Thomas Goes Back-to-Back After INCREDIBLE Finish!

I'm not rooting hard for any particular cyclist, but it was difficult not to root for Steven Kruijswijk today.  The Dutchman took a chance and broke off early.  He lead after that and tried so hard for the stage win.  With about 3.4 km (2.1 mi) left, Chris Froome caught Kruijswijk.  I was so inspired by Kruijswijk's effort that I was rooting for him to hold on, but he didn't have a strong team supporting him.  Team Sky is just too powerful.  Froome, who heard boos throughout the route, was part of a group of cyclists who battled Alpe d'Huez to the very top.  Froome was passed by home-country favorite Romain Bardet, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, and stage-winner Geraint Thomas of Wales.  Does Thomas look happy going back-to-back and taming Alpe d'Huez? (click on image for a larger view)

I'd say that looks like happiness!  Check out how our predication fared.

• Stage 12:  5h 18' 37" (actual), 5h 27' 15" (prediction), 08' 38' slow (2.71% error)

I'll definitely take an error under 3% with Alpe d'Huez!  I would need to up my model cyclist's power output by less than 1% to match today's winning time.  That's why slow cycling up steep climbs is hard to predict.  Check out Alpe d'Huez (click on image for a larger view).

Is that the most famous stretch of road in cycling?  I believe today's finish was the 30th Tour de France stage finish for the famous climb.  There is one problem with slow cycling up such steep climbs.  Fans -- not all, but some.  A few fans had flares ignited.  Look at Kruijswijk trying to get through the smoke (click on image for a larger view).

Check out the screen capture I got of some asshole punching Chris Froome (click on image for a larger view).

It doesn't matter what you think of Froome.  Punching a guy on a bike is a coward's move.  And of course we live in a world in which too many people are addicted to their damn cell phones.  Check out this idiot getting a selfie with Kruijswijk (click on image for a larger view).

He had been cycling for nearly five hours at that point and was trying to win the stage.  He didn't need that loser in his face.

Thomas won one of the most thrilling stages I've seen.  He averaged 33.05 kph (20.54 mph) and hit a top downhill speed of 97 kph (60 mph).  Whether it's that top speed or the ability to climb Alpe d'Huez after 4.5 hours in the saddle, I am in awe of elite cyclists.

Thomas maintains the yellow jersey with Froome 01' 39" behind.  Dumoulin sits in third at 01' 50" back.  Tour de France champ in 2014 Vincenzo Nibali is in fourth at 02' 37" back.  I wonder how much closer Nibali would be if a motorcycle hadn't bumped into him (click on image for a larger view).

Nibali was amazing afterwards.  He got up and managed to come in seventh, just 13" back.

Tomorrow's Stage 13 begins in the French commune of Le Bourg-d'Oisans and ends 169.5 km (105.3 mi) farther in Valence.  The stage is in the southeastern part of France, but racing is to the west as cyclists make their way toward the Pyrenees.  The flat stage has one category-3 climb early and then a short category-4 climb just past the halfway point.  Our prediction is given below.

• Stage 13:  3h 42' 28" (prediction)

I keeping wondering if Thomas wants to support Froome.  That yellow jersey must be tough to get rid of!