Froome will have to ride smart with his head rather than his legs for the next few stages. Hope Team Sky and his own grasp of tactics have improved. Wonder is Sean Kelly is available for team talks.

I think he is learning rapidly that there is a huge difference between being the wing man and the team number 1.

I'm not sure about Porte. I don't think Sky have shown enough strength to fox to that degree.

Interesting few days ahead. Which is good for The Tour if not my nails.

I think Froome learnt that on last year's Vuelta. Now he's got to try to win the Tour effectively by himself without a team. IMHO that's unlikely with so many huge climbs to come.

I think the opposite to be honest... Ventoux looks right up Froomes street. ... It's the short steep stuff that's been Froomes undoing. i.e the Vuelta last year.

Stage 19 looks like it's going to be hell for Froome and Sky. If Bertie can get some alliances together, it's going to be a very long day for Froome & Sky. :/

Today won't be a cake walk either... 7 short climbs. The way Sky are going, if a team decide they want to have a pop at it, it could be a very uncomfortable day indeed.

True - but the difference between the Vuelta and this Tour is that the Vuelta was really just an added extra. He (and the Team) had had a good year already with the Tour result and the Olympics and could be expected not to be top notch.

He needs to make some friends - or find allies with a common cause - in the peloton and fast. Now is the time when you find out how many people you have antagonised.

The only thing for stage 19 is that the HC's are right at the beginning and it's a downhill finish. It's also sandwiched between 2 big stages. I can see a break with the polka dot jersey hopefuls - but this year, who knows!

Stage 18is the double Alpe d'huez day. I can see that one being dynamite. The Alpe is climbers climb with the constant changes of gradient and the zig zags. Much harder to grind up than the Ventoux.

Stage 20 is less to shout about at the beginning g but another HC finish.

It's hot and windy... Could be a great day again!

Five in the breakaway... Bak/Voigt/Vichot/Kadri/LeMevel

Froome needs a good finish on Mont Ventoux and a good TT before the nasty last stages.

If he struggles up Mont Ventoux then i really think he will lose yellow.

Last week i would have said that the was no way he would lose the tour.... Now i'm worried! :/

With all this talk of Mont Ventoux tomorrow don't forget that today is the anniversary of Tom Simpsons death on that very climb

Do you think this large number of break-away riders will stay away with the main contenders saving themselves for the tough tests to come?

If anyone doesn't know about that sad event, here is a full description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Tom_Simpson

Another tight finish - Trentin wins on the line.

Felt a bit for the French guy caught so close to the end.

1st Italian to win a stage at the tour for 3 years apparently.

Anyway....

Does anyone have links to good 'cycling' 'tour' podcasts?

I need something to listen to while having a little rest in the garden (long day you understand!)

If anyone could guide me in the right direction, that would be wonderful!

Dunno if they're any good but FWIW:
BBC R5: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/bespoke
ITV (iTunes version): http://itnes.apple.com/us/podcast/it...st/id163658288
ITV (non-iTunes version): http://downloads.itv.com/podcasttdf.xml

In addition to the R5Live and ITV4 output, there are the following podcasts. Many of them are rambling with low production values:


and finally the pithy

There is also the weekly Eurosport (Velocast) Cycling Podcast but its free output has largely dried up during the Tour: http://velocastcc.squarespace.com/race-radio/rss.xml

Thanks to... @cmq2 & @John259 for the links...

I'll give 'em a try!

Can't believe that policewoman was stood where she was on the bend just inside the 10k.

It's Bastille Day !

Let's see if the French try and gang up on the foreigners on the Ventoux..............

Allons les enfants de la Patrie.................

'le dopage' has a long history....................

David Duffield used to get quite emotional as the Tour passed the Simpson memorial............he was so old he'd been a friend of TS

The police on the TDF aren't known for their ability to stand in sensible places

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pya6ZVW-oKg

Quickstep's DS Bramati gets more excited than Trentin about yesterday's win : http://youtu.be/RC6O9CySimc

They're already over the first climb today. DeGendt just off the front.

Had an e/W nibble on Hesjedal today, 150/1.

i've done rodrigues today. 33/1

Not a bad shout... Rodrigues has gone unnoticed all tour, to the point were i wondered if he was still there!

If he sticks in the pack with 7 odd km to go it could just come off.... I still think it's between Quitana and Froome mind!

OPQS have confirmed Uran will ride for them next season. He wants a Tour/GT leader's role that was unlikely to be available at Sky.

The former Green jersey winner Petacchi has also been retained to work in Cavendish's lead-out before retirement.