[mp417]

Stage 16 Results

Points classification leader Peter Sagan continues his dream Tour de France with a third stage victory... but it was very close.

Sagan was engaged in a sprint battle with Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and a finish line photo had to be used to separate the two riders and determine a winner. Sagan’s lunge to the line won it for him. Sondre Holst Enger (IAM Cycling) placed third.

There was no fairytale victory for Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) in his home town and in his last Tour, but the Swiss powerhouse still put in a dig at the finish to place sixth in a top 10 that resembled that of a spring classic.

The stage finish was contested by a severely diminished lead group after an uphill, cobbled drag into the Swiss city.

Race leader Chris Froome (Sky) finished in that same group as Sagan to safely retain the yellow jersey into Tuesday’s rest day. The defending champion leads Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) by 1-47, with Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) in third at 2-45.

[mp417]

Stage 17 : 20-July-2016

Stage Map



Stage Profile



Start City/Location: Berne, Switzerland

End City/Location: Finhaut Emosson, Switzerland

Local start time: NA

Total Distance: 184 kms

Type of stage: Mountain (with HC finish)

Mountain passes

• At Km 72.5 - Côte de Saanenmöser - 6.6 kilometre-long climb at 4.8% - category 3
• At Km 105.0 - Col des Mosses - 6.4 kilometre-long climb at 4.4% - category 3
• At Km 166.5 - Col de la Forclaz (1 527 m) - 13 kilometre-long climb at 7.9% - category 1
• At Km 184.5 - FINHAUT-EMOSSON (1 960 m) - 10.4 kilometre-long climb at 8.4% - category H

Local start time: 12:55 pm

TV Schedule for India: 7:00 pm Live on Ten1 and Ten1 HD.

Stage 17 Results

Ilnur Zakarin takes his first Tour de France stage. Chris Froome’s rivals fade on stage 17 as he increases Tour de France lead

After a rest day on 19th July, we were presented with the most picturesque stage of this years tour. It was in the Swiss alps. It was simply amazing.

After Jarlinson Pantano in Culoz (stage 15), Russia's Ilnur Zakarin of Katusha became the second rider to win a Tour de France stage for the first time this year. To do so, he rode... Pantano off. It was a spectacular finale at Finhaut-Emosson where Chris Froome outclassed his direct rivals once again.


The expected attacks on 2016 Tour de France race leader Chris Froome (Sky) largely failed to materialise during stage 17 of the race in the Swiss Alps on Wednesday. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) faded in the stage’s summit finale, losing more time to Froome.

Froome strengthened his overall grip on the general classification after the stage to Finhaut-Emosson, and now sits 2-27 ahead of Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), who was dropped by the pace of the GC group in the final kilometres.

Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) put in another strong performance to finish the stage only a few seconds behind Froome. Yates sits in third overall at 2-53, with Quintana losing ground in fourth, now at 3-27 behind Froome. Quintana lost 28 seconds to Froome on the stage.

1. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha in 4-36-33
2. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling at 55 secs
3. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff at 1-26
4. Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida
5. Brice Feillu (Fra) Fortuneo-Vital Concept at 2-33
6. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Direct Energie at 2-46
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale
8. Stef Clement (Ned) IAM Cycling
9. Steve Morabito (Sui) FDJ at 4-38
10. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing at 7-59
Other
11. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 7-59
12. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange at 8-07
14. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana at 8-18
16. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 8-27

[mp417]

Some hi resolution moments from Stage 17

Just look at the beautiful Swiss nature

[mp417]

Stage 18 : 21-July-2016

Stage Map



Stage Profile



Start City/Location: Sallanches, France

End City/Location: Megev, France

Local start time: NA

Total Distance: 17 kms

Type of stage: Mountain Individual Time trial

Local start time: 10:45 am

TV Schedule for India: 7:00 pm Live on Ten1 and Ten1 HD.

Stage Summary

This is going to be interesting. Time trial having mountain climb. Though the distance is 17 kms, it's going to be difficult. Expect to see climbers winning this stage and time trial specialist most likely will struggle. Froome is expected to add more time gap with his rivels. Everyone else except Porte struggled yesterday.

