Seeing Double

Stage 18: The One With Alpe D'huez Twice

Not one, but TWO trips up the greatest mountain in cycling today.

Making a grand total of 42 switchbacks.

Still plenty of time for jokes, though.

Froomey has already said he is not targeting the stage, so will likely lap everyone out on course and take the win when everyone is on their first go-round.

Which won't help with the ENDLESS doping speculation. In a bid to shut people up, Sky have released his power data to 'French Power Expert' Frederic Gappe.

But really, what else do you need to know?  LOOK AT THAT TRUSTWORTHY FACE!

Johnny Hoog and BIG JENS VOIGT the first to jump away.

Bertie's Henchmen are making regular digs and forcing Froomey to close the gap.

Several more attacks; essentially the whole peloton is trying their luck today.

Got a few that might stay away here: Boom Goes the Dynamite, TheJensie, Tejay,  Moreno Moser, Tommy D, and Wee Sylvain among them.

Froomey has gone up to chat to Mick Rogers. Perhaps an ever-polite "Hey Mick, WHAT THE FUCK??"

Other turncoat Nica Roche has jumped off the front with a fellow Saxo-Tinkoff.  Saxo's tactics are clear today-- trying to get a man up the road at all costs.

Perhaps Mick revealed to old teammate Froomey that Bertie hasn't got the legs and that's why Sky aren't bothering with the chase at the moment.

They're not happy to let Euskatels go though, for some reason.

Tejay seems to be coming into form just in time for the end of the race.

Ok, I know the Dutch want good things for their man Bauke Mollema, but Wile E. Coyote-style sabotage isn't the way.

I'd love to see this again atop the Alpe.  Wee Pierre knows he's a marked man but will still go for glory today.

"We wonder how long this quiet spell will last. Saxo-Tinkoff has obviously sent its two riders up the road to set something up for Contador -- the only question is, when?" Perhaps after a hearty steak lunch?

Only 80k left to go. But that includes TWO ascents of Alpe D'huez and the apparently rather tricky descent of the Col de Sarenne.

What would a day in the Tour be if GreipelThighs didn't pick up the intermediate sprint points.

Tejay and Christophe Riblon are pulling away from the original 9 mn breakaway.

Though you could easily forget it in this Tour, Tejay is actually a rather good climber and won the Tour of California earlier this year.

Maybe a day of redemption for BMC!

The Sky train has gobbled up Nica Roche.

Tejay has LIT IT UP and is away solo at the front!

The peloton is 8 minutes behind. I'm not saying it can't be done (and if anyone can do it, it's Froomey), but that's a bit of a gap to overcome for the win.

Meanwhile Andy Schleck has stopped curiously by the side of the road, only to resume racing a few second later.

Oop, perhaps a bit of the faux-bronchitis? Andy has now attacked off the front.

Froomey is down to three teammates, but still feelin' fine as two of them are Little Pete Kennaugh and Living Legend Richie Porte.

And we all know Froomey only really needs one.

Tejay, Riblon, and Baby Moser are all together now up front.

The leading group are onto the Col de Sarenne, to be followed shortly by the peloton. Never before used in the Tour, but it was used in this year's Criterium du Dauphine, so Froomey should be familiar with it.

True dat, Merckx Jr.

Voeckler and Kwiatkowsli are cracking; Wee Pierre and Andy are soldiering on in no man's land attempting to catch the break.

Lover of solo breaks Ryder Hesjedal is trying a move.

TheJensie is getting close to the Leading Three.

Baby Moser losing contact in the final k of the Sarenne.  Hopefully he won't take needless risks on the descent to catch back up.

Big George's alarmist live tweeting nearly gave me a heart attack, but it looks like it was just a mechanical for Tejay.

Riblon and Baby Moser continue ahead while he fixes his chain.

Riblon has now overcooked the bend and gone into the grass, upright for the moment.

Seeing the road now I have to agree this descent is FUCKED.

The peloton begin the descent.  Hopefully no serious issues will arise, just vaguely amusing ones.

Oh surprise, Contador is attacking on the descent.

Didn't need mastermind Mick Rogers to tell you that was coming.

The move is so offensive it apparently has caused the cyclingnews feed to crash.

Thank god for twitter.

Moser got away for a minute after Riblon disappeared into that ditch. But the two are now back together and Tejay is getting close again too.

Bertie wasn't making much headway and now appears to be sitting up.  Takes a lot of energy to be a douchebag.

WE ARE NOW BACK ON THE ALPE.

Riblon kicks, Moser drops.

They are doing this MURDER of a stage remarkably fast.

Wee Sylvain and Andy are caught.

Shortly followed by Wee Pierre. Alas.

TheJensie won't go down without a fight though.

Movistar are now on the front, setting a high tempo as we approach the Alpe. For a second time.

Kwiatkowski is back from the dead and near the front.

Tejay makes a move; Riblon is distanced.

Attacks coming thick and fast from Movistar.  Froome's impervious but Bauke and Ten Dam are feelin' it..

FUCK. RIGHT. OFF.

HE JUST CAN'T HELP HIMSELF.

Tejay soloing up the front and Froomey KILLING IT down the back, this may be the greatest moment of cycling ever.

Oh yeah, and TheJensie is fighting tooth and nail somewhere in the middle.  Yep, this is officially DIE BESTE.

And Froome has attacked again, one of his increasingly famous seated accelerations. GOING SOLO ONCE MORE UP A MOUNTAIN.  He could probably go up and around again dammit.

This could be insanity.

Froomey has been joined by Quintana and Rodriguez.  8k to go.

Froomey appears to be struggling a bit within his group, but it's looking good for Tejay up ahead. Math might be on his side!

Froomey is radioing back: "Richie, Richie I need you!"

Froome group still together, but Porte seemed to be setting too fast a pace for the Froome-dog.  Least Froomey went out and won three stages before being bested by his lieutenant.

Meanwhile, YOU ARE SO RIGHT TAYLOR!

Quintana has attacked and Froomey is distanced, but I'm not too concerned. He can't lose much time now surely.

Tejay is flagging and WE DON'T LIKE IT.

"Riblon blasts past TvG". Meh.

Well it would be un-French of me to dream, but might we see the first French win of the Tour here today?  The French love an Alpe!

I know, right?

Froomey is in distress.

TOTAL HERO Richie is on the case before there's even a case and straight back to the car for some gels.

Officials are probably screaming right in his face but Richie don't care! He hands off to Froomey.

THE FRENCH DO LOVE AN ALPE. And it is done. Riblonnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

What a lovely man!

Oh Tejay. But he is still Champion of Our Hearts.

The world can't wait either, Taylor.

Besties Richie and Chris cross the line together. Bit of time lost to Quintana but time gained on Bertie. Success.

This Tour has been legendary. Goes to show, when you let the Froome-dog off the leash, expect some fucking fireworks.

Oh my Christ, I hadn't even seen this in the aftermath Descent-Gate: "When asked why he chose to follow Contador’s wheel, Froome was succinct. 'No, you’re right,' he said. 'I should probably let him go up the road and take the yellow jersey.'"  Why hasn't this gotten more press?? Is there a video of this???

Do your worst, YOU CANNOT KEEP THIS MAN DOWN. Guy just wanted a drink of water and an energy bar!

It HAS however, given us more exposure to lovely DS Nico Portal.  Lovely but criminal, according to the UCI.  

But seriously: keep offending, Sky riders.

Tomorrow, it's on to THE REDONKATHON.

Recovery today may be tricky, some were working harder than others.

Sometimes I wonder if this isn't just a massive three week joke fest.