has been won to do it on stage five when you’ve then got a Mountain Stage the following day that was huge stage four sorry in a non it was Caleb y there he is sudal Lotto doing all the work for Caleb [Applause] today sudal Lotto they certainly haven’t sh their responsibility having one of the favorites for the Sprints been doing their work SE Maxim mon do plenty of riding on the front of the peleton have’ been outside of the flat stages that are destined to be a Sprint I mean Super aggressive with Tim wellins and Thomas de both both in the break yesterday I’m sure Tim wellins is really enjoying a day in the wheels today it’s a rare one H not not sure he’ll have any responsibility to help with the lead out for Caleb buan he shouldn’t I think he should if he can a I think he should if he can I think he needs to get in the breakway tomorrow for the king of the mountains Jersey I think the more the better and just get up at the front of the pon do a little bit of something even if it’s just a kilometer of keeping those guys out of the wind protecting guys like yasper de burst Roger kuger and Caleb y helping to position them and then swing away and sit up but I think it’ be good to make a contribution on board here with forgive him if he doesn’t if he says look I just cooked and I couldn’t fair enough but if he can then and I still think if he can he will okay well he’s a chance to Maxim bu looking back here at this is Simon Yates that we’re looking at tough to tell the twins apart but I’ve cheated I looked around the corner to see that he had a little bit of blue on the back of his shoes not the red on the back of the cities and I would have thought that growing up with uh twin siblings in the family that I might have had a bit of a head start of being able to distinguish between the two of them I have twin sisters who are older than me and twin brothers who are younger than me so I’ve got some experience with twins but when you goow out with them it’s totally different to the yikes Brothers this is the Royal salt works of the Ark of San that we’re now taking a look at this is UNESCO world heritage listed and this is just another one of the stories about the role that salt has played in this area this salt Works was naturally meant for the production of salt but it also had to replace an AG the Aging one back in Salan laam and the saltworks was built between 1775 and 1779 it worked as an integrated plant where almost the entire work Community lived there there was accommodation that was on site as well and that semicircular area that you saw was surrounded by 10 buildings there was a copper shop it was the forge there was two residential buildings for all the workers and along the straight diameter side they had the salt salt extraction workshops altering with administrative buildings and then there was also a pavilion for the direct in the middle to oversee everything then in 1938 the salt Works housed a republican of Spanish refugee camps as a result of the Civil War that was happening there and then throughout the second world war it was also used by the French army as a hospital so it’s got quite the history between simply manufacturing salt and then threw out assisting refugees from Spain in 1938 and then a role that it played throughout the second world war Rosetto at the front he knows that they’re in this kilometer down to the Sprint that they need pick up their Tempo to still hold off that Paton because although the pelaton won’t be chasing to try and catch them their speed is increasing because of the fight for position for the points still on offer for the intermediate Sprint big points at the intermediate Sprints first across the line at an intermediate Sprint 20 points 17 for second then it’s 15 13 11 109 working its way down to 1 so there’s a bit at stake in the race for the green jersey back in the pelaton so of the king of the mountains prizes have been taken by Johan arredo W Kingdom M prize by Rosetto so he will be collecting the intermediate Sprint in m and he collects 20 points in the race for green and a 3se second time Us in the general classification so 122 the Gap as they go through the intermediate Sprint point we’ll find out how intense the Sprint is for the minor plac based on how big the time Gap is when they get there Sunny Co brle wants a piece of the action barin Merida have moved towards the front four riders in the red and blue colors with the gold stripe down the middle of their helmets Sean is on the wheel of Sunny C brle viviani in blue behind him and then it’s the red colors of Michael Matthews spending a bit of energy to close the gap Cole Bradley in third spot rides the brakes Peter San switching and flicking keeping viviani on his toes Michael Matthews at the back of that group Caleb you are not interested Sprint lead out now for sunny Co Bradley still in the slipstream still waiting patiently Peter SAR does he need to spend much he doesn’t he stays behind Co Bradley Co brle is not a big threat he collects it’s Then sagon followed by viviani and Matthews no energy Wasted by anyone all just following Wheels C brelli making the biggest effort it’s Sagan just in the saddle track that s slipstream viviani the same he’s hardly even pushing the pedals Matthews at the last moment thinks oh maybe I can just nip a couple more too late wasn’t able to get over the top of viviani the C must have thought what’s going on has everyone just sat up and let me go they’re just being economical Greg vanav here the gold helmet the bright orange Jersey is there any opportunity for a split in the crosswind in the last 30 km has there been a split behind them that they are doing this or more worried about how many guys are off the front but some serious Pace setting here on the front I think they’re interested in just testing the waters Alexi gar is a man for the spring Classics they had a bad day yesterday ag2 londal Oliver narson is there for that team as well so that’s the team of Roman B with two guys up towards the front mads vers is the rider with the red helmet in second position look at Casper ASR so composed checking over the shoulder be careful looking over your shoulder for too long and it’s not like there’s a big crosswind or anything like that and no split as yet putting some pressure on however it wouldn’t be comfortable down the back and look at that it’s now it was 122 when they went through the intermitted Sprint it’s now down to 42 41 and the haircut is getting shorter just not enough Breeze to do any damage to the pelaton and Riders just doing big strong turns on the front they’re not exactly attacks so perplexed a melon scratcher through this sign that we see each day for the team’s classification and it’s TR Sega Fredo they’ve had a lean couple of Seasons they’re having a fantastic 2019 they lead the team classification at a m Star by 139 and then the very impressive group armor fdj in third at 204 and was 13 second lead Rosetto followed by Alfredo both of them have spent plenty of time in the breakaways the third Breakaway for alfredo the second significant Breakaway for Rosetto neither of them shine away from the pacemaking it’s been a tough day for both of them nearly 6 hours in the saddle they’ve been racing now for 5 hours and 52 minutes and at the front of the pelaton hats off to Tony Martin Maxim mour and Casper asrin cuz they’ve been the three Riders sharing the pacemaking at the front for so long the last 20 kilm it’s been D ker quickstep Yambo vizar doing most of the pacemaking Bor hansar lotto sudal and totel Direct Energy also up at the front as Johan afredo has attacked Rosetto in the hope of getting the red number for the most combative he wants to fend them off for a little bit longer he wants his time on the podium to collect the red number Ros afredo would be feeling hard done by that he hasn’t had it yet and maybe this even agreement with Rosetto listen as we’re about to be caught I’m going again don’t jump in the wheel I really need a red number I’ve tried I’ve been more than 500k off the front give me a break yeah they’ve been caught at the 12 km marker and now it’s a fight for position at the front there’s Caleb poking into the pitcher off to the left hand side Tony Martin moving in the yellow colors with wel vanard and Dylan gragen and gragen just talking with body language a tilt to the Head get it over to the right hand side looking after him a lot better so far today in the other Sprints they’ve been all over the place they’ve been really unorganized and it’s exactly what we saw for the first week of the tour last year until stage seven when they got it right got him in position and this what they’ve really needed a Tony Martin get them on the rails Mike turnis constantly checking where kunan is normally a rider that’s been on the front all day once they get to this point as we see Rosetto at the back of the fell on after his day long Breakaway normally if you’re the guy for the team that’s been chasing all day and the break gets caught you swing off you’re allowed to go to the back and cruise in different rules for Tony Martin he’s still at the front working for the Sprint lead outs and Rosetto he was just enjoying sitting in the wheels and getting a real slipstream as they ride into the headwind Fairly shortly through 10 km to go they’ll then turn 90° to the right the road swings back to the left and it’ll bring them over a bridge over the river s and when we rode through that earlier this morning the breeze was blowing quite stiff from the right hand side so if it’s still in exactly the same direction it’s not going to really split the pelaton cause Havoc amongst contenders but it could burn the legs of some guys that are badly positioned Alex D cominging towards the front and he’s Towing Marco H with him for the koua Elin team these big roads you’ve spoken about this plenty of times here he is Johan afredo we’ve seen a lot of Johan today this is what you’ve spoken about a few times on the wide open roads it’s even harder for the teams of the sprinters to control it because others can move around Tony Martin still doing the job in the yellow and black could in the middle bringing Richie port to the front and on this side of the road B Hans grower for Peter Sagan is on for the wheel of Peter San and it’s yasper sturen thus far who has won the lottery with the yellow helmet on the men in blue de quickstep a bit further back but they haven’t done anything yet meru in the red jersey of Danish Champion Al Filipe is up there reesi on the outside protecting Elia viviani keeping him out of any sort of wind 3 km to go and Caleb buan at 3 km to go caught on the left hand side he’s reconnected with his lead out man Roger kuger well behind Walt fard it is all inos Luke row he is guiding his leaders guant Thomas and Egan Bernal Jansen now moves up for yo vizar Dylan kunan he’s about seventh one of the quickstep Riders just inside him now this is an enormous turn of pace by the man in yellow at the fronts wal vanard as Luke row has stepped out of the way without doing a turn into second Luke row just looking to make sure in fact that Bernal is safe that’s the class of row and I can see Julian alella Philip is’s just looking checking the teammates looking around everywhere to see what’s happening around him who’s trying to make an acceleration if he doesn’t have to he won’t make a big acceleration to that tunnel that narrowing he’ll wait till in the final kilometer and then he’ll start to launch his team they are all lined up Al Philip on the right he now starts to go towards that tunnel 1 2 3 4 five in a row with viviani on the back it’s Al Philip Then followed by lampart merku reesi viviani is waiting patiently Al Philip swings off sunweb sweeping through there isn’t enough room everybody breathe in it Narrows down dramatically here comes the sweeper very narrow a sweeper but you if you’re just a little bit too far behind you’re not yet out of it this is the last line to the Finish no more corners to come the road just bends around the wind is coming from behind but slightly from on the left hand side at the moment Arman Johnson winding it up o checking across the shoulder lampart back into the pitcher in the blue on the left hand side of the screen two teammates for Saga which is good news for ybo visma with Dylan kununu this is Marcus bat now in the front with Daniel OS behind him for Cole brelli it’s Bak marid in the red and blue on the left Caleb euan teammate coming through but without you and on the wheel on the other side of the road 1 km remaining let’s look at the overhead muu swings away it’s reesi kunan goes on the left he goes early Yan goes over the top of viviani he challenges Dylan kunun in the line is coming the throw it’s got to be kunan by a millimeter by the looks from the overhead I’m waiting he hasn’t heard yet he doesn’t know we do not know Caleb Yan made a great throw for the line so close for Caleb Yan race radio has confirmed it is the Dutchman Dylan gragen he got the jump he started a fraction before everybody they came over the top of Sagen and viviani out of the wheels Caleb Yan he went at the right time but Kagan had just anticipated that little bit sooner you and through with everything he had only cm in it but when you’re a sprinter you know it doesn’t have to be much you just feel it I want to take everybody back to when we had the aerial shot 10 km to go of the approach of the finish line and Robbie McKuen said the side to go is on the left of the road out wide and in the wind it’s harder but it’s open where was Dylan gragen exactly there Perfect by the Dutchman Caleb Yan got a good run there look at his back wheel skip out under the pressure it opened up for him viviani shakes the head he’s really disappointed such a hard Sprint to go from the front it opened up perfect for for Caleb buan he had the room to go he was coming at Dylan kunun there it’s clear you can see it’s actually getting closer to half a wheel maybe quarter quarter of a quarter of a wheel I want to see the F but in the slow motion that was 10 psi on the tire there was nothing it it’s less than it’s more than that you see it in the slow motion you there’s no no doubt whatsoever a brilliant ride by both of them I’m disappointed for Caleb Yan as an Australian of course but full credit to Hunan last year it took him until stage seven this year stage seven again Lucky Seven longest stage of the race this year longest stage both 230k Caleb Yan in second sagon in third Cole Bradley fourth Phillipson the youngest rider in the race viani nelo sturen Matthews whil it was the Sprint Royale yesterday with Dylan gragen getting the win the landscape changes for stage eight as the pellaton makes the journey into St Eden it’s a stage that is litted with climes hello and welcome to the eth stage of the T France Matthew Ken with you joined by Robbie mccuan today Robbie the stage will be a tough one it’ll be a tough one and I think a very aggressive one and Walt F’s writing was part of that as we watched Thomas Dent wind things up up to go and get the