CYCLING Live

Tour de France - *Nīmes - Digne-les-Bains

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  1. - - Things get serious tomorrow as the Tour heads up a very tall mountain indeed. The riders must negotiate the massive 2744m Col Agnel Hors Categorie climb which takes them into Italie. It will sort the men from the boys, and it is LIVE from 11.45am UK time on Sunday morning. Thanks for all your contributions, we'll see you tomorrow.

  2. - - Freire wins from Duque, Zabel, Dean, De Jongh, Ballan, Perez and Pineau. The Rabobank man strengthens his position in the green jersey. Cadel Evans stays in yellow after an(other) uneventful ride. Cavendish comes in three minutes down.

  3. WIN!! - Romain Faillu has a go from several hundred metres but gets swallowed up, then Erik Zabel has a go.. BUT HERE COMES OSCAR FREIRE!! The green jersey finally has a stage win!

  4. 1km - Mark Cavendish is nowhere - he will not win today. One kilometre to go... Freire and Zabel in there...

  5. 2km - Two kilometres to go and Chavanel's dash for glory is over. Columbia are in control of the peloton at the moment.

  6. 3km - This is an impressive break from Chavanel although it would be amazing if he made it stick. He's got about 10 seconds.

  7. 5km - Right, here goes Sylvain Chavanel for Cofidis. He is leaning right over the front of his handlbars. Careful, young man.

  8. 7km - Now a Euskaltel rider has a go - looks like Samuel Sanchez. It's getting very intersting. Shut down by Kreuziger of Liquigas.

  9. 8km - A little mini-group forms at the front and there are some big hitters in there - notably Cadel Evans, Aljandro Valverde and Oscar Pereiro. Mark Cavendish is pretty much last.

  10. 10km - Ten kilometres to go and it's chaos on the wide road leading up to the Alps. The teams have been scattered all over the place by an injection of pace and successive riders are launching unsuccessful breaks. Liquigas hit the front again - looking to set up Vincenzo Nibali.

  11. 11km - French darling Thomas Voeckler loves a breakaway and has a crack as the peloton swallows Gutierrez. Now Lampre's Tiralongo takes up the challenge.

  12. 15km - The rather lovely town of Mezel and its terracotta roofs signal the 15km to go mark. Gutierrez's challenge is running out of steam. He is just 21 seconds clear and is literally in the peloton's sights.

  13. 18km - Richard McClary from the gloriously-named town of Champaign in Illinois: "It seems a week ago, Ricco said he'd be the next Pantani. Well, there there you go!" Well he's still alive. Although if he meets Bram Tankink and Robert Hunter in a dark alley that could change.

  14. 21km - Gutierrez is toiling away up front but his lead is under a minute - surely not enough? They are approaching Estoublon, where the gradient starts to ratchet up towards Col de l'Orme.

  15. 23km - Benjamin Loberant on Barloworld: "I love cycling, and was an international cyclist during the Festina saga in the 90's, but sadly enough... its probably for the best that Barloworld are going all the way by leaving the sport - It may light some mega red-lights in other teams and get more activity in self testing going on."

  16. 25km - The Caisse d'Epargne man Gutierrez is a good time triallist and has put over a minute between himself and the rest of the escapees. But he is still 25km from home - this will have to be a hell of an effort.

  17. 28km - Gutierrez attacks! He leaves the others for dead, before eventually Tankink and Casar give chase. Bonnet is dropping back to the peloton.

  18. 31km - Bonnet, Tankink, Gutierrez and Casar are still just over a minute clear. But the peloton will swallow them up. Milram, Liquigas and Bouygues continue to push the pace along.

  19. 35km - Here's a nice stat, courtesy of our colleagues in Paris. Le Tour has gone to Digne-les-Bains 11 times, and 10 times the stage has been won by a Frenchman. The only etranger to triumph? Eddy Merckx in 1969. Bit of a damp squib this one, unfortunately.

  20. 37km - The break is whittled down to just a minute as the riders pass a giant, yellow field. I'm no farmer, but I'd fancy that is wheat.

  21. 40km - Phil from Nebraska on the Ricco affair: "I'm sure you've gone over this a few times, but I think some ---hole told Ricco that he wasn't going to get caught with the EPO. He's a 24 year-old, impressionable dude. Someone from the team or his 'inner circle' had to have administered it to him. Obviously his will power is in question, but is he soley to blame? Also, how hard is it to trace where this stuff is manufactured and purchased? Unlike Landis, I hope this guy gets another crack at it. Aside from his cockiness, he's good to have in the peleton."

  22. 42km - Mathias Thoresen posits an alternative theory on Barloworld: "They make farm equipment." Well, as of next weekend we won't have to worry about them because they'll be out of cycling.

  23. 45km - According to their official website: "Barloworld is an industrial brand management company that achieves durability in business through long-term value creation." Er, what? As Nigel Pye points out, they can't be very good if nobody has heard of them...

