Cycling🚴♂️ - Elia Viviani is the first Italian🇮🇹 to win a bunch sprint in the Tour de France since Alessandro Petacchi in 2010. #TDF2019
— Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) July 9, 2019
📹 Relive the last kilometre of today's stage and @eliaviviani's huge win! 🏆
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2019
📹 Revivez le dernier kilomètre de l'étape du jour et la victoire au sprint d'Elia Viviani! 🏆#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/z5Hx8b1h9C
Alexander Kristoff speaks Talking to Eurosport, the runner-up says he got a perfect lead-out and had conserved energy during the stage, but that he was beaten by a better man on the day. “To be second, I am proud of that but hopefully I wiull get one stage,” he says. “If I had just had a little bit extra I would have won it, but unfortunately Viviani was a little bit stronger today.”
A slow-motion look at @eliaviviani’s win 👀
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2019
La victoire d’Elia Viviani en slow-motion 👀#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/8RA5jLko4O
Stage Four result ...
- 1. Elia Viviani
- 2. Alexander Kristoff
- 3. Caleb Ewan
- 4. Peter Sagan
- 5. Dylan Groenewegen
Elia Viviani wins on the perfect lead-out from his team. Not for the first time in this race, Dylan Groenewegen lost his lead-out man, Mike Teunissen, in the closing stages, which appeared to stymie any chance he had of winning. Viviani takes his first ever Tour de France stage win.
Hmmm! After waiting all day for that sprint finish, it was slightly tempered by the fact that Viviani was barely in shot as the denouement played out, filmed by a camera facing the finish line head on. WIth 200 metres to go, the riders still couldn’t see the finish line, but it was Kristoff who blinked first. He was in the middle of the road with Sagan and Ewan, while Viviani snuck up on the rail, in the shadows, got his wheel in front and managed to keep it there.
Viviani wins for Quick Step: Elia Viviani wins the stage, coming up on the inside to win by half-a wheel from - I think - Alexander Kristoff. Caleb Ewan was third and Peter Sagan was fourth.
VIVIANI WINS THE STAGE!!!
Elia Viviani wins the sprint from - I think - Kristoff.
Updated
1 km to go: Around one side of a massive roundabout they go, with Jumbo-Visna at the front keeping the pace high for Dylan Groenewegen.
2km to go: The road narrows again, then widens again, then narrows again, the riders getting squeezed accordingly.
4km to go: Team Ineos take over at the front with the riders of Cofidis alongside them. There’s a big roundabout ahoy as they speed along the road, which has widened again.
5km to go: Calmejane still has a lead of a couple of seconds - nope, he’s caught. There’s a fairly sharp right to negotiate and Lotto Soudal are best placed as they swing around it, maintaining a very high pace.
6km to go: The road remains wide and there’s several teams fanned across it as they head towards the pinch point they’ll have to squeeze into with about 1.5km to go.
11km to go: Lilian Calmejane of Team Total Direct Energie attacks off the front of the peloton and puts a few seconds between him and the bunch on a downhill. He opens a gap of about seven seconds on the wide road then takes a sharp left with the bunch in hot pursuit.
11 km to go: Unsurprisingly, Michael Schar has been designated the most aggressive rider of the day.
Updated
An email: This epic, from Nick. “If Ian’s friends forks failed in the past five years I’m going to guess they were not steel, as most bikes now have aluminium or carbon forks - because they can be made lighter,” he writes.
“Ian’s 1990’s Peugeot will probably have steel forks. Although steel forks are heaver, they have as an advantage a very benign failure mode. Under load steel bends a bit and then springs back. If you keep bending it too much it will - eventually - fatigue and crack, but the crack will be gradual and the bike will handle more and more oddly - and chances are you’ll notice it before it finally gives way.
“Aluminium and carbon have much more spectacular failure modes in which they both essentially fail spontaneously. I think. So in summary (and I’m neither a lawyer nor a material scientist) a steel fork will probably last as long as you, assuming you don’t do anything daft with it, and even if it starts to fail, it will do so gently.
