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Tour de France

Issoire - Saint-Flour

LIVE COMMENTS - Tour de France - Stage

60 sec Refresh
    • 0km
    •  
    • Johnny Hoogerland is finishing the stage now in a group of riders more than 10 minutes off the pace. He'll be the new polka dot jersey - but he'll feel lucky to be alive after that controversial incident involving the French TV car.
    • 0km
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    • Thor Hushovd waves to the crowd as he crosses the line 6:47 down on today's winner Sanchez.
    • 0km
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    • Gilbert crosses the line to take fourth place, 3:59 behind Sanchez. He's followed by all the big GC names - the ones still in the race, that is.
    • 0km
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    • Hushovd has been dropped by the pursuing peloton on the final climb. Gilbert is back on the front and will go for the green jersey points up for grabs.
    • 0km
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    • But it will be a yellow jersey for Thomas Voeckler tonight - consolation for the French yet again missing out on a stage.
    • 0km
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    • Sanchez is just too strong and drops the two Frenchmen for the win. Voeckler crosses the line 5 seconds back, then Casar takes third at 15.
    • 0.1km
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    • Voeckler drops to the back, then attacks, but it's Sanchez who will take the win...
    • 0.2km
    •  
    • Who will go for it first? Still Voeckler from Casar and Sanchez...
    • 0.5km
    •  
    • Voeckler in the dancing position on the front, the others follow. The final hairpin bend approaches... this is very tense...
    • 1km
    •  
    • Under the banner for the leaders. Still in the same order - the lone Spaniard shadowing the two Frenchmen.
    • 1.5km
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    • Voeckler leads them up the Cat.4 incline into Saint-Flour. Casar on his wheel and then Sanchez.
    • 2km
    •  
    • The three leaders are onto the final climb of the day...
    • 2.5km
    •  
    • Sanchez could well go into second place tonight with this ride. He'll be the new team leader at Rabobank conisidering Gesink's form and injury.
    • 5km
    •  
    • Voeckler is gritting his teeth and licking his lips - he knows he's on the brink of something special.
    • 7km
    •  
    • Hoogerland is now 12 minutes back on the three leaders. An hour ago he was riding alongside them.
    • 8km
    •  
    • The three leaders are combining well on the front - in fact, their lead is growing. 4:45 now.
    • 10km
    •  
    • Garmin-Cervelo have given up the chase. They know the yellow jersey has been lost. It's now BMC on the front, with Leopard Trek tucked in just behind.
    • 11km
    •  
    • This is a massive 11km for Thomas Voeckler, who can go into the yellow jersey if he finishes 1:30 ahead of Hushovd today. The Frenchman will want the stage win too...
    • 12km
    •  
    • Gilbert is yet to get back on - he had caught the back of the peloton, but it had been split by the fast pace set by Garmin. That bike change was the last thing he needed.
    • 14km
    •  
    • Bike change for Gilbert, who has to stop and wait for his team car at the wrong time. But he's already back on the peloton and heading to the front.
    • 15km
    •  
    • Voeckler will no doubt go for the mountain points - and he does, taking the point ahead of Sanchez. If Voeckler fails to get the yellow, there's a chance he'll be in polka dots if Hoogerland fails to finish the stage...
    • 16km
    •  
    • Voeckler leads Sanchez and Casar up the climb, the penultimate ascent of the season. The last time the Tour came to Saint-Flour was back in 2004 and saw a victory for Richard Virenque on Bastille Day. Could we have another French victory seven years on?
    • 17km
    •  
    • The Voeckler trio are onto the Cat.3 Cote du Chateau d'Alleuze. They have 4:10 on the peloton. Flecha has been dropped by the peloton. He'll be very shaken up by that crash, when he was clipped by a French TV crew car.
    • 18km
    •  
    • Flecha is caught by the peloton, which is being led by a Garmin-Cervelo outfit devoid of David Zabriskie. The American was one of 7 riders to pull out during today's stage due to crashes.
    • 20km
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    • The three leaders pass under the 20-to-go banner with 4:24 over the peloton. With two Frenchmen involved, could this be the day France finally gets its win?
    • 21km
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    • Hoogerland looks at the TV cameras and shaked his head. He'll be wondering just how his day could have ended under such a cloud after doing so much right. That driver should be thrown off the Tour for life - and should lose his/her driving licence.
    • 22km
    •  
