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Hi, Rusty!
I have been talking to my daughter on her way home.
We have been making plans for Sunday.
Weather permitting (ie no thunderstorms) we are going to a Summer Festival in one of her local parks.
There are apparently various activities arranged for children, so the boys should enjoy it.
But before that, I think we have a full day of rain tomorrow!
I have been reading what you have been saying about the Tour.....
And the likely disadvantages to such as LouLou, who would have gained time on the descent.
Is there no allowance for such a contingency?
It hardly seems fair?

Hello, Elle!
We have rain here!
The Summer Festival sounds good!
I am just about to check to see what decisions have been made regarding today's stage.
If it is to say the stage ended at the summit of the Col d'Iseran, then that is sensible, because after the summit there was nowhere to take times.
There will be winners and losers, but that can't be helped.
LouLou was devastated when told to stop riding by the commissaires.
He was descending, eyeballs out, trying to take time back on young Bernal.
Not an ideal end to the stage, but quite understandable.
Time for an ice cream!

Hello, Elle!
Here is the moment LouLou gave his yellow jersey to a little boy to keep him warm!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/cycling/9588245/tour-de-france-alaphilippe-yellow-jersey/

Good evening, Rusty!
We have had heavy rain here, too!
The air is very gradually becoming a tad fresher.
Did you find out anything further about the decision to stop today's stage of the Tour?
I am not fully understanding it?
So what happens when they start again tomorrow?
How will it work out?
Did you enjoy your ice-cream?

Hello, Elle!
Posts crossed!
Yes, the air is fresher, I believe.
Right, this is what I take to have happened!
Because of the snow and hail etc the road towards the final climb of the day was blocked (there was also a landslide).
A decision was swiftly taken to halt the stage for safety reasons.
This was communicated to the riders.
They had just came over the mountain summit of the Col d'Iseran, and the commissaires decided that the summit was where today's stage ended.
So, Bernal was sufficiently ahead of Alaphilippe at that point, that he gained the yellow jersey.
They will all start tomorrow with the times they were given when they crested the Iseran.
It is by no means an ideal solution, but I think it is the best thing they could do.
Yes, loved the ice cream!

Update, Elle and Pigale!
The Tour Commissaires say that due the difficult weather conditions and landslides, tomorrows route will be changed.
No idea how it will change, they may have to see what the teams think.
Could be this Tour is still there to be won!

Update, Elle and Pigale!
The Tour route for tomorrows stage has been changed.
It has been shortened from 130 kms to 59 kms.
It is still starting at Albertville and ending at Val Thorens, but is missing out the climb over the Cormet de Roselend because of bad weather and landslides.

Hi, Rusty!
That was a lovely gesture by Alaphilippe, giving his yellow jersey to the small boy. The poor mite was shivering with the cold!
And he must have felt so proud to be wrapped up in the yellow jersey!
Yes, I am understanding the reasoning behind the decision to halt the race at that point, but it will be a disadvantage to those cyclists who are good at descending the mountain, will it not?
Such cyclists would have factored in that they could gain points/time/ on catching up on the "down" route?
I take it this just the "luck of the draw" so to speak......and nothing can be done about that?
Does tomorrow's change of route take today's change of circumstances into account?
Or is this "stage " now over with, regardless of the outcome?
Am I making any sense?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, it was very nice of LouLou, and yes, the little lad was shivering!
The problem of where to end today's stage was easily fixed at the summit of the Col d'Iseran because that was the only place on the route they had timing mechanisms.
They had little, or, no, choice.
Yes, the good descenders lost out, but there was a climb up to Tignes to come, too.
Not ideal, but what else could they do?
Today's stage is done and dusted.
There was no stage winner declared....not yet, anyway.
Tomorrow's changes are for the safety of the riders.
There is a bad weather forecast, and landslides on one mountain pass, which they are avoiding.
The stage finishes at Val Thorens, which is highest skiing resort in Europe, so let's hope the weather is not too bad.

Here's another clip of LouLou, Elle.
I don't think he takes President Macron very seriously!
The other rider is Thibaut Pinot, who looks like he can't wait to get away!
https://twitter.com/itvcycling/status/1152613935918571521