“An aluminium or carbon fork will theoretically last just as long, but if it does fail it will basically just collapse, leading to unpleasantness with which Ian is familiar. Hope your friend is on the mend. I have a 1979 Peugeot in the shed, and if it didn’t have too much rust in the bottom bracket threads for me to get a new one in, I’d ride it without a second thought.”
Well, every day’s a school day. My question, Nick, is if you’re neither a lawyer nor a material scientist, what the hell do you do?!?!?!
15km to go: The peloton are riding into a headwind and Sunweb rider Nico Roche has a go at one of his team-mates for not doing a long enough turn on the front.
16km to go: Team Sunweb take over at the front of the bunch as Schar is swallowed up and promptly dumped out the back. He’ll win today’s combativity award, you’d imagine.
17km to go: Michael Schar drops Frederick Backaert, who is caught by the bunch. Schar leads the chasing posse by just 12 seconds on the second and final classified climb of the day. Behind him, the members of Team Ineos have massed at the front of the bunch.
An email: “I would rely upon metallurgists and engineers to address steel failure or manufacturing malpractice,” writes Dale, in response to my query about Ian Lafford’s mate’s accident (15.57). “All metals can and will fail eventually, but steel is quite elastic and tends to reveal an impending failure well before the event. Since the failure was at the junction of the fork blades and crown, I would guess either (1) previous incident or (2) manufacturing defect. When that is sorted, the lawyer may step in.”
20km to go: Schar and Backaert pass through a designated litter collection zone. A man with a social conscience, Schar empties his jersey pockets of empty wrappers and chucks them to one side. His travelling companion doesn’t bother.
An email: “I was just wondering what the riders do with the Yellow Jersey they are given to at the podium,”” writes Keats from New Jersey. “With the yellow jersey’s zipper at the back of the jersey rather than the front, I don’t think the jersey is usable at all.”
I’m not sure, Keats. Maybe they use it to wash the car or bike instead of a sponge! However, I would guess, given it’s one of the most iconic garments in all of sport, they probably get around to having it mounted in a frame or presentation case and then proudly display it somewhere.
26km to go: With a flick of his elbow, Schar invites Backaert to do a turn in front and the Belgian reluctantly agrees.
Updated
28km to go: Our three man breakaway is now a two-man breakaway. Yoann Olfredo has thrown in the towel ands is about to be caught by the by the bunch following an attack by Schar. Frederik Backaert is still on Schar’s wheel and the latter’s sudden burst of enthusiasm means the gap is now back out to 44 seconds.
An email: “Do you ever worry about the safety of your classic 1980s De Rosa?” asks Ian Lafford of Gareth Thomas (15:25). “I’ve been happily riding around on a classic 1990s Peugeot, but have started worrying about metal fatigue having attended the scene of a friend’s crash recently. With no warning, his front fork snapped cleanly off at the bottom of the steerer, planting him face-first into the road and leaving him with pretty horrific injuries. His bike was only five years old, though it may well have done more miles than mine has in 25.”
That sounds thoroughly unpleasant. As a matter of curiosity, would anyone who knows more about the legal business than I do happen to know if one can sue the bike manufacturer for trauma, medical expenses, wages lost through time off work and all the rest in the event of an accident like that?
32km to go: Thibaut Pinot punctures and gets a new front wheel in no time at all. A team-mate waits for him up the road and the duo set off in hot pursuit of the peloton. They’ll catch them quickly as the bunch isn’t go0ing particularly fast.
35km to go: The gap is down to 21 seconds. In terms of picking a winner of today’s stage, Dylan Groenewegen is the favourite with the bookies. Elia Viviani is next in the betting, followed by Caleb Ewan, Peter Sagan and Sonny Colbrelli. My money is staying in my pocket, but if I was having a speculative punt I’d put my 50p on Alexander Kristoff at a massive 25-1. You can get Andre Greipel at nearly three times that price. I suppose he’s not getting any younger.
44km to go: The gap drops to 54 seconds with 44 kilometres to go. I need to pull into the side of the road again, before we get to the business end of the race but will be back in a few hot minutes.
