Leaderboard after Stage 5 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 544pts
2)fluffed up : 431pts
3)dean michael : 410pts
4)Chappers67 : 313pts
5)North East Titans : 223pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 7499pts
2)dean michael : 6728pts
3)fluffed up : 6608pts
4)North East Titans : 4282pts
5)Chappers67 : 2721pts

Thursday 4 July – Stage six: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier, 176.5km
A second stage for the sprinters, day six drops out of Aix-en-Provence before heading west to the finish. The early focus will be on the break before the riders prepare for the intermediate sprint at Maussane-les-Alpilles (63km). That sprint arrives at the foot of the day’s only categorised climb, the fourth cat. Col de la Vayede (68km). The sprinters’ teams should take over from thereon in, keeping a likely compact move under control on the run in to Montpellier. A straight road into the finish should produce a fast sprint and another compelling battle of the trains.

Leaderboard after Stage 6 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 738pts
2)fluffed up : 577pts
3)dean michael : 527pts
4)Chappers67 : 399pts
5)North East Titans : 306pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 7693pts
2)dean michael : 6845pts
3)fluffed up : 6754pts
4)North East Titans : 4365pts
5)Chappers67 : 2807pts

Friday 5 July – Stage seven: Montpellier to Albi, 205.5km
As the race heads towards the Pyrenees the leg-testing intermediate climbs continue. A downhill run to the finish will appeal to the sprinters but they will have to battle over four categorised climbs to get there. That will be easier said than done with the early one-two punch of the Col des 13 Vents (80km, third category) and the Col de la Croix de Mounis (94.5km, second category). The terrain flattens out briefly in Tarin before a second set of climbs. The final ramp – the Cote de Teillet – is crested 34.5km from home, giving any fast men still in touch the chance to regroup for the finish in Albi.

Leaderboard after Stage 8 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 942pts
2)fluffed up : 805pts
3)dean michael : 709pts
4)Chappers67 : 500pts
5)North East Titans : 390ts

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 7897pts
2)dean michael : 7027pts
3)fluffed up : 6982pts
4)North East Titans : 4449pts
5)Chappers67 : 2908pts

Sunday 7 July – Stage nine: Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre
A monster of a stage with a relentless barrage of climbing, the ninth stage will be every bit as tough as the day before with nowhere to hide in the Pyrenees. The lack of a summit finish doesn’t detract from the spectacle on a relatively short stage which will be full gas from the off. Immediately the riders must scale the Col de Portet-d’Aspet (28.5km), the second-category ascent acting as a warm-up for tougher tests to come. Next up is the first cat. Col de Mente, the peloton thinning out before a drop down into Bagneres-de-Luchon and the famous Col de Peyresourde (90km). Still barely over half-way through, two more first-category mountains remain, the Col de Val Louron Azet/La Hourquette d’Ancizan double act providing a stiff test. A downhill run to the finish will provide plenty of intrigue, with attacks on the descents often as effective as the climbs.

Impossible week to cover with only 2 transfers a day. A summit finish, 5 cat 1 climbs, a short ITT, a clear sprint stage, a lumpy sprint one and another which would be but for a climb at the finish.

For me it's the amount you get to spend on the riders.

Leaderboard after Stage 9 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 998pts
2)fluffed up : 847pts
3)dean michael : 749pts
4)Chappers67 : 519pts
5)North East Titans : 431pts

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 7953pts
2)dean michael : 7067pts
3)fluffed up : 7024pts
4)North East Titans : 4490pts
5)Chappers67 : 2927pts


Tuesday 9 July – Stage 10: Saint-Gildas-Des-Bois to Saint Malo, 197km
The climbers and GC contenders will make way for the sprinters as the race leaves the Pyrenees after the first rest day and heads to the north-west corner of France. Stage 10 is not pan-flat, with gently rolling roads and a fourth-category climb of the Cote de Dinan coming after 142km, but there is nothing significant enough to avoid a bunch finish. The sprint trains will also be aided by a largely straight road to the finish line in Saint-Malo, with a gently flowing route in the final few kilometres providing the perfect platform for a fast-paced finale.