points and he’ll be unchallenged king just following through he will take second but it’s not like it’s a Sprint Thomas the he will take top points five more for Thomas the followed by King Demari and then turra while we’re at it I’m going to be a little self-indulgent and make a special mention of the McLoud tennis club today the boys got up my team won four matches it came down to the final match the last set the best of three the third set was a tiebreaker down two match points ALU and Pat got the job done well done boys so if anyone thinks that Wimbledon is the biggest tennis tournament on at the moment no it’s Matthew Keenan’s local club team I was watching the updates courtesy of Nathan right the way throughout and hitting the refresh button while we’re we’ve got the opportunity to give a shout out I’d like to give a shout out to some really good friends of mine in particular to Tracy marce a fantastic friend her and her husband Steve they’re the owners of a construction company on the go Coast called condev they’re mad Keen cyclists and triathletes they often go out riding plenty of the people within the company also ride they go in their Bunch rides they’ve had a really nasty accident yesterday and Tracy’s gone down and broken her shoulder separated the AC joint she’s in a quite a bad way so Tracy I just want to wish you all the best with the recovery really sorry to hear of your crash and I’m hoping you back up and at him and back on the bike very soon lots of love indeed we never want to hear of anybody crashing M Star at the back of the pelaton down the back of the group for the M Star team this is Andre Amador the Costa Rican on that Squad working really well together this group denan has collected five more points so that’s 10 points now for him in the race for the king of the mountains Jersey that moves him up to 18 so he’s still a long way behind the leader of that classification which is his teammate Tim wellin who is on 43 points Marcus bur had slogging away top of this one two down five to go it is a really really tough stage this is Ian Garcia CA number 45 from the Bahrain Marita team young Spaniard who is a super big Prospect for the spring [Applause] Classics look at that time gap down under 4 minutes so the chase is serious Matthews and Sagan their teams believe they’re the two biggest favorites so do we to get through this stage Michael Matthews said pre- tour after it was announced that Tom Duman would not ride the tour to France due to the knee injury he sustained in the jro Matthews first said I I don’t know what to do I’m not prepared for this situation I haven’t been working on my Sprint doing my normal speed work I went instead of to linu linho at altitude where I do lots of Sprint training I went with the team to tenner and did lots of long steady climbing ready to help Tom dum well it’s now because of that he’s surviving stages like this with relative ease which we also saw in colmart but in Colmar I don’t know if he so much missed the speed he missed the Instinct of positioning when it came to the last 500 M he was with sagun and suddenly sagun was gone sagun rode through the slipstream up and over and won the stage and Matthews was just caught in a whole mess back in the group and was just pretty far back in the top 10 and super disappointed if you looking to make amends today and this this course even hiler than that to Kar so with his climbing ability he’d be hoping it even burns the legs of a guy like sagun even more which gives him a better chance of beating him in an eventual Sprint and the team really believes in Him they’ve got Chad Hager already on the front and they’ve only recently extended Michael Matthews contract even further to the end of 2021 meanwhile the team is is up in the air a little bit about the continuation of Tom Duman or not in that Squad even though he has a contract that’s still continues and Tom duman’s manager is meeting with the sunweb team over the next couple of days throughout the tour to find out exactly what is going on because he does have a contract word on the street is that Yambo visma want Tom Duman and team inos are also interested that would be extraordinary let’s now take a look at another feature on the yellow Jersey this year celebrating 100 years in the tour to France and there’ll be enough points on offer today for him to be able to go up into second place but not enough points to move into the lead so we’ll still be his teammate Tim wellin with the polka dots at the end of today’s stage so perfect situ ation for well without having to do any defending or get himself in the break it’s his own teammate coming closer Andre GLE he is also being dislodged from the back of the peleton Alexander Kristoff as well the Sprinter is having trouble with his Pace being set by Bart and haga and this is a long way out to be being dropped so got to keep fighting all the way you can’t just settle in and say okay gredo let’s just sit up and start rolling it’s like a Time on trial this is a really dangerous day for the elimination time 11% the gradient this is a super steep climb and there’s not much time to get back on it’s a very steep steep and short descent down into the feed Zone that will give them a chance to rejoin the back of the pelaton and then they get a long cat three more points for Thomas to again and yet again for the third climbing succession the order is De King Demari tstr Ben King always in second position just collecting a few points not upsetting the apple cart but making sure he gets himself onto the leaderboard five more for Thomas deant he now moves to 23 points so it looks fairly calm at the front of the peleton good climbers GC contenders completely within themselves and it’s such a different story at the back of the bunch you saw Alexander Kristoff getting dropped Andre GLE Caleb Yan Dylan groan and they’ve just got to keep fighting stay as close as possible over the top descend their way back on as I was just saying through the feed Zone that is a real chance to rejoin should go a little bit slower through there but then it it’s an 8 1/2 km Category 3 climb at an average of 4 1/2% if they can get over that one they’re in relative safety as far as the time limit is concerned that will get them to 72 km to go before they hit the next C too we’ve just spoken about the relationship between Chone in yellow and venzo nib the red jersey from Bahrain Marita it was a pretty friendly chat at the front of the pedon on that occasion and next year we’re pretty confident that they’ll be teammates I wonder if nibble was saying hey Julio you weren’t supposed to tell everyone that I’m coming couldn’t help himself he’s so which begs the question what with Richie port nibali for the jro and a a mentor for Chone Richie Port still to have another Tilt at the tour it will all depend on what happens by the end of this race Richie seems really open to the idea when he gets asked about it he doesn’t fall into the Trap of saying yeah I’m looking forward to racing with him next year he’s had a bit more political nouse about the way he’s responded to those questions and he said I would be happy to see him come across to our team if that was to happen this is the other Dylan Dylan Van Bal at the front for team [Music] inos Gap the Gap he opened up on the downhill after the cot mutin on that attack within two corners he took 20 seconds on the chasing group because the team at the front at that stage was inos no risks to be taken as they were guiding guant Thomas and Egan berell so Al Philip wait for the Sprint or go on the attack I think the latter because you said technical as The Descent so that is certainly The Sweet Spot for Julian Al fle I’ve Just Seen Andre GLE along with Anthony DL from ARA samik loaded up with water bottles charging back through the Pelon a good day again for Andre griel which means Andre griel isn’t thinking that he can make it to this finish and be in contention to have a Sprint or he hasn’t been in contention on the flat Sprints for TX sea fro one way to defend the yellow Jersey is to have this race stay together for the Sprint finish and yasper sturban go for the Sprint and try and win the stage Andre griel 12th yesterday couldn’t get a run and just doesn’t seem to have the legs this year to be able to put himself into position position and even when he has been sprinting he just hasn’t looked like the Andre GLE of past Seasons just missing that big horsepower we we saw him beaten in that intermediate Sprint where Neil’s pollet jumped early when they’re in the Breakaway griper went to go even Pascal matched his acceleration and it was pascon who passed pollet and gripal had to settle for third 3 years ago he would have won that with one leg yep he’s not the GLE that he quite used to be but it’s good to see that he’s still in the race he’s still trying hard every day and he will continue to do so and on a day like today where he has a fairly good idea he’s going to get dropped he’s back to the team car he’s taking bidons he’s delivering to the rest of the team and he’s he’s a super professional and a great guy yeah I just don’t think he’s going to win any more stages at the tour really good asset to the team without winning stages particularly a team that is trying to bolster its rider list it’s looking at recruiting the likes of n kintana for next season and having a guy like Andre Gull there he would be really handy as a teammate of Nal kintana even though he’s not able to help him in the climbs he could be the guy that protects him on the windy flat stages and gives everybody else confidence on the road about being at the front and surrounding the leader how about they recruit a young Sprinter and have a mentor like Andre griel may not have the legs to be doing big lead outs and help to the Wi but a guy like that within the team yeah to guide make the most of their investment steeper roads now on this part of The Descent that is better for them that sort of just flowing 3% downhill is a real disadvantage for the two compared to the chasing group behind the last official climb really starts in Earnest in 4 1/2 km well a majestic sight little tumble but all okay just sliding in spooked perhaps by all the choppers that go overhead ABS hope there’s no injuries Simon Clark is fully committed as his Old Coach Dave Sanders would say he’s pinned the ears back he has talking about that Peter Sagan through the inside just giving the little call Chans that was from mitchelton Scott he’s calling for the team car Sagan with bons in his pocket does Peter Sagan not back himself to get over these climbs and is he bringing these bidens up for Manuel Bookman who knows that’s something I would not expect to see at this point in the stage within the last 20 km that is Peter Sagan delivering bidons to his teammates on a stage that we thought he has a real chance of winning one more climb to survive well that’s a tough ask 1.9 km to go 7 1/2% gradient and only 12 1/2 km to go from the top technical roads and one more kicker as they come into town maybe Peter Sagan he knows Julian alella Philip well enough and he’s looked at the profile and thought he’s going to attack us there he’s going to ride us out of the wheel and there’s the gring and the tough part Robbie is right at the top 142% that is a launching pad for the likes of lenko Julian FIP and how much fuel does Chone the yellow Jersey still have in the tank just think back to that stage to epon when Al Filip went like a champagne cork out of the bottle he’s got so much more punch than the pure climbers that 142% it’s like the cot mutini where he attacked the other day it’s a similar sort of gradient to the ones he l of the the MU van ho in flesh wone it’s the perfect Launchpad and a very similar sort of running after that technical descent with a few little ups and downs lots of technical Corners I’m now starting to expect a repeat of stage three oh it was a brilliant stage be happy to see it in terms of pure entertainment 119 it’s a big fight to try and bring this breakway of two back they’ve been off the front since the very start so it’s around the 180 km Mark that they’ve been out in front and the difficult portion of the stage is just in front of them we’ve been talking a lot about Alberto betol the winner of the tour of Flanders from Education First what about the prospect of Michael Woods going on the attack on this final climb it suits him it’s someone’s got to go to try and either anticipate or match Julian Al Philip and it won’t be raberto uran I think everybody’s going to be at their maximum there like they were in the Cotto mutin on stage three doing everything they can at least just to cover each other not lose time to the major contenders some good signs for the rider at the back of the peleton in the red colors of katucha alasin Il now zacharin still in contact with the race today perhaps he’s improving we could see him in a breakaway once we reach the high mountains his preferred territory maybe commentator’s curse with this last climb to come there he is yeah but he’s a lot better than he was a couple of days ago to Leon Dei Lawrence Depo in yellow just in front of him they couldn’t possibly could be Yambo visar make it win number four theyve still got George Bennett and Steven Cruz in this group so I don’t think so neither of those two pack a Sprint and neither the punch to match a julianella Philip style attack on that final clim so I think they’ll be happy to track the likes of Gant Thomas Egan beral tibo Pino and tibo Pino why not try and attack on that climb he’s not the best descender in the bunch but he seems to have to got his mojo back this season T course that’s the front of the race the peleton behind them this is where they’re heading 15 km marker they go through there then that red point there is the start of the climb and once they get over the top they start descending pretty quickly stay bwn straight under the wheels of Lawrence and he’s held that well and there has been a fall though inos and it’s the entire team is stopping except for Bernal because number one the defending Champion Gant Thomas was amongst them how quickly things can change so quid kovski and moscon are still on the side of the road Michael Woods from Education First that was certainly Woods this is well po at the [Music] back and thas gone over the top of someone else it was Woods who went down first in front of inos this is Johnny moscon look at the condition of the bike sold for spare parts only and that looked like the bik of gon Thomas so Johnny moscon he’s a similar height to garant Thomas so he might have swapped the bikes with him and it was a quick change too even before the cameras got there he was pushed off and he was away again the entire team on the spot they’ve now got to rectify this situation there is the back of the peleton and the good news for inos is the road starts to climb that’s in their favor to rejoin the peleton Dylan vanal the big Dutch Powerhouse wal pools this is a day where he is so important to the team not drop not saving him