Key occasions:
62km to go: Caruso opens up a half-minute hole because the peloton reaches the climb. Vlasov is 56sec again amongst a gaggle of 14. Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ) and Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) are betwixt group and chief.
64km to go: The lead group shatters because the gradient ramps up.
Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) makes a break and opens his jersey to roughly put on it as a cape. Immediately on the climb 10 riders are observing their pedals and rocking alarmingly. Caruso gained the Giro di Sicilia in April and appears robust.
66km to go: Issues get very, very actual for these with heavy legs in simply over 1km. Soler now 10mins 30 off the again. I’m undecided he’s attending to the downhill on the opposite facet of this climb.
In real-time, Vlasov is kind of stage with Pogacar in second on the digital GC. We’ll get much more curious about that if it’s nonetheless the case two mountains down the highway.
68km to go: Soler-watch: he’s nonetheless on the bike, over 9 minutes behind the peloton, which is 8:05 behind the lead.
Reside-tracking suggests the lead group has already shed a member (now numbers 28) earlier than hitting the intense climb. Unclear who that’s at this stage. Extra will likely fall away because the heave will increase.
71km to go: Grumbles among the many riders within the lead group concerning the distribution of effort up entrance. The leaders have been transferring upwards for a number of km now and the true ramp up is imminent.
76km to go: Inbox lights up a bit in relation to Thomas (good afternoons to Pete Youthful, James Abbott and Tom Stuart respectively).
All suggesting his ready recreation is the precise one, which certainly is as the person himself mentioned yesterday.
“Oh come alongside now Stuart, it’s not as if Thomas is simply swanning about on the market, he is aware of what he can and may’t do higher than us,” says James.
Folks solely name me Stuart once I’ve been naughty as effectively, in order that’s me advised.
“It’s been fairly clear from the racing up to now that each Pog and Vingegaard are stronger than him on the climbs,” provides Tom, “and it’s not as if he has an infinite time hole behind him to 4th place on GC. If he needs to win, definitely a giant transfer is required, but when the individuals forward of you don’t present indicators of weak point such that the transfer would possibly stick, then it’s not a danger – extra like throwing away a podium place.”
“Maybe on Thursday if there’s no huge change forward of G,” reckons Pete. “However the race could fall into his lap if riders maintain withdrawing. These ways paid off in Tour de Suisse final month in any case.”
It’s clear Ineos are completely positive with how the stage is panning out, and that likely consists of Soler’s plight. At any time when there’s an overhead shot the Ineos jerseys leap out in practice as a visible demonstration of the power they nonetheless have on the market.
80km to go: Reminder: what’s occurring to Soler isn’t a sprinter feeling the warmth within the hills – he’s seen as a key participant within the mountains. He departed final 12 months’s race after a primary stage crash.
Peloton 7:37 again, Soler now 13:18 and doubtless feeling like he’s driving a Raleigh Budgie with hamstrings made from rope.
82km to go: Round 9km to go earlier than the gradient begins to snigger at everybody and say: “Oh yeah, that was the simple bit lads.” After which chortles once more twice extra additional up the highway.
Rash prediction: by the height of Port de Lers, there’ll not be a lead group of 29 riders.
87.5km to go: Soler’s going to do extraordinarily effectively to complete at present and that’s probably terrible information for his teammate Pogacar. Now 10:34 off the lead and dropping quick. Alberto Contador, on the again of a bike for Eurosport, suggests his compatriot seems to be all however performed.
Nonetheless no response additional again to the lead group problem being laid down by Vlasov.
90km to go: A wonderful sight of the peloton snaking throughout the complete width of the highway. They’re 7:28 off the lead group.
We’re in calm earlier than the bleurgh territory for individuals who worry climbs. Photo voltaic is deep in that territory proper now nonetheless – he’s 1:40 off the again of the bunch. He simply cocked the digital camera operator a snook that implies he’d a lot slightly they’d simply bugger off and shove a lens at somebody, anybody else.