Leaderboard after Stage 10 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 1139pts
2)fluffed up : 955pts
3)dean michael : 848pts
4)Chappers67 : 603pts
5)North East Titans : 518pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 8094pts
2)dean michael : 7166pts
3)fluffed up : 7132pts
4)North East Titans : 4577pts
5)Chappers67 : 3011pts

Wednesday 10 July – Stage 11: Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel, 33km individual time trial
The first individual time trial of the race has a rolling opening half, before levelling out for a flat run to the finish line on the coast. It is not an overly-technical course, with only a handful of tight corners for the riders to navigate, the most testing being a sharp right-hander around 2km from the end. However, the latter half of the course runs parallel to the coastline and then turns towards it, so the wind could have a big say on proceedings and weak legs from the battles of the Pyrenees could be exposed by potential head-on gusts.

Leaderboard after Stage 11 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 1206pts
2)fluffed up : 1054pts
3)dean michael : 958pts
4)Chappers67 : 627pts
5)North East Titans : 607pts

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 8161pts
2)dean michael : 7276pts
3)fluffed up : 7231pts
4)North East Titans : 4666pts
5)Chappers67 : 3035pts

Thursday 11 July – Stage 12: Fougeres to Tours, 218km
Another flat day sees the sprinters return to the fore as the race moves back towards the centre of France on a lengthy day in the saddle. There are no categorised climbs, but the road isn’t pan flat either, with the gently undulating parcours being punctuated by numerous short, sharp rises. There are a series of technical corners inside the final 2km as the riders cross the Loire river and then turn back on themselves for a short drag to the finish line. These could make for a hectic finale in which good positioning and avoiding potential crashes will be pivotal.

Leaderboard after Stage 12 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 1354pts
2)fluffed up : 1196pts
3)dean michael : 1059pts
4)North East Titans : 721pts
4)Chappers67 : 721pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 8309pts
2)dean michael : 7377pts
3)fluffed up : 7373pts
4)North East Titans : 4780pts
5)Chappers67 : 3129pts

Friday 12 July – Stage 13: Tours to Saint-Armand-Montrond, 173km
The race continues to move south east with another largely flat day that could be decided by a short, sharp climb 10km from the finish. Although uncategorised, the rise up from Bruere-Allichamps is enough of a challenge to potentially slow down the sprint trains and provide a platform for lone attackers to break clear. It tops out with just over 5km remaining, so anyone who has escaped will have to time trial their way frantically to the line. The run-in is straight, so should the sprint trains prevail over the climb, it will be a full-throttle dash for the line.

Leaderboard after Stage 13 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 1444pts
2)fluffed up : 1314pts
3)dean michael : 1076pts
4)North East Titans : 824pts
4)Chappers67 : 810pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 8399pts
2)fluffed up : 7491pts
3)dean michael : 7394pts
4)North East Titans : 4883pts
5)Chappers67 : 3218pts

Saturday 13 July – Stage 14: Saint-Pourcain-sur-Sioule to Lyon, 191km
Categorised climbs return to the race on stage 14 – and in numbers. There are no fewer than seven – two category threes and five category fours – for the riders to negotiate on a day that will prove a challenging hors d’oeuvres to the critical mountain stages to follow. The road starts undulating right from the flag, providing a breakaway with an ideal platform to make an early escape. They will then look to build up their advantage ahead of the stage’s crucial sector: tough climbs of the Cote de Thizy-les-Bourgs (113km) and Col du Pilon (126.5km) followed by a speedy 25km descent. Should the breakaway still have a healthy gap and numbers in their ranks, they will have every chance of holding on for a stage win in Lyon.

Leaderboard after Stage 14 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 1456pts
2)fluffed up : 1353pts
3)dean michael : 1127pts
4)North East Titans : 852pts
5)Chappers67 : 835pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 8411pts
2)fluffed up : 7530pts
3)dean michael : 7445pts
4)North East Titans : 4911pts
5)Chappers67 : 3243pts







Sunday 14 July – Stage 15: Givors to Mont Ventoux, 242.5km
An epic day and the longest of the race. Starting just below Lyon, the road undulates south for 208km into Provence, taking in three category-four climbs and one category-three climb before reaching Malaucene. From there, it winds east to the quaint town of Bedoin at the foot of the iconic and punishingly tough climb to Mont Ventoux, where the finish line awaits. The hors categorie ascent is just shy of 21km long and averages 7.5% in gradient, with a maximum of 12%. That is not the whole story, though, because after passing Chalet Reynard, 6km from the summit, the climb emerges out of the treeline and into an environment almost unique in cycling. A sea of broken white rock either side of the road forms what is widely referred to as a Moon-like environment in which there is no escape from the sun, turning the road into an oven on a clear day. The race may not be won here, but it could well be lost and the winner will enter himself into Tour de France legend.

