The last Rest Day of the Tour was spent in various ways: Froomey laid down the law; G hosted a who's who of cycling royalty at the unofficial Sky Sports Bar; and Marcel Kittel demonstrated the meaning of doppelganger.
And after that much needed break, it's back to the road.
"Letour confirms that 179 riders have started, with Pinot and Von Poppel sitting it out." 'Sitting it out' seems rather dismissive; he basically had an existential crisis.
Today a lumpy stroll over some Cat 2 mountains, finishing off with the most commonly used words in cycling: The Descent Into Gap.
Even leaving aside its frequent usage in the Tour, Gap should always be remembered for hosting possibly the most amazing thing that's ever happened in a bike race.
A flurry of attacks from the off, with Top 10 Sexiest Rider TheJensie, Nica Roche, Boom Goes the Dynamite, A Velits, and Jokester Adam among those trying to break free. Adam will no doubt pass the time by radioing elaborate jokes back to teammate Hendy.
Ryder and his broken rib are also in this current front group, possibly trying to recoup an hour, 18 minutes, and 45 seconds?
Ummmm, thanks? I got this one Bertie, why don't you stick to making steak recommendations.
Joker Adam and Klodi have launched off the front of the front group. Will Adam stay away or get distracted documenting the occasion?
But an enormous handful off others have now joined them, including PhilGil and Lil Tom and the Elf King (reminding Europcar of the heroics they're in for for the next few years).
Maybe BMC have realised their dire circumstances and have let PhilGil off the leash today.
24 riders in this group apparently, so plenty besides those I've highlighted. Holding a 4 minute lead at the moment.
Mont Ventoux looming in the backround. They won't have to climb it again this year, but they DO have to climb Alpe D'huez. Twice.
"Hoogerland sprints out to take the mountain points." Not if France 2 has anything to say about it.
"Daniel Navarro of Cofidis is the top ranked rider in the break group." I suppose Cofidis will have to hang their hat on that, after the most disappointing Tour in a history of disappointing Tours. A swift exit might look pretty good right now.
"OPQS moves to the front of the peloton. Not to try and set up a sprint for Cavendish, but to be first in line at the feed zone." Takes a lot of fuel to be such a pack of jokers.
The gap has increased slightly because a train passed through and held up the peloton. While no one is hitching a ride to the finish line this time, it does remind you how the sport is refreshingly retro.
Tiny John Degenkolb has apparently shaved his moustache. I think that's inviting bad luck. That thing is magical.
GreipelThighs and Andy Schleck are having a chat at the back. Perhaps making plans for The Thighs' birthday celebrations this evening? Andy does know how to party.
With the gap over 10 minutes, it looks like a day for the breakaway.
And the first attacks from the group are starting.
Papa Roche, supportive as ever, said that while Nica merits the victory 'there are a lot of people in this group.' Thanks dad!
Is the peloton going to make this time cut today? They're out to 11 minutes.
They should stay on the alert if they have any sense.
Joker Adam has joined Blel and Marino in the front-front group.
Though actually cyclingnews has confused me as to where anyone is on the road. Basically there's 26 people out on the road somewhere 11 minutes in front of the peloton.
I guess Rui Costa is out there at the front. And PhilGil and Lil Tom have been noted as chasers.
Mayhem really.
Talk about cycling 'a deux vitesses'! Tony Martin is leading an unofficial Second Rest Day Parade TWELVE minutes down the road.
Klodi is close to Costa too?? I'm just gonna wait and see who wins and then figure out where the hell they were for the previous 15k from there.
I wouldn't want to be the nearest guy around if Costa loses today.
Ok, to add further confusion, there is now a break off the front of the peloton. Froomey is in it.
Bertie attacked but was caught by The Legend That is Froome.
Ten Dam is off the back.
Froome's group is: Quintana, Kreziger, Porte, Contador, Mollema, Rodriguez and Valverde.
Huh, Rodriguez is the only Spaniard in that group that hasn't been done for doping. Wonder what the three of them talk about.
Bertie keeps trying to jump away but is caught each time.
They're rounding Beloki Corner.
Meanwhile, 11 minutes in the future, Rui Costa crosses the finish line first.
Well the French wanted a stage win and got 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instead. Typique.
Ooh sharp corner to navigate and Froomey and Bertie both have to put a foot down to stay upright.
Ok, forgetting the fact that I don't know how Porte got out front, he has now "dropped back to be with Froome". Be with him forever. In wedded bliss.
It's a good thing they all like each other at Sky, cuz apparently no one else does.
Though not for the first time John Gadret is shakin' shit up, and he sounds like a maniac anyway so maybe take that with a pinch of salt.
Why wouldn't you like Sky? They have children's tea parties!
I literally don't know who is where AGAIN.
