Stage 20 Plat de Jour? Rosbif

Well it's all over folks. Congratulations to Braddles Wiggles the first Pom or Rosbif as they say in France, to win the Tour of France. Like him, love him or loath him, you have to admire the way he has ridden over the last 3 weeks, and the time he clocked last night proves why he was the favorite going into this Grand Tour. The fact that he has awesome big sideys & that he slowed the Peloton when Cadel had an attack of the tacks the other night means that we think he's ok - sort of.

We dearly hoped Cadel would go back to back this year, but to be honest, he never really looked in with much of a chance. Wiggins was always the one to beat right from the start, and he had a stellar team to help ensure that he got to Paris in yellow.

Tonight the peloton rolls into Paris from Rambouillet & there are a couple of little climbs worth one point each, the result of which won't make any difference to the Polka-dot Jeursey standings which little Tommy Voeckler has in the bag.

The young Gorilla Sagan has Green in the bag too, but like sprinters the world over we're sure there will be some hustle & bustle at the intermediate sprint and of course for the big finish on the Champs-Elysées where the Manx Missile, Sagan, Gossy & Greipel the Gorilla will be pedaling for glory- it's guaranteed!

Our pick: For about the 10th time this tour - Go Gossy Go. This is your last chance - dive into the suitcase of courage & have a crack!

Drink Match: Champagne - enjoy a celebratory flute or two of something fresh and bright. A toast to the victors & for more sleep ahead!

A local drop: We love good Australian fizz here, if you haven't been able to track down any Sabre by MH by now, look for some methode traditional fizz from the likes of Clover Hill, Chandon or Brown Brothers who rarely disappoint.

This will be the last MH Le Tour post until next year.

Stay tuned for more blog activity as our eyes focus across the English Channel to London where the Olympics will be sure to inspire more unpredictable predictions with booze to match.

Au Revoir from Mitch & Johnno.

Stage 19 - The Race of Truth!

It was hard & fast last night & the Manx Missile did not disappoint. Another stage podium finish for Gossy who like every one else was caught off guard by big Cav who wound up his machine from about 500 m out & shot past everyone in a bit of a blur. More beast than man is the Missile.
Whilst Gossy missed out, what a ride by young Aussie Adam Hansen who's last 20 km offensive was sensational.

We are up to Stage 19 & it is the final time trial before the ride into Paris tomorrow. Remember this time last year folks? This was the stage where Cadel blitzed the field to close the gap & take the yellow juersey.

The 5 riders ahead of Cadel this year will all start after him, and unless all of them run into straying dogs, maniacal fans, packets of tacks or wandering cattle en route to Chartres, then Cadel's chance of capturing yellow again are essentially impossible.

Wiggins blitzed the stage 9 TT & will likely do the same again here. Given the awesome support he has had from team Sky, his legs should be up to it. Or will team mate Froome have a crack for some previously denied glory? Regardless, the race of truth will be fascinating to see who's got what left in the tank.

Our Pick: Froome to open up a can FU Wiggins & grab a stage win.

Drink Match:
The riders set off from Bonneval just North of the Loire Valley - It's a smorgasbord of lesser known (or loved?) varieties here. Take your pick from sweet Chennin wines of Anjou, the spicy & fruity Cabernet Franc of Chinon, the long-lived Chenin Blanc of Vouvray or the steely and flinty Sauvignon Blancs of Pouilly & Sancerre.

Aussie Match:

White: Get on the local Fumé Sauvignon Blanc styles - try the 3 Monks from Taltarni, the Gembrook Hills Sauv Blanc or try & track down our own newly released 2012 MH Sauvignon Blanc Fumé for Sauv Blanc with texture & complexity - say good bye to fruit tingles & Battery Acid!

Red: Try & track down the racy & infamous Mon Petite Francine by Gary Mills of Jamsheed wines - lip smakin' racy goodness!

Nearly home... MH Tour Blog Stage 18 Preview

With the peaks of the Pyrenees behind them, the jerseys for their year's Le Tour have all but been decided. That means it's time for someone to snatch some glory with a stage win prior to Paris. And with just a few climbs, the way is open for any sprinter still with the puff after the last climb to go for it.

Profile c/o letour.fr

Wiggins has the Maillot Jaune sewn up and onto himself, Sagan the green one, and Voeckler that nice spotty one you get for climbing mountains. Expect them to play fairly safe tonight, and it's time for someone else to have a crack at the stage win tonight.


OUR PICK: We've been tipping it for weeks now, it's time for GO GO GOSSY to pick up a stage win in a flat-out charge to the finish.