energy and now he can help bring Gant Thomas back to the bunch and the other one is there is the two leaders that make the turn was Jonathan Coho staying in the pelaton is the white jersey the Colombian climber Bernal two leaders designated for inos at the start of this tour to France you saw the entire team stopping for Gant Thomas last year’s winner Thomas the hent now the pressure on he’s riding away from Alexandra Demari a pure show of strength from Thomas de and Alexandro daki no longer has the answers he has been put to the test by Thomas de and he is the Ducks of the Breakaway well we’ve seen him do it time and again he just steps up the level the closer he gets to the finish line but it’s always amazing to watch he just keeps on going Thomas de a quick look back to check the Gap Alesandra Demari has cracked and the Belgian who’s done this so many times before he continues to survive Clark still setting the tempo at the front it’s then lenko who is next in line the kazak national champion Clark is cooked and he steps out of the way and this is where they will start to run out of Chasers up the front and you’re back to protected Riders like fol s there’s been a fallen snow drop Riders Riders and heavy traffic well almost at a complete stand still I thought it might have fallen in the and Clark is that was Clark on the right hand side of the road kovsky completely stopped a lot of traffic to get through for Thomas just K has been dropped so to Julian Bernard now it’s wel PS closing in claing their way back it’s to the left number one garant Thomas he was in the right position Woods just fell in front of them it’s pure bad luck for get in [Music] [Applause] Thomas they’ll get there he is on his bike that does have number one on it by the looks of it so perhaps it was Johnny mosc On’s bike that was broken the Thomas just taken out in that fall Walt pool’s last man left to bring him back across no Convoy not much of a slipstream to be had on steep slopes like this the Gap to Thomas de still 55 seconds out of the saddle for the man from sudal Lotto just the spares vehicle behind him still good news for him no sight of anyone from the pelaton 800 m to the top and then a descent and then another kick again the Steep part is still to come lenu now on the front Yakov Fang in second whe Fang the protected Rider now for the estana team why I thought it would have surely been lenko to go on the attack is not riding for the stage win it is maybe like you said to honor Andre kilv the best friend of Alexander vinokurov the boss at aana but it doesn’t look like they’re riding to win the stage and the tempo going off slightly Richie Port making an appearance on the left of screen next to him in the white jersey Bernal on his own the rest of inos working for this man and they’re all gone now it’s up to him to cross the rest of the gap on his own since 2012 we’ve not seen a situation where there’s been a front group this big and only two Riders from this team number one garant Thomas though has put Matters To Rights he returns to be alongside his Rivals well it didn’t take them long they’ve done it quickly inefficiently there’s only two of them left in the bunch but he’s back to safety Richie Port also looking safe riding right in the front of the bunch Thomas de on the steepest slopes now this climb 400 m to go he’s looking looking good he’s looking very good throughout this climb so far and he’s almost at the top Thomas de has conceded three seconds to the Chasers and the good news for dent if he can keep 40 seconds of this lead over the top be very hard to chase him down they’re running out of domestics in the group behind it’s coming down to all race favorites for GC who’s going to want to do anything for anybody else it’s only luceno left chasing at the moment and Peter San is still in contact with this group so to is Michael Matthews as is Greg vanab Ms the world champion Val ver at the back under pressure Don’t Look Backwards Thomas the race is out in front and you’re the man making it a 14 and a half% this will be absolute agony for Thomas the hint goes wide in the corner cut down the gradient he’ll be able to take a look if there’s any Gap in that crowd see where the Pelon is and he’s cresting the climb the points the bonus and now down to the Finish over the top for Thomas to he will be the most combative he consolidate second in the race for the king of the mountains Jersey but 31 seconds venzo nib we know the answers to his hopes at this year tour to France he’ll be a stage Hunter this is the marking now being caught as the attack is launched and it’s Julian Al Philip he’s chasing yellow there’s a Time bonus here first over the top collects 5 seconds it’s then TBO Pino he’ll get a 2 second time bonus the French are flying exactly what we expected Julian Al Philip on the attack for the bonus and we said why not Tio Pino he has tracked Julian Al Philip not far behind Fang is also reacting to this attack by the Frenchmen if this move can be nullified by the rest of the Pelon that is great use for Thomas de the longer it takes to catch these two the worse it is for the Belgian and Julian alip is 1 second away from moving back into the yellow Jersey on the road he is the new race leader but they’re still just under 12 km to race little splits the yellow jersey in the third group on the road here at the moment Al Philip down in Arrow looking back but the Gap is small and the group behind are not giving up and letting him go and it’s still 34 seconds for Thomas they nearly missed the corner just swinging on time a St of the next one’s through that’s not the the next yellow Jersey through the second of them that looked like Chone St chasing desperately 35 seconds the Gant is still defying the pelaton and Al Filip continues to accelerate TBO puno is desperately trying to stick with him well 23 seconds that is the gap for Ella Philip 35 is back to the Y Jersey well it’s less than that it’s only about four or five seconds between ala Philip and the chasing Pelon and the Gap to Thomas de that is shrinking very quickly with just over 10 km to go de needs these two caught quickly and there’ll be a standoff in the pelaton for him to have a chance he flicked his elbow three times Ella Philip before TBO Pino came through Al Philipe attacks and TBO Pino was ready for it hot on his hammer the whole way he was right there 28 km an hour on a 14% gradient Al Philip but not opening up the Gap like he did in EP but on these little Rises on the way down this descent he is opening up the Gap and through the corners he’s opening up the Gap the virtual classification it’s 1 second when you’re factoring the time bonus then the gap on the road it’s Al Filip back in yellow and bu mmer is chasing there he is the yellow Jersey Chone he’s got Adam Yates sitting behind him followed then by Dan Martin David godu just in front of the yellow Jersey a very select group here of pre-race favorites for the GC and poo cooperating perfectly with Julian ala Philip it’s not steep downhill but every corner they just open up the Gap a little bit more and Al Philip punches up and over those little risers on the way down they’re closing in on Thomas the and for the first time TX Seco are having to ride on the front to defend their position this is bettiol in the pink colors for EF he follows Vincenzo nib and this is De regardless of the final outcome in football terms he has been man of the match well everyone would admit straight away he’s the moral winner of this stage whatever happens incredible performance getting into the break leading them all day and then leaving them behind riding Alexander deari out of the wheel and the big danger is this man in blue along with Pino who’s not slow at the Finish either they’re into that same Corner we just saw de go through his lead about 15 seconds and now the Chas is off at the fronts sunweb coming through trying to chase for Matthews the gap is working in favor of Thomas the Gent and look at Al Philip through the corners his heart must be in his mouth tboo each time they approach a Bend it’s starting to remind me of the stage to Lon last year where Al Philip was chasing Yates put so much pressure on Yates end up falling off trying to stay away and Al Philip rode to Victory he’s just descending like a wild man the Gap though 17 seconds still looking pretty good for Thomas Dent Dent 32 seconds to the yellow Jersey 19 to the chase with TBO Pino and TBO Pino is gaining time on the rivals for the final yellow Jersey and ala Philipe again is shown why he is the most popular man in French cycling oh hopefully for Thomas de that attack has really burned the legs of the two Frenchmen who who are in Hot Pursuit and he can hold them off the Gap now n seconds he seems to be slowly edging back away from them and there’s Chone the yellow Jersey the first of the yellow jerseys you see in the pelaton further back down is Cruz and also Bennett riding for Yambo vimar but the overall race leader he sits there in about eighth or nth position he’s got a teammate B MMA towards the front trying to work there’s one more little kick up before they really go down much steeper Thomas tent can get over that I think he can hang on and win the stage two 16 seconds now Al phip to the better of tone in the battle for yellow 12 seconds to Thomas dent and if the Gent does get caught he’s still a chance to win this is that little uphill section I just spoke about get to the top of this and it’s diving down towards stien one more small Hill after that Al Philip he wants it all he wants the yellow Jersey back and he wants the stage win in sanen it’s shades of stage three and they’re 9 seconds even seven behind the leader now at the back in second last position that’s bu MMA who has been doing the chasing and Thomas de he’s seen him off this is nibble and betol their day is done and dusted well Thomas the really needed these two to be caught by that chasing group straight away Thomas de hint will hold off the pelaton but I think it’s looking like he’s going to be caught by these two and will the fresher legs of Julian Al Philip proved too much in a Sprint between three and he’s shown how fast he is winning Milan Samano this year number 21 sain qua Anderson now on the front for sunweb this is the chase for Michael Matthews and look at enri M in second position the blue colors of theer Quick Step he is trying to slow things down Carl Anderson has just swung off it’s lucenko chasing again followed by Fang then it is Nal kintana well now we’re seeing de with a 19sec lead 34 to the bellaton we’re getting lots of different time checks the good news for de is from behind the two Chasers we haven’t been able to spot him up the road Thomas de 19 seconds to Julian alip and TBO Pino that is still a good Gap there they are now into the picture and it is looking more like a 19sec gap good news for the Belgian Pino on the front ala Philip in the wheel Al Philip says needs to go faster coming through either way for these two there’s plenty to race for time gains for number 51 TBO Pino the yellow Jersey for number 21 Julian alip 19 seconds their deficit to Thomas to 13 seconds their advance vage on the group containing to well if it was to finish just like this Justice would be served the aggressive riding of Al Philip would be rewarded with the yellow Jersey back on his shoulders but Thomas Deen I think anyone around the world watching this by the parents of Al Philip and his team they want Thomas de to win 5 km this is mmer at the back for txo the yellow Jersey now tone has to do the faing himself he must but he’s running out of time it’s 12 seconds he needs to close in to collect that yellow Jersey back but then there’s also the risk of time bonuses on the road with the time bonuses already it’s only a one second Gap a one second buffer he has on ala Filip de has a bigger gap on these two than they have on the chasing Pelon 65 km hour one more Hill to come for Thomas de and he still looks so powerful Thomas de he’s too stubborn to be caught heading into St eten for the 26th time in the history of the tour to France 4 kilm remaining it’s 16 laps of a valdrome he’s into Pursuit mode but he’s already been off the fronts for 196 K Ren back the Swiss champion at the rear of the pelaton it’s going the wrong direction for Alan Philip and TBO Pino in terms of catching the G well that Gap now 25 seconds to Thomas theend and the pelaton will have these two in their sights back to the lone leader Thomas aent sharp corner coming up he’s over the top of the rise or he’s about to hit it it’s just between 3 and 2 km to go this is that sharp little Hill keep on punching away Thomas the the Chasers were within 13 seconds they’re back out to 26 three KS to go for the Chasers ala Philip and TBO Pino they’ll come around this corner they’ll look up the road and I doubt they’ll even see Thomas de hopefully for him he is just out of sight which will be demoralizing for the Chase and it’s Sun web doing the chasing for Michael Matthews this Gap is also opened and ala Philipe is the virtual race leader by 15 seconds TBO Pino moves up up in a third ahead of Thomas and Bernal well can anyone make an acceleration on this hill to cut down the time gap between this big group and Al Philip Thomas dend he’s squeezing every last drop out with 2 and a half km to go Al Philip looking backwards and when he looks the other direction there’s no sign of Thomas the hint the green jersey is there Peter seun but they don’t look as if they’re going to be racing for the stage win they’ve slowed down who’s left to do the chasing for yellow Chone number 133 he hasn’t got the leagues to do it himself if he can he needs to do whatever he can and stay intact with the group he needs to close the gap down to Al Philip this climb for de is never ending he’s losing a little bit more time he’s lost 10 seconds so far on this climb Al Philip and tboo are closing in the yellow Jersey is suffering at the back of the group they split the speed hump they chased against they still can’t see Thomas dend that is a good psychological advantage for the Belgian he’s over the top it’s all downhill and he’s into the streets of stien and it’s only 16 km there’s a few twists and turns Al he will take every risk he will attack this descent tried to catch Thomas de looks back no sign of the Pelon All Eyes forward he’s riding for yellow and I think it’s going to be victory for the Belgian well as you said before that would be sporting Justice number 51 tboo he says he’s not that worried of whe he wins the tour or he doesn’t well he’s racing like a man that does want to win and de gent wants to win today he had a plan right from the very start he’s moved up to Second for the king of the mountains classification but that is very much in the shadows now as he descends into Sten sudar Lotto they’ve been twice third with Caleb euan second yesterday and it looks like they’re about to claim a top step in a break 11 seconds we’ve seen the crash of Gant Thomas today it’s not over until it’s over he plummets down into