With 2 HC climbs (too steep to be rated, thus hors categorie), a category 2 climb, and two category 1 climbs, Ryder Hesjedal apparently had been referring to today’s stage as a “redonkathon,” which seems pretty accurate.
I took the morning’s first bus to Le Grand Bornand, marveling at the scenery all the way, and parked myself in a nook where I could see both the finish line and the podium with its 2 screens broadcasting the race. I got to watch Ryder’s breakaway and was rooting for him all the way.
The first few hours of the race were put up on the screens but there was no mention of any crashes, so it wasn’t until several hours after the stage I learned of Jack Bauer’s crash/faceplant that forced him to abandon. I’m pretty gutted he won’t make it to Paris so I can only imagine how he feels.
But the stage continued, Ryder was caught, and others launched attacks. For the second time in a week, Rui Costa of Movistar pulled of a successful breakaway and won the stage with plenty of time to celebrate as he crossed the line.
Andreas Kloden took second place.
Teammate Jan Baklandts came in third.
Bart De Clercq was sixth.
Amaël Moinard and Pierre Rolland were 15th and 16th, respectively.
Jose Serpa and his mustache finished together in 17th place.
Ten riders came in together.
Andrew Talansky and Bauke Mollema were in the pack.
Jose Joaquin Rojas.
Peter Velits.
Cyril Gautier and Mick Rogers.
Frenchmen Pierrick Federigo and Tony Gallopin look exhausted as they crossed the finish line together.
Haimar Zubeldia led teammate Andy Schleck, with Sergey Lagutin.
With only one third of the peloton in, the awards ceremony started. Costa was so giddy from his win that he kept jumping up and down on the podium, something I hadn’t seen at the Tour before.
Meanwhile, the riders trickled in. Tom Danielson finished with Movistar’s Andrey Amador and Jonathan Castroviejo.
Froome was given a new yellow jersey.
On the course, Sylvain Chavanel finished.
Froome, again, with the polka dot jersey, again.
Quintana, the best young rider.
Rolland was awarded most combative rider of the day. I had hoped it would go to Hesjedal but I didn’t have access to commentary so I can’t be sure of who rode a longer longer.
Juan Antonio Flecha led in a group of 10 riders.
Marcus Burghardt.
Laurent Didier and Jens Voigt.
The bulk of the peloton finished over 27 minutes after Costa.
Peter Sagan.
Journalists, team staff, and miscellaneous people crowded the way as the exhausted cyclists forced their way to their respective buses.
Clumps of riders crossed the finish line.
David Millar and Ryder Hesjedal.
The remaining 40 or so cyclists finished the stage.
The last of the awards, the green jersey, was finally presented to Sagan.
And with that, the day ended.