2015 Tour de France Stage 16

Pete grabs 20 points at a place called Die

The break at this point is now twenty-three

The peloton is taking it easy

Another hot day, not very breezy

Unzipped jerseys flap in the air

The break has a chance today

On the Col de Manse today

The descent is decisive

Close to stage end

A dangerous challenge

For hot tired men

A headwind expected

after Col de Cabre slog

A last chance for glory

for Voeckler, Boss Hog

Rafel Majka crashes slow

Could be a blow for Tinkoff-Saxo

Sky heads the pack

while Sagan descends

He’s amazing!

A man among men!!!

He’s having fun

It’s so refreshing!

Creating his own wind

For yucks, I’m guessing

He’s still a youth

It’s hard to recall

For him racing full out

is nature’s call

A giant leprechaun

A free spirit

Don’t criticize him

I will not hear it!

The break is excited

at 50 K plus

Boasson-Hagen licks his lips

‘It will be one of us!”

Adam Hansen leaps out

Joined by Haller, Marco

Hansen may be the horse darko

The Col de Manse excites Pete 

Reuben Plaza is in front

But Pete continues to hump

Plaza has a lead insurmountable

Pete second again—to his own self accountable

Pantana from Columbia is three

The GC guys led by Nibali

Geraint Thomas goes down

pushed by Barguil 

Geraint Thomas revives

Thank God he’s alive!!!

Holding his sixth place

I’m pretty much at a loss for words

What an exciting race!

2015 Tour de France Stage 21

Rain on the Champs 

The cobbles like ice

The women’s race

was slip slide-y

Not nice

The most aggressive 

rider—Romain Bardet

Will fight with Ma Nature

On his bike to stay

Jens Voigt in a suit

is enormously cute

He has both smile and umbrella

His first Tour commentary

Has been smart and merry

He must be a most happy fella

This year’s race was astounding

fought down to the line

A corker whose memory

will stand test of time

Even just blogging

was a physical test

I will miss the pain

like all the rest

Chris sips champage

diluted with rain

and perhaps tears of happiness?

The sprint lies ahead

highly contested

Andre Greipel would love

not to be bested

Mark Cavendish is on the defense

His team for next season

is on the fence

Today is one of celebration

Tomorrow contract negotiation

Musical chairs for many riders

Blood, sweat and budgets 

make desperate deciders

But now it’s the march around

Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile

Despite the rain a thrill for all

The GC clock stops

As does the rain

Just 10 more laps

and an end to pain

and the start of fame

for this year’s edition

the sprinters obsessing

on their lead out position

I need to get something off my chest

Peter Sagan’s hair is just the best

Millionaire hair I’m wont to say

He’s got the Green and could win today!

Some say he could stand to lose a kilo

Mais Non! Ne touchez pas a curl on this super-hero!

Punctures galore as the lads race for gloire

The roads are dry 

Lotto paces their guy

The sun comes out

for the final lap

Greipel takes it

That’s that about that!

2015 Tour de France Stage 20

The final stage is up for grabs

The route is filled with tired lads

Attacking attacking the maillot jeune

anxiety-making for Sky’s Chris Froome

He has a good lead, but it’s not unassailable

Quintana is there to take all that’s available 

 A climb quite worrying Col de la Croix de Fer

From any side it’s high up in the air

But all the best climbers will be scurrying

Straight from the gun there’s reason for hurrying

Quintana puts Froome on the defensive

Nibali feels his oats, never mind how offensive

The question is really— How strong is Sky?

They’ll have a job of work to protect their guy

Quintana says he’ll attack early on

He feels that in yellow is where he belongs

The stage is short but highly contested

Alpe d’Huez a real bear for riders not rested

And let’s no forget the crowds at the peak

They’ve been up there partying most of the week

The Sky boys look jaunty at the front

Their job is to stay there lump after lump

Rafal Mjka has eyes for this stage

The wily Pole is poised for his age

Movistar attacks!  That’s Valverde

Still out in front is Geniez

As they begin up the Alpe d’Huez

Quintana attacks again and again

 Hesjedal and Pinot keep on keeping on

Valverde attacks leading Quintana

In the break Winner Anaconda

Another Columbian to help Quintana

Thibaut Pinot wins the stage!

A French rider for FDJ

But Nairo Q. comes of age!