town alfal he puts the brakes away tboo a little bit more anxious he over the top the Magnificent I didn’t want to see that finish any other way that is one of the most deserving victories I’ve ever seen in my life it’s Goosebumps all round the football field in St etan I’m sure there’s been some big occasions there but Thomas de he is the story of the day he’s done it in Catalonia he’s done it in Perry n he’s done it in the wela and the jro this defines Thomas the for the fifth Auto they’ve got their win and Julian Ella Philip that’s the happiest he’s ever been with a third place finish mission accomplished he would have loved to be racing for the stage win because he loves to go out and get it all like he didn’t in a but the mission today was get the Jersey back he’s done just that I think it would have been an injustice had he caught Thomas Dent what an incredible day of bike racing that was awesome there’s the stage classification it was only 6 seconds but Pino and Ella phlip have gained 20 seconds on the rest of the group Michael Matthews again leading home the Sprint for the minor placings as per stage three Sagan in fifth Trent in coming through in six and Sandra Marissa another really solid ride today Greg van aramat and then the men from inos they pulled everything back together Bernal and Thomas ninth and 10th across the line on the crimes and uh I think three crimes to go was 70 km to go uh we just started to to ride a bit faster and King and and Terra dropped so uh it was just the Marquee and I and U he just kept riding full until the last climb and I the bunch was coming closer but yeah I had to go solo and try to uh stay ahead of them and it was just by five or 10 seconds when did you start believing in the victory in the final moment uh I I had a really good day I had a really good feeling all day so I believed it in in it the whole day but we only got 5 minutes and it went down really quick to three and a half so we we we didn’t go really easy but we didn’t uh push that hard on the on the the the climb where the feedone was and just after that we went full because we heard uh those who were pulling before they they started to drop so that was a moment to to try and get a bigger Gap again and then we had 4 minutes and then I really started to believe in it again uh what we was crashed in a few Corners because we were taking uh some risks but uh yeah from 70 to go I started to believing in a possible Victory but still it it hurts hurts so much mission accomplished for thas tonight also for the team we we came here to win the stage we we were really close yesterday with Caleb and uh today was uh was a day for me where where I could go my chance and I had a really good feeling already the whole tour uh and today was really had amazing legs today congratulations thank you very much th they were amazing his legs really were extraordinary today lenith here in the heart of Sten it’s a performance center they con seat up to 7,200 people it’s pretty new it was opened up in September of 2006 back in yellow there’s been another lead change it’s julianella FIP now with the 23 Second buffer over zulio Chone it’s theno Pino so two Frenchmen inside the top three he’s at 53 seconds the Kiwi George Bennett he’s been riding so well then gar Thomas and Egan Bernard it’s Stage Nine of the tour to France and there’s a lot to celebrate for the French it’s K julier Basel day and it’s Julian Alf one of their Heroes who wears the Mayo Jor they start in Sten their destination is Bod it could be an opportunity for the Breakaway but could it possibly be as dramatic as yesterday Matthew Kenan with you alongside me is Robbie [Applause] McKuen the journey down towards the Pyrenees continues on this occasion it’s bidding its way through the massive Central as it leaves St ttian B is the Destin 17.5 km a category 1 climb early on the stage then two Category 3 climbs at the back end of the day but there’s not a whole lot of Flat Road to speak of the sprinters would be a little optimistic so to the Breakaway it’s a stage that is evenly balanced and he won’t be poisoned for the Breakaway he’ll contribute well to the Breakaway but he’s not a super quick Sprinter Mark Solair they’ll be more nervous about the prospect of rury Costa getting across to that group yeah although Solair is a good chance to go on the attack on the final Category 3 climb and go solo to the finish I’m I’m certain that he’ll try to attack I wrote it this morning it’s quite a tough Category 3 some really steep pinches the the middle 2 kilm of it are really tough it’s a perfect climb uh for an attack to split the group to Pieces it’s just it’s not one of those cat frees we saw earlier in the tour that are really gradual you can almost slipstream up it it’s it goes is up in in bumps and lumps and steep pinches and bits of rough road it’s really irregular Mark Solair has almost closed it down and this was the barrage being created that you spoke about earlier on they’ve kept One race official vehicle plus mavic neutral service behind the Breakaway in case there is a mechanical problem there but they’ve taken the team cars out of the way on a flat stretch of road that prevents the rider that’s trying to come across from getting a slipstream advantage on the climb as Robie referred to before it’s actually to his Advantage because it makes the air a little bit clearer to breathe and he can see the target out in fronts and all the way from sassa on the outskirts of Melbourne Simon Clark is in the Breakaway weing the pink colors of EF Solair will be relieved when he does make contacts number 213 from the Arca samsing that is Anthony deas 105 the South African National Champion that’s Daryl imp for mitchellon Scott who had a few words with Michael Matthews after the stage into colar Matthews was a little bit confused as to why Daryl impy didn’t sort of help him out just a little bit towards the end of the stage to which imp replied sarcastically we’re not on the same team bro tempers do tend to flare when the racing is hard and the desired results don’t come around he’s there mark Solair now has made contact get the blue highlighter pen out Robbie it goes all the way across the page well there’s the difference i’ highlighted all the others their name all the way across to their place in GC and the time Gap Solair I did his entire name ruy Costa just his race number dot just a DOT he completes the line all the way across 15 Riders now in the break that’s all the points taken care of for the green jersey competition rury Costa remains a DOT on the Breakaway he’s at a minute and seven he’ll make it he’ll make it oh yeah and he is dangerous in the Breakaway plenty of riders in that group will fear the prospect of having to battle ruy Costa at the end of the stage there would have been some riders that watch reallyu cost a go when he attacked out of the pelaton when they had already a minute 50 and thought you’re dreaming they’ll now receive the news that cair has made it pretty soon they’ll hear ruy Costa in the group now 16 Riders and they’ll think to themselves oh I wish i’ gone with him their alarm went off but not ruy Costas he continued to dream and now the dream comes true he has made it to the group The Tour to France is no place for wishing you got to go out and make it happen and this is a big effort by ruy Costa he still has the team cars in front of him 1 km worth of climbing to go this kilometer is really important for ruy Costa to bridge that Gap at least once he’s in with those team car vehicles he’ll be okay as you in this group are showing a lot of interest with the exception perhaps of dler plus I agree y I think he’ll be the man who will want to [Music] team CCC providing an update saying that Alexander deari was fully conscious after his crash he’s got deep facial lacerations and he is going to hospital for x-rays fingers crossed yeah the being conscious thing is the good part he will longterm be okay but our thoughts are certainly with Alexander Demar after that awful crash early on today how quickly things can turn around after the brilliant performance he put in yesterday in that day long Breakaway with Thomas de here’s the against teammate this is T buut now at the [Applause] front he’s a rider that says he can’t quite work out what he needs to focus on whether it’s the spring Classics or whether it is Racing for stages at Grand 2 is he’s another one of those Riders that’s caught in a position where he’s really good at lots of things without being a clear specialist at any one thing overly versatile almost the winner of strata bian but a man who in his debut in the tour of Flanders finished fifth let’s focus on tpot as opposed to boret Costa you can see the vehicles the remaining couple of vehicles behind the break rate they’re just in front of him it is tantalizingly close for the Portuguese star is putting a bit of pressure on conversation with imp and bonut one maybe about keep the pressure on make it hard for ruy Costa and you just stay on the front and go through the K and take it as we said the Frenchman lining up behind I’m sure they’re very keen to get amongst it as well dea plus and also in toal Direct Energy Roman SAR nice tackle from the side of the road by one of the spectators to prevent somebody running alongside ruy Costa all those PKA dot shirts on the side of the road that’s because the sponsor the supermarket store elair throw them off as part of the publicity Caravan sprinting now for maximum points there’s 10 points at the top of this climb and is TSH buut making sure de wanted them he certainly did but benote he also had the advantage of the crowd it was very hard to pass on either side but Del plus simply did not have the legs to do it so bote onto the radio all safe I took maximum points tell tell and he’s caused a little bit of a split this is now atel bosen haen we’re back now with ruy Costa the group will come back together and Rory Costa I think he will make contact but I’m imagining Robbie that at the front that conversation between imp and TSH buett would have also said we not might not be able to prevent Ry Costa from joining us but if he does join us let’s make it hurt so we can take some of the sting out of his tail for the end of the stage this will hurt him for later on that’s for certain and he’s not certain to make it he’s still at 200 M that’s still quite a gap for ruy Costa to be able to bridge not too bad a good effort by ruy Costa to get this close by the top I thought initially he would make it but then they started to ride that little bit harder in that last 800 M he’s got to keep rolling it over but as we spoke about before the barrage they’re not going to give it to him for free he’s not just going to be able to ride into the Convoy and slip stream from car to car and cross that last couple of hundred met without too much effort but they’re going to make him work for it the vehicles can make a big difference yesterday after the stage as we look at Julian alip really relaxed in the L Jersey I’ll come back to that in a moment you’ve got something to say about I was just looking at the time Gap 7 minutes and 20 seconds I said it’ll probably be after the climb that we’ll see dunic quickstep start to set some sort of tempo and I just when we saw it complete relaxation boys stay at the front we just ride like this take it easy afterwards just start to roll they’re doing it with maximum efficiency minimum of energy waste this is the back of the Pelon we’ve just been talking about the cars the Convoy for ruy Costa to be able to bridge the gap and making sure they don’t provide a drafting benefit after the stage yesterday Jakob Fang in a ra television interview and then B mmer going to speak to the race jewry he complained about the TV motos being too close to the man who’s now in the yellow Jersey Julian Philip and giving him a drafting benefit and they also spoke about not just the drafting benefit but on The Descent being so close that Al Philip and Pino could benefit from seeing the breaking of the motorbikes Etc to choose their Corners first place along with Gant Thomas George Bennett and Dylan gragen they’re on Five Points D has been going well TBO Pino is up there he’s been scoring points and our first point for the hashtag two a media medal today goes to Peter Sagar there is an expletive in it which I’ll swap but Peter San after the stage yesterday summed it up pretty succinctly how’s the day Peter it was okay but I was it was flipping hard so a tough day yesterday for Peter S and he really fought to stay in contact yeah yeah I mean fair enough we got a lot of these uh oh this an argument an argument between team management and the rider off the fronts rury Costa is not happy with the direction from UAE Emirates well I wonder if maybe that the team said no I can’t give you a pull on the beong love to know exactly what was said there there was a hand signal indicating how far it is until you get to The Descent 23 frustrating seconds and B bosen hargen doesn’t want rury Costa to come across and there’ll be the little dilemma for guys up here they want to make it hard or impossible for ruri Costa to get across but they also don’t want to be up here doing too much work making too much effort so ruy cost will be hoping guys will start to think I’m just going to try and save a little bit of energy not do as much as the others then another Rider says well I’m only going to do as much as him another one thinks I’ll do a little bit less than those two and then the speed comes off it and ruy Costa then close the gap so one vote given so far for the T media medal to Peter seun yeah so uh yeah he he said it was fire Trucking hard it was super hard Peter S conceded yesterday Julian Al flip and this gets back to responding to the comments by also v m about being behind a motorbike Al leip’s response yes I put my bike on the car and I took a motorbike it was really fast it was better than my bike I was really going full gas and penino was also so just sarcastically throwing back that yeah it was a lot easier to be on the Mot bike as opposed to on my push bike not making anything of it two votes for Julian Al and then finishing by I don’t know what I can say I was not behind a motorbike created a big talking point on the radio here in France on the back of that as they were obviously defending Julian ala Philip two points for Al Philip now for three votes and this is because I like the optimism of it he hasn’t said anything outrageous he’s just said something really positive which is for him outrageous cuz he be before we get to that with TBO Pino let’s take another look at the incident with ruy Costa and the team car here it is all this is him currently this is live oh he he can’t even really see them in the distance he’s now at 35 seconds he’s losing ground so he won’t be bridging across by the looks of it it’s going in the wrong direction but don’t give up hope [Applause] [Music] [Music] ruy hard to say I don’t think the director in the car could have said anything that was right at that moment