98km to go: The peloton’s over 7 minutes again. Dropping off the again alarmingly, Marc Soler (UAE Crew Emirates, began the stage 79th) – he seems to be greater than just a little inexperienced across the gills. Think about taking up a cat 1 climb whenever you really feel tough. Good luck Marc.
Paulo Biriani writes:
“I really like Geraint Thomas (as does my spouse for a special purpose) however can somebody simply get it by way of to him that he might want to take a danger if he needs to win slightly than ready and ready and ready …”
I don’t have his pager quantity however it’s a degree effectively made. Ineos look organised at present and don’t appear too displeased about how the stage is panning out. It feels hideously unlikely that he can simply keep on the coattails of Vingegaard and Pogacar after which overhaul each in Saturday’s time trial, so it seems like he should put in a telling effort in some unspecified time in the future. Friday’s flat stage 19?
Native curiosity nook: Because the peloton rolled by the intermediate dash marker, the official Tour feed supplied the sumptuous titbit that Lavelanet is the hometown of Fabien Barthez – who has apparently been noticed roadside at present.
The previous France goalkeeper remains to be having fun with a second wind as a racing driver.
108km to go: With an increase in tempo up entrance for the dash, the hole to the bunch is as much as 6:40. Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), effectively in there with the lead group, is now into the highest 5 on digital GC as issues stand.
The Russian rider isn’t any mug, having gained the Tour de Romandie and the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana this 12 months. He began the stage eleventh, 10:32 off the lead, and all different high 10 GC riders are among the many peloton.
Eekhoff takes intermediate dash
111km to go: Wasn’t an eyeballs-out effort in the long run – Van Aert seems to be like waltzing to a different 20 factors underneath minimal strain earlier than DSM’s Nils Eekhoff virtually jokily pulls forward … and takes the dash. The Jumbo-Visma rider virtually bursts out laughing in response.
112km to go: Inexperienced jersey group seems to be like will probably be hitting the dash with a spot across the 6:25 mark. 1km to go earlier than all hell breaks free for a bit. Van Aert could be very handily positioned.
115km to go: With an intermediate dash forward at Lavelanet, it’s as you had been. Nonetheless 29 within the lead group, peloton sitting fairly 6:03 again. Ewan has labored arduous, snaffling up his deficit post-adjustments to rejoin the lots.
Gougeard-watch: he’s hanging on in there, bless ’im.
A query (ooh) from Marcus Banag:
“Hello – simply questioning who you’d wish to see win the 2022 Tour De France?”
Hmm. I’ve considered this rather a lot and, on steadiness …
Annemiek van Vleuten.
(Begins Sunday. Going to be GREAT!)
120km to go: Caleb Ewan (Lotto–Soudal) is off his bike, albeit voluntary, I’m happy to report. Wobbly seat syndrome seems to have struck. An attendant allen key has hopefully performed the trick.
Norman writes: “Not wishing to complain …”
Norman then complains: “Your stage information profile in the beginning of the day provides distance from the beginning; your weblog updates give distance from the end. I’ve to do a little bit of subtraction each time.”
Ah, the previous distance lined v distance to go argument. Many races, each driving and operating, have that decision to make, and folks have their very own choice. Some marathons, for instance, have one mile, two mile, three mile … markers, whereas others choose to let opponents understand how a lot is left (26 miles to go, 25 miles to go and so on).
The place the Tour is worried, with two cat 1 climbs forward, I’m certain everybody pounding the pedals is far more involved with what’s left than what’s gone earlier than!
(Norman closes with “thanks for the protection” btw. Cheers Norman. I’m very jealous of Bristol’s 31C and cloudy.)
127km to go: Gougeard seems to be over his shoulder and sees many, many, many riders behind him. He swings proper, provides means and appears removed from sad to take action. The breakaway group subsequently now comprises 29 (we’ll see if Gougeard latches on), with the peloton 5:43 behind.