[sukiwa]

I was hoping that Nairo Quintana would attack in week3 & challenge for yellow jersey. But, this isn't the year for him.
He still has age on his side, wonder between him & Peter Sagan who will win the tour first.

[mp417]

Originally Posted by sukiwa

wonder between him & Peter Sagan who will win the tour first.

I don't think Peter Sagan is a candidate to win the Tour. He is very talented but not a "true" climber. To win the Tour de France, you must have good climbing legs.

Stage 18 Results

Chris Froome time trials to second stage victory

Chris Froome wins the crucial mountain time trial stage of the 2016 Tour de France to extend his overall lead to nearly four minutes.
He confirmed his absolute superiority as he won the uphill time trial from Sallanches to Megève as he rode 21 seconds faster than specialist Tom Dumoulin. He significantly increased his lead in the overall ranking. With two Alpine stages remaining, Bauke Mollema is at 3.52, Adam Yates at 4.16, Nairo Quintana at 4.37 and Romain Bardet at 4.57

1. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky in 30-43
2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin at 21 secs
3. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana at 33 secs
4. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing at 33 secs
5. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale at 42 secs
6. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto-Soudal at 1-02
7. Jon Izaguirre (Esp) Movistar at 1-03
8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha at 1-05
9. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Lampre-Merida at 1-08
10. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 1-10
Other
16. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange at 1-23
17. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo at 1-25
18. Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx-QuickStep at 1-28
23. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 2-09

[mp417]

Stage 19 : 22-July-2016

Stage Map



Stage Profile



Start City/Location: Albertville, France

End City/Location: Saint gerves Mont Blanc, France

Local start time: NA

Total Distance: 146 kms

Type of stage: Mountain

Mountain passes

• At Km 42.5 - Col de la Forclaz de Montmin (1 157 m) - 9.8 kilometre-long climb at 6.9% - category 1
• At Km 73.5 - Col de la Forclaz de Queige (870 m) - 5.6 kilometre-long climb at 7.8% - category 2
• At Km 96.5 - Montée de Bisanne (1 723 m) - 12.4 kilometre-long climb at 8.2% - category H
• At Km 146.0 - Le Bettex (1 372 m) - 9.8 kilometre-long climb at 8% - category 1

Local start time: 12:55 pm

TV Schedule for India: 7:00 pm Live on Ten1 and Ten1 HD.

Stage Results

Another exciting stage which delivered all the drama as expected. First of all the four massive climbs provided all the excitement. And when then rain god has something else in mind, it creates perfect situation for drama and confusion

I just cant imagine riding a bicycle having such skinny tyres on roads that are so slippery. And riding at 70 to 80 kmph down hill in such treacherous conditions need heart of steel. Hats off to all the riders

There were numerous accidents including Froome in yellow jersey. Few accidents ended up ridered withdrawing from the tour. Ohhh it is painful to see all the preparation being hit by bad luck.

Romain Bardet wins stage 19 of the Tour de France as attacks come from all angles on Chris Froome, who loses 10 seconds to his rivals.


Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) took the home nation’s first win on stage 19 of the Tour de France, moving up to second overall in a dramatic stage to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.

Yellow jersey holder Chris Froome crashed in the rain, ripping his jersey and shorts, and was forced to ride the final climb on Geraint Thomas’s bike, but only lost 10 seconds as attacks came from all angles.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) finally found his climbing legs and made up some vital time, while Richie Porte (BMC) paid for his attacks lower down the final climb and crossed the line 17 seconds down on Froome.

When the rain started falling in the final 50km the crashes started coming with regularity. Pierre Rolland (Cannondale) came down hard on a descent and struggled to get back on his bike, while Porte was left with a fight to rejoin the peloton after a tumble on the wet roads.

Up ahead, Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) was waging a lone battle with the road, with several attempts to bridge to him by his fellow breakaway riders foiled soon after they started.

Froome even came a cropper on the newly laid smooth tarmac, slipping out on a corner and hitting the ground. The yellow jersey holder was forced to take the bike of Thomas to get back on the road.