no it was pure frustration 9 minutes now the Gap back to the group they’re over the top of the category one climb the m doek and it would be now that I expect to see dunic quickstep just start to set some sort of tempo and Casper Asen was at the front he’ll be the rider to set that Tempo so back to the hash tour media medal we’ve got one vote so far today for Peter sagon two for Julian Al three for TBO Pino I’m at the same level as the end of last season I’ve managed my preparation that’s why I’m confident for the future this is the first time in the tour that tboo has not said no I’m not really all that interested in winning the tour it would change my way of life I like my life the way it is all of a sudden after his strong performances throughout this first week the Frenchman is optimistic about potentially challenging for the final yellow Jersey I really like it [Applause] Nikki turer at the back of the Pelon number 177 the Dutchman from toel Direct Energy couple of gaps starting to open up at the rear of the peleton Blustery through this section and all of a sudden to K Quick Step clearly they’ve put themselves on the front and they’ll just try to contain that Breakaway they don’t need to chase it as there’s nobody out there that is threatening the L Jersey of Julian alal but they can’t afford it to blow out to 30 minutes or so reminder the best place rider in the Breakaway group is Nicholas roach he’s at 23 minutes and 14 seconds down next best is Jesus Hera who’s at 24 minutes [Music] [Music] behind while it was a a fabulous day yesterday for Julian alip to reassume the Mayo it wasn’t such a good day for the Canadian Michael Woods unfortunately Woods crashed on the final descent the crash also involved garant Thomas we spoke to Michael Woods before the stage started let’s now head back to the start line Sten where we caught up with him and here from Michael Woods [Applause] feeling good actually uh body’s pretty much completely fine just a bit of road rash more just disappointed disappointed in uh myself uh I I’m the guy that caused the crash rear wheel slid out uh just just especially after the way the guys rode yesterday our team was flying uh they were trying to set me up to move up on the time bonus and attack on that last climb and uh to know that they worked so hard and to let them down a bit was uh made for bit of a tough sleep last night you say you’re disappointed so was it a mistake yeah it was a mistake um yeah disappointed in myself disappointed that also you know it affected someone else’s race affected G’s race uh but uh that’s also bike racing guys make mistakes uh even the best riders in the world look at Peter San last year in the uh in the uh gretto going down you know it’s just uh it’s a dangerous sport and I feel like my bike handling skills have really improved I’ve been ascending quite well this year and at this race but it was just uh not enough uh weight I think through the outside pedal and lost that rewh super surprised by it I was surprised to be on the ground especially cuz I thought I was for sure through the corner but didn’t make it this is Le chatau the r Baron on Bas and this is just 20 uh 35 kilm also north of pu it was the Rosa Baron family who began the construction here between 1150 and it went Ono for quite a while the building it took 70 years to complete but it was abandoned during the reign of Louis the 14th restoration work began under volunteers of Lami the Russia Baron Association so there’s a friends of the chatau association that continue to do restoration work to make sure it’s Decay uh he’s pretty good I think initially he was a little bit disappointed when I got on the bus he’s like oh you know I’m just tired from the Jero I said ah no bus out bit of a joke I thought you know you did a jro you went all in you went pretty deep there you got second uh personally I I didn’t expect him to be in the top in the podium here and I was a little bit uh um I wouldn’t say realistic about it but uh yeah I think he was uh just hoping that he had the same form as a juror or better and it’s it’s never that easy so now so now that venzo nearly finds himself out of contention overall he’s at 6 minutes and 18 seconds down even a top 10 finish what’s a top 10 finish for a guy who’s it’s of no interest he’ll want to win he’ll want to win something he could still win the king of the mountains Jersey and he doesn’t have a point yet but he can still win that so he’s on the podium in Paris for the final presentation he can definitely win a stage maybe a you he’ll probably need to lose more time before he’s allowed to go in a break he’ll need to lose a lot more time before he’s allowed to go in a Break 6 minutes now he’ll really have to work on losing enough time to even be in contention to get in a breakaway in the Pyrenees even then I’m I’m not sure he’s got the form now in this tour to do it coming off the jro where it was another incredible performance by him but it’s just reasonable to expect he’s completely depleted he thought he’d ride the tour with the hope that it’ all come good but I think he’s just looking really flat yeah he did look flat he looked resigned to the fact yesterday after he did get dropped that his tour is not going to go the way he thought it just might have and it was only after the crash of Chris FR and the announcement that Tom Duman wouldn’t ride the tour that venzo ni even spoke about changing his plans his whole plan coming into the tour wasn’t to to ride to try and win it it was to ride to try and win stages and maybe the king of the mountains Jersey then those two big favorites for the tour well room it was that horrible crash at the criter of do D Milan hadn’t recovered from his crash at the jodo dellia it was only then that the conversation started to change around venzo nibbley as potentially turning the clock back 5 years and winning the tour for a second time maybe it just shows it’s better to stick to your own original planning rather than be influenced by what’s going on with others with FR being out Duman being out Primos rogich who was fourth in the tour last year Rod the jro finished third overall just behind vinchenzo niol but not riding the tour to France maybe it would have been better for Venza to say all right I’ve had a great jro finished second missed the Tour line up in the welta and maybe go back probably too late to change all the planning now but go back to a place that have fond memories of in Yorkshire where he won the stage stage one of the tour to France in 2014 solo go back there and ride the worlds in September but now he’s here at the tour it’s a bit late to turn all that planning around and rest enough ride the Welter and prepare prepare for the worlds he can still prepare for the worlds though in a different he can he can but it take a lot of freshening up I think it’s going to be difficult for him to get in the form necessary who would be another Rider from the Italian team that you would put as the protected Rider ahead of Enzo nibbi on that course Mato Trenton on that course yep Simon Clark Alberto bettiol yeah okayand winner teamat of Simon Clark who was in the break today for EF after that disappointment yesterday Classics perfect riding a solid tour so far and then prepare for the worlds so Betty Al Tren in that would be my picks and then a guy like David foro who’s not riding the tour rides for Borah hansk he’s the Italian Champion he won solo their Championship can’t leave him out of the team and he’s a it’d be a big chance at a a difficult worlds on the course they’ve set there with the finish in Harriet yeah a harder course is better for foro and he’s not a great Sprinter but GE he’s strong and he’s got some good form he’ll be one to watch R Costa that is what we call No Man’s Land and he’s drifting back slowly and I wonder whether by the time he gets caught by the pelaton his temper has cooled down he looked really frustrated when the team car came up that’s what the French and the belgians call the Shas patat The Chase that comes to nothing this is at the back of the breakway I really think he should have persevered look at the the body language in the group The the tempo theyve eased off that intensity I maybe it’s once they found out Costa set up okay now we can ease off job done we didn’t want him here but I wonder if they would have settled into this Rhythm anyway and Costa could have them worked his way across he’ll never know as Rafa Nadal said in his interview in response to a question about Nick curios if if if it does not exist no garant Thomas there were no ifs or buts or may yesterday the team they were right on the spot when he did crash and he looks really calm at the tour this year despite the pressure of being the defending Champion here is ruy Costa you can see those rainbow bands from 2013 and a shrug of the shoulders from ruie popular athlete in Portugal twice I think he’s one of the most popular sports there in Portugal ahead of Ronaldo that is significant he doesn’t want to be popular at the moment he doesn’t want the TV C with him I think he wants to ride with some Solitude and he probably doesn’t want the team car behind him [Music] either won’t be the last time though for ruy Costa we know he’s fighting Spirit he’ll get in another Breakaway in this year’s race Sprint if it came down to that Simon Clark who we just saw in the pink colors of EF he would back himself in a few scenarios on this course the thing is where where are the other places you could go Simon Clark can win the stage today anybody in the Breakaway can they’re all in with a Chance some sort of a chance there’s a category 3 climb that tops out with 62 km to go it’s long range but that’s potentially a spot you could you could go and hope the rest of the group start looking each other who’s going to do the work everyone trying to do less than the other one that’s the sort of spot maybe even before it Tony Martin could go away a really long way pull off a big win like he did a few years ago a really long way from the Finish Line one of the Frenchmen in the pel who would have loved to have been in the Breakaway rides for totel Direct Energy and that is lilan kelan for lilan kelan and the rest of his team totel Direct Energy it’s a stage victory that they’ll be hunting this year they do have a rider in the Breakaway Roman sikar and Anthony DL are the only two French riders in a breakaway group of 15 on the K julier Basel day just only two years ago a Frenchman W stage on b deel day and he’s in the race today but he’s back in the main pelaton Warren barill we’re in the jerseys as the French national champion the hopes for the French resting on the shoulders of Roman Sika and Anthony D and from that group of 15 both those Riders are at pretty long odds I would be putting them at 14th and 15th in in order of likelihood of winning the stage but you do never know in the tour to France they definitely need to go on the attack because neither of of them have a a Sprint in the legs but in a group like this I don’t think they’re capable of just outriding everybody on the climb either that final Category 3 but you do never know I’m I’m I’m going to guess that Tony Martin is going to go from some 75 kilm to go so he’s going to go early I think he’s going to go well for him that’s not particularly early for Tony Martin no no he’s going to go late no that’s te leaving it late yeah that tops out with 62 km to go otherwise somewhere just after it but I certainly it’s just Tony Martin style and if they give him 80 to 100 m gap before they react that should be enough all the rules that apply to Thomas de apply to Tony Mark y there he is at the back of the group in the yellow and black color he’s even stronger time trialist incredibly so which is hard to believe because Thomas de is one of the best well it’s a it’s a different thing Thomas de is a solid time trialist but he has this special quality that he can tap into these reserves of extreme power so late on a long stage and increase his Tempo he can be at a really hard Tempo all day long but he goes to that other gear he’s got that next level he can push himself to it’s just so incredible I still can hardly believe he hung on there yesterday and one even though he’s he’s done things like that before it was just so awesome it was a phenomenal performance who who’s your pick in that front group out of 15 and there are a lot of guys who know how to win bike races up there plenty of experience in situations like this and Riders have different qualities different specialities Classics Riders climbers longrange attackers time trialists I mean you got to pick one just or just give us a scenario of who’s going to do what and when they’re going to do it not that they have to win but let’s play this game okay I think it will come down to a group of three sprinting it out for the finish in [Applause] bod and Simon Clark will be in in that group and win the Sprint as long as he’s gotten rid of yasper stvin and edwell boson haen and darl imp and Lucas pelberg it’s impossible to pick from the 15 and I Garcia CA what do you think there’s a lot of fast guys in there who also climb really well that is what this is just so unpredictable I’m so looking forward to when the aggression starts in this front group they will all be fearing yesper uran and edille BOS and arguing with their sprinting reputation they will not want to take them anywhere on the topic of Sprint is Marcel K is here at the finish line today and he’s just had a press conference it’s not entirely decided as yet he is happy though he said he’s a lot happier than he was 3 or 4 months ago he’s put on just a little bit of weight but it’s not as if he’s blown out by 10 or 15 kilos and he’s looking at his options and the team that is most interested in him at the moment by the of it is the yumbo vizar squad if you were yumbo vimar with Dylan grunen you could create a great environment for a guy like Marcel K take the pressure of him and start with him back in the team as part of the lead out train for Dylan gragan help him get his mojo back be in a winning environment I I think I wouldn’t even go that far as lead out train I would start with him back in the team on the opposite side of the program you’re riding a double program in these big teams sometimes a triple program so put him on the other side put him in different races to Dylan kunan you have the pressure on kunan the biggest races the to front until Marcel K’s back at such a level where then you got to consider a bit more carefully Ambitions who’s capable of whatting where but and and then work on them cohabitating within the team on cohabitating the guy he spoke about the most in the press conference was the rider who was in the Breakaway for Yambo vizar Tony Martin and although we look at Tony Martin and we think of him athletically as a machine and he is a machine he’s Terminator esque but Marcel K has spoken about the human element of Tony Martin and how good a company he is for him to be around just for his mental health so for Marcel K’s sake and