Tour de France 2008: Stage 14
January 1 - July 27, Nîmes, France, Road - GT
Welcome to stage 14 of this year's Tour, a 194.5 kilometre run from N
Today's stage is more likely to see a large break go clear, due to that profile.
There are two intermediate sprints en route to the finish, at Saint R
These are:
The skies are blue and clear today, with air temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius. It's a beautiful day for a bike race. 158 riders lined out with no non-starters.
Twenty kilometres into the stage, the gap was 1'05".
41km remaining from 194km
The leaders recently fought it out for the first intermediate sprint. Devolder got it ahead of Frischkorn and Eisel.
With the peloton gradually closing in, Gutierrez, Bonnet, Tankink and Casar scooted away from the break. The others were caught.
Apologies, to clarify: some of those who were in the break have gone back to the bunch. Right now, Oroz, Quinziato, Riblon, Haussler, Lelay, Sprick and Voeckler persist, as well as the four leaders.
50km remaining from 194km
The four leaders have a lead of 40 seconds.
Gregor Brown spoke to two from the Barloworld team at the start, namely manager Claudio Corti and Robert Hunter.
Barloworld has announced that it will withdraw its sponsorship from the team as a result of what happened at the race. Moises Due
Oroz is an unusual classics man for an Euskaltel rider. Cyclingnews checked out Oroz to see what drives the man to do all the monuments in cycling.
At the 50 kilometre point, the leaders - Casar, Gutierrez, Bonnet and Tankink - had a 15 seconds lead over the seven chasers, and a further 15 seconds over the peloton.
Correction: the seven chasers were joined by another group, not the peloton. However the main bunch soon got up to them. At Cavaillon, 56 kilometres after the start, the front quartet were approximately 25 seconds clear.
70km remaining from 194km
Once those chasers were recaptured, the peloton sat up. Gutierrez, Bonnet, Tankink and Casar have pulled clear again, and are now 3'35 ahead.
75km remaining from 194km
The peloton is 3'40 back.
Robert Hunter has been doing an online diary on his website, www.robbiehunter.net. He wasn't too happy earlier this week, and is likely to use even stronger words when he learns that the team sponsors are pulling out.
81km remaining from 194km
Current gap for the break: four minutes and ten seconds. They are in the feed zone.
The fans are getting more creative here in southern France. They have built a tractor out of straw bales.
As a reward for not checking out the country side, which is what the peloton currently doing, the gap has gone up to almost six minutes.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Campbell Stewart conscious, no broken bones after heavy Tour de Hongrie crash
Emil Liepins relegated for sparking crash that takes down multiple riders as stage 1 sprint was unfolding -
Michael Garrison 'fittest I've ever been' as he squares off against McNulty in US Pro ITT
Former U23 ITT national champion takes aim at elite title after Speed Week relegation leads to runner-up finish -
'There'll be a big battle for positions' – Ineos, Geraint Thomas take aim at Giro d'Italia gravel
Local coach Dario Cioni on the secrets of the trek over the strade bianche on stage 6
-
Gravel racing at the Giro d'Italia - Tension rises for decisive stage 6 to Rapolano Terme
May 9, 2024: Viareggio-Rapolano Terme, 180km - Three gravel sectors in the final 50km could cause crashes, splits and time gaps in the GC -
Larry Warbasse finds new motivation with GC Giro d’Italia work for Ben O’Connor
US teammate analyses how Australian contender will tackle three upcoming crunch stages -
'It's not Strade Bianche' – Tadej Pogačar downplays demands of Giro d'Italia's gravel stage
Maglia rosa insists safety is the priority on the rugged road to Rapolano Terme
-
'Just grateful I can still be a cyclist' - Michael Valgren back to his best in Giro d'Italia breakaway
Long road back from career-threatening injury sees Dane take second behind Benjamin Thomas in Lucca -
'The team were almost happier than me' - Benjamin Thomas secures Cofidis' first 2024 win at Giro d'Italia
Frenchman gunning for gold in Omnium this summer in Paris Olympics -
'The break was just incredibly fast' - Giro d'Italia sprinters miss out in Lucca as the breakaway steals the show
Milan laments lack of help from rivals teams as Groves suspects the race motorbikes helped the break