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