Time Trial Today, Tourmalet Tomorrow

OMG, what a wonderful stage yesterday, and once again we had a new stage winner at the end of the day. That's eleven unique stage winners in eleven days of racing - almost unheard of in the long history of Le Tour de France. Simon Yates (Michelton-Scott) won the stage, so serious congrats to him for this first day of steep climbs and exhausted bodies. 

Today is the individual time trial. The course is circular and
features rolling hills - in the middle of the Pyrenees, at
Pau - one of the more storied locations in those mountains. 

Yates' win hasn't changed the overall rankings, however. Julian Alaphillipe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) still is in the Yellow jersey - an outstanding run for this young French rider, and Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) is standing strong in second, his eye on the podium in Paris. His team member Egan Bernal stands in third. 

It's not easy to pack a lot of people onto the roads of the Pyrenees, but
this was one of the views from yesterday's stage. The riders
are on the right, heading upward, followed by the team cars, and
the road is almost obscured by fans and followers of Le Tour. 

Today may be a deal breaker - the individual time trial. Although a relatively short course - only 27 km in a circle from Pau to Pau, the cracks can become chasms of time with a bad ride today. The riders are tired after yesterday's efforts, but have to go all out today to maintain or to capitalize on their positions. It'll be a tough day in the Pyrenees. 

Here's the official blurb for today's stage. 

Thirty eight years ago, the first non-European leader of the Tour de France rode in a yellow skinsuit as it was a time trial from Nay to Pau on a similar distance as stage 13 in the race that celebrates the 100th year of the yellow jersey precisely on this day, July 19. Australia’s Phil Anderson lost it to Bernard Hinault by 13 seconds only. This time around it’s a Frenchman trying to resist to an English speaking cyclist. Julian Alaphilippe who has now eight yellow jerseys like his fellow countryman from Montluçon Roger Walkowiak [the 1956 Tour de France victor] has a margin of 1’12’’ over defending champion Geraint Thomas and he wants to climb the Tourmalet in the yellow jersey on Saturday as well. The 27.2km course around Pau isn’t a bad one for him. The hardest part is a climb at the exit of Pau at the very beginning. The côte d’Esquillot after half way is another section for the strong men to make a difference. Stage 13 had a natural favourite in the person of world champion Rohan Dennis and in the absence of Tom Dumoulin, Chris Froome and world record holder Victor Campenaerts, but the Australian unexpectedly pulled out in the middle of stage 12. Swiss champion Stefan Küng of Groupama-FDJ and British champion Alex Dowsett from Katusha-Alpecin are among the substitute candidates for the stage win.

Did you notice what I did in the above? Tomorrow's hint - the Tourmalet! Even my DH knows about the Tourmalet and he's already looking forward to Saturday's stage. Yeah - I have to admit. I also want to get through today so that we can finish on the top of Tourmalet tomorrow, but today's stage might be crucial, so I'll be paying attention (while working on some legal matters for the shop). The time trials may not be the showiest stages, but I remember crashes and falls that ruined chances for a final victory in the past. Weather and road conditions will be super important today. 

I'm off to the gym - my "personal time trial" won't be nearly as interesting. I'll return tomorrow with some maps and profiles of some totally awesome mountains. Have a great day and be kind - let's smother all of the hatred under a blanket of kindness.