21 Days to Glory

ROUTE/ After cobblestones, mini climbs, windy stages, sprinters’ stages, serial short-but-steep climbs and a rest day came a stage with a knockout crazy-steep climb: the first ‘beyond categorisation’ challenge – the Col du Grand Colombier, aka the hardest climb in the Jura. The second of three climbs, it came shortly after the descent from the Côte de Corlier, unusual too in that it has 20km of undulating terrain at its highest point before the riders descend.

THE CHALLENGE/ Twofold. Overcoming the physical after-effects of a rest day and making best use of the Grand Colombier to attack. Team Sky were prepared: ‘We have trained for the mountains and we have trained to back up one big effort after another. That’s what we have to do now.’

HOW IT UNFOLDED/ By the 90km mark, a 25-strong leading group made their way up the Côte de Corlier with Team Sky at the fore of the peloton, 6 minutes 43 seconds behind the escape party. All eyes were on Nibali, the ‘incredible descender’, and currently fourth in the GC, just 2 minutes 23 seconds behind Wiggins. Would he put time into the yellow jersey holder?

True to expectation, Nibali attacked and gained momentum on the descent from Colombier. Evans tried to keep pace with him but dropped back. With 2km left on the descent, Nibali, with Sagan shadowing him, continued his attack. Team Sky confidently reeled him in during the final climb, the 7.2km Category-3 Col de Richemond.

‘We were prepared to lose the jersey if needs be to Michele Scarponi who was the best up there in the breakaway. It’s about wearing it in Paris, not for three weeks,’ commented Wiggins. ‘I was waiting for Nibali to play his joker card. Fortunately he went solo and we knew that he wouldn’t have the legs. It was a bit desperate really. You have to gamble a bit and let some people go, you can’t chase everything that moves. But we rode hard on the next climb to get it back and it all worked out.’

Thomas Voeckler, who wore the yellow jersey for 10 days last year, was part of a 25-man breakaway which was whittled down to five riders – Scarponi, Jens Voigt, Luis Leon Sanchez and Dries Devenyns – by the end of the stage.

Team Sky did everything perfectly, with Boasson Hagen and Porte setting a fierce pace at the front of the peloton to negate any potential attacks without having to use Froome. Wiggins still leads Evans by one minute and 53 seconds, with compatriot Froome third and Nibali staying in fourth place overall.

‘We talk over the phone when I am not with him and the team during the Tour but there is no need to say a lot. He is in control of all of his emotions and my belief is that he is untouchable at the moment.’

Team Sky’s Shane Sutton on Wiggins