Pinot Dominates Col du Tourmalet!

Thibaut Pinot pulled ahead of fellow Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe in the final 250 m to win today's Stage 14 of the Tour de France.  Alaphilippe extended his general classification lead over Geraint Thomas to 02' 02".  Pinot moved from seventh to sixth overall, now 03' 12" behind Alaphilippe.  The French have to be thrilled with what's happening in this year's Tour de France.  Does Pinot look happy winning today's stage? (click on image for a larger view)

I always wonder how much of the scenery the cyclists take in.  They concentrate and focus on their riding, and they've ridden these routes before, but for someone like me, the top of Col du Tourmalet looks so amazing that I'd have trouble concentrating and focusing! (click on image for a larger view)

It was the 83rd time the Tour de France came to Col du Tourmalet.  I was watching in my office as some of the world's best cracked on the final climb.  The mountain split up the peloton and only the truly elite riders powered up for the top of stage standings.  Check out how our prediction fared.

• Stage 14:  3h 10' 20" (actual), 3h 19' 37" (prediction), 09' 17" slow (4.88% error)

I was hoping we could do just a tad bit better, but I'll take that error.  Twenty-six cyclists beat our predicted time today.  Climb strategies and cyclists' legs are unpredictable.  Check out Tim Wellens collecting 10 more points for his polka-dot jersey as he was the first atop Col du Soulor (click on image for a larger view).

Wellens did a great job pinning 2014 winner Vincenzo Nibali against the fans just before reaching the top.  I love watching the Shark on the descents.  Nibali kept the pace fast before reaching Col du Tourmalet, but fell back on the climb and finished 74th today.

At the end of the stage, fans were going crazy, crowding the riders (click on image for a larger view).

Pinot's average speed is given below.

• Stage 14:  10.29 m/s (37.04 kph or 23.02 mph)

That's impressive!

Tomorrow's Stage 15 begins in the commune of Limoux.  The 185-km (115-mi) mountain stage takes riders west into the Pyrenees. Top elevation will be the category-1 climb to the 1517-m (4977-ft) peak of Port de Lers.  That will be followed by a category-1 climb up Mur de Péguère.  The stage ends with a category-1 climb up Foix Prat d'Albis.  Tomorrow's stage is longer than today's, and it has more climbing.  Our prediction is given below.

• Stage 15:  5h 03' 05" (prediction)

It will be hard to beat today's action.  I hope tomorrow's stage delivers the goods!