Leaderboard after Stage 15 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 1581pts
2)fluffed up : 1501pts
3)dean michael : 1226pts
4)North East Titans : 925pts
5)Chappers67 : 890pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 8536pts
2)fluffed up : 7678pts
3)dean michael : 7544pts
4)North East Titans : 4984pts
5)Chappers67 : 3298pts

Rest day today

Leaderboard after Stage 16 of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 1646pts
2)fluffed up : 1549pts
3)dean michael : 1291pts
4)North East Titans : 988pts
5)Chappers67 : 916pts

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 8601pts
2)fluffed up : 7726pts
3)dean michael : 7609pts
4)North East Titans : 5047pts
5)Chappers67 : 3324pts

Wednesday 17 July – Stage 17: Embrun to Chorges, 32km individual time trial
The race’s final time trial is a tough one. Not only is it mid-length and contain two category-two climbs, but the latter two-thirds of the course are twisty and technical. The Cote de Puy-Sanieres is 6.4km long and averages 6% in gradient, while the Cote de Reallon is 6.9km long and average 6.3%. Of just as much concern as the climbing will be the descending, though, particularly if tight turns are made treacherous by wet weather. The stage offers plenty of potential for GC riders to take vital time on their rivals heading into the final four stages.

Final Leaderboard of the Tour de France
1)BRECHIN WIND : 2307pts
2)fluffed up : 2277pts
3)dean michael : 1791pts
4)North East Titans : 1535pts
5)Chappers67 : 1183pts.

Well done BRECHIN WIND on your win.

Final Leaderboard at the Clasica San Sebastian
1)fluffed up : 73pts
2)BRECHIN WIND : 21pts
3)dean michael : 19pts
4)North East Titans : 0pts
4)Chappers67 : 0pts

Well done fluffed up.

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 9283pts
2)fluffed up : 8527pts
3)dean michael : 8128pts
4)North East Titans : 5594pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts


The next race : Eneco Tour starts 12th August.

A short reminder the Eneco Tour starts tomorrow.

Standings after Stage 1 of the Eneco Tour
1)BRECHIN WIND : 112pts
2)dean michael : 63pts
3)North East Titans : 0pts
3)Chappers67 : 0pts
3)fluffed up : 0pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 9395pts
2)fluffed up : 8527pts
3)dean michael : 8191pts
4)North East Titans : 5594pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts

Tuesday 13 August – Stage two: Ardooie to Vorst, 176.9km

A much tougher proposition, day two sees the climbs arrive and with it the chance to force selections in the pack. Six categorised peaks en route to the Belgian capital make for a demanding day, with the one-two punch of the Cote de Trieu (45.8km) and Kruisberg (53.3km) kicking things off. The final pair of climbs could prove crucial on the run for home with the Bruine Put ramp coming 14km from the finish. A steep uphill drag to the line should shake up the GC significantly in the Brussels municipality.

Standings after Stage 2 of the Eneco Tour
1)BRECHIN WIND : 221pts
2)dean michael : 139pts
3)North East Titans : 0pts
3)Chappers67 : 0pts
3)fluffed up : 0pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 9504pts
2)fluffed up : 8527pts
3)dean michael : 8267pts
4)North East Titans : 5594pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts

Wednesday 14 August – Stage three: Oosterhout to Brouwersdam, 187.3km
The race arrives back on Dutch soil for stage three and returns towards the coast for another chance of a bunch kick. The riders wind their way out of Oosterhout to kick off the day before winding its way through the Dutch waterways. The riders will battle it out on three finishing circuits on the coast at Browersdam and a home straight surrounded by the North Sea. Again the sprinters will have a chance to take up the baton.

Standings after Stage 3 of the Eneco Tour
1)BRECHIN WIND : 300pts
2)dean michael : 195pts
3)North East Titans : 37pts
3)Chappers67 : 0pts
3)fluffed up : 0pts

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 9583pts
2)fluffed up : 8527pts
3)dean michael : 8323pts
4)North East Titans : 5631pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts

Thursday 15 August – Stage four: Essen to Vlijmen, 169.6km

The event heads north-east on day four for a cross-border jaunt bookended by circuits. The race takes a tour of Essen before straddling the Dutch border, through Chaam and around Tilburg ahead of a technical finish. A breakaway will no doubt be reeled in on a loop around Vlijmen but the sprint trains will have to be especially dialled on the run-in. Tight corners punctuate the final few kilometres meaning everyone will need to keep upright to be in with a chance of victory.

