Stage 21 Tour de France 2016 Chantilly--Paris

Everyone looks pretty

as they near Paris city

after three weeks of war

The mood is fine

they've lots of time

to toast and bask in gloire

Of course the sprint is everything 

on this Sunday ride

I say "chapeau" to all the lads

they should be filled with pride!  

Every stage produced real thrills

Descending danger gave us chills

Relatively carnage free 

Ventoux will live in history

"Forward ever Backward never" 

Champs just never quit 

For sheer persistence 

Sky's Chris Froome is it

Movistar and Quintana

finished rather high

They went to every length

to support their guy 

Majka and Pete for Tinkoff

showed they've got the right stuff 

Adam Yates graduates to be a contender

Purito did a solid Tour

in this his career ender

Romain Bardet the Frenchman for AG2R

ends up on the podium 

A Gallic superstar 

This is my sixth Tour

blogging the race in rhyme

Every year a learning curve

Better every time

I feel a little teary

as this chapter ends

I hope I have the happy task 

Of doing this again

Kittel has bike problems

Tony Martin leaves

He is having issues

with his famous knees 

Etixx-Quick 

must feel sick 

Their fortunes took a downward click

Teklehaimanot excelled throughout 

I wanted to give him a shout

And all others whom I failed to mention 

You have had my full attention

I still have hopes for B. Coquard

Coquard flats

That's that about that

Andre Greipel wins it!

Sky and Chris maintain

About the 2016 tour

I've nothing to complain

Stage 19 Tour de France 2016 Albertville-- Saint-Gervais

A short but intense stage

with lots of climbing 

For podium spots so many pining

Both start and end are vicious

promising points and place delicious

A break of twenty 

power plenty

De Ghent leaps ahead with purpose

Majka's there to make things worse

Astana pops up for Aru

a vision of stage win in view

Trying Team Sky's grip

to soften

on mountain climbs both steep and often

A short stage threatens the grupetto

Time limits force heads down and go

The Montee de Bisanne

today's big peak

will show good outcomes don't come cheap 

Ditto several descents hairy

Even Chris Froome is wary

Tom Demoulin comes a cropper

Abandoning this season topper

Majka earns the KOM

It starts to rain on tired men

The roads are slick

Rolland goes down

Others as well

Chris Froome falls in descent hell

Gerraint gives Chris his bike 

Bardet takes this chance 

to fight

Raising hopes for La Belle France

On his bike he seems to dance

He wins the stage with Gallic flair

He throws his hands up in the air

Climbing on Gerraint’s bike

Chris’ll probably be sore tonight

Stage 18 Tour de France Sallanches--Megeve

Tom Dumoulin does an excellent ride

Dressed aerodynamically 

Richie Porte does a fabulous ride

but can't go as fast as he

Chris signals his goal

with disc wheel on his bike

The yellow he'll hold

with Paris in his sight

Nairo looks sleek

But ends up beat

Aru makes an impression

Ditto Yates and Bardet

Chris wins the day 

30:43 a dynamic show

He dominates with 3 days to go! 

Stage 17 Tour de France 2016 Berne--Finhaut-Emosson

Cavandish wants to medal in Rio

He needs to train so the Alpes had to go

Those daunting climbs he's decided to miss

You really can't blame him for this 

A rapid pace and break of power

ahead of schedule by quarter hour

Working for Majka is Peter Sagan

not too big to lend a hand

The pack is 12 minutes behind 

It will be hard to make up this time 

Pete grabs sprint at Martigny

Takes 20 points easily

A do or die day for Quintana

Time gained on Froome would be manna

17 miles of climbing remain

For many lads a crying game

TJ cracks on the climb

It just might be Richie Porte time

Pantano and Majka duel on the downhill

But Col Emosson is test of will

Zakarin joins from Katush

The climb ahead an ugly truth

Balke Mollema hangs around

Hoping Froome will lose some ground

500 meters of pure hell

The Russian rider does quite well

Pantano comes a hardy two 

Majka three gets points galore

Porte opens a winning door 

Froome stays right behind

Quintana looses time

An uphill TT looms tomorrow 

Will it bring Nairo more sorrow?

