Posted on 07/02/2010 11:30:15 AM PDT by Ready4Freddy
The first three Tours stayed within France. The 1906 race went into Alsace-Lorraine, territory occupied by Germany since the end of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. Passage was secured through a meeting at Metz between Desgrange's collaborator, Alphonse Steinès, and the German governor. The race passed to the waving of local people, the race director Victor Breyer wrote, but not without trouble at the border. L'Auto reported the difference between the German and French border controls:
Woken from a deep sleep, obliged to get up in three minutes, the German customs appeared before us correctly dressed in new uniforms. At the French border, by contrast, it was simply distressing. Smelly, covered in mud, their clothes patched and discoloured, backs bent, squashed képis on dirty bodies, the two officials charged with nosing around on behalf of the tax authorities and who represented France revolted us. —[88]The Germans let not only the competitors pass without problem but all the officials and their cars and the amateur enthusiasts who rode with them. "It is distressing," L'Auto said, "to find that it's only the French who can't grasp the simple idea ... of allowing the best representatives of French energy [to cross the border]."[89] The paper offered to start a public appeal to provide better clothes for its frontier officials.
No teams from Italy, Germany or Spain rode in 1939 because of tensions preceding the second world war, and the race was not held again until 1947 (see Tour de France during the Second World War). The first German team after the war was in 1960, although individual Germans had ridden in mixed teams. The Tour has since started in Germany three times: in Cologne in 1965, in Frankfurt in 1980 and in West Berlin on the city's 750th anniversary in 1987. Plans to enter East Germany that year were abandoned.
Congrats.
I am so proud of you *sniff* ;-)
Sorry I have not been around much the last week, have been in chicago on business. Back home now where I can both work and sneak Tour updates. hehe
15:22 - Fedrigo On The Attack In 2005 Revel Stage
In 2005, the 17th stage of the Tour was from Pau to Revel - where today’s stage concludes. The winner was Paolo Savoldelli who was riding for the Discovery Team that year. He beat home an escape group of 17 which included one of today’s escapees, Pierrick Fedrigo.
Hey commish, good to see you.
I was just giving leilani some flack since she cheated (non-substantive place-holder post) in getting #500. ;>)
Looks like the finish is ~8 km past the crest of the last Cat 3 climb with a short descent, so the sprinters’ teams surely will roll up the break before that last climb.
Poll on letour site. I selected the 25-10km:
The breakaway of the day they will be resumed ...
before the 25km of the line? 12.49%
between 25km and 10 km? 23.52%
between 10km and 5 km? 20.59%
less than 5 km? 14.53%
an escape will win 28.87%
1569 votes
16:21 - Renshaw: “A Chance To Catch Up With Friends...”
Mark Renshaw didn’t expect to find himself in Nice, eating ice cream on the day that the Tour edges closer to the Pyrenees. “I wish I was still there,” the Australian recently told LeTour.fr. “But that’s life. I’m taking the chance to catch up with a few friends.” He was thrown out of the Tour after stage 11 after throwing a few headbutts at Julian Dean in the closing kilometer. “I watched yesterday’s stage and I’m still trying to work out why Cervelo was working so hard...”
16:18 - Renshaw’s Take On Setting Up The Sprint...
How does the lead-out specialist think Mark Cavendish will cope without his help? “He’ll be fine. The cat-three at the end will be hard but he can manage it. “I’m sure they would have had a meeting and I reckon the instruction will be for ‘Cav’ to stick with Thor and follow him. But they’ll also have a plan for a lead-out and we should see ‘Bernie’ [Eisel] stepping into the role I had until a few days ago.”
16:16 - Catching Up With Renshaw
LeTour.fr has just spoken with Mark Renshaw of the HTC-Columbia team to find out how he’s finding watching the Tour, instead of preparing to lead Mark Cavendish out in what looks certain to be a sprint finish. “I’m not watching it actually,” said the Australian. “I’m in Nice, catching up with a few friends. I’m actually just eating an ice cream at a café but I might see if I can find a television to watch the finish.”
25 km to go, but only ~16-18 to the start of the climb up Côte de Saint-Ferréol
16:44 - 25km To Go
The leaders are less than 25km from the finish. Their advantage is just 40”.
16:38 - Which Of The Three Will Attack...?