An email: “The decision not to let Thomas De Gendt go seems to have been down to team orders,” writes Martin Weiler. “De Gendt himself claims that [Martin’s team] Jumbo-Visma didn’t want any of [TDG’s team] Lotto Soudal’s riders in the lead because of Caleb Ewan. After trying to escape three times, De Gendt decided to hit the brakes in front of Tony Martin and thereby allowed his teammate Tim Wellens to escape. At least that is what he claims himself. You can check it here, if you are fluent in Dutch.”
@bglendenning to answer John Brady, 18% and 20% gradients are a relatively new addition to mountain stages (as opposed to the short murs in Flanders) Planche des Belle Filles since 2012, Angliru in Spain since 1999, Zoncolan Italy 2003. made possible by modern gearing (36/34)
— David Hudson (@EU_DSH) July 9, 2019
51 min: Speaking of pinch points, the road narrows just a couple of feet on either side as the peloton go over a bridge and EF Education First rider Mike Woods hits the deck as the bunch concertinas involuntary. He gets straight back on his back and pedals on.
An email: “In response to John Brady in Toronto, it’s just a matter of learning to like the pain!” writes Gareth Thomas. “I used to ride regularly from Canterbury to Lake Garda - over the Alps - every summer. 700 miles in six days 20 hours (at the fastest).
“Now at 67, my idea of enjoyment is climbing the local Aitana mountain ridge in the Costa Blanca on a classic 1980s De Rosa and it hurts all the way. Some cyclists enjoy the uphill pain so much they don’t even bother with the downhill freewheel, but get their girlfriend to pick them up in the car at the summit.” Crikey! I really need to get my bike out of the spare room and on to the road.
Today’s finish: The road narrows into a pinch-point with about two kilometres to go, then widens again. It’s on a fast downhill, so there’s a big chance of a crash as assorted teams refuse to give way when the road gets more narrow, so desperate will they be to ensure their sprinters - men like Caleb Ewan, Dylan Groenewegen and Elia Viviani – are in the right place at the right time. Obviously they have to catch the breakaway group first, but it’s only a matter of time before that happens. The gap is currently 1min 27sec.
Intermediate sprint result
1. Frederik Backaert: 20 points
2. Michael Schär: 17
3. Yoann Offredo: 15
At 1min 40’sec
4. Elia Viviani: 13
5. Sonny Colbrelli: 11
6. Peter Sagan: 10
7. Matteo Trentin: 9
8. Michael Matthews: 8
9. Michael Morkov: 7
10. Andrea Pasqualon: 6
11. Greg Van Avermaet: 5
12. Ivan Garcia Cortina: 4
13. André Greipel: 3
14. Cees Bol: 2
15. William Bonnet: 1
61km to go: The gap between the breakaway and the bunch is coming down and is now at 1min 19sec. Lotto Soudal have been driving the peloton for 38.7% of today’s stage, Quick Step have been bossing it for 26.2% of the time and Jumbo-Visma have been making the pace for 23.7% of the time. That leaves 11.4% for Team None Of The Above.
Updated
63km to go: “Speaking of Tony Martin, why didn’t he let Thomas De Gendt go in the break yesterday?” asks David. “Tactics, bad blood between teams, or something else? I always like to see Thomas on the front for hours.”
That is a question I do not have the answer to, because I was unaware Tony Martin wielded such influence in the peloton and had no idea he prevented the Lotto Soudal man from doing anything. Can anyone else shed any light on the matter?
65km to go: Elia Viviani is best of the rest, followed by Sonny Colbrelli and Peter Sagan.
Intermediate sprint: Frederik Backaert is first over the line, followed by Michael Schär. Yoann Offredo is third. Back in the bunch, the main sprinters are preparing to hoover up the rest of the points on offer.
71km to go: The subject of discussion on Eurosport at the moment is the possible transfer of Tom Dumoulin from Team Sunweb to Team Jumbo-Visma for next year. Dumoulin is not at the Tour this year, having failed to recover from a knee injury in time and is rumoured to have fallen out with his team hierarchy over the way his treatment was managed.
