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’?