Warren Barguil about to meet les vaches.
After yesterday's morale battering, today was battering with extensive heat (well into the 30s) as the race reached the souvenir Jacques Goddet, the Col du Tourmalet. Rafal Majka (winner of the KoMs last year) reached the summit first and 5000 Euros richer. Johan Van Summeren, Rui Costa, Danieli Bennati, Rein Taaramae, and Ben Gastauer abandoned. I was hoping an on form Dan Martin would do it but came up against a better climber.
Vincenzo Nibali's woes continue losing 50 seconds and his GC hopes vanished. He keeps on adding more time between himself and Froome not looking like the shark in last year's Tour. There's a question mark on his form...
Physically I'm well but I couldn't give any more today. I don't even feel related to the Nibali of last year.
- Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo needs a good mechanic because something is broken in his head.
- Alexander Vinokourov
I like the fight between green jersey combatants the Gorilla and Saganator. Sounds like a WWF bout. Sagan, the better climber, gains the intermediate points and wrestles back the green jersey.
Another rider I'm watching with high interest, because he never quits and fights on and plus has tons of talent is Frenchman, Warren Barguil. One would think he has the disadvantage of riding on a non-French team. Surviving yesterday's fall, today he almost got sideswiped by a heard of cattle on the descent of the Tourmalet but maneuvered cleverly around the bovines. He's fighting for the best Frenchman of the race with the surprising Tony Gallopin.
I'm used to it; in the Pyrenees you know you're going to come across a lot of cows. It's what I like about these mountains it's a really natural environment.
- Warren Barguil
A shame I lacked that little bit on the climb.
- Dan Martin, Combativity award winner, two second places.
Tomorrow's harrowing climbs including the final climb, HC Plateau de Beille...
Comments