“The last month has been extremely difficult overall and with the setbacks in the knee recovery,” Dumoulin said last month. “After what happened at the Giro I really wanted to go for it in the Tour, but this week I realised it’s not realistic for my level to be there in time. I’ve tried so hard to get there but I really have to listen to my body and release myself from chasing an unrealistic goal.”
79km to go: The riders of Team Ineos, the cyclists formerly known as Team Sky, are lined up near the front of the bunch, about five or six men back. With the wind blowing quite strongly, the main GC contenders are all near the front of the bunch after nearly three-and-a-half hours of racing.
Updated
82km to go: Michael Schär (CCC), Yoann Offredo (Wanty–Groupe Gobert) and Frederik Backaert (Wanty–Groupe Gobert) are the men who have been in front since the gun and they lead the peloton by 2min 39sec. The director of the TV coverage is now so bored that he is reduced to setting up shots that might earn him a job in arthouse cinema. The latest is a shot of the reflection of the peloton rolling past in the sunglasses of a somebody standing on the side of the road.
An email: “I am 59 and a very amateur cyclist, comfortable with longer rides (75km) provided there are no long hills,” writes John Brady from Toronto. “But anything over 4% has me slinking off to a cozy chair as we have no mountains in Ontario. And then I read of grades like 18% and 20%. Forgive my naivety, but how do these guys do it? And more incredibly, how did Eddy do it on what must have been a much heavier bike on much lower quality roads. Thank you for answering what is probably a very basic question.”
I suppose the simple answer, John, is that they do lots of training. In a fit of unbridled enthusiasm, I bought a bike from the good folk at Brixton Cycles, upon my return from covering the first half of the 2015 Tour. Despite my best intentions, I reckon I’ve done less than 75 kilometres in total in combined rides on it in the past four years.
Exciting news: Tim Wellens, who won yesterday’s combativity award and is currently wearing the polka dot jersey, has dropped out of the peloton ... and gone back to his team car to pick up some liquid refreshment for himself and his team-mates. It’s all happening today!!!
93km to go: The leading riders hit an incline and are forced out of the saddle for the first time today as they tackle one of just two classified climbs today. Michael Schar takes the solitary King of the Mountains point on offer. The gap to the bunch is 3min 25sec.
95km to go: Back out in the countryside, the three lads in front cycle past a four spectators on the roadside, three of whom are sitting in a large rubber dinghy that is full of water. They are joined by the fourth, who attracts the attention of a passing cameraman and jumps in creating a big splash. And to think some people disapprove of lunchtime drinking.
100km to go: The gap from the breakaway to the bunch is 3min 12sec and we’re past the halfway point. The three men in front are currently being cheered through the town of Bar-le-Duc, where thousands of spectators have lined the streets.
An email: “Had life taken you down a (slightly) different path, what kind of cyclist would you have liked to have been?” asks Craig. “I can see you as a Cavendish-style scrappy sprinter.” I don’t think so, Craig. While the idea of being a big name superstar cyclist appeals, I am very much one of life’s domestiques.
Global Cycling Network: Here, for anyone who’s interested, is what goes into those musettes the cyclists grab from their soigneurs and swing over their shoulders.
114km to go: The gap from the breakaway to to the bunch is 3min 26sec as the peloton rolls through Revigny-sur-Ornain. The feed zone is on the outskirts of the town and as the three riders in front pass through it, Michael Schär accidentally comes between Frederik Backaert and the soigneur holding out his musette for collection. Backaert leaves empty-handed, but will be sorted out quickly enough by somebody in the team car.
Crash! There’s been a crash in the bunch and seven eight riders have gone down. All are fine, but AG2R rider Tony Gallopin, who went off the road and came down hard on some gravel, seems to have come out worst. He gets back on his back and soldiers on.
Bennett v Bennett: To clear things up - I mistakenly referred to George Bennett, when I meant Sam Bennett of Bora Hangrohe, who is not riding the Tour this year. Currently third choice with his team, he is expected to leave for Deceuninck-Quick Step as a replacement for Elia Viviani, who is rumoured to be off to Cofidis.