Bardet had already moved out the front of the peloton when Froome when down and quickly gained nearly a minute by the foot of the final ascent.


1. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, 4-14-08
2. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha, at 23s
3. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, st
4. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Lampre-Merida, st
5. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 26s
6. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 28s
7. Dan Martin (Irl) Etixx-Quick Step, st
8. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, at 36s
9. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, st
10. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC, at 53s

First stage win for a frenchman this year





The crash was bad for Froome and he was attacked by all the rivals in the last two kms. With the help from his team he was able to limit the losses



Adam Yates lost the third place in the last climb. He was unable to keep up the attacks.





You have to have a good team to win the tour. And Sky Team proved it yesterday. They were there when Froome was in difficulty. When he crashed, Geraint Thomas was quick to respond and handover his bike. And Vout Pouls was there till the finish line to pace Froome upto the stage finish. Wow.

[mp417]

Some of the best moments from Stage 19

[mp417]

Stage 20 : 23-July-2016

Stage Map



Stage Profile



Start City/Location: Megeve, France

End City/Location: Morzine, France

Local start time: NA

Total Distance: 146 kms

Type of stage: Mountain

Mountain passes

• At Km 21.0 - Col des Aravis (1 487 m) - 6.7 kilometre-long climb at 7% - category 2
• At Km 45.5 - Col de la Colombière (1 618 m) - 11.7 kilometre-long climb at 5.8% - category 1
• At Km 93.5 - Col de la Ramaz (1 619 m) - 13.9 kilometre-long climb at 7.1% - category 1
• At Km 134.5 - Col de Joux Plane (1 691 m) - 11.6 kilometre-long climb at 8.5% - category H

Local start time: 12:55 pm

TV Schedule for India: 7:00 pm Live on Ten1 and Ten1 HD.

Stage Summary

In recent years, the Tour de France has had a grand finale like at L'Alpe d'Huez last year on the eve of the Parisian parade. The novelty of 2016 is a downhill grand finale! Joux-Plane isn't just another climb. It's one of the Alpine passes the riders fear the most. Even Lance Armstrong was afraid of that one… It's the last of four climbs featured in a relatively short stage (146.5km). Everything can happen, say Romain Bardet and Chris Froome, among others. They know the history and the characteristics of both uphill and downhill. Nairo Quintana know it well too. In the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné, the Colombian claimed his first victory at WorldTour level as he descended at perfection after he rode away up to Joux-Plane. Since the Tour de France launch in October last year, he awaits this moment. However he would have enjoyed a better form but he's still up there, third on GC and likely to move up one spot… or two if anything can happen. Bardet, Quintana, Adam Yates, Richie Porte, Fabio Aru and Alejandro Valverde are within 2.09. It ain't over til it's over, the proverb says.

[mp417]

Stage 20 Results

Chris Froome finishes stage 20 of the Tour de France safely, virtually guaranteeing his third yellow jersey win in the last four years.

Movistar‘s Ion Izagirre became the first Spanish winner on this year’s Tour, with his teammate Nairo Quintana sealing third place overall. Romain Bardet will stand on the second step of the podium if all goes to plan on Sunday.

Rain lashed the riders for much of the day as Astana rattled along at the head of the peloton for the second day running, despite having Vincenzo Nibali up the road in the breakaway. The presence of Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff) in the break was a danger to Fabio Aru‘s high placing in the general classification, but Nibali was often driving the pace higher.

Aru cracked on the lower slopes of the Col de Joux Plane, giving Nibali a licence to attack the two riders off the front of the breakaway – Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling) and Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step), who went away on the descent of the Col de la Ramaz.

With Nibali on the chase, Alaphilippe attacked again to try and distance Pantano with 5.5 km to go on the climb, but the Colombian wasn’t prepared to give up that easily.

Joaquim Rodriguez attacked off the peloton to try and rise up into the top 10 of the general classification, while at the front of the race Nibali was closing on the front pair.

Pantano looked cooked from two attacks by Alaphilippe, but the winner of stage 15 zoomed straight past the Etixx-Quick Step youngster to try and hold off Nibali a bit longer.