Standings after Stage 5 of the Eneco Tour
1)BRECHIN WIND : 571pts
2)dean michael : 451pts
3)North East Titans : 145pts
4)Chappers67 : 0pts
4)fluffed up : 0pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 9854pts
2)dean michel : 8579pts
3)fluffed up : 8527pts
4)North East Titans : 5739pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts

Saturday 17 August – Stage six: Riemst to La Redoute (Aywaille), 150km
A good ride in the time trial could count for nothing if the overall contenders cannot stand the pace on a brutal penultimate stage in the Ardennes. That means climbs and there are no less than seven significant tests, yet many are tackled multiple times during a relentless second half of the stage. A pair of early climbs should allow a break to go clear leaving Riemst but the race really kicks off when it arrives at the first of three ascents of the Cote da la Redoute. The Liege-Bastogne-Liege mainstay marks the beginning of a tough circuit, also featuring the Cote de Chambralles and de Naister. The peloton will likely whittle down until the strongest battle it out third time up La Redoute.

Standings after Stage 6 of the Eneco Tour
1)BRECHIN WIND : 674pts
2)dean michael : 517pts
3)North East Titans : 203pts
4)Chappers67 : 0pts
4)fluffed up : 0pts

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 9957pts
2)dean michel : 8645pts
3)fluffed up : 8527pts
4)North East Titans : 5797pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts


Sunday 18 August – Stage seven: Tienen to Geraardsbergen, 208km
From a mini Ardennes classic to a Flandrian equivalent – the final stage of the race places the action in the cycling heartland for a grandstand finale. It’s a day of two halves with a lengthy run west out of Tienen before the action hots up amongst the bergs. The race makes a popular return to the famous Muur, dropped from the Flanders route but added to the Eneco show in 2012. Three times up the climb – including the final drag to the line – should ensure an entertaining battle. Not only that, the route also takes in famous ascents of the Bosberg, Tenbosse and Eikenmolen along the way to produce a worthy race winner.

Standings after the final Stage of the Eneco Tour
1)BRECHIN WIND : 827pts
2)dean michael : 661pts
3)North East Titans : 263pts
4)Chappers67 : 0pts
4)fluffed up : 0pts

Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 10110pts
2)dean michel : 8789pts
3)fluffed up : 8527pts
4)North East Titans : 5857pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts

Well done BRECHIN WIND on your Eneco win mate.

The next race : the final Grand Tour of the season
Vuelta a Espana starts 24th August.

Don't forget the first stage of the Vuelta starts today

Stage 1: Saturday, August 24 - Vilanova de Arousa to Sanxenxo, 27.4km team time trial

The race starts with a largely flat team time trial in Galicia, in the north-west of Spain. The course is also not overly technical, with the final 5km into Sanxenxo curving gently towards an idyllically located finish line by the water front. The teams with most raw power should prevail and steal an early march in the general classification.

Pity these races dont go into the Predictions Hall of Fame individually. Id be racking my total up!

I was thinking that the other day mate.

Standings after Stage 1 of the Vuelta
1)BRECHIN WIND : 156pts
2)North East Titans : 69pts
3)dean michael : 63pts
4)Chappers67 : 0pts
4)fluffed up : 0pts


Overall Standings.
1)BRECHIN WIND : 10266pts
2)dean michel : 8852pts
3)fluffed up : 8527pts
4)North East Titans : 5926pts
5)Chappers67 : 3591pts

Stage 2: Sunday, August 25 – Pontevedra to Baiona (Alto do Monte da Groba), 177.7Km.

It may only be the second day of the race, but the general classification could be given an early shake-up by a summit finish on Alto do Monte da Groba. The category-one climb is 11km long, averages 5.6 per cent and reaches a maximum incline of 10 per cent, offering the potential for attacks and gaps opening up. Legs will be fresh, though, and the earlier part of the day is flat but for a small, category-three climb, so anyone darting off the front on the final climb will have to go flat out to resist being caught.