for the sports sake I hope he does return and I hope he goes to Yambo Vima and I hope they put him in every single race with Tony Martin well if you believe the rumor mill Yambo visma is going to be a team of about 50 Riders next year they’re interested in everybody it’s become the new uh inos tactic oh now we’re interested in them yeah we can offer them a contract Yambo a little bit the same at the moment there’s the talk of Tom Duman going to Yambo Vima and again that’s because of his relationship in that team with Mike Turners relationships are everything it’s a contact sport average speed at well over 41 kmph on a pretty lumpy start to the stage 10 and 1/2 minutes so dun and quickstep have decided that is enough we’re happy with that and it means they’re leaving room for anything unpredictable to happen Mechanicals crashes whatever they got time up their sleeve that they can afford to give this group another 12 or 13 minutes and still not lose the Jersey Tim wellin at the back of the pelaton leader of the king of the mountains classification and 196 Johan afredo is still in contact he’s bouncing back from the gastro that he had it yesterday number 188 the back of the pelet on that’s Rick zul Sports director that was really beaming last night was one of your old Sports directors Mark Sant who I’ve only spoken to a couple of times but everything I’ve heard about Mark Sergeant has been positive as a human being and yesterday he was glowing about Thomas I’ve he said I’ve seen him win some big races I’ve seen him win on Mon Von 2 at tour of Catalonia this year he was phenomenal so that one Takes the Cake yesterday is yesper Sturman who Robbie spoke about with the yellow Helman on and the yellow number from T sea fro they’re the team that that’s the team that leads the team’s classification moar in second and they’re at 1 minute 39 seconds behind so for that classification it’s been really important that number 67 Mark Solair has made it into this Breakaway group mstar is a team that’s won the team’s classification on a few occasions in the past no sign yet of yasper sturen sprinting but edel BOS and Har is checking across the shoulder now boshen goes and sturing is right behind him he knew the man to follow he’s not wasting any energy he lets bosen Haagen take 20 it’s only a three-point difference he gets 17 that shows yasper Stan’s commitment to the stage Victory I’d like that sturen didn’t Sprint then yeah intelligent and edal Bon Hagen before that Sprint he had five points in the green jersey competition position which had him in 61st place out there really just getting something not much point to it but I liked how J yasper Stan approached it no waste of energy it’s almost like he could feel how much bson Hagen wanted it so just go in the wheel just a few pedal Strokes 20 points would have been better but saving energy and a couple of points less is just is good and could prove to be the difference the department of the Pu Dom which are now racing through and they’re backwards and forwards between this department pom and that of the UT crossing over the the border of the Departments about three or four times as they stay high up on the ridge line and then dive down through the Sprint and then that category 3 looming he was close a couple of times last year yasper sturen including in that breakway on the stage to Mond when he was just caught near the end by Omar FR remember that the non the Sprinter we really thought he was going to get it we thought he was going to hang on and Fry came from the clouds he came from a really along way back I I thought yper sturing couldn’t be caught but then towards the top of that henness really really steep up to M he said it himself I just I cracked a kilometer from the top I just blew up and the other stage where he performed well where we expected him to perform well was Stage Nine to rubay when he finished in sixth place he just got beaten in a Sprint by Peter seun for fifth on the stage that’s the kind of Rider yesper stvin is where that’s not the sort of performance we expect from him it was a remarkable ride he was second behind bosen haen in that intermediate Sprint and he’s shaping up really as one of the key guys to beat from this Breakaway group Simon Clark not interested in the points likewise Lucas postberg nor Nico roach we just mentioned his good performance yasper sturen on Stage Nine last year to Ru at Stage Nine today and Richie Port fans are saying please call it stage 8B I like that that’s a fair point it’s a little bit like the movie Being John malovich it was level 9 and a half wasn’t it we’re on stage 8 and a half we’re being Richie Port today Richie PA will go to bed tonight he will get through today’s stage touchwood and go to bed tonight relaxed and relieved and the rest of the race can get underway he’ll get a few more questions tomorrow about surviving stage n and then the rest day on Tuesday and that stage n curse gets put to rest I think it’s everybody else talking about it I don’t think Richie is superstitious but he’s sick of getting asked about he’s sick of getting asked about that’s that’s for sure and people saying is it stage 8 b or is it stage 8+ one that’s sort of starting to go into the French numbering system don’t get started on 97 4 time 20110 and 7 takes a little bit of getting your head around when you when you following race radio and you want to know instantly what’s happening but you really got to be able to get head around the French numbering system uh without having to do all the math first The Paton still at 10 minutes and 13 seconds behind how about that time you thought there were two riders in the break when they said fante 20 and one hey Matt there’s no number 20 it’s just number it’s 20 and one 20 and one I told you I couldn’t take this job seriously no you couldn’t yeah into the feet zone for the Breakaway group it’s really important for mistar that they have Mark Sol in this Breakaway as we come through to the 75 km to go Mark which it’s it’s 60 and 15 60 and 15 km to go SW said 1 h that’s really throwing you now de PL these all across it the rider from Sam they’re losing a little bit of time on the Pelon not because the pelon’s really chasing but because they’re taking it easy and they’re waiting for the moment where they start the attacking to try and win the stage there’s no pressure coming from behind so it’s all just concentrating on racing each other and that’s going to make it so fascinating to watch those just have to wait to find out and quite often you even have a good idea of how it’s generally going to turn out today not a clue and I love it there’s 15 riders in the Breakaway with 30 possible scenarios oh and the rest you could have a ride at you think oh he’s gone he’s out of it then back in the mix because you just don’t know what’s going to happen that is the beauty of it and there’s only one team in there with two Riders well we’ll see if they can turn that numerical Advantage into a big result for BAH Marita the teammates of Vincento nibbi and Rowan Dennis well mean meanwhile here in the Pelon it is a rolling rest day speaking of rest days normally the rest day comes on day 10 the second the Monday but because it’s today is a Sunday and it’s the K the F National def France it’s a public holiday tomorrow so no rest day tomorrow they’re having a stage because that just guarantees big crowds lots of Spectators along the course with everybody having the so the rest day has been pushed back to the Tuesday it also shortens the Gap in between rest days then only 5 days are racing in between till they get the next one tomorrow is an opportunity perhaps for the sprinters the Breakaway game tomorrow will be holding out a little bit of Hope as well off the adby tomorrow another one of the long stages of the race tomorrow is 27 1.5 km making it the second longest stage of the race Max reesy now in the role of pure ruler domestic instead of what we usually see him doing a high powered high octane effort in the final kilometer and usually his role every time his role is that 400 m to 200 M and hopefully for ell of Vivani in side 200 M to go when he delivered him perfectly in N he got him to 180 M to go a few days later then in Shalon s he got him to a good position but it a very difficult Sprint to lead out viviani said he did have a slow leak in his back tire as well he didn’t quite get him that distance from the finish and it was a really high speed one other sprinters just catapulted out of out of the wheel viviani fading back to sixth but they’ll be looking to make amends for all of that tomorrow expecting a bunch Sprint especially with the easy sort of day that most Riders are getting in the pelaton today Caleb yö up towards the front having a chat alongside Richie ports Richie Port wearing the yellow helmet because trra to lead the team’s classification there was some criticism directed towards Richie Port after yesterday’s stage for not going to the front and chasing Julian alip to defend the yellow Jersey of Chone bigger piter for the team any day in yellow for was a bonus it was a great result for them but Richie Port is the protected Rider he’s well within his rights not to do the chasing and it wasn’t port’s decision it was team Management’s decision for Richie Port not to chase yesterday is even Garcia CA who is just nursing his way off the front sturen follows next in line is T buuts it starts again it seems to me that this is such a high-powered group everyone’s a little bit apprehensive about making their big attack they it’s as if they want to wait till all the others have played of quite a few cards and then go and it’s been a bit standoffish you spoke about it earlier on the Flemish Riders there’s two of them here the flandriens and in the middle is the Spaniard it is stven at the front Garcia CA in the middle and ber at the back and he wants to press on well berot wants to up the pace even more stoven looks down says come on legs go with this acceleration but no he really sees an opportunity here use these two strong men get a gap over the rest and he would have it in his plans then attack them on that final Category 3 climb where he is really capable of riding away from these two heav set powerful Riders but he is the best climber of the three he’s the man really pushing it from behind har with the response strong climber Hara so to Roach just behind him gasier CA is the kind of guy that they would like to distance on this climb tratnik good roll the second Rider of Bak Mara responding so they’re doing everything right at the moment pressure really on we spoke about the Riders who really need to attack who don’t have a Sprint all but one they’ve got yasper stvin with them uh don’t underestimate mate Ian Garcia CA in AOW he won a stage at the Tour of California this year into Ventura in second position was max reesy Simon Clark trying to come across Daryl impy right behind him so Garcia CA is quick and life is tough at the back scaring trying to stay in contact Ed Val bosen Hagen doesn’t look great today number 2011 it’s reminding me of his ride to colmart when he had a mechanical problem in the final part of the race was trying to chase back on over the climb he is hanging by a thread he is not the boss today Eddie this is Lucas postberg [Music] they’ve had a stage win already with Peter Sager and that’s to be expected well we saw a graphic flash up of tet de laor and he is He Slipped Away he’s G away before so we’ve been seeing a Counterattack by the rest and poer burer looked really comfortable at the front just looking over the shoulder is anyone coming to join me edwell Boston Hagen trying to get back on he’s waving at the motorbike he’s he looks as if he’s been he’s taking a shortcut he’s hidden in the bushes and he’s jumped back out in the race that’s not the case the cameras didn’t show the attack of Lucas postberg but he has slipped off the front and the chase is on from barain Marita I’m really not sure what the hand gesture was all about as if he was waving the motorbikes away it’s normally the opposite maybe going back to yesterday’s discussions about Riders being too close behind motorbikes the motorbikes actually it’s their fault for coming too close to the rider it’s not the rider’s fault the rider is always going to push the pedals as hard as he can it’s up to the motorbikes to get out of the way the maybe was waving them away I don’t want to be accused of getting a gap because I was too close to the motorbike the two French hopes on Bas deal day dealer PL and Sika there in the four at the rear that have been split here they are this is sikar at the back dealer PL to the left but they’re in Good Company Tony Martin in yellow and edv bosen haen in the white and green from Dimension data it’s not good at this point of the race of course being in the last four on the road but if you look in front of you see Tony Martin you’ll think gee were a good chance of just coming back when the road flattens still hope that you can return whenever you are with Tony Martin pelberg at the moment he is benefiting not only from his own power but a little bit of a standoff behind him nobody wanting to make the effort required to close the gap all trying to coax each other into doing a bigger turn than the other po Burger he was a stage winner at the J tell you last year with a day in the pink jersey as the overall race leader as well when he just slipped off the front as part of the lead out train for the Borah hanso team and he was never seen until he was on the podium slipped away for the first couple of meters then absolutely powered away for the rest of it he was great he’s also been a former winner of the RAS race in Ireland so we know that he can cope with some tough conditions postberg also a former Austrian champion last season this season it’s gone across to his teammate mulberger Conrad the Conrad actually they’ve all been Austrian Champion it all three of them mber Tober to Conrad the chase is being led by one of the two Riders from barain Marita and Tony Martin that group of four at the back they look like they’re about to rejoin at to 11 minutes you’re right the pelaton hasn’t slowed down the breakway is sped up as they start to attack almost out of sight for the chasing group Clark in the pink colors assessing the situation and he is out of sight you look forward up the road they could just see him on the last straight but the gap opening up all the time now 25 seconds pretty soon it’s going to be Panic stations back [Music] here who’s not working Tony CLK Martin yeah her looks as if he’s about to call for the team car bosen Haagen rolls through no herard rolls through Clark with the team car Clark’s got to gamble he’s got to gamble on the other Riders getting nervous and doing more and then try and place his attack on that category 3 climb so they through this period along the Valley Road they’ve got a fairway before they get to the base of that next clim a long time for POs to open up that Gap their ride underneath lat the serier and the chatow desier