He comes two Hesjedal three

Froome earns Yellow, but not easily

Kudos to Sky also Movistar

The Alpe d’Huez not a hill too far

2015 Tour de France Stage 19

Today’s course is vicious

For good climbers ambitious

The Col du Glandon appears again

In the annals of pain our new friend

But the Col du Chaussy 

begins the day

A cat one nightmare

for a breakaway

Outside category the Col de la Croix de Fer

It’s there to max out pain and fear

A deciding stage of the race this year

How anyone can survive it is unclear

Froome sits pretty with Team Sky

But his win isn’t certain

Quintana could peak from behind his curtain

And which of the climbers could act as spoilers?

Valverde and Contador are constant roilers?

The Polka Dots are highly contested

Bardet and Purito are tied

Fugslang highly invested

All riders today will be sorely tested

The mountains wild beasts which must be bested

Another hot day it’s go from the gun

Most vertical gain, most climbing

For masochists—fun!

Off they go up the Col de Chaussy

Cheers to the lads but I’m glad it’s not me!

Cozy in Cambria with a cup of coffee

In front of telly is the best place to be

Sixty points on offer for KOM

Purito and Péraud lead from the start

Both these men have legs and heart

Teklehaimanot surges

Talansky as well

Marching bravely to the gates of hell

3,000 feet on the first climb

The rain has come at the worst time

Nibali goes! He won’t be ignored

On the winning ship he must come on board

Team Sky dissolves leaving Chris exposed

Some very big engines rev and explode

A huge climb the Col de La Croix de Fer

Quintana needs 90 seconds on Froome

Gesink is under Lotto-Jumbo’s care

The sun reappears and Sky regroups

Rodriquez climbs for 25 points for his dotted suit

Astana leaps as does Contador

Richie Porte unable to close that door

Pierre Rolland is the man in front

He does what he does which is to hump

Rodriguez fades 

Sky is scattered

Can Froome hold on

When it matters?

Valverde attacks

Quintana lurks

Poels supports Chris

I hope it works

While Froome has a mechanical

Nibili attacks—hey, bro—you’re 

not supposed to act like that!

A black mark for Vincenzo

According to Phil

He pedals away

A wind which blows ill

Bardet grabs KOM points

Followed by Froome

And now the descent!

Valverde goes

Nibali flies

I don’t want to root for an

unsportsmanlike guy

Of the Shark of Messina

I could go on

I leave it to History

to sing his song

Meeting Rolland 

They descend together

If ever there were friends 

fair weather!

Talansky is having another great stage

We’ll hear much more from him as he comes of age!

La Toussuiere rhymes with fear

The final Friday peak

Rolland cracks begins to creep

Nibali flies for the first time this year

A half hour more climbing uphill

Quintana makes his move at will

Chris responds but can’t quite do it

Out of the saddle

This moment he’ll rue it!

And yet his time loss isn’t the end

He has one last stage 

The Yellow to defend

I’m a student of 

ethical relativity

Even Phil and Jens fell in line

with the flash win from Nibali

I guess sportsmanship takes a back seat

When you wear the jersey NBC?

2015 Tour de France Stage 18

2015 Tour de France Stage 18

Rodriguez, Joaquim from Catalonia

Would like to earn KOM on his own—yeah?!

He’s been wearing the jersey of Chris Froome

But would like it for himself if there is room

In the break is Talansky, A

He feels he’s getting stronger by the day

His second place on yesterday’s Pra-Loup

Gives him hope for today’s foray

Abandoning the race is Mark R. for Etixx-Quick

I guess the reason is that he is sick

Leaving Cavendish without his lead out man

He’ll have to work around it if he can

Nairo Quintano likes the route

Which everyone agrees is a brute

On the Cote de la Morte Purito takes points five

His hopes for Polka Dots are still alive

The biggest haul is on the Col de Glandon

Out of category it’s a bad one

45 miles left to transverse

The long Col de Glandon is the worst

Roman Bardet steps up 40 seconds clear

helped by French pride and an absence of fear

He takes 25 points and from there he’s unstoppable

He ties with Purito on KOM Dot-able

The final climb as 18 hairpin turns

St-Jean-de-Maurienne 10 KM to go

The descent to the finish shows 

Pierre Rolland takes risks on the chase

At this point it’s Roman Bardet’s race

Robert Gesink rides well and deserves praise

Bob Jungles shines too kudos are due

So the French can feel good about the stage

Barnet wins with poise beyond his young age

Rolland’s great efforts earn him spot two 

But Bardet took the day with lots of ah dieu!

Andrew Talansky enjoyed the break

‘Tho he wishes that they would cooperate

 Tomorrow Quintana must make his move

But it will be tough with Froome in the groove

Roman Bardet gets most aggressive

Celebrate all French fans—let your joie be excessive!