DRINK MATCH: We're just east of Bordeaux and the Dordogne here at the finish tonight, so it's time for a nice glass of claret... See if you can find a Cotes de Bergerac for a close-by tipple.

AUSSIE MATCH: Right, into Bordeaux-style material from down under, lets think some icons:
I'd go Yarra Valley for the Mount Mary Quintet myself, but for the other side of country, you'd be hard pressed to beat the Cullen Diana Madeline. Could you drink better on a cold winter night??

Ups and Downs...Tour Blog Stage 8

With Wiggins rocking the mutton-chops as well as the yellow jersey now, the boys invade Switzerland tonight as we enter the Jura mountains on the loopy stage from Belfort to Porrentruy. 5 climbs whilst still in France, and another 3 climbs in Switzerland. Of these, it's perhaps the last climb, the wicked Col de la Croix that might sort a few out tonight. After 141 km, it's a Category One climb and then a flying 16 km downhill to the arrivée. 

Image via SBS Skoda Tour Tracker App

Picking a winner is going to be super-tough tonight. Evans and Nibali will probably aim to use their downhill skills to try to peg back a few seconds on Wiggins, but overall Wiggins and a few others might have more to lose than gain tonight.

OUR PICK: Hmmm...we're tipping a breakaway to head off the swift Evans/Nibbly descent. Swiss Albasini will want a go in front of the home crowd, Sanchez will want to pick up a stage, but for our measly money... Voeckler

WHAT TO DRINK: Into the Jura mountains we're in serious, chunky, funky, cloudy orange wine or vin jaune country. Try a Chateau Chalon Vin Jaune with a hunk of Jura Comté cheese.

AUSSIE MATCH: Try the T'Gallant Claudius cloudy white if you dare, and if you can find it from the cellar door, or the more approachable, delicious, but definitely funky Flamsteed/Mackintosh chardonnay, Salo.

Head for the Hills it's Stage 7

The Carnage continues! Wow it's been a horror few days for quite a few riders with a few permanent casualties. Is it a case of too many young riders not respecting the conditions, or is everyone just as keen as curry to hang on? Either way, last night's bingle put a big dent in the hopes of a few campaigns.
If you saw any of the footage from last night's stage from Epernay to Metz, you'll see why all the teams with GC or other jersey contenders in them are working hard to keep their boys at the front and out of trouble.

It was another exciting finish to one of the last sprint stages for a while. Unfortunately one of Matt Goss's leadout men snapped a chain within a 100m or so of the line so he collected just another minor place. It was the 'young gorilla' Sagan who collected another stage win to shoot 31 points clear of Goss for the green sprinters jeursey. André Greipel who was involved in the a crash early in the stage did amazingly well to challenge Sagan for the win.

Tonight it is Stage 7 from Tomblaine to La Planche Des Belles Filles. This is where the GC contenders will come out to make their presence felt. Apart from a couple of Cat 3 climbs throughout the course, there is a nasty Cat 1 , 6 km climb to the finish with an average gradient of 8.5%. After the last few sprint stages, this is where it starts to get interesting, & where the real GC contenders come out to play.

Stage 7 predictions & tipples:

OUR PICK TO WIN: Cadel to show a bit of 'who's the boss' tonight I reckon. The BMC team will be keen to show the rest of the field that they are here to defend & win again!

DRINK: Located between Burgundy, Alsace and the Jura, it's a mixed bag of Vin de Pays here. Since it is a Saturday night, try a zippy Riesling a tight Chardonnay first and a light & spicy pinot later. 

AUSSIE MATCH: A bit of Vic high country Gewurztraminer from Deletite could be fun, or the brilliant Rodda Chard from Beechworth is always good. The Eastern Peak Pinot from the cool hills outside of Ballarat might get a splash tonight too!

A Bouzy Stage 6 Epernay to Metz

It's a cut & paste from last night with the survivors of the carnage getting the goodies, & again it was The Gorilla Greipel who escaped yet another pile-up (can Farrar stay on 2 wheels tonight!!??) inside 3km with our boy Gossy whizzing in for 2nd. We think it's time for Gossy to step up & get the next one!

Tonight it is stage 6. The Peleton set off east of Epernay in the heart of Champagne, a place that is very fond in the hearts of the MH crew. We been very lucky to be on the end of some truly mind blowing hospitality in this unique wine region. It is in this part of the world that they craft the sparkling wines to which the rest of the world (us included!) aspires to emulate.


Tune in early to the SBS coverage where our mate, galloping gourmand, G Gate, will Sabre the top off a bottle of Champagne, a practice we admire so much we named our first sparkling after it. 