Somebody’s had a mare ...
@bglendenning “The riders of Team Jumbo-Visma ... [will] be hoping to help Sam Bennett to victory in the sprint that is likely to decide today’s stage.”
— David Porter (@dc_porter) July 9, 2019
I guess you mean George Bennett, who is a climber, not a sprinter.
New Zealander George Bennett, it was revealed on Eurosport, has put out an appeal to any Tour spectators who might be keeping in the cricket loop, to keep him apprised of New Zealand’s World Cup semi-final progress against India. They’re 170-4 after 42 overs, which doesn’t seem great, but could be a lot worse.
Updated
126km to go: It’s more or less as you were, with the gap between the three-man breakaway and the peloton at 2min 42sec. Maxime Monfort (Lotto-Soudal), Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) and Tony Martin (Jumbo-Visma) are doing the hard work at the front of the bunch.
137km to go: The gap is 2min 44sec and the peloton is being buffeted by a strong headwind. The riders of Team Jumbo-Visma are lined up at the front of the bunch, doing the heavy lifting. They’ll be hoping to help Sam Bennett to victory in the sprint that is likely to decide today’s stage.
144km to go: The vineyards of Champagne have been replaced by closely cut barley fields as the peloton rolls along, keeping the gap to the breakaway at 3min 19sec.
“Worst job in the peloton?” asks Simon Thomas. “Riding pace on the front on a long stage like this to keep the breakaway at a manageable distance – as hard as being in the breakaway but with absolutely none of the glory. So a rare chapeau to those chaps from me.”
Brad on a Bike: Eurosport had Bradley Wiggins, a one-time broadcasting buddy of Max Rushden and I on Talksport (Sunday mornings, don’t touch that dial!) on the back of a motorbike yesterday, gadding up and down the course, armed with a microphone and chatting to riders (which is presumably frowned upon race officials) and assorted other folk involved in the race. It proved quite the hit. There’s a short clip in the tweet below, but you can click on this link to see extended highlights.
"I love you, man. You are my hero!" - @SirWiggo feeling the love out on Stage 3 with @BOUETMAXIME! 😍#BradOnABike #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/HDjdVUifaX
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) July 8, 2019
151km to go: The breakaway group is travelling at an average speed of 38km per hour. One of them, Yoann Ofredo, has dropped back to his team car for something or other - a snack or help from a mechanic, one presumes. Back in the bunch, riders from Jumbo-Visma, Quick Step and Astana are prominent towards the front of the bunch.
153km to go: The gap from the breakaway to the bunch is out to 3min 25sec. The three gentlemen in said escape party are all between 15 and 16 minutes behind race leader Julian Alaphilippe on GC.
159km to go: Sod’s law decrees that the second I leave my post, we have a crash. Cofidis riders Natnael Berhane and Pierre-Luc Perichon hit the deck but are both back on their bikes and have rejoined the peloton. We’ve have had no abandonments in this year’s Tour yet and all 176 riders are all still upright. Astana’s Jakob Fuglsang is riding in some discomfort, however, following a nasty crash in stage one.
“I’m not at 100%”, he said this morning. “I’m still struggling a little bit but it’s okay. I feel better every day. It’s about saving as much as possible on a day like today: stay out of trouble and not getting stuck behind a crash. On a Tour de France, there is nothing such as an easy day where you can relax completely. I didn’t say exactly I could cover Alaphilippe’s move. I just knew he was going to attack and I considered following his move, but I decided that I shouldn’t waste energy on that as I am focusing on the GC.”
Global Cycling Network: While your reporter pulls into the side of the road for a quick comfort break, feel free to enjoy these highlights from yesterday’s stage three, courtesy of the good people at the GCN.
171km to go: Our three-man breakaway group of Michael Schär (CCC), Yoann Offredo (Wanty–Groupe Gobert) and Frederik Backaert (Wanty–Groupe Gobert) are 2min 59sec clear of the bunch as they cycle past the Porte Sainte Croix in Chalons-en-Champagne.