2015 Tour de France Stage 17

A super aggressive start to the stage

TeJay is off the back

And Froome fights off attack after attack

Chris calls time out to try to chill

A relentless pace from the first hill

No one knows what happened to TeJay

His nemesis is the stage after rest day

The

 peloton moves like there’s no tomorrow

But the uphill finish may bring some to sorrow

Peter Sagan is feeling his oats

60 riders out the back diminish their hopes

Quintana is in a mood to fight

Van Gardener is sick 

his race comes to blight

28 leaders ahead of the maillot jeune

TeJay Van G continues in gloom

The break has star power

Porte and Roche lead Sky

also there Degenkolb and Andrew Talansky

Sagan can’t control his exuberant ways

He looks locked in his gear— accelerate!

 Col de la Colle St. Michel

11 KM of Alpine hell

Especially if you’re not feeling well

On TeJay’s troubles I will not dwell

Jens says he’s unlucky

You can say that again

A headache bedevils 

He’s in his own world of pain

But the peloton he regains

The race is half over

The hard part begins

Everyone digs at Froome

A man marked for his wins

Contador attacks taking his chance

Raising the pace with his merry dance

Valverde follows pressuring Sky

Ganging up tactics are worth a try

The race is over for TeJay

We still don’t know what happened today

Team Sky will have battles to chose

So many attack with nothing to lose

Sang froid Sky exhibits in tar melting heat

The descent of Col de Allos will cull the elite

A deja vu for Romain Bardet?

He attacked for the win in the Dauphiné

Under forty miles to Pra-Loup

I’m very excited

How about you?

The break will not collaborate

FDJ takes maximum points

John D and Sagan have noses out of joint

Pinot pulls in front of Talansky

Geschke leads the break

Kwaitkowski abandons

The storm clouds threaten

Pinot agitates

Nibali threatens just like the storm

Attack the descent if he’s in form?

Froome and Thomas are still in for Sky

Pinot goes down—unfortunate guy

Nibali goes followed by Chris

Contador crashes

Sagan stops to help him

Grechke says “yes”

followed by Talansky

but Grechke will win

on a steep climb 

Talansky comes two

with a very good time

Chris survives with aplomb

You must admit

He is the bomb

2015 Tour de France Stage 15

Oh, ‘Urine-Gate’—Sorry, Chris

For the top man

Sometimes it’s like this

The stage begins with a flurry

A nine man break is on the hurry

An elite group including Sagan

It’s a sprint end for a climbing man

Too many chiefs perhaps for

working well together

And then there’s the added weight

of very hot weather

Cav is distanced early

Peraud is out the back

The peloton is still involved

The break has little slack

Sagan has staked his hopes on green

20 points later he’s lean and mean

74 KM are left to peddle

Plenty of time to prove his mettle

The commentators adore Pete

Jens calls him a ‘one man team’

He praise is sincere—how sweet!

38 miles left and the live feed goes dead

It’s Cable Calamity—something I dread

Coitus Interruptus—let’s get real

How else is a Tour de France blogger to feel?

 To forces beyond my control I must yield 

No way to tell what went on in the field

I’ll do an update whenever I’m able

My Tour de France Sunday is still on the table

The Cable return and the stage goes to Greipel

Two Degenkolb, Kristoff, and four is Sagan

Pete has a mechanical but keeps the green

Boss Hog takes fifth the first from him we’ve seen

Greipel says the whole stage was suffering extreme

 He duly thanked his Lotto team

2015 Tour de France Stage 14

A fast peloton and a large break of twenty

give us spills and chills aplenty

Peraud continues despite the pain

Team Sky keeps their guy in front again

Andrew Talansky is foiled by some technicals

He feels Lady Luck has him by the testicles

Sagan takes points to lead in green

Sky, Purito, and Valverde

Hope that the break’s not low down and dirty

With a stage win they might get flirty 

Names like Bardet and Pinot

 transverse the Tarn gorges

Oh, yes, glad to say, La Belle France is still gorgeous

Contador says he’s feeling good

He plans to attack as we hoped he would

But Pete Sagan is in the break

He may have eyes the stage to take

Tomorrows’ stage is more for sprinters

So they’re fine with the peloton in splinters

18 KM and two climbs ahead

No one wants to take it to bed

Richie Porte stops in his tracks

He punctures and can he get back?

In the break lurks Simon Yates

A winning day he contemplates

The town of Mende precedes the climb

The Peloton’s run out of time

Bardet attacks joined by Yates

Sagan is dropped 

non-climber’s fate

The grade is short but 11%

Quintana moves

 Nibali next

Froome rides his race

TeJay marks his pace

Steve Cummings leaps out on Mandela Day

MTN-Qhubeka wins—Wild Card hooray!!

