Ahh right, many thanks for the reply.

It is shame really, as I quite enjoy this British dominance of the Tour, and would like it to continue!

Yes it is best for him to not do it, if the hunger and motivation is not there, this Tour needs you to be fully 100% committed at all times.

I wouldn't be surprised if Wiggo announced his retirement at the end of this season

He's never going to have another year like 2012...........it's only downhill from here !

if we're honest he had a perfect combination of events which enabled him to win the Tour last year, lots of TT mileage, relatively easy parcours, no contador, Evans over the top, Schlecks at rock bottom, old guard fading, new blood not coming through............I suspect he probably wouldn't get on the podium in most other years. So putting himself through all the winter training, the early season races............just to be scrabbling for 4th or 5th place

Can't see that appealing to him when he's had a year like 2012................

I can see him going back onto the track for 2014, to be honest. It will be interesting to see what Cav does at the end of this season too. Whether his urge for a gold medal trumps the urge for another pop at the green jersey.

Wow............what a terrific start to the stage !

There was a category 2 climb at the start and Saxo pounded it............all Froome's team were dropped together with some top ten GC men like Evans & Martin

Froome covered every attack of anyone that mattered

people trying to get away and form a breakaway but the constant attacks swept them up...........

at the top of the climb the GC men slowed up a bit and a breakaway managed t get away.............Chavanal, Voight, usual suspects............and the riders that got dropped on the climb got back up

frantic !

Weather note................it's sunny now but still expecting rain later. Apparently if it rains there'll be no motorbike camera on the big descent and only coverage will be helicopter shots

(too dangerous for the motorbike cameras if it's wet)

Today's descent is nuts. Hope the riders are sensible.............

Ta for update..

heading for 2nd cat 2.

2 saxo boys are in no mans land at the moment.

Im on edge of seat already. Never ever been this keen to watch the Tour or any stage for that matter.

Saxo stalking Froome Dawg at mo.

So Saxo Plan as I see it ...Contador break away with team ...catch the 2 other riders who drag Contador further up road....Relay stylee....

Can the Froome Dawg keep up with the chase for one burst ...then the second ?

http://alpedhuez.livecam360.net/bergers

oooh ta for that....its like im there

Cav will ride another Tour I would think, especially if he doesn't win on the Camps-Elysees this year, he'll want 3rd in the all-time standings to himself, not shared.


Evans and Martin aren't top 10 GC men - I think Martin's just outside the top 10 now, and Evans is probably outside the top 30!



Yep, seems like the most obvious plan in the world! I'm sure the entire peleton's realised it. And Froome's response seems to be to let them go and tire themselves out (or get too far in front for Contador to catch quickly enough and have to sit up), and then he'll go with Contador if he tries to get across. Paulinho and Roche haven't managed to stay with Contador on many of the climbs so far this year even when they haven't been doing an awful lot of pacemaking!

That, and have Richie Porte bargain with Alejandro Valverde to get Movistar's help on this stage. Was interesting that Froome was chatting to Michael Rodgers as well - teammates last year and adversaries now, must have been an interesting conversation!


There's also a fair possibility that Contador will try to get to his teammates on the descent from Alpe d'Huez 1, and then also a possibility that in doing so he'll overcook it - that descent looks awful! I wonder if he's banking on Froome and Sky not taking any risks going down, and hoping he can build up enough of a buffer so that Froome won't catch him on the second climb...

Contadors climb on Mont Ventoux was not that promising, but that was a long drag, Kreizenger is a dark horse. The two of them could be a force to break Froome, but Im sure that Quintano and Valverde will back Froome again

The sports director of Saxo-Tinkoff was recently interviewed by France Télévisions and Philippe Maduit spoke about the presence of two of its riders who are in between the stage leaders and the peloton: "We must try things,” said the Frenchman, “and then we had an opportunity to launch a counter-attack, to force Sky to work more than they had expected.

"It is not a secret that we will definitely attack... But are we going to wait Ornon or Alpe d'Huez for the first or the second ascent? This is the road that will tell.”

There are some seriously MAD MAD people supporting the Tour ..Its just a joy to watch.

and we havent even got to the tunnel of them at the top.. They are scary when get to close to the riders.

Are they really doing laps?

Not quite. Up, down (by a different route of course), then up again.

Just saw a fan by the side of the road dressed as a giant penis.

What !... someone has dressed up as "John Inverdale ?

How can they see where they are going, when the fans are ten thick right in front of you?!

Just think of it: that bunch by the side of the road have been getting pissed for the last two days waiting for this.

More and more are booing for Sky

and here we go again ...Alp Alp and Away ...

Froome is attacking on the Alpe.............got away with Quintana and they've left Contador about 50 bike lengths back

breakaway still have over 4 minutes and should make it to the top ?.............only about 8K to go

this is getting good.............

Porte and valverde have now got away from Contador and are riding back up to their main men

P* head spectators running in the way of the people they are cheering on ..!!!

PORTE !! ....man of steel


Froome " ritchie ...I get the message , I shouldnt have left wiggins ... LOL "

Christ almighty, there are some d*ckheads in that crowd. It's ridiculous.