Race starts in Yorkshire
Thousands of spectators line the streets in Yorkshire, England to watch the start of the race. 198 riders will participate in this year’s race. The Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, along with Prince Harry, attend. Kate and some of the lead riders cut the ribbon, signifying the start of the race. Yorkshire is hosting the first stage of the 101st Tour de France, and the cyclists will wind through many towns and villages along the 190km route. The race will go through the Yorkshire Dales to Harrogate on July 5, 2014, and then from York to Sheffield, through the Peak District, on July 6, 2014.
Cavendish: race could be over
Cavendish, a member of the Omega Pharma-QuickStep team, crashes 200 meters from the line. Cavendish admits that he was trying to find a gap in the crowd of racers when he was involved in the crash with rival rider, Simon Gerrans. Cavendish has an MRI taken of the injured area, and a decision will be made as to whether or not he will race on July 6, 2014:
I’m gutted about the crash today. It was my fault. I’ll personally apologise to Simon Gerrans as soon as I get the chance. In reality, I tried to find a gap that wasn’t really there. ‘I wanted to win today, I felt really strong and was in a great position to contest the sprint thanks to the unbelievable efforts of my team. Sorry to all the fans that came out to support – it was truly incredible.
Nibali wins second stage
Nibali of Italy wins the second stage of the race through the Yorkshire countryside and receives his first yellow jersey.
It was a fabulous day for me, I led a good action. It was difficult. There was a lot of headwind … I had the luck to attack at the right moment.
Cavendish out of race
As a result of the crash on the first day of the race, Cavendish dislocated his shoulder and is out of the race. In a Twitter post, his team, Omega Pharma-QuickStep (OPQS), confirms that the MRI scan shows torn ligaments and an AC-joint dislocation. Cavedish says:
Normally I bounce well but when I was on the floor I knew something was wrong. My shoulder was sticking out the way it shouldn’t. I had some optimism that it would just be swelling but this morning was worse. I’m gutted.
Kittel wins stage three
Marcel Kittel wins stage three of the race. The course for this stage, 96 miles long (155km), spanned from Cambridge to London, and 197 riders participated in this stage. The race now moves to France for stage four.
Kittel wins stage four
Kittel wins stage four of the race and becomes the first rider in close to 40 years to win three of the four stages. Kittel won by a wheel’s length barely beating Norway’s Alexander Kristoff. Kittel acknowledges the race is easier for him with Cavendish gone. Kittel says:
It’s never easy … (I was) lucky just enough at the finish line.
Lars Boom wins fifth stage
After defending champion, Chris Froome, crashes twice during stage five and takes himself out of the race, Boom wins. With just six kilometers remaining, Boom pulled out of the breakaway group. Fuglsang second came in second, and Vincenzo Nibali came in third. The course was difficult due to cobble stoned areas and rain.
Greipel wins stage six
The stage six course spans from Arras to Reims and is 121.167 miles (195 km) long. Due Kittel’s mechanical issues, German rider Andre Greipel was put in a good position and was able to pull ahead in the final mile and win the race.
Matteo Trentin wins stage seven
In a race that was too close to call, freeze frame photographs show Matteo edged out Peter Sagan to win stage seven. The course begins in Epernay and ends in Nancy and is 145.7 miles (234.5 km) long. Matteo says:
This win is for Cav and for the team. It’s beautiful because it came after six days of bad luck.
Kadri wins stage eight
Blel Kadri wins stage eight today, and he is the first Frenchman to win a stage in this year’s race. Alberto Cantador finishes two minutes behind Kadri to take second place. Stage eight starts in Tomblaine and finishes in Gérardmer La Mauselaine, and is just over 100 miles in length (161 km).
It’s an amazing feeling that I have right now. I’m delighted for myself and for the team as well. The main aim for the team was to win a stage — we’ve done that now — and to get the polka-dot jersey too, that’s important as well.
Tony Martin wins stage nine
The stage nine route spans from Gérardmer to Mulhouse, 105.6 miles (170 km). Martin (OPQS) wins the stage with a time of 4:09:34. Fabian Cancellara (Trek) came in second place just ahead of Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).
Vincenzo Nibali wins stage 10
After his biggest rival, Alberto Contador, crashes and leaves the race, Nibali wins with a time of 4:27:26. The course starts in Mulhouse and finishes in La Planche des Belles Filles, and is 100.351 miles (161 km). With this win, Nibali regains the overall lead from France’s Tony Gallopin.
Tony Gallopin wins stage eleven
After a rest day for the race, Gallopin wins stage eleven. His time is 4:25:45 on the course that began in Besançon and ended in Oyonnax, a distance of 116.196 miles (187 km). The second place goes to John Degenkolb from Giant-Shimano team, and Matteo Trentin from Omega-Pharma team takes third place.
Alexander Kristoff wins stage 12
Kristoff, a member of the Katusha team, wins stage 12, on a course that is 115.5 miles (185.5 km) long from Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint-Etienne in southeast France. He overcomes a pair of breakaway riders with just 7 kilometers remaining to the finish line.
Vincenzo Nibali wins stage 13
0 CommentsNibali claims his third stage win of this year’s Tour de France with his win in stage 13. At 122.721 miles (197.5 km) long, stage 13’s course begins in Saint-Etienne and ends in Chamrousse. He will now go into stage 14 with a 3-minute, 39 second lead over Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde, who’s second in the standings. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) comes in second in the stage, and Leopold Konig (Netapp Endura) comes in third.
Majka wins stage 14
Poland’s Majka wins stage 14 with a time of 5:08:28. Majka is a member of the Tinkoff-Saxo team, and this is their first stage win in the race. Vicenzo Nibalo came in second, and Jean-Christopher Peraud takes the third place spot. The course starts in Grenoble and ends in Risoul, a distance of 109.983 miles (177 km).
Alexander Kristoff win stage 15
0 CommentsAlexander Kristoff of the Katusha team takes first place in stage 15 of the race, the second longest course in the race, with a time of 4:56:43. The course begins in Tallard and ends in Nimes, 138 miles (222 km) later. Heinrich Haussler takes the second spot, and Peter Sagan finishes in third place. The Tour de France takes a rest day after today’s stage to allow the riders to rest before moving to stage 16.
Michael Rogers wins stage 16
Rogers (Tink0ff-Saxo) of Australia wins stage 16 in his tenth Tour de France race. The course spans 147.576 miles (237.5 km) from Carcassonen to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Thomas Voeckler and Vaasil Kiryienka take the second and third spots respectively. Rogers says:
Every cyclist’s dream is to win a stage at the Tour de France. I can’t describe the joy I felt in the last 500 metres … I hope I don’t have to wait another 10 years to experience it again.
Rafal Majka wins stage 17
Majka (TinkOff-Saxo), the wearer of the polka dot jersey, wins stage 17. Giovanni Visconti came in second place, and Vincenzo Nibali finishes third. The stage course is 77 miles (124.5 km) in length, from Saint-Gaudens to Saint to Lary Pla d’Adet.
Vincenzo Nibali wins stage 18
Italy’s Nibali (Astana) wins stage 18 of the race with a time of 04:04:17. The route runs from Pau to Hautacam and is 89.8 miles (144.5 km). Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) comes in second and Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) takes the third place spot.