Zakarin breaks Russia's drought 

Froome gains time and proves Sky's clout

Stage 16 Tour de France 2016 Mourans-en-Montagne—Berne

After an hour on the road

Etixx-Quickstep rules the load

Tony Martin and Alaphilippe

hold the lead the field to beat

Behind the duo four men chase

But Tony and Julian lead the race

The finish, Berne, is home to Spartacus

He wants to win to excite all of us

The sprinters see a hint of light

In Berne today there’ll be a fight

Tony is giving a master class

in going strong and going fast

Martin sets a searing pace

completely dominates the race

Dynamic duo Batman and Robin

fly with style and no head bobbin’

The four man chase is enveloped

The pack in back starts to develop

Katush is strong for Kristof

 Coquard would like to get off

Boss Hog fights for Dimension Data

Celebrating Nelson Mandella

The pace is hard not soft

Julian A fades before the climb

Now it's Tony Martin time

At 33 KM he's done

His merry escapade was fun

And served to soften up the pack

Many dropping off the back

Now the cobbles 

Coquard wobble

Sagan gets a squeaker win

If there's a superman it's him

Stage 15 Tour de France 2016 Bourgeois-en-Bresse -- Culoz

Lots of climbs

Lots of points

54 in fact

Rafael Majka

Wants the Dots off

De Ghent's back

Grand Columbier looms

A winning mountain for Froome?

Or will he lose to contender?

Ceding yellow to pretender ?

Dumoulin attacks

He's is form top

A Rio pick who's hard 

to stop

The break 8 minutes ahead

Rushes to put stage to bed

Vuillermoz and Majka accelerate

Froome and Team Sky get no break 

The climbers stimulated

Sprinters enervated 

Astana works hard for Aru

Alaphilippe attacks anew 

Majka gets his points

KOM his head anoints 

Alaphilippe refuses to quit

Astana giving Sky guys lip

Or at least they gave a try

IAM's Pantano the winning guy

Majka two for Tink

A hard won stage is what I think

Stage 13 Tour de France 2016 ITT

The decision was taken to proceed 

With the individual TT

The Tour goes on in manner subdued 

reflecting France's somber mood

As usual I will strive

to keep the positive alive

Adam Yates does well

also Dumoulin

Froome is zooming

51:18 

Dumoulin wins the stage

eclipsing Quintana

His win number two

no second banana

Froome came in next

doing his best

He gains time on all the rest

Dumoulin speaks of his "two faced"  feelings

Happy with his ride

but from Nice news still reeling

Froome says Nice puts things in perspective 

Grief unavoidable 

despair elective

Stage 12 Tour de France 2016 Montpellier -- Mont Ventoux

Whole Gale winds storm

Mt Ventoux

topping the Beaufort scale

The stage has been shortened 

as mistral gusts prevail

The summit just too dicey 

in the heavy gale

Mont Ventoux is still tough

The climbers will show their stuff

The finish shortened but intense

Crosswinds creating arguments

Etixx for Dan Martin

takes the front in force

The 12 man break minutes out

is a threat, of course

Simon Gerrans goes down

taking 3 Sky guys with him

I'm sure Sky hopes this won't disrupt 

their winning rhythm

Chalet Reynard beckons

The leaders go for seconds

Quintana goes 

showing his skills

De Ghent, and

Pauwels take the hills

Froome goes forward

Quintana can't follow

His climbing chops

a challenge hollow

De Ghent takes the stage!

KOM and points 50

Chaos ensues with Chris running up the hill

He's handed a bike but a bitter pill! 

Richie Porte rear ends a motobike

Chris loses Yates takes yellow

Froome must be a miserable fellow

The late change of venue

an excess of fans

too many motos 

unmade the best plans

A total delirious reversal of fortune

Chris rode divinely

heartbreak his portion 

Lowest common denominator of human behavior

Fan antics cause chaos

Who will be our savior?

As a student of the stars

This proves no one escapes the late Scorpio Mars 

Chris keeps yellow

A good call I think

A nightmare for racing

brought back from the brink

Stage 10 Tour de France 2016 Escaldes-Engirdany--Revel

A hardy break

Seems to dominate

At the half way mark

Sagan is there with 14 others

Temporary lead out brothers

The pace has been fast

The break quite elite

A sprinkling of raindrops fall at their feet

Seven minutes to the Group

which seems right now 

in the soup

Pete rides away for 20 points

Green Jersey Man the score anoints 

Orica has 3 in the front

Pete Sagan is in the hunt

The final climb is short and steep

Boss Hog goes

Pete on his heels

Impey goes

No one knows! 

Michael Mathews takes it

Well done Orica -- a real team win

Pete, Greg, et al

Nice pedalin'

Stage 9 Tour de France 2016 Vielha Val d'Aran --Andorra Arcalis

The morning finds Alberto

Totally out of get up and go

He tried to ride through his injuries

But his race was not to be 

He gave it his best shot

A complainer he is not

I read he's gonna sign with Trek

Go home and heal Al

what the heck! 