128km to go: Reside monitoring seems to point Grossschartner is again up and driving. He’s dropped to 45sec behind the chase group. Gougeard’s goose could also be cooked, in the meantime – his benefit has simply ebbed by half a minute in virtually no time.
132km to go: Reviews of a crash – Felix Grossschartner (Bora–Hansgrohe) has apparently gone down among the many inexperienced jersey group. I’m but to see the incident however fingers crossed nothing greater than probably the most minor case of highway rash.
On yesterday’s relaxation day, Geraint Thomas was pleasingly forthright on what must occur for his yellow ambitions to advance.
“They’ve acquired three days [the Pyrenean stages] left to regulate so it’s not too lengthy, however a lot can occur in that point,” he mentioned. “If Vingegaard is susceptible or remoted, even by a puncture, and he’s acquired no person there, that may value him quite a lot of time.
“In the event that they balls it up, it’s not going to look good.”
Full story from Jeremy Whittle beneath.
137km to go: It seems that AG2R, Alpecin, Intermarche and – now Matthews has been reeled in – BikeExchange are the one 4 groups that do not need a minimum of one rider forward of the peloton. It’s a pleasingly numerous inexperienced jersey group. Present climate out entrance for Gougeard is 31.8C with a little bit of cloud, which I can’t imagine I’m saying is climate I’m presently jealous of.
138km to go: Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) and stage 14 winner Michael Matthews (BikeExchange–Jayco) had spent a great half an hour betwixt peloton and chase group. Not: they’ve been swallowed up by the pack.
140km to go: Extra KOM factors on provide, and Gougeard – nonetheless 44sec away from the chase group – hoovers up two of them at Col de l’Espinas. Bissegger takes one.
144km to go: Because the peloton passes a succession of beautiful vineyards, no time to cease and stare because the gradient ticks as much as 6%. In the meantime the native temperature from the place I sort has simply hit 38C and I’m now in two followers territory. New report! Oh yeah, that’s not a great factor. That report btw was set yesterday. Hope everybody in every single place is staying as cool as they should.
146.5km to go: Tiesj Benoot is making an attempt to choose issues up again within the peloton, with Ineos shirts aplenty massing up again there. The hole is over 6min to the entrance however realistically the hole to the inexperienced jersey group (46 secs off the entrance, and with 28 on board) is the important thing marker.
148km to go: Crew directions from TotalEnergies, who evidently don’t fancy their rider’s probabilities, sees Burgaudeau sit up, and Gougeard is alone up entrance with a climb forward of him.
151km to go: Jorgenson is swallowed up by the chase group, who’re 48sec again. The hole from entrance to peloton has steadied across the 5:45 mark for a spell. The highest three is not going to be too distraught at how this stage is panning out – the lead pair went into at present 106th (Gougeard) and 117th (Burgaudeau) within the GC standings.
153.5km to go: Seen frustration from the French pair at Jorgenson not pulling his weight up entrance, and Burgaudeau and Gougeard huffily kick away. The breakaway is now down to 2.
156km to go: The trio are wanting good up entrance and this seems to be like a decisive break. They’re peeking again and there’s nothing to see however highway there. The hole stays across the high-50sec mark.
Corrections and clarifications: Stefan Bissegger took the aforementioned KoM level – not his EF Schooling-EasyPost teammate Neilson Powless.
160km to go: Burgaudeau isn’t having all of it to himself up entrance. He’s been reeled in by Jorgensen (Movistar) and Alexis Gougeard (AG2R Citroën), and so they’re closing in on a 1min hole to the chase group. Regardless of the peloton being 5:13 again, they’re hardly hanging round, with Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) wheezing and mentally waving a forlorn “come again, come again …”
162.5km to go: Straight after the climb, Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) units off for the primary solo break of the day. Nils Politt (Bora–Hansgrohe) has been within the pits to deal with a case of Wonky Wheel.
