Stage 9 proved an explosive finale to the first block of racing at the Tour de France before the first rest day. As the Tour peloton takes a breather, the Recon Ride takes stock of where things stand in cycling's biggest stage race.
Related Articles
Recon Ride: Tour de France - Podcast
A long-awaited debut: Chaves gears up for the Tour de France - Podcast
Tour de France stage 3: Porte attacks, Froome moves up, Contador cautious & Sagan on top - Podcast
The fall and rise of Thomas Dekker - Podcast
Tour de France: Uran wins stage 9 in photo finish
Quintana: We lacked the energy we needed
Thomas devastated to depart Tour de France after crash
Simon Yates calls Aru's attack a 'dirty move' as he builds on white jersey lead
Majka's Tour de France in doubt after stage 9 crash
Tour de France: Gesink out with fractured vertebra
Geraint Thomas: It still hasn't really sunk in
Porte: I'm lucky to have come away from Tour de France crash with the injuries I have
Tour de France: Prudhomme hopes for Dauphine scenario in coming stages
Fabio Aru: 'We have to be pleased' with Tour de France so far
Bardet: I want to make the most of this situation
Tour de France: Sizing up the GC picture on the first rest day
Quintana: 'Not going through my best moment' but still hoping for 'brilliant' days at the Tour
Fuglsang with room for manoeuvre in the Tour de France GC battle
The abandonments of Alejandro Valverde and Mark Cavendish and the disqualification of Peter Sagan seem to have transpired ages ago in the wake of a crash-marred ninth stage. BMC's Richie Porte, who looked to be one of the chief rivals of Sky's Chris Froome in the battle for yellow, is no longer in the race. Neither is Froome's key lieutenant Geraint Thomas. Meanwhile, Astana's Fabio Aru again proved himself a dangerous challenger to Froome, and even provided prime polemica material, attacking Froome when the race leader was suffering from a mechanical.
Featuring interview audio with Orica-Scott's Simon Yates, Quick-Step's Dan Martin and Froome himself, the podcast addresses the current state of affairs at the Tour de France and looks ahead to the next block of six stages before second and final rest day.
To subscribe to the Cyclingnews podcast, click here.