that dates back to the 13th century it was an old fortifi house and they’ve conserved much of the building and the lower Courtyard the building itself is split over three levels and the Chateau including the out housee were inscribed by decree on the 7th of February 1994 as historical monuments it is a private property and it’s not open to the public postberg he’s out to 30 seconds he’s just taken a bid on from the neutral service he’ll take what he can get they’re not letting the team car come across as yet which is rightly so this group needs to work cohesively and really Chase because postberg is Mr consistent and he’s super strong in the process out to over 30 seconds now and it’s the passengers at the back just those two Riders refusing to come through it’s just taking the impetus out of the group say Simon CLK now stretching is he suffering from cramp I thought he was bluffing he did a lot of work yesterday he did he did a lot of work yesterday into Sten and Simon Clark is really starting to struggle at the back the counter attacks are coming it’s Jesus her who is trying to go across there’s another group already gone across to that counterattacking move as well so ahead of hara there are still more Riders up the road already gone around the corner Simon Clark now makes the reaction and BOS and haen along with Tony Martin and at the back it’s Roman sikar that is a big group that has gone forward it’s more than half of the group that’s up in front of where we are at the moment with the camera and it’s the same four caught out at the back Roman sikar Tony Martin edal bosen Haren and Anthony De laas well no surprise when the attacking started when postberg went away and all the counterattacking was happening it was these four who weren’t able to match the accelerations and I doubt very much now that they will come back which is unfortunate for our Norwegian colleagues next door there’ll be no chantings of Eddie the boss today it might be Eddie the brave but unfortunate this is bad news for pelberg good news for viewers fans and commentators Simon Clark here he is with garciaa and but he can’t afford just to sit on Garcia CA Will Clark needs to work with harara Garcia CA has trapped nson is there ber is up there as well darl imp that’s a big gap for those three Chasers to try and cross 5 km to the start of the climb St Ro Sol Oliver narson t spot Daryl imp Yan tratnik tratnik at the front the red colors from Bahrain Marina not getting a gap at the moment to this man the leader Lucas pelberg still on his own the former Austrian National Champion he has not changed at all for the last 15 km I’ll be guessing now that it’s somewhere around 30 seconds the Gap I don’t trust the last little graphic that we got of 48 seconds with the attacking that’s just happened this group gotten together and looking cohesive they’re going to be eating up the road in between poleberg and themselves 4 km till they hit the base of the C descend just it is a shortage climb but it is a steep climb it is a climb of some 3 km in length 3.6 in fact with an average gradient of 7.2 steep sections of much more than that the black like a ski slope is dangerous 9 plus% they get to the top and plummet back down into Bard here it is the first 500 m not too bad Red Zone kicks up 78% and that black section of a full kilm over 9 pieces of 12% 10 23 seconds and then another 10 seconds further back to the harara Garcia CA and Clark Chasing Trio they’re closing it down I’m wondering if there’s going to be a moment in the approach to the climb that someone in this group is going to think I just need to miss a turn here I want to keep my legs a little bit fresher and they don’t quite get close enough to catch pelberg on the climb stven rolling through with the yellow helmet on Mark Solair from moar the last guy to make contact with the group that would be a story if the Spaniard was the winner well Mark Solair he has been doing everything right he was a late arrival he’s a man with a great climbing pedigree and I’ll be backing him to be just about the strongest out of this entire group on the steepest slopes of this final climb based on reputation based on performances such as winning the Tula Avenue final stage of par ni yes indeed he did late attack and moving into the yellow Jersey last year and he was attacking against Alberto contador the pedigree is most certainly there when I saw him get across and now in the situation he’s in his firming as a favorite to win this stage not against Alberto Allah Alberto contador he said that was part of his inspiration for that style of attack he’d seen Alberto do it in the past so he did it and he won it was a super performance the gap opening up now between our counterattacking group at 20 seconds the other r as we saw that four-man Group Well 10 11 12 seconds behind the peleton now at 1414 but the pace has increased also in the peleton just rolling turns with a little bit more intensity to Quick Step so they’d also be thinking 15 minutes is enough we’ll try and keep it somewhere around that but also try and keep everybody on board and try not to make the peleton too nervous Casper asrin once again it’s hard to believe he’s just 22 and has done so many kilometers on the front of the pelaton in his first tour to front Robbie 18 seconds for poel Burger the Gap is melting he’s almost on the foot of the climb the semon the year of the salm also coming this far up La Upstream but it’s downhill to Bri OD after they get over the next climb heading back to Lucas poal burer number 17 with 17 km to go and a 17sec advantage you know I like things organized as soon as I saw all those numbers pop up on the screen I knew you’d get excited just about that you’re a stats man well is Lucas pelberg going to add to his stats with another Victory or is this group going to be well enough organized Daryl imp not only one of the big powerhouses in this group he’ll be talking he’ll be directing he’ll be encouraging everybody to keep working smoothly together and Oliver narson calling the motorbike with the te TV camera on it out of the way they’re pres preventing the group from operating smoothly just blocking slightly coming too close for Oliver nars’s taste this is TBO Pino one of the heroes yesterday second on the stage just behind him the hometown favorite here he is Roman B number 31 from AG toala mondal he’s well protected TBO Pino Matthew linu is the rider that is looking after him a lot on stages like this and being well protected is the defending Champion number one he had a scare yesterday but his team was so well organized that it was crisis averted well I don’t expect too much excitement to come from the Pelon for the rest of the afternoon as they make their way to the finish here in brud but up front poleberg with a tenuous lead over the Chasers and he is on the foot of the climb 3.6 km to the top and the chasing group have also swung onto the same piece of road they make the turn onto the climb the final Ascent of the day 3.6 km to the top of the C San well as the road kicks up they will see pelberg just in front of them there is the climb the first five to 700 m not too bad then it gets steep bump poal Burger but he might cast his mind back to yesterday when the Chasers could also see Thomas de they got close but then the Gap started going the other way all of a sudden it’ll have to be a dantesque performance from pelberg to hold them off plenty of fire power left back here stven with the yellow helmet roach is here for sunweb at the back number 37 Oliver narson the South African National Champion Daryl impy starting to labor Solair just started to move up on the right hand side he got an attack the steepest part in the middle you know it how brutal is it for these guys it’s not brutal but the speed at which a few of these riders in this group can ride it that is where it’s brutal for the others I expect Ros Solair and chis benut to be the three strongest climbers out of this Chase group pelberg he hits a section of 10% he still looks really composed he’s riding oh jeez just inside the Red Zone but not by much pober would be happy to be caught by the likes of benote Mark Solair and go to the finish with the he’s got a good turn of speed he can still win like that he’s got to keep tapping out the tempo he just doesn’t want the likes of imp stven narsen to come across to him but it looks like they’re going to shut him down they’ve got him in their sights still 2.9 km to climb and the steepest part in Black to come sturen is confident with his climbing he’s sitting in second position behind tratnik from bahin Marita he’s been climbing very well yasper Stan in this tour to front he was third on the stage to EP he survived the Steep Category 3 climbs in the Champagne region and he is fast at the finish a couple of top 10 in the bunch Sprints as well yeah significantly third EP eighth in the an and then eighth again the pure Sprint into Shalon suon so he is quick and he is climbing well he’s had four top 10 finishes so far in this year’s race yper Stan and he would Swap all of them for a stage Victory poal Berger plying away at the front onto this 9% gradient he’s at the Midway point on the climb almost stver now at the back in front of him Oliver narson ag2 Mark Solair from movar in front of him Daryl impy pelberg they are going to catch him plenty more to come of this climb 2 and 1/2 km from the top and they’re just coming up to the steepest per section now it’s the Slovenian tratnik who is putting the pressure on stage winner this year at the tour of romedy he’s having one of the best seasons of his career sturing under pressure postberg has now been caught and it is bonut who is going with roach trying to follow T buut tratnik sticks with them and roach is able to match he still stays there with him and now poel Burger poleberg is being dropped yasper sturen hanging on Mark Solair well that energy he used to get across may be really costing him now n roach goes again roach going solo he’s won a stage at the Vault he dearly love one at the tour a huge reaction a rapid one from Rasin the man who just looked under pressure has just made a big acceleration to ride across to the wheel of niiko roach T spote here a another Belgian narson he’s come across still tratnik there in the wheel Daryl imp rocking and rolling and Mark Solair is losing the wheel imp suffers and fights on spare thought for Lucas postberg that was a brave performance it looked like he stood a chance for a little while Mark Solair must be paying the price for the Chaser early to get AC cross and join the group normally you’d expect he would be the man on the move on a climb like this but he looks a bit cooked from that big effort to join this group niik roach he keeps the pressure on Tiote remember his win in strata byan Steep Hill steeper than this on gravel he’s got it in him he’ll keep on keeping on but he needs to be alone he has to keep attacking the steeper the better Mark Solair don’t think he’ll come back Willie now imp under real pressure at the back in front of him is Oliver narson roach followed then by buut and Nick they fear the Sprint of sturen and M and narson those three are together if they stick together over the top they’ve got the fire power to ride their way back to these guys in the front roach now with berot tratnik losing the wheel looks back over he sees the faster in coming sturing also taking a look back not good signs for them Ro pushing on with chot for roach and Tish benut it’s 1700 M of opportunity a chance to open up the Gap because they’ll need a significant one on the three fast men chasing the last part of this climb is not as steep so an opportunity for the Chas is to find some rhythm again they stay up on top for about a kilometer and a half before they do the real descent and then they’ve got that section into the head wind dragging up hill and then staying up on a bit of a plateau and the wind straight into their face and on the way down based on the course Road book it looks as if there’s just a little bit of an interruption to The Descent that’s that drag it’s at about 42% and straight into the headwind really really heavy section get through that it’s a dive down all the way into the finish at BR these three stealing with a Chance Oliver narson at the front in the middle is yper stvin at the back is the brave Daryl imp fighting to stay in contact this is a good situation for these three even though they’re drop they’ve still got them in their sights stick together team’s time trial they can get themselves back in contention these two have got to give it just absolutely everything not think at the moment about winning the stage themselves just making sure they fight it out between themselves yeah neither of them sprinters T ber only the one significant win in his career Strat bianor but he’s been so close on so many other occasions from here to the finish a moment’s hesitation between these two they will get caught and not with the say tratnik finding a second wind fighting back the Slovenian he’s almost in contact he checks across the shoulder 1 km Stepping Stones to the top gradient eases off now through the final kilometer of this climb narson stoven and impy they look like they’re starting to close back in so the attack by roach and berot it seems like it’s come and bitten them back it has and tratnik has returned it’s not a smile it’s a Grimace but he’ll be happy that he’s made [Applause] contact this is going to be an arm wrestle over the ensuing kilometers coming towards the top now yasper sturen little bit of increase in the pace nikachi looks over the shoulder accelerates again willing that Gap to open roach is riding like a man who fears the Sprint finish of the three Chasers bar and he’s well placed to do so well so he should they’ve got to fear those men they are much quicker in a Sprint finish this is Mark Solair he is trying to battle his way back on as well dropped early on the climb imp goes imp senses the final few hundred meters as the South African National Champion tries to Scurry across he’s on his way T sput and niiko roach they’re working together they’re working in unison imp going all in to join the two leaders he is storming across the Gap the South African National Champion bad news for Sten and narson they could have used his help to close things down but imp doesn’t want to Sprint against them either but will his presence dissuade these two from working super hard whilst he’s sitting the wheel he’s going to be really hard to beat that could take the momentum out of this group roach and bonut may be content to Sprint against each other finding themselves an even match they’ll now see Daryl impy and know he’s got the speed and the power to beat them in a Sprint but they just can’t afford to sit up and be caught by two more fast men on the chase yes that makes it even more difficult Mark Solair now slowly coming back to Oliver narson and yasper sturen to make it three to work together versus three out in front with tracky caught in the middle and don’t worry about