Froome Goes the Dynamite

Stage 19: Bourg D'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand

Positive Mental Attitude, always.

Continuing the discussion of Gel-Gate, Richie tells it like it is: "He needed a gel so... it's my job to go back and get the gel."

Then they show them chatting along on the bike. This is now officially my favourite bromance.

Seriously though, can they break some more rules and get Nico Portal back into our lives?

Oh no! Jack Bauer was thrown face-first into a barbed wire fence! Yowch.

Uhhh, GO WEE PIERRE! 1 point away from Froomey's mountain's jersey?? AMAZE.

"He's not looking at the banner that says Col de L'Epine, he's looking at the banner that says 10 more points thank you very much!"

Jan 'Breakway' Bakelants is out there with a large gang.

"They're racing towards the eye of the storm."

OH MY JESUS.  That rain is MENTAL.

Jesus there comes Rui Costa straight up to Wee Pierre.

Annnnd past him.

But here comes Tiny Jan havin' a go.

And now it's hailing??  Where has this insanity come from??

Not a great race for "France's favourite son" Lil Tom this year.

Nor for Andy. Both off the back.

Paul is not impressed with Saxo-Tinkoff: "Some sketchy riding yesterday sending out two riders like that; riding 50 km between two mountains is really not the most sensible tactics."

Valv.Piti is out with John Gadret off the front.

'The 47 Second Men'?? Amazing names these groups get. The Podium Spaniards are fighting amongst each other and on the attack.

"A quick acceleration there into that corner for Chris Froome."He simply cannot help himself.

Rui's being chased by Klodi but surely won't be caught now?

Quick high five with the DS there.  Way to redeem Movistar guy!

Hey what happened to Pierre?  Is he still out there somewhere?

Well. Big day.

As usual, Dave Millar puts it best.

But I am le tired.


Stage 20: Annecy- Annecy-Semnoz

Well Bertie might not want to remember the bad times previously had here at Annecy. 

Can't have a stage without jokes though.

Probably get fined for that PhilGil, careful.

Is Froomey gonna put another stamp on it today? It IS a stage of the Tour de France and he IS a massive winner...

Well with the Green Jersey a damp squib, happy to say we join commentary with Wee Pierre in VIRTUAL POLKA DOTS.

And actual ones, as he's second to Froomey in the competition.  Black shorts though. Someone's been listening to Brian Holm.

Someone hasn't though.

Bit of a dodgy move there by Pierre, swinging across the road and blocking that Euskatel on the sprint for the climb.  Do they have a hot DS we can chat to if he's relegated?

Tony Gallopin is pacing rather annoyed in a ditch waiting for a new chain.

Somehow I think if he yelled NO CHAIN right now it wouldn't be in the good way.

THE JENSIE is out front???

"Yeah he's BEAST when he gets out there on a stage like this."

"He pedals more with courage and guts than anything else."

Ugh, can we PLEASE not relive Tejay getting caught at 2k on L'Alpe D'huez? It is PAIN.

"He doesn't know how to say no, he blew the 10 man group apart!"

'On the wheel of the World Champion' is one of the greater phrases in cycling.

PhilGil is pacing Tejay up to Burghy and the breakaway group.

What is the Terminator-style casing Wee Pierre has on his leg?

It might just be tape actually. He looked like he was having a cramp yesterday on the climbs.

Jens is BURNING this stage today.

"The two stars of Alpe D'huez side by side."

Tejay and Wee Pierre having a discussion. Not sure what about, Pierre seems to be drawing lines in the road. Are we coming up to the mountain points? Might Pierre be warning him to stay out of his way if he knows what's good for him?

Oh yeah, Cadel is still in this race.

"The Shadow of the Big German" should also be a book title.

"The crowds I think they cheer even louder when they see Jens Voigt."

"It's the show, it's the spectacle, it's the panache of a man like Jens Voigt."

"Jens Voigt will not wait for ANYBODY, he's going for the win."

"Jens Voigt is a STAR in this year's Tour de France."

And Wee Pierre gets his third place mountain points no problem.

