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Froome is in yellow, Pigale.
I think Pinot was about 20th. Not bad.
No sign of Voeckler?
He may have been caught up in the crash.
I noticed Cancellara finished on a different bike than the one he started on.
Cobbles and rain are a very bad mix!
Normally I would cheer Cancellara on a cobbled stage, but will he even start tomorrow?
May switch to cheering for Degenkolb or Filippo Pozzato.
So, several riders out, and still a long, long, way to Paris.

Hi again,

Browsing through my cyclist magasine, I have come across some very interesting figures as to what the Tour involves;

It means 3360km in toto
2645m the highest mountain (Galibier - not this year though)
223km the longuest stage (tomorrow)
198 cyclists and 22 teams

Pigale, the Galibier should have been climbed on the way to Alpe d'Huez but landslides have made it unsafe, so we are going over the Col de la Croix-de-Fer instead. Exchanging one brute for another!
Yes, a proper stage tomorrow!
One for the hard men of Le Tour!

Sorry, sent first part by mistake, so,

La Caravane du Tour is 20kms long, consisting of 180 decorated and animated vehicles (loudspeakers etc) ,
hosting the 600 people involved in the caravan. It takes about 45 minutes for the Caravan to pass by while distributing/throwing 15 millions presents/gadgets .

As far as security is concerned it means an average of

14 000 gendarmes along the edge of the road or on the
roads (to deal with security)

9 000 police people (to deal with offences)

Gendarme and Police change daily , they do not 'follow' the Tour but come from the various areas crossed by the route du Tour.

Now, to host the tour overnight, the town and its surroundings must have a fairly big accommodation potential, between the caravane, the riders and the teams managers, coach, physical trainers etc...

Added to that are all the journalists, cameramen, reporters etc...

Amazing no ?

Just for you, Pigale!

A French hero attacks.
Step forward, Thomas Voeckler!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHExdx5ol8
I am not convinced this shall work.

Yes, the organisation is very well done indeed, Pigale.
It has to be, for the honour of France!
Oh yes, there will be incidents along the route but nothing can affect Le Tour. It rolls on (except for a wee while today!) The Gendarmerie do an excellent job.
So do the motor bikes, helicopters etc bringing us pictures.
I am very biased, but I think it is a great occasion.
And compare it with other great sporting events, like Olympics, World Cup, The Open, Wimbledon etc.
For the spectators, all FREE!

Just heard Fabian is out of the Tour.
He has two broken vertebrae.
Yesterday was his 29th yellow jersey.
Well, that has certainly spoilt my evening!

http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/21683/9905373/tour-de-france-fabian-cancellara-out-of-race-with-broken-back

Thank you Rusty, it worked just fine.

What a performance, a great champion !

I still maintains he can easily put a clowny look on his face - he has got the right features for it, particularly the mouth.

I have not heard his name mentioned at all today, not even at the time of the big crash, so perhaps he was luciky and did not get involved in it and neither did Quintana as far as I know.

If he was caught inside this big peloton, it would have been nigh on impossible to make a break, especially on narrow roads.

Hello, Pigale,
Yes it was a nice clip.
Pity there were no close-ups of his face!
Thomas will wait for the mountains I think, then go on one of his mad, epic breaks!
Same for Quintana, he is just hoping to survive the first week. And then the mountains. He will be dreading the cobbles tomorrow.
Great shame for Cancellara.