Cyclingnews says "The trio has caught the favourite's group" but I thought the trio WAS the favourite's group. This is not great reporting today.
We'll have to wait for the results again.
Alright well everyone of note is pretty much in now.
Ten Dam maybe lost marginal time, Wee Jakob might've gained a bit.
Well I got that wrong. Wee Jakob dropped and Joaquim Rodriguez moved up. Bauke Mollema held on manfully after a tough day.
Dan Martin is also now in the Top 10. Sooooo good luck Nica trying to be your dad's favourite now!
No doubt we'll see some shake ups after tomorrow's hilly time trial.
Hopefully less urine forecast along this route.
Hmm, another Bertie-based feud brewing? Coming from the politest man in cycling, that's actually rather me-ow! And considering his fellow countrymen are similarly unimpressed by his antics, maybe it wasn't just psychological intimidation that got Bertie abandoned at the team hotel the morning of the time trial in 2009.
"Daniel Navarro of Cofidis is the top ranked rider in the break group." I suppose Cofidis will have to hang their hat on that, after the most disappointing Tour in a history of disappointing Tours. A swift exit might look pretty good right now.
"OPQS moves to the front of the peloton. Not to try and set up a sprint for Cavendish, but to be first in line at the feed zone." Takes a lot of fuel to be such a pack of jokers.
The gap has increased slightly because a train passed through and held up the peloton. While no one is hitching a ride to the finish line this time, it does remind you how the sport is refreshingly retro.
Tiny John Degenkolb has apparently shaved his moustache. I think that's inviting bad luck. That thing is magical.
GreipelThighs and Andy Schleck are having a chat at the back. Perhaps making plans for The Thighs' birthday celebrations this evening? Andy does know how to party.
With the gap over 10 minutes, it looks like a day for the breakaway.
And the first attacks from the group are starting.
Papa Roche, supportive as ever, said that while Nica merits the victory 'there are a lot of people in this group.' Thanks dad!
Is the peloton going to make this time cut today? They're out to 11 minutes.
They should stay on the alert if they have any sense.
Joker Adam has joined Blel and Marino in the front-front group.
Though actually cyclingnews has confused me as to where anyone is on the road. Basically there's 26 people out on the road somewhere 11 minutes in front of the peloton.
I guess Rui Costa is out there at the front. And PhilGil and Lil Tom have been noted as chasers.
Mayhem really.
Talk about cycling 'a deux vitesses'! Tony Martin is leading an unofficial Second Rest Day Parade TWELVE minutes down the road.
Klodi is close to Costa too?? I'm just gonna wait and see who wins and then figure out where the hell they were for the previous 15k from there.
I wouldn't want to be the nearest guy around if Costa loses today.
Ok, to add further confusion, there is now a break off the front of the peloton. Froomey is in it.
Bertie attacked but was caught by The Legend That is Froome.
Ten Dam is off the back.
Froome's group is: Quintana, Kreziger, Porte, Contador, Mollema, Rodriguez and Valverde.
Huh, Rodriguez is the only Spaniard in that group that hasn't been done for doping. Wonder what the three of them talk about.
Bertie keeps trying to jump away but is caught each time.
They're rounding Beloki Corner.
Meanwhile, 11 minutes in the future, Rui Costa crosses the finish line first.
Well the French wanted a stage win and got 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instead. Typique.
Ooh sharp corner to navigate and Froomey and Bertie both have to put a foot down to stay upright.
Ok, forgetting the fact that I don't know how Porte got out front, he has now "dropped back to be with Froome". Be with him forever. In wedded bliss.
It's a good thing they all like each other at Sky, cuz apparently no one else does.
Though not for the first time John Gadret is shakin' shit up, and he sounds like a maniac anyway so maybe take that with a pinch of salt.
Why wouldn't you like Sky? They have children's tea parties!
I literally don't know who is where AGAIN.
Cyclingnews says "The trio has caught the favourite's group" but I thought the trio WAS the favourite's group. This is not great reporting today.
We'll have to wait for the results again.
Alright well everyone of note is pretty much in now.
Ten Dam maybe lost marginal time, Wee Jakob might've gained a bit.
Well I got that wrong. Wee Jakob dropped and Joaquim Rodriguez moved up. Bauke Mollema held on manfully after a tough day.
Dan Martin is also now in the Top 10. Sooooo good luck Nica trying to be your dad's favourite now!
No doubt we'll see some shake ups after tomorrow's hilly time trial.
Hopefully less urine forecast along this route.
Hmm, another Bertie-based feud brewing? Coming from the politest man in cycling, that's actually rather me-ow! And considering his fellow countrymen are similarly unimpressed by his antics, maybe it wasn't just psychological intimidation that got Bertie abandoned at the team hotel the morning of the time trial in 2009.
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