It was an amazing tale of two riders, one that started out so fast and lost a bit of mojo near the end, and the other rider who started slow, made a few mistakes but got stronger in the end.
But the deficit was too much for Nairo Quintana, he couldn’t simply overhaul Chris Froome, and more importantly, his team SKY, in the 13.8km ascent of Alpe d’Huez.
What if Quintana hadn't lost time in the crosswinds? What if he could have hanged on at the Mur de Huy? What if he had attacked more in the past 4 stages?
As for Chris Froome, it’s not a ‘what if”, but a why. Why could he not handle Quintana when three weeks ago, he was toying with him like a cat toying with a mouse? More interestingly now, what will Froomes detractors who are insinuating that he is doping, say with his performance on the Alpe d’Huez? Will they now be looking at the physiologic numbers of Nairo?
Alberto Contador was a shell of his former self. This former multi-tour winner is just getting old and his rivals getting younger thats all.
As for Vincenzo Nibali, it was sweet, poetic justice for Chris Froome. The Italian, who attacked Froome when he had a mechanical the previous stage, found himself having a flat tire at the start of the climb of the Alpe. And the with the way the race was going on, there was no way he was going to have a chance to pump his fist and scream at the finish line. What goes around comes around.
If there was a hero for Froomes' second Tour, it was his teammates. During the first half of the race, it was Geraint Thomas. Thomas was so good that he found himself fourth overall before he broke down. Then there was Richie Porte, who had a bookend resurgence. And finally, there was Wout Poels in the final days. It was Porte’s and Poels shepherding of Froome that allowed Froome to limit his losses.
Froome will get his second title, but it was an uncomfortable title. But the route will be different next year. Some say that the route makes an exciting Tour but I say that the riders make the Tour exciting.
This years route favoured the climbers, next year, who knows, it might favour the time trialists. For sure, its going to be a great 2016 Tour de France.
Cebu Ironman 70.3
Cebu will be hosting the IM 70.3 next weekend, August 2. If you are living in the Lapu-lapu area, you know what to do to avoid the traffic. For those leaving Cebu via the Mactan International Airport, plan your trips well. I don’t want you caught between a rock and a hard place and miss your appointments. However, Cebuanos should understand that the IM is a money maker especially for the Tourism industry and auxiliary businesses. If mega cities like Paris can close the Champs-Élysées for a day, then we can do it. There will be a few jerks who’ll think otherwise, but I believe that majority of the Cebuanos easily look at the big picture here.
My former editor, Nimrod Quinones wrote a very nice blog about the economics of the IM here (http://www.fullpointcebu.com/the-economics-of-the-ironman-70-3/).