Pinot and Bardet on the day are two, three

Quintana climbs into spot two GC

TeJay slips down to three

But the Alps we’ve yet to see

Valverde is four, just above Contador

Geraint  Thomas now sixth

Prez Holland will be glad

The French did not do so bad

Gallopin still on top ten list

2015 Tour de France Stage 13

Although not quite each man for himself

Team cooperation has been put on the shelf

Giant really wants the stage for John Degenkolb

But have they the troops to finish the job?

TeJay Van Garderen is still sitting pretty

With his eyes on the prize at a certain French city

Greipel and Sagan dual for green

But the heat today is more than mean

Scorching hot with crosswinds for breeze

The last 45 miles have no moments of ease

Tinkoff and Giant chase down the break

A lumpy course adds to heartache

Sagan finally gets team respect

Has Contador folded?

We don’t know that yet

 Sagan is working hard for Tink

He might be Plan B, don’t you think?

It’s up and down all the way to the end

adding pressure for overheated men

Peraud goes down in a crosswind

A split in the peloton 

things get grim

Nibali punctures

He’s far back

Astana gathers to pace him on track

All eyes are on Pete Sagan

For the day, at least,

Tink-Saxo’s man

BMC enters the fray

Flexing muscles for TeJay

Le Cote de La Pomparie 

Comes with miles left twenty-three

Orica Green would like a shot

‘Tho Mathew’s back in form—or not?

The six man break struggles in the heat

So many men to be beat

The break is doomed

According to Jens

Lots of work for tired men

The finish is tricky

with corners tight

Patience is part of the final fight

The final climb!

1 KM to go

Greg Van Avermaet takes it!

Narrowly nosing out Pete

BMC cheers

The break ends in tears

And everyone runs from the heat

The GC stays pretty intact

Stage 13 done and dusted

That’s that about that!

2015 Tour de France Stage 12

It’s hot!hot!hot! in the Pyrenees 

bringing tired riders to their knees

Miles and miles of climbing steep

Fighting gradient and heat

Taking the sprint Greipel, A

On his 33rd birthday!

And what about #2— van G, TeJay?

Rodriguez and Contador seek wins—Olé

Ditto Quintana wearing white

He won’t fade without a fight

The break is large but not a threat

Movistar hasn’t shown up yet

Climbing Col de Portet-d’Aspet

takes gallons of water to rehydrate

And, I guess, more time for natural breaks?

It’s hot!hot!hot! with a lot at stake

Col de la Core pain concentrates

Everyone poised for Froome to stumble

but soaring temps their hopes might humble

Born and raised in steamy Nairobi

He’ll be cooler than one from somewhere snowy

The final climb Plateau de Beille

a brute which will cause fear today

Rains come down and cools the course

But might make the descent much worse

Mother Nature will have her say

Right to the height of Plateau de Beille

Kwiatkowski regains his groove

Sep Vanmarcke proves that he can move

It’s hailing at the finish line

Hope the road dries up in time!

The climb begins Sky and Movistar surge

Rodriguez continues to try to emerge

Contador attacks as does Nibali

It’s a war of nerves and the weather is dribbily

Now Valverde! They’re pressuring Sky

There’s only so much they can do for their guy

Quintana goes G. Thomas is left

Valverde is awesome 

Rodriguez leads the rest

Froome attacks! 

Rodriquez wins!

Geraint Thomas shines in style and deed

The race opens up in the Pyrenees

Valverde excels 

TeJay still succeeds

Sky dominates and takes care of their man 

The rain was a blessing—Thank you, ma’am!

2015 Tour de France Stage 11

Warm temps and clear skies

beckon the group 

Nibali visits Cathedral at

Lourdes, while on the route

Light a flame for Vincenzo

He has  a deep wound

to his ego

Teammate J Fuglsang is now 

Astana’s go to fellow

Nibali a mere shadow of

the guy who once wore Yellow

Dan Martin climbs the Col d’Aspin

Unwilling to be an also ran

He’s stalking the break

 KOM in mind

Creating a chance to shine

Man on a Mission for Cannondale-G

In Tommy V he finds good company

He made a huge effort to bridge up to the break

Three minutes evaporate like a mountain breeze

He takes 10 points on Col d’Aspin with ease

Ahead the Tourmelet with 5,000 euros for the peak

A battle for the KOM

Everyone must eat

Roman Bardet has heat stroke

Vansummeran crashes out

Ditto Daniele Bennati

To the fallen a shout out!