A VERY sharp bend there on the descent.  Jensie is on his own but the peloton going through there is gonna be dodgy.  Froomey will no doubt shoot off the front for a bit of space.

PhilGil's gear/chain woes are a bit dramatic at the moment, waiting for the team car: "That's a bit chaotic."

Well Lance is partying with Ted, so screw you guys.

"And I wonder if Chris Froome will have enough to go out with a final show of panache by winning on this mountain today."

He has as much panache on the bike as This Legend has off it.

I make this look good.

PhilGil is POWERING along in that breakaway.

Aww bums the neutral service is coming out of the gap between TheJensie and the breakaway.

Bit early actually, still quite a gap there it would seem.

Oh Phil and Paul think it might have to do with the upcoming narrow climb and the inevitable slowing when Jens hits it.

Shit just got real. Sky are onto the front and out to kill.

Oh Cadel: "Also in difficulty, ONCE AGAIN. He'll be happy when this Tour is over."

Tejay is MAKING A MOVE. Wee Pierre goes with him.

LOOK AT THAT MINI TEAM TIME TRIAL.

Four Sky's breaking off the front.

"He's been the most dominant leader in YEARS in the Tour de France."

Tejay goes again and is DOING A JENS.

"Team Sky have LITERALLY blown up the race."

Wee Pierre back with Tejay again.

Jens hits the base of the climb.

Richie in Froomey's slipstream. A possible set-up for Lieutenant Victory today? "That would show so much CLASS. These two have worked SO MUCH together."

"As the yellow jersey comes up on his back wheel..." Wee Pierre and Tejay caught.

Jens is STILL OUT THERE.

HE IS SUCH A LEGEND.

Froomey's put his hand on Richie's back, a quick strategy chat there.

The Jensie is caught, but by no less than THE YELLOW JERSEY.  He is such a champion and "he's the man who lit the blue touch paper to start the fireworks today."

Froomey's on the radio.

Get your gels in now bud. We wouldn't want a repeat of Stage 18, or would we?

An attack!

"Chris Froome doesn't need to chace those riders--

OH but he is! Look at him! And he's going past!"

Gooddamnit, why is he so awesome!!!

Now we know what he was saying into the radio: "Should I LIGHT IT UP AGAIN?"

"He's aiming to finish off his Tour de France with a blaze of panache!"

Looks like he's back on the radio: "Richie? You there? I'm lonely. You feelin' it? See you in a sec."

God Froomey nearly went off his bike to knock those spectators away. NOT NOW.

It's just tense now. Bertie has lost his podium place, there are various people out on the road, but basically it's sort of a standstill waiting for Froome's inevitable attack.

"Froome well he never looks relaxed, but his energy seems to know no bounds at all!"

AND HERE WE GO.

DO IT FROOME DO IT

COME ON!!

"And he's going to try and win with panache!"

Meh, Quintana caught up.

And then he went off in front.

Pfft he's a very good climber but it's not like Froome winning.

"Almost a smile on his face! He's let the other two have their moment, but HE is THE ONE that will stand on the podium in Paris tomorrow!"

I think he gave a thumbs up just there when he crossed the line.

Here comes Richie in 5th.

"They are best friends, because of their ability."

Wee Jakob and Bauke coming in together.  Little congrats between them.

WHAT? Gary Imlach and Chris Boardman are actually having a giggle fit.  Like uncontrollable.  Must be the reaction to the TOTAL AMAZINGNESS that is Chris Froome winning the Tour de France.

Hugs all around for WINNER Froomey!  "Perhaps even finally just breaking into tears. Such a reserved man."

It's like Sagan has just discovered wheelies.

He's done another, obviously on this last mountain stage.

"He crossed the line in third place, even with a little smile on his face. He'll win the Tour e France tomorrow."

GREATER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN.

He DID give the thumbs up as I thought! I MUST FIND THIS IMAGE.

Froomey loves a thumbs up.

THIS IS SO RIGHT.

IT DOES NOT GET OLD.

Thank you and goodnight.