Le Tour 2012: Sky Above All...

We have reached the first mountain stage of this years tour, a week and a day into the race, and I realize I am yet to post about the action. The stage 7 finish atop la Planche des Belles Filles certainly lived up to all the pre-race hype for its Tour debut. While the massive stage 6 pile-up obliterated the chances of many of the contenders, the final ten kilometers of stage 7 shook out the rest, leaving just a very select group of three looking like they possess the ability to contest for Yellow. Wiggins, Evans, and just squeaking in, Nibali were the only three capable of hanging on until the very end today.


But back up just a bit to the beginning of those final 10km. It was at that point that Team Sky completely took over the race. The massive effort put out by Michael Rogers, Richie Porte, and finally, Chris Froome just shattered the race behind them. Under the weight of the Sky push, first one, then another of the main players were flattened along the road to the Belles Filles. Van Den Broeck, Gesink, Valverde, Basso, Schleck, Leipheimer, Kloden, Sanchez, finally even Menchov who, of the overall favorites, I expected would benefit the most today, fell away. With Evans and Wiggins busy watching each other, I thought last year's revelation, Pierre Roland, would be in with more than a chance; but no, he too suffered from the Sky onslaught, coming in 46 second behind. Talking with VeloNews Sean Yates, director sportif with Sky said this about the teams strategy: “Turn the screw. Just keep turning the screw, and then one by one, they will pop.” And that is exactly what appeared to happen today.


As for my two favorites, Nicolas Roche did well to finish 11th at 1:06, and good enough to move up to 8th overall. Dan Martin, after riding near the front leading up to the final slope fell away, but then recovered and pushed back up to finish 17th at 1:39. Finally, last years hero, Thomas Voeckler, for all his knee problems did well to finish 24th at 2:05. For someone not expected to be seen much this year, that is a respectable result and bodes hopeful that we will see more of him in the second and third weeks.

Of everyone though, Chris Froome has got to receive the gold star for effort this day. After serving as final lead for Wiggins at the end of the climb and then falling back, it seemed as though he couldn't bear the thought of Evans taking the win after all the work Sky had put in. With the finish line in sight he was able to muster enough energy to come back around both his team leader and the defending champion to take a well deserved stage win.


Felicitations, Chris Froome.

Of course I would be amiss if I did not at least mention the fantastic sprinting showcase we saw over the preceding stages. One win for Mark Cavendish, two for Andre Greipel, and three wins for the Amazing Peter Sagan - he is just such an amazing rider to watch, if for nothing else than to see what his next salute will be.