But the Shark of Messina made the bridge and drove the pace at the front with a struggling Pantano and Alaphilippe unable to hold his wheel.

Izagirre moved up to Pantano and Alaphilippe and attacked straight past them; only the Colombian was able to stay wit him as he charged down Nibali.

All the excitement was up the road, with Team Sky resuming their normal position at the head of the peloton, with Froome’s GC rivals.

1. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, 4-06-45
2. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling, at 19s
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, at 42s
4. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx-Quick Step, at 49s
5. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, at 1-43
6. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff, at 1-44
7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 2-30
8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha, at 3-24
9. Dan Martin (Irl) Etixx-Quick Step, at 4-12
10. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, same time










Sagan awarded the super-combativity award

[mp417]

Some of the best moments from Stage 20

[mp417]

Stage 21 THE FINALE : 24-July-2016

Stage Map



Stage Profile



Start City/Location: Chantilly, France

End City/Location: Paris Champ Elysees, France

Local start time: NA

Total Distance: 113 kms

Type of stage: Flat

Local start time: 16:05 pm

TV Schedule for India: 9:30 pm Live on Ten1.

Stage Summary





With the Tour virtually sealed, Froome must be very happy with his performance. Team Sky was the best team this year and they proved it once again. For Froome's rivals, they must be still thinking what can they do to crack this man.

Quintana could not deliver according to the hype created earlier.

Contador was unlucky and had to abandon the tour mid-way. It would have been interesting to see Sagan helping Contador in the later part of the tour.

Fabio Aru tried something different on stage 19 but failed completely in yesterday's stage. Did Astana make mistake of not recognizing Nibali as their leader?

Richi Porte was really strong this year. He must be cursing his luck when he got flat tire on stage 2 and lost one minute. Having two leaders (Gardren and Porte) was a bad move by team BMC. They should have concentrated on Porte. He was the strongest of the bunch other than Froome.

Romain Bardet finished second and he must be satisfied. France must be very happy to see a frenchman on podium.

Adam Yates was the revelation of this year. Finishing fourth place and winning white jersey, what an achievement.

Few other notable riders,
1. Julian Alaphilippe : Hats off to this chap for trying, trying and trying. Another champion in the making
2. Jarlinson Pantano : Boy oh boy, what a fighter and good climber. Definitely a rider to watch next year
3. Wout Poels : Perfect lieutenant. On few mountain stages, it looked like he was the only rider who could have beaten Froome. Remember 2012 tour, when Froome was lieutenant to Bradly Wiggins.

The final stage of the tour provides last chance for Sprinters to go for the glory. It's always prestigious to win the stage at the famous Champ Elysees. Greipel who was nowhere this year must be itching to win a stage. Expect to see good fight between Greipel, Kristoff, Kittle, Dekenglob and Sagan.

Classification after stage 20



Chris Froome: Third Tour de France win in the bag



Peter Sagan: Fifth time Green Jersey winner (the Boss, the Entertainer)



Adam Yates: Young riders White jersey winner on just the second participation



Rafael Majka: Second time Polka Dot jersey winner (the intelligent attacker)

[unk9ja]

Thanks for reliving the moments we saw on the idiot box everyday, mp417. That was a wonderful thread dedicated to the TDF.

[mp417]

Stage 21 Results

André Greipel doubles up on the Champs-Elysées

Chris Froome takes his third Tour de France victory in Paris on Sunday as André Greipel takes the final sprint showdown on the Champs Élysées


Like last year, André Greipel won the prestigious conclusive stage on the Champs-Elysées as he outsprinted Peter Sagan and Alexander Kristoff. This is the first win of the German national champion at the Tour de France this year and his eleventh in total. Chris Froome won his third Tour de France after 2013 and 2015 to rejoin Philippe Thys, Louison Bobet and Greg LeMond in the record books one line below five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.


1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal in 2-43-08
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
5. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange
6. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
7. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Cannondale-Drapac
8. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis
9. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18
10. Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data all same time

[mp417]

Best moments from the FINALE