  24. 48km - That news rather begs the question: Who are Barloworld (the company, not the team)? What do they do? Any answers to achick@eurosport.com, or else I'll google it.

  25. 49km - A little news flash for you, courtesy of the Reuters news wire: 'Barloworld will end their cycling team sponsorship after the Tour de France following the positive dope test of one of their riders. "Barloworld today announced that after serious consideration and in accordance with their policy towards doping that they will be withdrawing their cycling sponsorship following the Tour de France 2008," Barloworld said in a statement.'

  26. 53km - Janneke Blaauboer writes: "Thanks for the report, its a nice addition to watching. I'm in Ireland, but from the Netherlands, so hoping Tankink will stay ahead! I liked the comment of O'Grady about Ricco, saying that he should never come back. He suggested Ricco should take up a career in cherry picking. What is actually wrong with Felix?" Don't worry about Felix, he's fine. I think his absence owes something to do with his having a social life. Either that or too much EPO in his cornflakes this morning.

  27. 55km - Bouygues Telecom are at the front of the peloton along with Liquigas. The gap is now two and a half minutes. The Eurosport TV team reckon the breakaway are not giving it 100 percent, which rather defeats the object, doesn't it?

  28. 58km - Even Eurosport's David Harmon says there is "nothing happening". And here was me thinking I was missing something. They have are going through a valley with woods on either side, if that helps.

  29. 62km - You got somethin' to say? Well, do ya? Say it to achick@eurosport.com.

  30. 64km - Eurosport's stat man Carlton Kirby says each of the last five men who took the green jersey into the final set of mountainous stages finished the race in green. Which bodes well for Oscar Freire.

  31. 67km - Hello to Paul Buswell in Perth, who spoils his praise by unveiling plans to watch the finale on telly later, rather than sticking with the vastly superior text comment format.

  32. 74km - The riders take evasive action after some helpful spectator chucks a large plastic bottle onto the road. Meanwhile the breakaway's gap has stabilised at three minutes, which is nowhere near enough.

  33. 82km - A much-appreciated spell in the shade now, as the riders enter a section flanked by overhanging trees. They are heading gently uphill to Le Granons, which is followed by the first category four climb of the day up Cote de Mane. The breakaway is now just three minutes clear. Liquigas still at the front of the peloton.

  34. 87km - More content: Leadership of the break has been split very evenly. Each of the four riders has led for between 23 and 27 percent of the time.

  35. 90km - Benjamin Loberant asks: "Is it just me or is nothing what so ever happening in the race? I don't want to sound like an ass, but I am lacking a bit of content here :-)" Well, none of us wants to sound like an ass. If you must know, the break is being caught. They are just four minutes clear after a Liquigas-inspired spurt from the peloton. But there'll be plenty of time for content later on.

  36. 95km - Gary Momenee wants to know how to get live audio from Eurosport TV. It's here: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/audioplayer.html. Better still, you can get full video streaming online via the Eurosport Player. It's great, and well worth the few shillings you'll have to fork out. Get involved here: http://player.eurosport.co.uk/

  37. 98km - Jack Cobain asks: "Do you think Cavendish can make three stage wins in row? If it comes to a sprint he'll win but with Thor Hushovd planning to lose him do you think heĀ’ll let them go or will his team drag him along?" Most experts (well, David Duffield and Stephen Roche) reckonit could be a bit quick up the Col de l'Orme for Cavendish and Team Columbia will not want to expend the energy of dragging Cav up the hill. But we'll see.

  38. 100km - A hundred kilometres to go. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Send them to achick@eurosport.com although as a bit of a cycling novice I might not be too much use...

  39. 103km - We have TV pictures, which confirm it is a lovely day in the south of France. The breakaway is now six and a half minutes clear of the peloton. We are heading north-east to Digne-les-Bains, from where the assault on the Alps will begin in earnest.

  40. 105km - Thanks to Oscar Poiesz who provides the following information about Bram Tankink: "Hi this is Oscar from the Netherlands. I got some nice info about Tankink for you. When asked about the Ricco incident yesterday he said that he would smash him in the face if he met him and that if he were his teammate he would do the same thing. He also called him a brat. You probably don't speak Dutch but here is the link: http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/182681/abc2133b/bram_tankink._held_.html"

  41. 110km - Dominic Ellis provides us with a printable Mark Cavendish anagram: Maverick Hands. Shane O'Neill seems intent on flooding my inbox with obscene content. Nice poem, Shane.

  42. 115km - Speaking at the start of the stage, Thor Hushovd said he and Oscar Freire might push on the category four climb before the end on an attempt to lose Mark Cavendish.

  43. 120km - Time to get your knives and forks out. It is lunch time at Les Huguets. The riders take those massive carrier bags full of energy bars and isotonic drinks.

  44. 125km - Now we have a break Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), William Bonnet (Crédit Agricole), Bram Tankink (Rabobank) and Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) have opened up a gap of around three-minutes over the group, although that margin seems stable.