Today's stage in the Pyrenees 

Is not to be approached with ease

Searing temps

A hilly terrain

And Sky is pulling

the peloton train

Cav was clear he hates the heat

The Pyrenean days

an anti-treat

Cold Spray is used to cool him down

Technology keeps him around

Pete bags 20 points 

then chills

De Ghent advances on the hills

KOM dreams his head fills

Cote de Beixales does him in 

The Pyrenees spell suffering

The final climb looks harrowing 

The hopes of some are narrowing

It's all or nothing on this peak

Tom Dumoulin pedals in the rain

Hailstones add to the pain

Froome and Quintana accelerate  

Martin and Porte looking great

Tom Dumoulin takes it 

Fifty points in a deluge

An Alpecin giant this win is huge!!

Stage 8 Tour de France 2016 Pau—Bergeres de Luchon

A wonderful visit from fab friend Trey

kept me from watching Stage 8 today

I’ve read the reports, recaps, and reviews

And watched highlights on Cycling and Velo News

Clearly Chris Froome is the man of the hour

reveling in form, tactics, and power

He shows he’s just a big kid at heart

the Col de Peyresourde his from the start

His descent was anything but hesitant

He means what he says

 and his did what he meant

And “chapeau!” for punching 

the chicken fan

No feathered friend

but an also ran

I lay the blame on Monsieur Cluck Cluck

we love your excitement but—WTF**K???

Contador was turfed out

Quintana eclipsed

A great victory

for Team Sky’s Chris!!!

Stage 7 Tour de France 2016. L'Isle-Jourdain --Lac de Payolie

Tinkoff is not present

In a massive break

A fast beginning 

May lead to late heartbreak

First day in the mountains

Greg Van A part of escape

The Col d'Aspin tough to navigate

29 men in the front

Nibali starts to hump

Cancellara is there 

Looking ready to run

Sky and Movistar 

miss out on break fun

Chris Froome expressed satisfaction 

At early stage action

I'm sure Cav feels the same

Pete Sagan is not up front

But he's at top of his game

Four riders break from the break

Steve Cumming's there to agitate

Nibali is being his shark like self

Refusing to stay on the shelf

Cummings lunges 

Something to prove

Hunkering down

He's in the groove! 

Nibali moves like a

shark in the deep

The Col d'Aspin gets very steep

It's all about the descent

Steve C climbs with a vengeance 

Rio selectors -- here's what he meant

Impey, and Navarro speed down

As Greg takes KOM

But Steve Cummings

flies down the peak

At the end of the day

He could not be beat

Dimension Data has another win

All of Africa cheers for him 

The 1 K banner falls on the lads 

This stage has it all-- good and bad

Greg gains time

Not sure how much

It's clear he has the Yellow touch! 

Stage 6 Tour de France 2016 Arpajon-sur-Cere -- Montauban

A sprinter's day

last for a while

brings the fast dogs 

out to howl

Intermediate at Montbazens

is first test of 

sprinting men

2 lads up front

Barta and Arashiro

Japan's busy cycling hero

Coquard leaps -- my personal dark horse

Advantage Sagan;

It could have been worse

Team Tinkoff  flirts with total implode 

Can Sagan alone carry the load?

Even their bus is broken down

Will we miss Oleg 

when he's not around?

It's sunny, hot, and deeply green

A rainy Spring washed everything clean

Direct Energy steps up for Coquard

French lads willing to work hard

Cavendish does it times 3

A clear cut mega victory

Thousands of bikes for African youth

Mark enjoys his moment of truth

Love this surge at thirty plus---

Explosive power thrilling us

His fire far from extinguished

A fine career

A champ distinguished

His many hours on the track

Have made all others see his back

Family life seems to agree

He says he raced for new niece Darcy

Such sweetness coupled with great speed

More men like Mark is what we need

Oleg T trashes all Europeans

As business amateurs—

what is he thinkin’?

Stage 5 Tour de France -- Limoge to Le Lioran

Brian Coquard is feeling his oats

He takes the sprint

And raises French hopes

The big teams are slow to

act

Had Greg Van Avermaet

set a trap?

A lot of climbing remains ahead

Before the riders go to bed

Movistar pics up the tempo

Many riders cannot go

Thomas de Gendt and Greg Van A

Seem to be headed for jerseys today

Pete can't climb

He'll lose his shirt

Movistar continues to work

Greg attacks on melting tar

For de Gendt a mound too far

Sky steps up leading the pack

Greg is gone--he won't be back!!!

Greg descends for BMC

Yellow is his emphatically 

De Gendt is two

TJs still there, Froomie, too