Sylvain Chavanel is doing the most work in the lead group. The peloton is enjoying a favorable wind and is closing in on the escapees quickly. With the bunch just 40” behind, surely one of the leaders will lash out with an attack soon. Don’t be surprised if it’s Mr Aggression, Chavanel - loves to attack and he’s shaping up for a surge right now...
16:36 - Lead Down To 55”
The sprint teams are likely to get their way today. With 32km to go, the advantage of the three escapees has been reduced to just 55”. The maximum gain for Chavanel, Flecha and Fedrigo was 6’00” at 31km.
Bernhard Eisel being Renshaw’s replacement to give Cav a leadout...
16:51 - 20km To Go
The peloton is inside the last 20km of the 196km stage. It is 32” behind the three escapees.
16:50 - Change Of Wind Direction
The peloton is now traveling at around 35km/h. The power is still being put into the pedals - with all of the HTC-Columbia guys putting out over 300 watts - but the wind has change to the speed has eased...
16:48 - O’Grady Leads Schleck
Stuart O’Grady is riding tempo near the head of the peloton beside Bernhard Eisel. On the wheel of the Saxo Bank domestique is the yellow jersey, Andy Schleck.
16:46 - Astana Moving Up
The sprinters’ teams have been leading the peloton all day but now that its in the final 25km of the stage, the teams of the GC riders are coming up front to keep their leaders out of trouble. The pace of the bunch is extremely fast - thanks to the efforts of HTC-Columbia, which is assisted by a few Milram riders and a tailwind - and the deficit of the peloton to the three escapees is just 35”.
In Re: the 600. Congrats R4F, but I'm saving my strength for the 1K.
In Re: Corsica. If they don't have the hospitality infrastructure, they could put up everybody on a cruise ship offshore.
Hey, why are you contesting my 500 win as “non-substantive” and yet your 600 is devoid of cycling-related content too?
LOL, I was speaking of your lead up to the 500. ;.0
17:08 - Vinokourov Into The Lead
Vinokourov has taken over the lead of the stage. He is now sprinting ahead of Ballan...
17:07 - Five In Chase Group
Vinokourov, Roche, Sanchez (GCE), Barredo and Cunego are the riders in pursuit of Ballan.
17:06 - Cunego Chasing Three Leaders
Ballan is first over the final climb. He is followed by Roche and four others.
17:05 - Ballan Into The Lead
It’s the first time that we’ve seen Ballan at the front of a Tour stage on his own since the day to Aubenas at the end of the 2009 Tour. He has opened up a good lead on what looks like Roche and Barredo.
17:04 - Confusion Up Front...
It seems that Cavendish may have been dropped and thus the HTC boys don’t know what exactly to do. The lost momentum at the front of the peloton and this has prompted Ballan (BMC) to attack.
They keep giving Vino the ‘*’
17:08 - Vinokourov Into The Lead
Vinokourov has taken over the lead of the stage. He is now sprinting ahead of Ballan...
17:07 - Five In Chase Group
Vinokourov, Roche, Sanchez (GCE), Barredo and Cunego are the riders in pursuit of Ballan.
17:06 - Cunego Chasing Three Leaders
Ballan is first over the final climb. He is followed by Roche and four others.
17:05 - Ballan Into The Lead
It’s the first time that we’ve seen Ballan at the front of a Tour stage on his own since the day to Aubenas at the end of the 2009 Tour. He has opened up a good lead on what looks like Roche and Barredo.
17:04 - Confusion Up Front...
It seems that Cavendish may have been dropped and thus the HTC boys don’t know what exactly to do. The lost momentum at the front of the peloton and this has prompted Ballan (BMC) to attack.
I didn't realize it was a rules violation for thread athletes to talk to themselves. Harumph!