From the chardonnay vineyards of Champagne, the Peleton rolls east toward Metz in another stage for the quick men. Lets hope the Orica-Green Edge boys can get Gossy up to the front once more so he can get this one, & that the BMC boys can keep Cadel clear from the spills for another night or two.

So... who to pick for the win?? Similar to last night, but is Cav about to give up thinking more about London??

Look for the class sprinters again to have a crack....Cav...Goss...Cav...Goss...Greipel...Sagan....ummm??!!


We'll wait & see....
*Although not the official broadcast partner, we did like this Tour update form Clarke and Dawe last night on the ABC. Looks like team Brown Edge might need a bit of help!


Stage 6 predictions & tipples:


OUR PICK TO WIN: Gossy! You've got a 3rd & a 2nd, it's time for the win! You know you can do it....! 

DRINK: It's champagne darling all the way! Try Champagne Paul Bara out of Bouzy (yes it is the best name for a wine region), try some big house Laurent Perrier from Tours-sur-Marne or if you have a lazy $5k or so to blow on a bottle of fizz see if you can track down a Krug Clos du Ambonnay

AUSSIE MATCH: If you haven't got a bottle of Sabre by MH near by, get on to a steely Blanc de Blanc from Clover Hill, a nicely aged of Chandon Tassie Cuvee, or track down some of the good booze from Ed Carr's stable. http://mitchellharris.blogspot.com.au/stage 6

The chaos continues... Tour Blog Stage 5

Once again it's the survivors of the carnage who reap the tour rewards... Greipel getting the goodies after another massive pile-up with our boy Gossy whizzing in 4th.

How are YOU travelling with the carnage of 2am finishes each night this week?

Well, no time to stop now as the tour rolls on, this time on a rolling course from Rouen to Saint Quentin to the north of Paris. Expect a roaring breakaway again, which will once again to script be swallowed up toward the finish of the race. Aussie sprint star Robbie McEwen has won this leg 3 times, and once again we should expect a flat-out sprint finish.

So... who to pick for the win?

Look for the class sprinters again to have a crack....Cav...Goss...Cav...Goss...ummm....

OUR PICK: Go Gossy!

DRINK: (Not much wine in these parts of Aisne) -a Val d'Aisne Blonde Ale
AUSSIE MATCH: Grand Ridge Natural Blonde

Carnage and Cider: Tour Blog Stage 4

Carnage! Carnage! Carnage! What a night last night!
How exciting for us and treacherous for the combatants. Glad to hear that there weren't too many serious injuries but many scrapes and bruises on the roller-coaster ride over the Boulonnais Hills. Unfortunately though 2 riders didn't make it across the line. Team Sky lost Sivtsov who was one of Wiggos supports via a fractured tibia and Jose Rojas from team Movistar was the other casualty.
Tema MH was a bit off with their predictions last night but enjoyed every minute of it.

Stage 4 and we wind down the east coast from Abbeville and swing in-land to beautiful historic Rouen. A relatively flat stage with a few Cat 4 climbs and an intermediate sprint in Fécamp as the riders make their way inland. It may not be the battle of the Somme, however it won't be a ride for the faint hearted. Look out for the wind boys! The Teams that know how to ride in the wind will be favoured here and if it's really blowy, who knows who'll get spat out the back of the peloton. There might be a few tired and sore riders who'll find it a battle.

American Tyler Farrar will be after a big win for the 4th of July, but....

OUR PICK:  Go Gossy!- to pick up his first stage win of Le Tour



WHAT TO DRINK: The heart of Normandy-a Cider! 
Try : Le Pere Jules 'Cidre Bouche' Brut


AUSSIE MATCH: A Napoleone & Co Methode Traditionelle Pear Cider


PS... We like this shot of Scotty Sunderland as posted on Twitter last night: Nice Blouse!!

Tour Blog: Stage 3

Whoa!! What a night for the sprint lovers last night & the expert (ahem!) MH TdF commentary panel were pretty much on the money with their Big Cav prediction & Gossy was oh so close but left his charge a little late - he wasn't happy either. He's looking for respect!

Greipel too was visibly disappointed at not being able to take the points after a near perfect lead train by the Lotto boys and was over heard to be loudly ordering a serve of frites & mayo as he crossed the line on the Manx Missile's shoulder.

Stage 3 & we are back in France. Orchies to Boulongne-Sur-Mer is an uphill battle to the finish. There are 6 big hills in the last 65 km with 4  in the final 16km. The sprinters might find the going a little tougher tonight and there could be plenty of splits in the peloton which could really blow the bunch to pieces.

This is definitely one worth staying up for folks. Gilbo & Cadel have previous form early in the hills & Fabu in the maillot jaune will be as fast as lightening on the descent. One for the all-rounders, so look out for Wiggo to make his presence felt.