the other two working with Daryl impy it’s Daryl impy who is driving over the top of the climb darl impy knows now he finds himself in an ideal situation with two men he’s sure to beat in a Sprint he’s got a push on distance sturen and naron they now see tratnik in front of them Mark cair has found his way to the wheel will he be dead weight in this group or assist in the chase 12 seconds the advantage for the three leaders sturen narson Solair they’re the ones chasing tracknick caught in the middle imp ber and roach out in front they get a little bit of downhill it then kicks up again stay up high before they get the real descent work together across here imp he is just going to keep the pressure on all the way he knows this is ideal tracknick has surrendered to the three chases he can’t do it on his own but he still is in with a Chance of returning with these guys he slots in a third position Solair calls him in numerical Advantage four against three but Riders have been dropped tratnik seems a bit cooked Mark Solair probably just happy to be back in the group at all ber now big turn on the front this is that next little rise up before they get to the real descent you seen niik roach then his head just dropped looked between his legs as if to say oh really yes butd he’s in with a chance you’re going to have to find something special to beat Daryl impy if those three Riders can stay away the chase now on narson and sturen absolutely nothing to lose they can’t afford to look at tratnik worry about Mark Solair the two of them a two-up time trial get themselves back to that front group meanwhile back at the peleton they’re just riding for positions to stay safe and lots of riders from mitchelton Scott coming to the front protecting Adam Yates they’ll be tuning into race radio screaming go there will go well a lot of them will be listening to the report from the team car hoping they can pick up what’s going on out in front 15 seconds to the three chases with sturing a minute and two to the group that includes hazes Hera and Clark Tony Martin and the others further behind that as well they’re now out of contention the front of the race benut Ros darl impy what an acceleration by the South African to leave narson and Sten across to the front and then straight to the front and a little bit more gas he was playing a shrewd Game of Poker he made it look as if he was struggling set the wheels he he wasn’t struggling he was foxing then he went really intelligent by imp knows his limits just perfectly Road an even Tempo staying with the others within himself and he knows I’ve got a 750 m effort in these legs over the top of a climb bang and he went he was one of the original members of the team when it was green Edge back in 2012 and he has been one of the most important guys on the squad not in terms of necessarily his own result and they have been coming such as backto back wins at the two down under important for the Australian team but the work that he did alongside Riders such as Simon garens was crucial to the Early to the pelaton that is irrelevant it’s the 15sec Gap to these four chases Mark Solair is losing ground on every single Corner the rider from M star and I think he will hardly contribute to the pacemaking in this group it’ll be up to narson and sturen the two fastest men imp he knows this is a golden opportunity they are on the main part of The Descent now the only thing left to really survive cuz for the rest I don’t think they can be caught anywhere else on the course after this descent is that drag uphill straight into the headwind they can’t afford to start looking each other and foxing trying to do a little bit less but it’s also an attacking opportunity maybe for Ros and ber to team up against the faster impy Luke row now at the front of the pellets on that graphic that you saw moment ago on the screen indicating two points at the top of the climb for the king of the mountains classification for Daryl imp and then the other column was an 8 second time bonus 5-2 for the minor placings the king of the mountains points the time bonus not interested out in front it has no impact on the race because they’re chasing the stage Victory now this is defending the position of the defending Champion garant Thomas sitting behind his good friend Luke row all about safety start the climb at the front keep an eye on your Rivals don’t get caught out they’re not worried about the time Gap to the front and now they’re in position they’ll ease back off and that time Gap will grow back out doesn’t matter 8 1/2 km to go it’s three versus 4 out in front for the stage win and we’ve seen by watching Daryl imp out in front although it’s not super dangerous The Descent it’s not pedestrian either so they need to stay at the front and they had a warning yesterday with that crash into stti and there’s a couple of tricky Corners here that hill and CH benot he says imp I don’t want to take you to the Finish I’ve got to get rid of you all or nothing from the Belgian Nico roach the gap opening up in front of him but impy at the moment has it covered it’s let’s go motor homes and it’s a big motor in the quads of Daryl imp who doesn’t just go across to TSH sput he slots right into his wheel and gets on his personal space to let the Belgium know he’s back oh he said it was a possibility for an attack on this section T spote he’s tried his hand and imp has all the answers 16 seconds Mark Solair is working but it’s heading in the wrong direction for the four Chasers roach looked as if he was gone but he’s not surrendering he keeps on fighting and imp is working with TSH ber so he should because he’s got his measure in most normal circumstances in a Sprint this is now a heroic move as in second position is the hometown hero is Roman Bard being followed by George Bennett and being followed by Richie PS well this is an interesting move Roman B disappointed on the pl to B field Big Time loss riding into his hometown George Bennett says I’ll have a little piece of that see move up GC and Richie Port well what a nice aggressive move to see from him trying to steal some time it’s Tony galipan at the front but Richie Port he knows this town well was here in 2013 that a stage finished in parin which he went on to win overall even if it’s not an attack intended to go all the way to the Finish it’ll put him at the front for the downhill which you’ll also know there’s a couple of tricky corners on the way down start at the front set your own pace that is what darl impia is doing he’s now up there with two he’s not worried about a return as such of Niko roach he’s got to maintain the Gap over the likes of stoven and naron because they are too quick to deal with at the Finish Imp in a two up he’ll be oh so confident Oliver narson is the right at the back of this group yasper stur and Robbie was referring to with the yellow helmet now going through to the front tracknick the Slovenian in the middle the attack continues it’s Roman B finding his confidence on a road that he knows like the back of his hand the sprinters they will wait for tomorrow they’re already sitting up they will roll on into the Finish they’ve had a good recovery day out as far as two to front stages go no more competitive urges on the day for the man in green it’s all happening up the front this is B port and Bennett Richie Port being in that move will cause a reaction from inos roach in the distance imped looking across flicking the elbow and Tish benut not interested yes he is now now he is Oh I thought he was going to play a real game of poker with Daryl impy imp so much faster there’s no glory in second place it’s a commendable effort what can he do but it’s empty-handed what can he do he’s got to gamble and sit in the wheel as negative as that sounds I even think if he does that and imp rides him all the way to the Finish imp will still beat him in a Sprint Roman Bard bouncing back from disappointment on stage six Richie Port looking composed in second position and the climbing Kiwi from Nelson George Bennett in the yellow in third I think the best thing that Richie Port can do is just go with everything to the top of the climb at least get himself on onto The Descent in front maybe put some pressure on inos their team leaders to take a few risks increase the pace but they’re coming back Richie takes a Drake it’s Mi kosi who’s rectified the situation for inos and Richie P doing everything right to put to bed the ghosts of Stage Nine another little acceleration there from Richie Port just make them close all of the Gap not give it away for free and he really will want to start this descent somewhere near the front inos closing it down and looking very comfortable time Gap out the front now 19 seconds Daryl impy will start be starting to feel very confident but can’t afford to sit back can’t afford to take the pressure off [Music] qu kovski is the first of the Riders from inos followed by Thomas and then it was Bernal imp at 5 km to go appears to be doing the line share of the pacemaking and it’s downhill to the Finish from here that is it there is no more uphill it starts to go gradually down they’ll then take the right hand turn onto the main road which will lead them into brude it is super fast this Gap I think is going going to be enough and imp he won’t outsmart himself by starting to swing all over the road and go slow and look at bote and try and make him take the front he’ll ride it all the way in he’ll do enough to maintain this Gap he’ be so confident that he’s much quicker roach is about to be by the chasing group of four to make it five and they’re at 133 seconds but that group is still working well together they’re working really well together this is quid kovski he calms things down in the peleton with Thomas behind him Jonathan Cavo he’s done his job getting his leaders to the front of the group for this climb no more action really to be had in the peleton it’s all at the front here is the chase stoven Solair narson tratnik Nik roach now slots in in fifth wheel 14 seconds the Gap behind imp and tbut how disheartening for Roach been in front and now chasing there is the Irishman at the back of the group for sunweb narson big turn on the front Solair having trouble staying in the wheel they’re coming now through 4 km to go 14 seconds imp still driving the pace out in front he’s trying to swing off to get ber to come through fatish buut is playing a very cool game of Po working no he’s working but he’s just leaving a little bit longer than he may otherwise if he thought he could beat Imp in a Sprint darl impia will be grateful for anything that Chief buut is doing just that little bit of assistance maintain the Gap once they get to about 3 km to go they turn right straight down into town and from three to just inside 2 km to go about 1 km and a half it is super fast downhill there’s then a roundabout they’ll be doing nearly 70 kmph when they hit that roundabout they’ll jump up and over straight through inside the last kilometer there’s one tight right hand turn according to the road book is it it’s a fast right hand corner just a little scrub of the brakes on the way in it’s not as tight as it looks in the race book narson with another acceleration but the leaders they’re out of sight 16 seconds it’s building as they go through the 3 km marker downhill to B buut and M the South African National Champion he’s worn yellow but he hasn’t won a stage he’s 34 years of age this would be big narson flicks the elbow tratnik comes through stoven they know now they won’t get back on terms with the two in front imp to canny look at how hard he’s driving it downhill the speed well above 60 km an hour and the downhill about to get even steeper 2 km to go you can Free Will down here at 60 the next part but there’s no free willing that in front T ber rolls through and imp a chance to breathe a chance to contemplate a look over the shoulder assess the situation what comes next for the champion of South Africa well that is a winning Gap they will not be caught by the chasing group they’re still working roach rolls through sturing tratnik n and Solair in blue and this is that really fast part of the final run into town the Gap at 18 seconds that is more than enough with 1.3 to go this is the roundabout safely through and it’s imp who is at the front he likes to be on the front for the technical sections and he keeps on driving he knows tisot as a rider he knows he doesn’t pack a big sprint so imp needs to just keep riding makes opportunities a huge stage win today and what a contrast the looks on the faces the joy of imp the disappointment of tpot he couldn’t have done it much better than he did he could have done any better than he did he launched the Sprint he got his handlebars in front of imp maybe the only thing he could have done was just backed into him very slightly tried to catch him on the barriers keep him boxed in slow his Sprint down and make imp really reverse out from behind him but in all honesty imp just too much power minor placing now this is Garcia CA sprinting against Simon Clark just for the minor placing inside the top 10 and it is Garcia CA slightly to the better of Clark you’ve got to hand it to him just a magnificent ride by Daryl impy on the way into the Finish to get guarantee that they didn’t have to worry about the group behind and just worry about one man almost let himself get tricked with a couple of hundred meters to go but he’s got that punch he’s got enough to rectify itusa Anthony deas will get the honor of being the first Frenchman on bastile day as Roman sikar in the blue colors will be the second Frenchman on lat julier once the attack started they were never really in it Anthony deas he’ll give it everything he’s got he’ll roll in ahead of Jesus Hara deas Roman sard he’s across the line that is some fielder for Roman B that is it that is really impressive whoever did that can come and mow my lawn anytime and put the face of Roman B on it oh I was thinking something else but a family portrait that isnic it’s been some tough competition in the field uh Glory Stakes as the yellow Jersey is still at 9 km to go inos taking control at the front and Richie Port will be finishing Stage Nine on his bike eight plus one on his bike let’s not jinx it 8.9 km to go for the Pelon the major prizes have been dealt out Julian alip here in scon in the Pelon he will arrive safely and get another day in the Mayo and the attention tomorrow will turn to the sprinters the finale today it took a while to kick off but once it did really get going what a treat it really did kick off this is the AG to sandust that the peleton make their way past the climb that they went over over the final Ascent on today’s stage having taken the same name and that town on the outskirts of brood also taking that same name Johnny MOS on the ride at the front for the inos team A reduced pelaton cjo in second position the white jersey on the left hand side of the screen as we look at it is the leader of the best young Rider classification Julio Chone number 132 133