It had been several days since I'd last seen Sean Kelly but he was here in Lyon today, sporting one of the free hats that is given out en masse daily.
Today was expected to be a day for the sprinters. A big breakaway got away early and stayed away. It was a thrilling final few kilometers and even the podium girls came out to watch the race unfold on the screens.
The French were going crazy because Julien Simon escaped from the breakaway for a time, but he was gobbled up well before the finish line. From where I was standing, I thought Orica GreenEdge's Albasini had it but Omega Pharma-Quick Step's Matteo Trentin took it. It was incredibly close and I guess I got a little excited because my photos definitely drifted diagonally as they crossed the line. Just look at the effort on those faces.
Tejay Van Garderen casually rolled over the line, checking his time on the clock.
Trentin and Pierre Rolland headed to the podium to prepare for their awards.
The brekaway must have taken a lot out of the riders. Everyone looked gutted as they finished. David Millar and Jens Voigt crossed the line together and they both looked completely spent. Hesjedal was one of the last riders to finish.
Trentin mounted the podium for his stage win.
He was so excited that instead of getting off the podium and shaking hands with the VIPs when the models left as is the norm, he stayed put and soaked it all in. When he did go to,shake hands, Bernard Hinault had to remind him to see the VIPs on the other end of the stage. It was really sweet to watch him be so excited that he was all turned around.
No change in the jerseys today. Froome in yellow.
Sagan in green.
Rolland in polka dots.
Kiatkowski in white.
Simon was named the most combative rider for his escape.
We bolted for the team buses after the awards. The days must be taking their toll on the peloton because the buses drive off a little sooner and a little faster after every stage. We found Garmin. Everyone had retreated to the bus but Dan Martin popped his head out to talk with a few Irish guys. I headed to Orica GreenEdge but their bus door was closed. Who should I run into when I turned around but my old friend, Robbie McEwen. I joked that he didn't have to drive me anywhere today since I was planning to take the metro and he laughed. We had a good quick talk and I let him drive off, this time with an empty passenger seat. Omega Pharma-Quick Step was the next bus we hit. There was a small mob on the door side even though the door was closed. I heard a piercing scream and saw that Cav had poked his head out the drivers window to sign an autograph for a woman with a Union flag. When he retreated back in the back, he was laughing like a kid. Europcar was the last bus we visited. They were trying to drive off but couldn't for the pedestrian traffic. I waved my Canadian flag but Veilleux was nowhere to be seen. Arashiro was sitting in the front seat and he waved to me.
2 Responses to Tour de France: stage 14