Category: TDF 2016
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Tour de France Revisited: 2016 – Stage4 Saumur to Limoges
Tour de France revisited, Stage 4, 2016, read more…
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 21 – Chantilly to Paris Champs-Élysées
Bonjour! Stage 21, the triumphal ride into Paris! The sun came out – a relief after the past two days and there was the usual friendly handshakes and congratulations to the Yellow Jersey. Team Sky were in good mood, enjoying beer en route and all processed gracefully to Paris. The racing began on the Champs-Élysées. […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 20 – Megève to Morzine-Avoriaz
Bonjour! Stage 20 The last Alpine stage and, nearly the end of the race! In some ways it was a continuation of yesterday – pouring rain, tough climbs and daring descents. The stage began with silence to remember the victims of the terror attack in Munich, so sadly, my dove appears again. There were brave rides by […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 19 – Albertville to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc
Bonjour! Stage 19 was an amazing stage. It had everything, from sunshine to torrential rain, from brave breakaways to individual brilliance. The Astana team went to the front, took a look around and just went for it! They led for much of the day. The rain came towards the end of the stage, changing everything, suddenly […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 18 – Sallanches to Megève
Bonjour! Stage 18 was the second time-trial of this year’s Tour. This one was an uphill course where time-trial specialist, Tom Dumoulin was expected to repeat his sparkling performance from Stage 13. He put in a great time which no-one could catch, until Chris Froome set out. At the first time-check he was in 5th […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 17 – Berne to Finhaut-Emosson
Bonjour! Stage 17 went further into the Alps – (an area where I confess I have a connection, as one of my paintings lives nearby!) It was another blistering hot day, with four major climbs, including the Col de la Forclaz, with its winding road and great descent. The final climb was tough too, the gradient so […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 16 – Moirans-en-Montagne to Berne
Bonjour! Stage 16 was a trip into Switzerland in honour of Fabian Cancellara for whom this will be his final Tour. The weather was fabulous and hot – perhaps a bit unbearable on a bike! The stage was lead most of the way by Tony Martin and Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step) in a such a strong […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 15 – Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz
Bonjour! Stage 15 saw the route heading towards the Alps – the mountains and Mont Blanc clearly in view. There were climbs and descents but the excitement came with the tactical race – almost time-trial-like to look at – between Rafal Majka and Colombian rider, Jarlinson Pantano. They needled their way to the finish with a […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 14 – Montélimar to Villars-les-Dombes Parc des Oiseaux
Bonjour! Stage 14 gave the sprinters another chance to shine after a long hot day’s riding. There were some classic Tour de France scenery, fields of bright sunflowers and deep blue skies. A great partnership between Jérémy Roy (FDJ) and Martin Elmiger (IAM) kept everyone on their toes and there was a lovely handshake between them […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 13 – Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc
Bonjour! Stage 13 began and ended in silence for the victims of the Nice attack. Race director, Christian Prudhomme announced, “We must continue and not to yield. The Tour will continue but it is a day of mourning”. The stage was an individual time-trial through the dramatic landscape of the Ardèche. The standout performance of […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 12 – Montpellier to Mont Ventoux (Chalet-Reynard)
Bonjour! Stage 12 is one that will live long in the memory for the worst possible reasons. The day began with a change of plan – the mountain too savaged by winds for the race to complete there. A new finish was decided upon at Chalet-Reynard. Crowds and media installed at the top, moved down to […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 11 – Carcassonne to Montpellier
Bonjour! Stage 11 was a hot, long route through red hills, violet skies and strong crosswinds but with a finish set for the sprinters. The expected win came from Green Jersey holder and World Champion, Peter Sagan. The complete surprise came from Chris Froome who sprinted alongside! Both men retained their jerseys and advanced their […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 10 – Escaldes-Engordany to Revel
Bonjour! Stage 10 became Australia Day with the first stage win this year for Michael Matthews. He lost out to Peter Sagan at the World Championships, so this victory was especially sweet, as the finishing positions were reversed in a great sprint to the line. I found that I kept reaching for the panorama paper […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 9 – Vielha Val d’Aran to Andorre Arcalis
Bonjour! Stage 9 was a magical stage – for me at least – maybe less so for those riding it! I’ve always loved the Pyrenees, love it when the Tour nips over the border to Spain and Andorra is a special place for my husband and me. This visit was exceptional – a stage of two halves […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 8 – Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bonjour! Stage 8 took place in the heart of the Pyrenees with four Cols to conquer! The Col du Tourmalet fell victim to Thibaut Pinot and Rafael Majka but thereafter, Team Sky launched their predatory attack on the race. They caught, they passed and then in a move, that looked to be inspired by Stephen Cummings yesterday, […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 7 – L’Isle-Jourdain to Lac de Payolle
Bonjour! Stage 7 was dramatic! This stage was the first of three mountain stages in the Pyrenees and included the Tour favourite, Col d’Aspin at the end of a long day of climbing. The weather and scenery were glorious but the story of the race was glorious too – for Stephen Cummings, who astounded fans […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 6 – Arpajon-sur-Cère to Montauban
Bonjour! Stage 6 saw the route leave the Massif Central and head down towards the Pyrenees. This was the last battle of the sprinters before the mountains and it turned out to be another classic battle between Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel. Before that, the course went through the most gorgeous terrain with the deepest […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 5 – Limoges to Le Lioran
Bonjour! Stage 5 began in Limoges and ended with another first-time wearer of the Yellow Jersey, Greg Van Avermaet. This time there was no doubt of the win, as Greg was way out in front as he came to the finish. He won his first stage last year in Rodez in a sprint with Peter Sagan (Click […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 4 – Saumur to Limoges
Bonjour! Stage 4 continued the theme of Stage 3, this was really the longest route of the Tour through luscious countryside and warm sunshine. The route was suited to the sprinters but held a twist at the end, with an unclassified climb. This suited the bigger riders and again we saw another remarkable sprint finish – even closer […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 3 – Granville to Angers
Bonjour! Stage 3 saw one of the longest routes on this year’s tour, heading inland through pretty towns and villages. The excitement came right at the end where the new holder of the Green Jersey, Mark Cavendish took his 28th stage win by a whisker from André Greipel – a photo had to decide it. Incredibly close! Here are […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 2 – Saint-Lô to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Bonjour! So onto Stage 2, in the drizzle, with Mark Cavendish in the Yellow Jersey – simply wonderful for many fans to see. However, he was not destined to keep it, with the stage win and the jersey going to popular World Champion, Peter Sagan. The remarkable sprint to the finish, saw him come apparently from […]
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Tour de France 2016: Stage 1 – Mont-Saint-Michel to Utah Beach Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
Bonjour! How wonderful to be back with Le Tour! Where did the year go? After a grim week in the UK, it was fantastic to lose oneself on the beautiful shoreline of Normandy. The stage was full of thrills, including a dramatic fall for Contador; a nip and tuck breakaway for Alex Howes and Anthony Delaplace […]
Maxine Dodd 