Updated
Yesterday’s big loser: Rohan Dennis had a nightmare day yesterday, with the 29-year-old world time trial champion from Australia losing over eight minutes. In an interview with Velo News before this year’s Tour, he told them he didn’t have GC ambitions for this year’s race and would be chasing stage wins instead. It’s just as well.
“I haven’t done the preparation for three weeks, so I’m not going to bite off more than I can chew at a Grand Tour, let alone the Tour de France when I haven’t done the preparation,” he said.
Mitchelton Scott stage three diary: Here’s yesterday’s offering from the Aussie team. Warning: may contain the phrase “man titties”.
184km to go: There are noticeable crosswinds, which are always capable of splitting the peloton if they get too strong, so several of teams have made their way to the front of the peloton. Team Inios (nee Sky) are up there, as are Thibaut Pinot’s Groupama-FDJ. There’s also a a few riders from Nairo Quintan’s Movistar team and Adam Yates’s Mitchelton-Scott. The yellow jersey has also moved to the front of the bunch.
Today’s climbs: There are two Category 4 speed-bumps to negotiate in today’s largely flat stage, so the first rider over the top of each will get one point. Tim Wellens leads the King of the Mountains standings after his aggressive ride yesterday and is guaranteed to keep his polka-dot jersey for another day as long as he finishes today’s stage within the time limit.
Today’s intermediate sprint: Lerouville is the venue for today’s intermediate sprint, 66.4km from the finish line. Peter Sagan is currently in green, as is customary, having amassed 76 points. Michael Matthews is second with 59 points and Sonny Corlbrelli is third with 54.
196km to go: Our three man breakaway of Michael Schär (CCC), Yoann Offredo (Wanty–Groupe Gobert) and Frederik Backaert (Wanty–Groupe Gobert) has opened a gap of 2min 48sec on the bunch, which is of course being towed along by Tony Martin (Jumbo- Visma).
There is no sense of urgency whatsoever in either group, with both enjoying the sunshine and scenery as they head through the Champagne region. The vineyards on either side of the road will soon be replaced by barley.
The Maillot Jaune speaks: “I struggled to fall asleep last night,” said Julian Alaphillipe, in an interview with French TV ahead of today’s roll-out. “I displayed the yellow jersey on top of the television to make sure that I’d see it at wake-up. Last year I already got a lot of support from the public but this morning, about 150 people were cheering for me outside of my hotel. I’ll enjoy every kilometre I’ll ride with the yellow jersey. I’m overwhelmed and proud. It was an exploit yesterday but on my favourite terrain. I’m not a favourite for winning the Tour de France. Today, we’ll control the race especially because we want Elia Viviani to win in Nancy.”
Updated
208km to go: A very, very long day indeed. The breakaway is rolling along at a fairly sedate pace, apparently safe in the knowledge that nobody in the peloton can be bothered trying to chase and join them.
Your breakaway: Michael Schär (CCC), Yoann Offredo (Wanty–Groupe Gobert) and Frederik Backaert (Wanty–Groupe Gobert).
213.5km to go: They’re off and “racing” although there’s no discernible change in pace apart from that of the small group of just three riders who have shot off into the distance. This could be a very long day for them ... and us.
The roll-out is underway: The peloton is on the move, led by the gentlemen in the picture below and rolling along behind the red Skoda containing race director Christian Prudhomme. He’ll emerge from the sunroof and give the signal to begin racing with a wave of his yellow flag in three kilometres time.
Stage three review ...
Julian Alaphillipe’s late breakaway enabled him to take both the stage win and the yellow jersey. Jeremy Whittle was there to see it ...
Stage 4: Reims to Nancy (213.5km)
From William Fotheringham’s stage by stage -guide: A second long day in a row, but this one will end in a bunch sprint unless it rains and there is some action over the final climb, 15km from the finish. It’s a typical first-week stage, largely main roads and the scenario should be classic: early break, late catch, scary sprint. There aren’t that many opportunities for the flat-road sprinters in this Tour, so again it will be Caleb Ewan, and André Greipel in the mix, although the hill close to the finish will favour all-rounders such as Elia Viviani.
