Stage 10: Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles, 161.5km. Mountains.
Last week it was Froome, this week, Contador. Two of the three men we had hoped to see go head-to-head into the high mountains in the battle to win this Tour de France are out before we've even reached the first rest day. The race now is Nibali's to lose, especially after his victory today moved him 2 minutes 23 seconds clear on the general classification, a victory so impressive that even had Froome and Contador been present it might still have went his way.
Today was to be the first proper test between Nibali and Contador with seven climbs including a summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles. It's where Chris Froome won two years ago as Bradley Wiggins set up his first Tour de France victory and was once more being looked upon again as the climb from which someone would stake their claim as the man to beat the rest of the way. Either Contador would take back more time on Nibali, or the Italian would stamp his authority on the Tour.
It proved to be the later, but nobody thought it would come without Contador there at his side.
Back in the race when we were wondering how both their legs might react to the others attacks, Michal Kwiatkowski, one of the most talented young riders in the sport, managed to get into an early break that also contained King of the Mountains contenders, Thomas Voeckler and Joaqium Rodriguez, as well as his team-mate, yesterday's stage winner, and current wearer of the polka-dot jersey but now working for Kwiatkowski, Tony Martin, among others.
The group gained over four minutes at one stage, putting Kwiatkowski into the virtual yellow jersey on the road. Martin turned himself inside out for Kwiatkowski, trying to maintain a gap that the Pole could work with once it came time to go it alone. Their effort was being pushed a long way out from the finish and right when it might have been time for Nibali to panic, he did the opposite and let his team control the steady chase as word came through that Contador had crashed.
The accident that at first was rumoured to have been caused by Contador's frame breaking, though that was later ruled out, but left the Spaniard more than two minutes behind the peloton. That deficit soon became three minutes and despite the efforts of his Tinkoff-Saxo team-mates, it was soon out to four minutes. It was obvious that Contador was hurt. It was confirmed moments later when he climbed off and later reported as a fractured tibia. The fact he tried to ride on for 25km speaks volume to his toughness and commitment to win this race.
Nobody wants to see a contender lose out in that fashion but what would have been seen as Contador's opportunity when Froome crashed out last week will now be seen as Nibali's chance with Contador gone, or at least a little pressure off his shoulders. Crashing is part of racing; it happens to many riders throughout the Tour, it's just that when it happens to two big favorites does it seem so shocking.
Though lets not take anything away from Nibali. His stage two victory put him in yellow, his epic stage five ride put him in control and he came into this stage 2 minutes, 34 seconds ahead of Contador. Who knows how Froome might have went had he been healthy on stage five and had not crashed out, but one has to think he too would have been on the wrong end of Nibali's punishment. As a result Nibali had the control despite Gallopin taking the yellow jersey yesterday. Had Froome and Contador been active to the end today, they both would have been attacking to regain lost time, however the way Nibali is climbing right now, it's hard to see where they'd have gotten it back. Should Nibali continue in this form then there can be absolutely no questioning his position as race leader just because his two biggest rivals are now gone.
With his roll now as the man now to beat in this race cemented, Nibali went about hunting down the man trying to wrestle that control away from him: Kwiatkowski.
Tony Martin continued to ride for Kwiatkowski and on the penultimate climb when he could do no more, he pulled to the side and came to a virtual stand-still. It was all he could do not to stop and you feared that if he did, he may not get going again. To highlight the effort, Martin left Kwiatkowski with a 2 minutes, 17 second lead over Nibali and with 20.5km to go but by the end of the day Martin would crawl in 16 minutes, 7 seconds behind the Italian.
So no pressure then Kwiatkowski! He had Rodriguez left to ride with him but the Spaniard, who is clearly going for stage wins and now the King of the Mountains competition having crested five of the first six climbs in first, took off and left the Pole. Kwiatkowski did bridge on the descent down to the foot of the final climb, but once again Rodriguez left him when the road turned up.
Kwiatkowski had clearly gone beyond himself too early and now Nibali -- The Shark as he is known -- could smell blood. He kicked clear of what was left of the peloton and rode alone, blitzing past Kwiatkowski, his dream of yellow that he held virtually on the road at one stage, obliterated. Only Rodriguez remained and when Nibali came up upon him the difference in speed was obvious. Rodriguez tried for a time to stay on his wheel but The Shark was devouring the field by now and had his eyes on a second stage win.
The turn for the finish and the steepest part of the climb and Nibali danced up and over the line. Another win, another superb performance, and back in yellow once more; confirmed when the yellow jersey of Tony Gallopin came in 4 minutes, 46 behind, his Bastille Day in yellow over.
Still it was a fantastic day for the French for they had three in the top five and now have four in the top ten overall. Richie Porte -- Froome's replacement as Sky leader -- sits second, 2 minutes, 23 seconds down on Nibali with Valverde a further 24 seconds back, but those Frenchmen are looming and this may be the best shot we could have of seeing a local rider on the podium in Paris since Richard Virenque in 1998. It's important not to let Nibali's dominance get them down for the way things are going, its no forgone conclusion that he, or anyone, will make Paris and should the door open you want to make sure you're standing ready to walk through.
I hope it doesn't come to that...not in the way Froome and Contador have left the race but there's a long way to go to Paris yet and you feel this crazy race still has a twist or two left.
Tomorrow they rest; they do deserve it.
Happy Bastille Day to the French.
Result:
1. Nibali (AST) in 4h 27'26"
2. Pinot (FDJ) +15"
3. Valverde (MOV) +20"
4. Péraud (ALM) s.t.
5. Bardet (ALM) +22"
6. Van Garderen (BMC) s.t.
Others:
7. Porte (SKY) +25"
13. Costa (LAM) +1'06"
17. Van Den Broeck (LTB) +1'16"
24. Kwiatkowski (OPQ) +2'13"
28. Rolland (EUC) +4'14"
33. Gallopin (LTB) +4'46"
48. Talansky (GAR) +10'12"
Overall:
1. Nibali (AST) in 42h 33'38"
2. Porte (SKY) +2'23"
3. Valverde (MOV) +2'47"
4. Bardet (ALM) +3'01"
5. Gallopin (LTB) +3'12"
6. Pinot (FDJ) +3'47"