164km to go: The peloton is now 3:57 off the entrance. Vlasov went into the stage eleventh and is the very best GC contender up there. Powless, in the meantime, snaffles up a King of the Mountains on côte de Saint-Hilaire.
In the present day’s essential breakaway is shaped
168km to go: Wout van Aert is among the many breakaway, which is a wierd previous transfer from the Jumbo-Visma man given how depleted his workforce now could be. Eurosport appear to assume there’s one other JV rider up there too, however that doesn’t seem like the case.
The breakaway consists of (deep breath) Vlasov, Powless, Madouas, Caruso, Teuns, McNulty, Jorgensen, Houle, Velasco, Gallopin, Martinez, Storer, Owsian, Woods, Geschke, Izagirre Insausti, Bouet, Grossschartner, Gilbert, Bissegger, Gougeard, Barthe, Le Gac, Burgaudeau, Honoré, Eekhoff and Wellens.
170km to go: For instance, within the final km they’ve grown that hole to 2:12.
171km to go: Vingegaard, Pogacar, Thomas and Bardet are all safely tucked among the many peloton. The hole to the breakaway is already at 1:47, and that hole goes up with each character I rattle off.
173km to go: 27 at the moment are in a breakaway, made up of a wholesome cross-section of groups. The peloton is already 49 seconds behind. Michael Matthews sees the menace and is making an attempt to bridge the hole.
176.2km to go: First flinches got here to nought, however Neilson Powless picks issues up, main a gaggle of 12. Geschke is amongst them.
178.5km to go: Picnic baskets are all buckled and kickstands stowed because the peloton move the beginning level. The mercury, by the way, is at 31C in Carcassonne.
Common classification after stage 15
1 Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) 59h 58min 28sec
2 Tadej Pogacar (UAE Crew Emirates) +2min 22sec
3 Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:43
4 Romain Bardet (DSM) +3:01
5 Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) +4:06
6 Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) +4:15
7 Louis Meintjes (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) +4:24
8 David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +4:24
9 Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) +8:49
10 Enric Mas (Movistar) +9:58
Different jerseys
Factors: Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)
King of the mountains: Simon Geschke (Cofidis)
Stage 16 information: Carcassonne to Foix (178.5km)
The primary stage within the Pyrenees with two first class mountains; arduous sufficient for the early break to focus on the stage, however not arduous sufficient to induce the general contenders to do greater than maintain a watching temporary, writes William Fotheringham. With 27km downhill to the road, the end is for a great climber who can descend effectively: maybe Romain Bardet, or the Dane Jakob Fuglsang, or that previous lag Bauke Mollema.
Preamble
To the Pyrenees! The peloton gears up after the second and final relaxation day for a lightweight, leisurely jaunt up two class 1 climbs – Port de Lers and Mur de Péguère. Breakaway probabilities abound within the first half of the stage earlier than the gradients ramp up … after which the Tour gods give loads of altitude again for a downhill cost to the road.
Final time the race took within the slender Péguère pathway, in 2017, Warren Barguil delighted dwelling followers with victory on Bastille Day. There’ll be no repeat this 12 months – the ProTeam Arkéa–Samsic rider left the race on Friday after testing optimistic for Covid-19. Can Romain Bardet, fourth within the GC standings, get the Tricolores waving on the end this time round?
It’s a probably good day to be a assured climber who may barrel down at an honest lick for a thundering end. Lots match the invoice. Jonas Vingegaard stays in yellow, however is smarting from a tumble final day trip and has misplaced Jumbo-Visma comrades Primoz Roglic and Steven Kruijswijk – they might have been extraordinarily helpful at present.
UAE Crew Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar is 2min 22sec off the lead. Potential intrigue comes within the type of third-placed Geraint Thomas, 2:43 behind Vingegaard however backed by an Ineos workforce who will roll out of Carcassonne with comfortably probably the most power in depth of the highest three contenders.
Six phases left. Who needs it, eh?
