Short stages are often the best. Within 30km of the start it was already apparent that three-quarters of the peloton would play no meaningful role whatsoever – not so much as the fetching of a water bottle.
It’s both a good day and a hard day when you easily recognise absolutely everyone involved at the business end of a race. The day’s break comprised Mikel Landa, whose efforts vaulted him up to fifth overall, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and the current King of the Mountains competition leader, Warren Barguil. The group that finished behind them was basically the whole of the rest of the top ten.
Barguil took the stage having been edged out by Rigoberto Uran a few days ago. The Frenchman’s riding so strongly, he probably wishes he’d gone for the general classification.
After the race, Barguil said his Bastille Day victory hadn’t sunk in. If that’s the case, he must have an unusually high average level of happiness, because he looked like this.
The others in that group gained a couple of minutes on Fabio Aru and the others. Landa is best placed, which in theory allows Team Sky to play some games with their rivals. In practice, Chris Froome seems disinclined to engage in games that might prove beneficial to his team-mate and not him…
Here’s a top ten graphic, from ITV4 today because theirs is clearer than the official one. Cheers ITV4.
Has ex-Newcastle United striker Faustino Asprilla tweeted a friend’s song about Rigoberto Uran?
It’s the question everyone’s asking – and the answer is yes.
It’s called GoRigoGo.
#GoRigoGo que verraco que sos parcero.@UranRigoberto pic.twitter.com/J51sryZ8QM
— Faustino Asprilla (@TinoasprillaH) July 13, 2017
Stage 14
A day for the break? Or will Michael Matthews have his eye on this as one of the stages where he can narrow the points gap to Marcel Kittel in the green jersey competition?
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