Yesterday’s dramatic and chaotic opening stage of the 2013 Tour de France provided a heart-stopping beginning to the greatest cycling show on earth. Join us for live updates from 10.00pm AEST.
Under any other circumstances, that may seem like a gross over exaggeration, however, this is not the case when you’re talking about the most well known of the three Grand Tours.
From Orica-GreenEdge’s bus getting stuck on the finish line, to poor Johnny Hoogerland getting tangled in the bunting to the numerous crashes heading into the finish line, it was a nail biting stage.
Speaking of Johnny Hoogerland, you do have to ask if the poor bloke can take a trick in the Tour de France.
All of the big name sprinters went down with the exception of Germany’s Marcel Kittel, who won the stage.
Even a few of the GC lads met with the bitumen, including Alberto Contador, who I’m hoping will win the race.
Today’s stage will be a very different race to yesterday’s chaos.
The sprinters will have the chance to spend the 156-kilometre stage from Bastia to Ajaccio nursing their wounds, as those who love to climb will have some fun on the day’s four categorised climbs.
There will be a sprint at the thirty three kilometre mark, then the peloton will head toward the category three climb, the Col de Bellagranajo.
This Cat Three climb is a climb of 6.6 kilometres and has a gradient of 4.6 percent. Around 15km further down the road the boys will find themselves pushing up the Cat Two Col de la Serra.
This is steeper and longer at 5.2 kilometres with a gradient of 6.9 percent.
There will be no rest for the wicked though, with the second Cat Two climb just up ahead.
Riders will face the 4.6 km Col de Vizzavona with its gradient of 6.5 percent at around the 95km mark of the stage.
The climbs don’t finish here though, with a final Cat Three climb twelve kilometres from the finish.
It is a short one-kilometre climb but its gradient of 8.9 percent at the end of what is looking like a hard day in the saddle will test riders, especially those nursing wounds from yesterday.
The ride from here to the finish isn’t exactly flat with a few more lumps for the riders to contend with.
Today is a day that once again could cause carnage, although for different reasons to yesterday’s stage. Any GC contender will need to be on their toes as time lost early on may prove very difficult to make up.
Join me from 10.00pm AEST for tonight’s live blog of Stage 2 of the Tour de France.
triguy79
Guest
this was absolutely awesome. I was not able to watch today, but with your posts, it felt I watched it. thank you!
Kate Smart
Expert
Thank you so much for joining me tonight for Stage 2 of the TdF. I've enjoyed blogging for you and I look forward to enjoying your company again. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow for analysis of the day's stage and of course we'll be blogging again for you tomorrow.
Kate Smart
Expert
The GC standings are: 1 Bakelants (RLT) 2 Millar (GRM) 3. Simon (SJR) 4.Impey (OGE) 5 Boassen Hagen (Sky) 6 Gerrans (OGE) 7 Kwaitkowski (OQP) 8 Lagutin (VCD) 9 Riblon (ALM) 10 Evans (BMC)
Kate Smart
Expert
The white jersey will go to Michal Kwiatkowski of OPQ
Kate Smart
Expert
The Green jersey will go to Marcel Kittel.
Kate Smart
Expert
Pierre Rolland is presented with the KOM jersey.
Kate Smart
Expert
Bakelants has won the stage and now wears yellow.
Kate Smart
Expert
RadioShack now lead the team classification and Blel Kadri has been awarded the most aggressive rider of the day.
Kate Smart
Expert
RadioShack will not continue its sponsorship next year, although Trek are expected to take over the licence.
Kate Smart
Expert
Cadel Evans crossed in 22nd, Froome 35th and Contador 38th. Obviously they all finish on the same time.
Kate Smart
Expert
This is the first win for Bakelants. He said he was thinking of his roommate, Jens Voigt and his attitude to pain to get him to the end.
Kate Smart
Expert
I'm assuming he's finished with the group with Froome and Contador
Kate Smart
Expert
The result for the stage was: 1 Bakelants RLT 2 Sagan Can 3 Kwiatowski OPQ 4 Cimolai LAM 5 Boassen Hagen SKY 6 Simon SOJ 7 Gavazzi AST 8 Impey OGE 9 Bennati TST 10 Lagutin VCD
lewis
Guest
any news on Evans?
Kate Smart
Expert
Bakelants was given a 1 second gap in front of the peloton and he should now be in yellow. Kittel is about 12 minutes behind.
Kate Smart
Expert
Sorry, but it wasn't Iriizar it was Bakelants from RadioShack.
Kate Smart
Expert
OGE chasing him down but Irizar just wins.
Kate Smart
Expert
Breakaway caught. Irizar out in front. Ony a few hundred metres to go. 300 in fact.
Kate Smart
Expert
The bunch almost have them. 1.6km to go Irizar of RadioShack makes a move. Breakaway now falling apart. 1km to go.
Kate Smart
Expert
2.4km to go. The lead group are working well. They have a 10" lead.