Almost 7 minutes to the gap

I’d like to lie down and take a nap

But no rest for the wicked

It’s Le Tour 

Astana raises the pace 

A miracle at Lourdes?

(Could it be that???)

Ravel Majka leads the way

Tinkoff-Saxo’s hope today

6 KM to go Martin surges

But Majka crests the hill

And takes the stage

Nibali cracks again

Martin takes two!

A brilliant ride for him and Majka, too

2015 Tour de France Stage 10

Exceeding expectations Quintana and Froome

Nibali  and Contador fade

But as Le Tour heads to the mountains

New reputations are made

TJ Van G for BMC has learned from mistakes

Taklehaimanot African history makes

His polka dots may slip away

But he’s King of the Mountains on this Bastille Day

A nasty fall slows down Warren Barguil

Watching on route his whole family

He’s having a miracle recovery

Hope he’s fit to support Giant star John D

The green goes to Greipel out on the road

The big climb of today is now straight ahead

The sprinters fall out

Rui Costa too

Movistar leads, a vision in blue

Valverde attacks

Pressuring Sky

Robert Gesink still leads

Lotto’s surprise

Contador cracks!

Froome attacks

Followed by Quintana

Richie Porte follows

2 KM to go!

Chris dominates

Surprising Nairo!

He’s gaining time

with every stroke

What a victory for Sky’s white hope

Kenya’s son mounts La Pierre-Saint-Martin

Porte pips Quintano 

Gesink keeps chargin’

Contador loses time

As Sky wins one two

Quintana takes three

Gesink takes four

I call that victory

Rolland and Gallopin

are Frenchmen in top ten

Valverde comes fifth

Geraint Thomas six

All should be proud to be in that mix!

2015 Tour de France Stage 9

The TTT is tense 

A moment of truth

Orica-GreenEDGE

in the starter booth

Decimated by crashes

their tour hopes in ashes

they are a brave band of six

Heart alone keeps them in the mix

Every rider is under a microscope

Some teams have legitimate hope

Other just trying to dodge disaster

A world broadcast meltdown

is not what they’re after

Astana loses two guys down to five

IAM Cycling keeps their hopes alive

Astana pushes hard

after Nibali’s bad day

Their battle plan in disarray

They did pretty well

I’d say “hooray”

A reading of Vincenzo’s mind

might spell relief they didn’t lose MORE time

It seems he went too hard too soon

Dropping teammate Lars Boom

Here comes Sky down the shoot

Movistar is looking cute

Peter Sagan’s Pops is on the scene

making sure Oleg isn’t too mean?

BMC is popping style

A mean machine mile after mile

TJ is coming into his own

as he powers his team home

It’s all about the last two KM

BMC looks like parts of a puzzle

They pull off the TTT with plenty of hustle

Congrats to TJ and BMC

Let’s reconvene on Tuesday

2015 Tour de France Stage 8

Under Bretagne skies and soleil

Greipel takes the intermediate today

AG2R wins the stage 

Vuillermoz their man

A move too late for Martin, Dan

He takes two, Valverde three

The French team today tastes Victory!!!

The race first hand I did not see

Owing to a great visit from my Sis Mimi

Tomorrow’s TTT falls on Sunday

I will try to see

dès le début de la course

 jusqu'à ce que l' extrémité

2015 Tour de France Stage 7

2015 Tour de France Stage 7

Tony leaves the race in an ambulance

A victim of unhappy happenstance

His collarbone fracture is compound

We’ll miss having him around

Today is the last day for Cavendish

To win the sprint is his fond wish

A good lead out aims Etixx-Quick

Without Tony Martin a sticky wick

A sprint for green is Degenkolb;

Sagan, and then Greipel, A

So it’s sure to be an exciting day

I wouldn’t want to be in Markey’s shoes

Fickle fans are singing the blues

When you’re number one 

there is so much to lose

And then there’s that massive ego bruise

Th weather is lovely this Saturday

A crash free stage—I hope and pray

As we march on to the finish line

anticipation and worry combine

Sky looks strong 

Ditto BMC

Giant sneaks up

John D in their midst

FDJ appears

Demure is here

As is Etixx

Lotto is third

Cavendish takes it!!!

So haters—take that!!!

To the Manx Man I  remove my hat

Brittany is cycling ground zero

And Mark is still cycling’s hero

Mark says patience was the key to victory

and perhaps hanging at the hotel with his family

He says he felt relaxed at the start

Markey Mark— once again

you’ve won my heart!