OUR PICK: Fabian Cancellara


AUSSIE ROUGHIE: Will Cadel try for this or will Sky help Rogers to the line? 

WHAT TO DRINK:  2 Caps Noire de Slack



AUSSIE MATCH: White Rabbit Dark Ale

Tour Blog: Stage 2

One for the sprinters tonight. No major hurdles for the quicks tonight as the tour bangs along from Visé to Tournai. Look for a race of tactics, with enough time after the sprint section for the sprinters to recover prior to the finish.

Sky, with the powerhouse Cavendish alongside Wiggins, Hagen and Michael Rogers will send out the boys right and the end, and it looks likely that this setting could be ideal for Cav to pick up his first win. Orica-GreenEDGE will have Matt Goss as their big dangerman. And look for Sagan to aim for a back-to-back stage victory.

OUR PICK: Cavendish (massive team back-up helping him to pounce for the first time!)
AUSSIE ROUGHIE: Goss

WHAT TO DRINK: Tournay Blonde
AUSSIE MATCH: Red Hill Belgian Blonde

Tour Blog: Stage 1

Fabian Cancellara (as tipped by us yesterday!) gets the Yellow Jersey on tonight for the 198km run from Liege to Seraing. He's a master of the time trial, but tonight's leg is 198km of rolling up and down through Belgium, and should open the race up to a number of the other big names. Weather should be pretty mild and cloudy, top of 19ºC. Don't write Cancellara off for this one though, he'll still be a fairly good chance.

We reckon Wiggins and Evans will play it safe and stick pretty close to each other.

The last few k's should be a great watch, with a fairly steep 5% climb to the finish to sort out the sprinters and climbers...

Local boy Phillippe Gilbert would be an obvious favourite, and we Aussies should look out for a potential win for the Orica-GreenEDGE team with Mansfield lad Simon Gerrans.

So our tip: Gerrans.

And for a drink: Something dark: A Leffe Brune.
Or a closer-to-home: A White Rabbit Dark Ale from Healesville

Enjoy the ride!

Tour Blog: Grand Départ

OK, a quick one tonight. Both this blog (got to get to Johnno's 40th birthday!) and the prologue stage.

Tonight we'll watch a quick burn on the 6.4km time trial through the streets of Liege, in Belgium.
No great tactics or strategy, just a flat out blast to the finish, to get the first

Who to watch: Cancellara and Voeckler always strong, and expect Wiggo to want to be off to a flyer.

Drink: To be really specific, a Jupiler pils.

Le Tour Blog 1: Who to watch

It's Tour Time again gang!

Late nights, a bottle of something nice open, and telly on. Swooping SBS helicopter shots of fields of sunflowers, soaring alps and of course ripe vineyards. You know the deal, bleary eyes at work but back into it all again each night.

We here in the Mitchell Harris crew are no different to the rest of you Tour tragics, so this year we'll get the conversation started with our highly uneducated predictions, reviews, thoughts and drink matches throughout the month ahead...

So, who to watch this year?

1. Yell for Cadel!

Yep, the 2011 GC champ with the bum-chin is our pick for back to back wins this year. Not the greatest of lead-ups, but our little Aussie legend will take his climbing pedigree from the mighty mountains of Barwon Heads, and once again come to the fore in the Alpine stages. Another hero-run to  snatch yellow in the final time trial and become the oldest Tour Champ since World War 2?...We'll see...

Drink Match: For a mountain superstar: 1977 Hill of Grace

2. Wiggins...

After a catastrophic collarbone failure in Stage Seven of Le Tour last year, Bradley Wiggins is keen to take up the fight Ashes-style to Our Cadel. He has kicked off the year pretty well with a win up in the mountains in the Criterium du Dauphine and loves a time trial too.
The big danger this year...

Drink Match: Warming up for a big one: An English Bitter

3. Menchov

He's picked up the Vuelta and the Giro in the past, so could he pick up the big one this year? Dunno, he's an all-rounder, and probably a good choice to be in our top 3 chances for this years Tour. Don't write him off...

Drink Match: A roughie: Straight Stolichnaya

And so you can all keep up to date with the finer points of Le Tour, we'll help you with demystifying the tricky terms those commentators will use...

TODAYS TOUR JARGON GLOSSARY:

-BREAKAWAY-

-a euphemistic term referring to sitting the tour out at the behest of the anti-doping authorities.

-eg: Alberto Contador is having a BREAKAWAY from the Tour this year after his recent test results.

OK, we'll keep up you up to date as we kick off on Saturday night. Keep an eye on our blog here or join in our twitter ramblings...