  45. 130km - The original breakway never really came good and has been swallowed up, and now a second group of riders are having a go. But they are only 20 seconds clear so let's wait to see if this goes anywhere... Incidentally, Stijn Devolder was the mastermind behind the first break but the bunch were not willing to let him get away.

  46. 135km - I like the cut of John Woodall's jib: "When they find someone taking performance enhancing drugs that should add and extra 20 kg to their bike and make them carry on riding the alp stages." And put Deep Heat in their cycling shorts.

  47. 140km - To answer Joe Marshall's question, I think the problem is not that the bans are too short - it is that there are cheats who do not get caught. The authorities should concentrate on ensuring drug users do not slip through the net. If people think they can cheat and get away with it then they will do it - nobody sets out to get caught, so lengthening the bans won't make any difference.

  48. 145km - Joe Marshall again: "With the Chambers issue temporarily resolved, the so called expert retired athletes are claiming that the use of performance enhancing drugs has a life time effect although I have yet to see the documented truth on this. Do you feel it has any effect on todays cyclists and would you advocate a life time ban from all major cycling events for proven drugs cheats?"

  49. 150km - Tim Van Den Heuvel sounds Dutch, or possibly Belgian, so I for one respect his views on today's stage: "Cavendish is on fire, if it comes to a sprint he won't lose! But don't see a sprint happening, I predict an astarloza attack on the col de rorme, that will give him the stage win!"

  50. 155km - Thanks to Joe Marshall for his kind, if misguided words about our coverage: "As good if not better than watching it on the TV". I've forwarded your message to the TV guys in the hope of a shout out for your wife...

  51. 160km - Chris Marsh has a couple of guesses at the unprintable Mark Cavendish anagram. It's the second one, Chris. Incidentally, his first guess began 'Mark shaven'.

  52. 170km - Mick Furn asks: "With the tour being a non-UCI governed event, how do the riders win count towards UCI Points? At four wins to Mark Cavendish, those stage wins would net a lot of points for Team GB, as to representation at the World Road Championships." No idea, I'm afraid. Can anyone help? Send your comments to achick@eurosport.com.

  53. 175km - This stage was touted as the ideal platform for a successful breakaway so it is no surprise to see a group of riders go haring down the road. The main protagonists are Sandy Casar, Stijn Devolder, Marco Ramirez, Eduardo Gonzalo and Jose Ivan Gutierrez. They are around a minute clear.

  54. 180km - John Brennan of Montrose weighs in on the doping issue: "It seems that questions were being asked about the Saunier Duval performance on the Hautacam even before any dope test results came in - fair enough, but is there not a danger that any extraordinary performance will be questioned. Where does the speculation end and the recognition of great performances start!"

  55. 195km - At 12.15 CET - 11.15 UK time - the peloton are under way on the 195km trip to Digne-les-Bains. We'll have sporadic updates until about 1pm UK time when the stage goes LIVE on Eurosport TV. So, to fill the void, send your emails to achick@eurosport.com.

  56. - - Thanks to Shane O'Neill from Northern Ireland, who sends in an anagram of Mark Cavendish's name that definitely cannot be repeated. I liked it though.

  57. - - Speaking to Eurosport at the start in Nimes, Mark Cavendish says he has no intention of quitting the race to concentrate on the Olympic Games. Let's see if he's still as bullish once he gets to the Alps.

  58. - - The highlight of Eurosport's pre-stage interviews is an interview with Christian Vandevelde about how much fluid he takes on during a stage and how he, er, expels it. Apparently it's four litres per stage plus another couple at the end - and a few trips to the bushes.

  59. - - NO COMPETITION! See, this is what happens when you get dropped in at the deep end. Having not been handed the keys to the prize cabinet, we'll have to take a raincheck on competition time.

  60. - - Today's edition of Blazin' Saddles is hot off the press. Using the space-age method of cut-and-paste, you can use this link to access it: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19072008/58/tour-de-france-blazin-saddles-peloton-handbags.html

  61. - - Mark Cavendish forms the basis of today's first talking point, so get emailing. With four stage wins so far, just how good is he? Can he win any more? Is this achievement better than an Olympic gold? And should he try to finish the race even at the risk of hurting his chances in Beijing? Send your comments on Cavendish, or anything else really, to achick@eurosport.com. Just don't ask me any difficult questions.

  62. - - Due to unforeseen circumstances, our regular cycling ace Felix is indisposed today (too much EPO in his cornflakes, I reckon). My name is Alex, I know comparatively little about cycling. Apologies for that. I am, however, top of our office fantasy league thanks to my fortuitous selections of Kim Kirchen and Mark Cavendish. Although I really ought to transfer Ricco and Piepoli.

  63. - - Good morning and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Tour de France stage 14! We head to the Alpine foothills today with a 195km jaunt from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains. The depart fictif is at 11am UK time, with the stage proper starting at 11.25am.