GC after Stage 13:
1. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 63h 08’ 40”
2. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 63h 09’ 11” + 00’ 31”
3. SANCHEZ Samuel 181 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 63h 11’ 25” + 02’ 45”
4. MENCHOV Denis 191 RABOBANK 63h 11’ 38” + 02’ 58”
5. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 101 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 63h 12’ 11” + 03’ 31”
6. LEIPHEIMER Levi 25 TEAM RADIOSHACK 63h 12’ 46” + 04’ 06”
7. GESINK Robert 195 RABOBANK 63h 13’ 07” + 04’ 27”
8. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 77 KATUSHA TEAM 63h 13’ 38” + 04’ 58”
9. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 161 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 63h 13’ 42” + 05’ 02”
10. KREUZIGER Roman 44 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 63h 13’ 56” + 05’ 16”
11. BASSO Ivan 41 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 63h 14’ 10” + 05’ 30”
12. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 9 ASTANA 63h 14’ 52” + 06’ 12”
13. HESJEDAL Ryder 54 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 63h 15’ 05” + 06’ 25”
14. ROCHE Nicolas 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 63h 15’ 24” + 06’ 44”
15. SASTRE Carlos 91 CERVELO TEST TEAM 63h 16’ 14” + 07’ 34”
16. WIGGINS Bradley 31 SKY PRO CYCLING 63h 16’ 19” + 07’ 39”
17. ROGERS Michael 118 TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 63h 16’ 27” + 07’ 47”
18. EVANS Cadel 121 BMC RACING TEAM 63h 16’ 48” + 08’ 08”
19. LÖVKVIST Thomas 37 SKY PRO CYCLING 63h 17’ 04” + 08’ 24”
20. KLÖDEN Andréas 24 TEAM RADIOSHACK 63h 17’ 45” + 09’ 05”
Thor & Petacchi see-sawing back and forth.
Points after Stage 13:
1. PETACCHI Alessandro 208 LAMPRE - FARNESE 187 pts
2. HUSHOVD Thor 95 CERVELO TEST TEAM 185 pts
3. CAVENDISH Mark 111 TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 162 pts
4. ROJAS Jose Joaquin 169 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 144 pts
5. MC EWEN Robbie 75 KATUSHA TEAM 138 pts
6. HAGEN Edvald Boasson 36 SKY PRO CYCLING 120 pts
7. CIOLEK Gerald 142 TEAM MILRAM 102 pts
8. TURGOT Sébastien 158 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 101 pts
9. ROELANDTS Jürgen 108 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 81 pts
10. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 80 pts
Mountains after Stage 13:
1. CHARTEAU Anthony 153 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 107 pts
2. PINEAU Jérôme 135 QUICK STEP 92 pts
3. AERTS Mario 102 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 65 pts
4. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 64 pts
5. MOREAU Christophe 166 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 62 pts
6. CASAR Sandy 62 FDJ 56 pts
7. CUNEGO Damiano 201 LAMPRE - FARNESE 56 pts
8. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 52 pts
9. SANCHEZ Samuel 181 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 50 pts
10. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 161 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 48 pts
11. CHAVANEL Sylvain 131 QUICK STEP 47 pts
Yoots afre Stage 13:
1. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 63h 08’ 40”
2. GESINK Robert 195 RABOBANK 63h 13’ 07” + 04’ 27”
3. KREUZIGER Roman 44 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 63h 13’ 56” + 05’ 16”
4. GAUTIER Cyril 155 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 63h 39’ 41” + 31’ 01”
5. EL FARES Julien 174 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 63h 42’ 34” + 33’ 54”
6. ROLLAND Pierre 156 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 63h 51’ 05” + 42’ 25”
7. VALLS FERRI Rafael 219 FOOTON-SERVETTO 63h 54’ 39” + 45’ 59”
8. THOMAS Geraint 39 SKY PRO CYCLING 64h 05’ 03” + 56’ 23”
9. ROJAS Jose Joaquin 169 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 64h 06’ 44” + 58’ 04”
10. DURAN AROCA Arkaitz 214 FOOTON-SERVETTO 64h 07’ 35” + 58’ 55”
11. FUGLSANG Jakob 14 TEAM SAXO BANK 64h 08’ 20” + 59’ 40”
Teams after Stage 13.
SAXO is in 15th at >1h, but a few days in the mountains could change that:
1. TEAM RADIOSHACK 189h 31’ 13”
2. CAISSE D’EPARGNE 189h 31’ 34” + 00’ 21”
3. RABOBANK 189h 47’ 26” + 16’ 13”
4. ASTANA 189h 49’ 30” + 18’ 17”
5. AG2R LA MONDIALE 189h 51’ 35” + 20’ 22”
6. OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 189h 56’ 51” + 25’ 38”
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