Roar Guru
Joined April 2013
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Stage 6 of the 2013 Criterium du Dauphine sees the peloton covering 143km from La Lechere-les-Bains to Grenoble in a stage that is far…
Today's 18th stage is sure to be a make-or-break moment for the General Classification contenders in this year's Giro d'Italia as they take on…
In a 16th stage punctuated by a constant stream of late attacks, it was Benat Intxausti who eventually stood victorious yesterday, winning a sprint…
Controlled Chaos. That's how I would summarise today's Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia. An unexpected sunny day roused the peloton to a day…
Two days ago, it was Giovanni Visconti who conquered hellish conditions on the Col du Galibier to claim his maiden Giro stage victory. Today,…
Stage 11 was always going to be one for the breakaway riders, but don't expect the same today as the sprinters' teams look to…
After yesterday’s first foray into the high mountains of this year’s Giro - a day which saw a major shake-up of the General Classification…
For months we have waited to see what the Giro’s main contenders would bring to the table once they hit the high Italian mountain…
Returning from its first rest day, the Giro peloton today tackles the first of this year's high mountain stages; the 167km stage 10 from…
The exhausted figure of Fabian Cancellara being helped from the grass of the Roubaix velodrome – broken yet triumphant – is perhaps the image…
After seeing the route, my money would be on someone who can climb a bit better yet. It’s been a battle between climbers the past two years, with Mollema (’11), Valverde (’12), and Rodriguez (2nd both years) sharing the points…
2013 Vuelta a Espana: one for the climbers
^ Good tips. Perhaps the more difficult prediction, though: Who will win the green jersey?
2013 Vuelta a Espana: one for the climbers
Great recap, Tiffany. I was there between hairpins 4 and 5 (just after the Quintana/Rodriguez attack) and am still reliving it. The highlight, though, was when the French supporters got word of Riblon’s win. A “Riblon, Riblon” chant started and quickly spread up and down the mountain; flares were lit, car horns were sounded, people were dancing in the street – a truly special moment to be a part of.
Oh, and a huge congratulations on the 11th place in Italy!
2013 Tour de France Stage 18 recap: Riblon wins on Alpe d'Huez
Good write-up, though I wouldn’t be writing off Cadel over 26 seconds (24 to Froome and 18 to Contador). In this year’s Giro, he lost 37 seconds in a 17km TTT on Stage 2, and barely a week later he’d won over the Aussie media (again) and had us dreaming of a victory. BMC were never expected to match the top teams today.
Gerrans in yellow, Cadel flops in bitter-sweet day for Aussie cycling
As always, thanks for joining, and good night.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
That just about wraps things up here. Be sure to join us tomorrow as the peloton attacks the seventh stage of the Criterium du Dauphine. The 187km stage from Le Pont-de-Claix to Superdevoluy comprises five categorized climbs, including a summit finish and a traverse of l’Alpe d’Huez.
It will be a decisive day in this race, but perhaps also our best indication of form yet in the lead-up to the 100th Tour de France.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
So, a day without significant movement in any of the race classifications in the end, but one full of action. Often, a breakaway will survive because it is allowed to do so by the peloton. They’re the hollow days.
Today, by contrast, brought a real struggle between the breakaway of four strong riders and a hard-chasing peloton.
In the battle of attrition, the breakaway prevailed, and the spoils went to Thomas Voeckler, who was strong on the climbs, composed on the approach, and most importantly, had the legs in the final sprint.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Finally, in the Young Riders’ classification, Rohan Dennis still leads by 1’04 over Kwiatkowski, and 2’47 over Geniez.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
In the KOM, Damuseau still leads the charge, with a 25 point lead. After today’s effort, though, Seeldrayers has moved up into joint second. Could Damuseau’s illness be enough to keep him from the breakaway tomorrow?
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Meersman remains in green after today’s stage, extending his lead over Chris Froome to 13. With a couple of big mountain stages remaining, though, I’d expect Froome to take a lot of points and probably surpass Meersman by the end of the race.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Riders are still coming across the line, a long way adrift for a short stage without much climbing in the final 50km.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
So, there was no movement at the pointy end of the General Classification today, with Froome and Porte keeping things under control for Sky.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Sillin and Seeldrayers really had nothing to give in that final sprint!
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Correction: Herrada took second in the stage! He was very late to respond to the final sprint, and not seeing him cross the line, I’d assumed he wasn’t there, though the head-on camera shot has shown him flying past the two Astana riders in the final three or four seconds. My apologies there.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
We didn’t see much of Christopher Froome today, which is only a good thing for him on a stage like this, and Sky was a constant in second place in the peloton.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Omega-Pharma were looking the goods for some time, but when Chavanel and Martin dropped with the gap still at over a minute, it was game over.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
He seemed to be the catalyst for the break in the lead group as well. He’d spent several miles looking like he was trying to bring just enough disorder and frustration into the group of eight that it motivated the two Astana riders to attack and split it up. With the legs to make the junction, he’d halved the group and then just had to hope the peloton didn’t catch them.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
That was clinical was Thomas Voeckler. Despite Astana having him beaten in the numbers game, he proved to be by far the strongest sprinter, and seemed to know it, looking very confident through the final five kilometers. He marked every move with composure, and when Seeldrayers launched the final sprint, he was on his wheel in an instant and breezed past him.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Herrada could do nothing but watch as Voeckler took the stage easily – he was able to gap the two Astana riders by five or more lengths in the end. It looks like Hushovd managed to take fifth in the end after being challenged by Meersman.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Victory for Thomas Voeckler, followed by Seeldrayers and Sillin!
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Seeldrayers opened it up, before Voeckler launches
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Voeckler’s staying on second wheel, while Herrada watches from the back. Dark horse?
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Sillin gives a half-hearted attack under the 1km banner, and Seeldrayers is next to bork.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Sillin and Seeldrayers are bookending the group with 1km to go.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
I’m sure I’ve warned against writing Cadel off on more than one occasion, Lee. Don’t eat the hat though – I’ll gladly take it off your hands.
Old Man Evans comes good