Good Morgen meh hearties! Welcome to Sunday’s coverage of Stage 14! It should be an exciting day in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains as they journey from Limoux to Foix!
And since we are going through the foothills of the Pyronnes, the Wine of the Day is any Blanquette de Limoux or Cremant de Limoux you can find in stock! This is French sparkling wine and was invented in 1531!!!! The main grape is Mauzac, typically having an apple-peel flavor. Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc are often used here as well. Sieur d’Arques is the largest winery in Limoux and is one of the brands most likely to be stocked in the States. So Party On meh hearties trams!!!!!! Wheeeees!
Today’s coverage begins at 68 miles out and the sound suddenly cut out. Oh there it goes! I wonder if the wind here is having some effect on Comcast. The peloton is over 12 minutes behind in Mercus-Garrabet. This is a beautiful, green, wooded area. I wonder if the steam train will show up here.
We are approaching the sprint at Tarasco-sur-Ariege with six riders in the lead. Peter Sagen was in the lead group, so of course he won, being the strong sprinter that he is!
Wow, epic stone bridges dating back to the Roman days!
They are starting their hill climb now in a relatively slow manner, outside of Port de Lers. LOL! Someone had a wooden sign that said “Vive le Tour” and a wooden guy on a wooden bicycle, and his wooden legs are actually pedaling the cycle! Very clever!
They continue up their steady climb through the lush woods and past the many Norsk spectators as the peloton continues on towards the top of the hill climb.
Oh noes, it’s raining here! One of the Europecar riders hit a couple bumps on this narrow primitive road and his chain jumped off the gears. He was able to get a new bike quickly.
The descent looks really treacherous as the leaders continue on, down the single lane primative road, around the sharp mountain turns, with lots of rain on the camera lens.
Oh noes, one of the leaders has all ready made his way to the second hill climb as the peloton starts their descent. The road is made of the chip seal due to the large variations in temperature in the summer months, and other types of road surfaces don’t hold up as well in those conditions. This rough road surface makes riding more difficult.
Much of this area is pure mountains and woods with no towns or buildings. Oh, there went one small house and then an isolated barn a bit further down the road.
Oh noes, they have made their way to a very steep area with large trees and no visible towns here, a couple miles outside of Mur de Peguere. The peloton is 15 minutes behind the leaders, and I hope the leaders aren’t going out too fast!
LOL! The Clean Bottle character cracks me up and the way that, every year, there he is, bobbing along as he runs uphill and looking all top-heavy, as if he is ready to take a Clean Bottle faceplant!
One spectator has a fake tiger skin draped over him as he cheers on the riders. The guy next to him goes wild as he claps and runs uphill like crazy – LOL!
Team Lotto has taken over the lead in the peloton with the leaders 16 minutes ahead now. Looks foggy and misty here, further up in the Pyrenees.
Cadel “Cuddle” Evans is attacking up the hill on the peloton. 18% gradient here! Five leaders on the way down as the peloton stretches out ad splits up. The road towards the top of the hill is very narrow and will make it difficult to move ahead, so Cadel made his move early tram!
Sandy Casar is in the lead now as he flies downhill and the wind picks up. Yes indeed, the peloton is going over a section of road that is about the width of walking path at about 19 miles away from the finish in Mur de Peguire.
Peter Sagan was able to shave off a corner and overtake Casar! Peter Sagan and his protective cup tram! Wheeees!
Ohhhs, epic castle ruins on top of a huge plateau with a view of the farmland below! Beautiful!
Oh noes, 3 members of Team BMC needed new tires as they lost over a minute there! Oh noes, he had to stop AGAIN and get a new rear tire, this time, losing another 30 seconds or so.
Peter Sagan keeps flying ahead as the peloton tries to reorganize itself.
Did someone throw nails on the course with the many, many flat tires that happened all in the same short segment of pavement, taking out some of the top riders? I hope not!
Wiggo gets a new bike around Mouragues and gave up his lead. He had a flat rear tire, but getting a new bike is faster.
There are only a seven miles to go as Peter Sagen in the lead.
Cadel “Cuddle” Evans stopped for a third time with yet another tire. Someone else had a flat too at about the same time! What a nightmare on the Tour today!!!
Foix is an epic, ancient city with narrow streets and sharp corners, as the cyclists pick up the pace towards the finish.
One of the BMC riders nearly rode right into another rider in a roundabout. “That was a ‘tose one, Buckwheat!” “No doubt, Alfalfa!”
Someone tossed their water bottle like week-old garbage – LOL! He wants candy!
Cool diorama with farmers in traditional outfits and cows and some hay!
Just a couple miles to go now, and there goes another water bottle! The peloton is wayyyyy back there now!!!
Oh noes, over 30 nails were found on the road! Awful! Cadel “Cuddle” Evans is pedaling his ass off after three flat tires!!!
With one kilometer to go, Luis Sachez is in the lead! He’s cheering himself to the finish! The crowd goes wild! Huge smile as he crosses the line! He looks really relieved as he gets beyond the finish!
The real competition came in for second place and beyond at the finish, with Sagen and Sanchez rounding out the top three today.
Wiggo retains his Yellow Jersey and is Bulge of the Day Winner! Yays! Nice show to our left tram!!!
Oh mys, Luis Sanchez has some serious varicose veins as he takes his turn on the podium!!!
Today’s stage was a bit too exciting for me! Whews! Best of luck to all the riders on tomorrow’s stage as they continue through the Pyrenees towards Spain! Should be beautiful!
Thank you for joining me here on yet another day of the Tour de France as we have made our way from Belgium to Spain! Have fun and join me for the remainder of the Tour!