Welcome back to Stage 17 of the Tour de Underpants! Today’s epic mountain journey begins in Bagneres de Lunchon and winds around the Pyrenees Mountains to finish uphill at Peyragudes! Wheees!!!!
Before we get started with our coverage, Frank Schleck claims that he was poisoned and that he never took the diuretic that he tested positive for! Wow! It does seem possible after someone threw dozens of nails on the course the other day! Oh mys!
And because today’s stage is one of the more difficult ones on the Tour, the Wine of the Day needs to be something big and hearty, a full-bodied red that will help the riders kick some major butt through the hills! And for that, we have a 2009 Chateau Haut-Beausejour, Saint Estephe, from Bordeaux, about $50 in Washington State. Lush, concentrated flavors of berry and cherry on the nose, with rich layers of berry, cassis, vanilla, cedar, and more throughout. Strong finish without being over the top!
Also excellent for a big day on the Tour at a much more affordable price is the Lafite Rothschild Special Reserve Red Bordeaux in any vintage you can find. Full-bodied, rich, with layers of mature blackberry, cedar, vanilla, with a nice acidity and tannic finish without being overbearing or overdrying. This is an amazing wine for the price and tastes much more expensive than it is! Easily holds it own against a $50 bottle of wine!
Both of these selections are excellent with fi’s boeuf bourgignon, as shown below. Nomnomnomnom!
Our Tour coverage for the day begins with Thomas Voekler in the lead near the top of the hill climb at Col de Menté. Fredrick Kessiekoff fights hard but is not able to surpass Voekler. Voekler looks relieved with that hill climb victory! Then he stuffs a wind barrier under his jersey to help him stay warm on the descent with the very low clouds here.
Oh noes, it is extremely cloudy here in the Pyrenees National Park and the visibility is super-low, making conditions very dangerous, cold, and slick as moisture settles on the road. That is odd, there is abundant sun above the cloud layer! LOL!
The peloton has spread out on the descent at 67 miles to go as the clouds have lifted as they pass a few homes in Couledoux.
Seven riders broke away for the lead as they continue on through the national park. Looks like a great area to camp with the tall trees and epic mountain views, outside of Sengouagnet!
Suddenly, Voekler came from behind and jutted ahead with a sprint! Wow! Kessiekoff was not expecting that, nor was anyone else! Voekler wants it badly today!!!!! And he wins! Nicely done! That puts him ahead of that group as well.
The peloton is about a minute and half behind the lead group, with more of the same as they continue on over the top of Col des Ares.
Oh noes! Mark Cavendish crashed with Ritchie Porte around the food station at the small town of Aveux! They crashed while passing the food bag. Ritchie is still standing there as the peloton moved on, but everyone seems to be OK.
Ohhh, epic old castle ruins here as the riders head on towards the last hill climb at Port de Balès. Awwws, nice sign by some spectators! Have a nice day to you toos!
The road is getting steeper as the peloton stretches down the hill and some riders struggle uphill. They are heading back into the clouds here.
The leaders are crossing a narrow, single lane road here, high above the cloudy, narrow valley below. Aaaannnnnddd, Voekler keeps his polka dot jersey with his win of this hill climb! Yay!
Riders need to slow down to maneuver through the rapid, sharp turns down the mountain. They fly by some very old farms in the valley and some cool old homes.
Oh noes! One of the riders was going wayyyy to fast and he missed the corner! He ended up turning the wrong way and turning back around to go the correct way – LOL!
Now the leaders are starting their hill climb towards the finish, with just ten miles to go!
Cool ancient town at Caseaux-de-Larboust!
Allejander Valverdo is in the lead as Voekler runs out of gas and falls back. One of the riders is bleeding on his handlebars as he rides down the road! A newspaper was stuck in his spokes and he cut himself trying to extract it. Ouchies!
Garin is a cool town with lots of spectators toos as the riders continue to pump uphill. Oh noes, Kloden got a flat tire with just a few miles left!
Lots of caravans here as the cyclists kick up the intensity here and Valverdo keeps his lead with the peloton two and half minutes behind.
The Blue Angels are flying over my house now as the riders head toward the finish!
Cadel “Cuddle” Evans is struggling to keep up with chase group with about five miles to go. Go Cadel Go!
They continue on uphill with increasing vigor. Now it’s really steep here and the crowd is leaning in to cheer them on! Oh good, barriers are keeping the crowd off the course here! Yays! A couple of guys almost got ran over further back!
Oh check out the nude guy and Egoi Martinez’s reaction to the nude guy!!!!! LOL! Classic Moments on the Tour de Underpants for sures!!! Yays!!!! LOL!!!
They are really huffing and puffing as they pedal uphill for all they are worth! I can smell the jet fuel from here! Oh wait, that’s the Blue Angels!!!
LOL! There is a guy with an Edvard Munich mask on and running along with the peloton!
Zoom Zoom Zoom on around past the very old ski resort at Peyregudes! And Valverder keeps his lead and goes for the win! Up and around the corner and over the finish line! Nice cheer and nicely done! Wheeees!
Wow, epic views from the Peyregudes Ski Area! Amazing! Valverder is really happy to have won!
Teejay Van Gardener received a Yeti with his flowers and White Jersey.
And Bradley Wiggins wins the Bulge of the Day Award as he keeps his Yellow Jersey! He was off-center to the viewer’s right! Nice junk, Wiggo! Yays!!!!
These guys are fond of Wiggo also! LOL!
Ok, that’s a wrap on today’s invigorating stage! Thank you for continuing to follow the Tour via the Drunken Gaming Corner! Wheeees!