    • The withdrawal by Vinkourov is a terrible blow for Astana, whose other GC hope, Roman Kreuziger, lost more than 20 minutes yesterday. And to think that last year, the Kazakh-based team was en route to glory with Alberto Contador... Our blogger Blazin' Saddles adressed the Astana situation in his stage eight blog.
      Blazin' Saddles: Astanarama
    • 25km
    •  
    • Hoogerland has been dropped by the peloton. The next 25km will be hell for the Dutchman, but he'll be determined to finish and get that polka dot jersey. If he does mount the podium, he'll win a lot more friends today that's for sure.
    • 26km
    •  
    • Gilbert takes the green jersey points for fifth place at the intermediate sprint ahead of one of his Omega Pharma-Lotto team-mates. The Belgian strengthens his grip on in the points competition.
    • 27km
    •  
    • Hoogerland is caught by the peloton. He may be in polka dots at the end of the day - provided he completes the stage - but it is a cruel blow for he was one of the favourites for the stage victory.
    • 28km
    •  
    • The three leaders have 4:50 on the peloton. Flecha is 1:30 back after being hit by the car, while Hoogerland is between him and the bunch.
    • 29km
    •  
    • At the intermediate sprint, Casar crossed the line ahead of Voeckler and Sanchez.
    • 29km
    •  
    • Hoogerland looks to be in serious pain. His injuries seem to be to his legs, from which he is bleeding profusely. He is getting a tug from a TV motorbike while being patched up.
    • 31km
    •  
    • BIG RELIEF: Hoogerland is back on his bike. He has multiple wounds and is bleeding heavily. His knee is bandaged up. Presumably he'll be caught by the peloton and his main aim will be to finish the stage.
    • 33km
    •  
    • In all my years of commenting on cycling races, I have never seen something as bad as that. There is no excuses for that French TV car for hitting Flecha. Somehow, the Sky man is ok, but Hoogerland is probably out of the race. We have not seen any images yet but he hit the fence at top speed and knew nothing about it.
    • 35km
    •  
    • Flecha is back on the bike. He was the one hit by the car - but Hoogerland came off worse: the Dutchman was thown off the road and into a barbed wire fence. He is not up yet. This is terrible terrible.
    • 38km
    •  
    • CRASH: Terrible crash in the breakaway. Hoogerland and Flecha are thrown through the air after being hit by a car. That is absolutely shocking.
    • 40km
    •  
    • Our five leaders now have five minutes. It's looking very good for Voeckler in yellow tonight...
    • 45km
    •  
    • The lead is back up to 4:45. It will be interesting to see who contests the intermediate sprint from the peloton. Gilbert is probably the only green dangerman still on the front of the peloton.
    • 49km
    •  
    • Positions atop the Cat.2 Col de Prat de Bouc: 1. Hoogerland (5pts), 2. Voeckler (3pts), 3. Casar (2pts), 4. Flecha (1pt). The Dutchman will definitely be in the polka dots tonight...
    • 50km
    •  
    • CONTADOR UPDATE: TV replays from the earlier Contador incident seem to show the Spaniard being pushed off his bike by a Katusha rider, thought to be Vladimir Karpets.
    • 55km
    •  
    • Yellow jersey Thor Hushovd is beginning to suffer a little in the peloton - the Norwegian is dropping back a little.
    • 56km
    •  
    • The lead is down to 4:35. This is the last big test for the rider today. After the Cat.2 climb, there's a long downhill drag to the intermediate sprint and then two small fourth category climbs before the finish.
    • 57km
    •  
    • Van den Broeck was not the only Omega Pharma-Lotto rider to go down in that crash: Frederick Willems fractured his collarbone and was forced out of the race as well. Today's body count has been brutal.
    • 59km
    •  
    • Voeckler punctures and needs a wheel change. The leaders will be very grateful for this sun. It could be a huge day for Voeckler and Europcar. The Frenchman wore the yellow jersey for 10 days back in 2004. As for his team, they have been very unlucky in this year's race, what with Christophe Kern's knee injury and Vincent Jerome's double crash in stage one.
    • 60km
    •  
    • It's Omega Pharma-Lotto and Leopard Trek on the front of the peloton. BMC's Cadel Evans is there, as are the likes of Basso and Contador. Green jersey Philippe Gilbert and yellow Thor Hushovd are near the front too.
    • 61km
    •  
    • We forgot to mention the order over the last climb, the Cote de la Chevade: no surprises with Hoogerland taking 2pts and Voeckler 1pt. The pair have a nice understanding now vis-a-vis targets for today...
    • 62km
    •  
    • Luis Leon Sanchez has a snack on the back of the leading group. They have 5:20 on the peloton and are now on to the Cat.2 Col de Prat de Bouc, with 8km to go till the summit.
    • 67km
    •  
    • The leaders pass through the town of Murat - not the best place to take a bath, we'd think.
    • 69km
    •  
    • UPDATE: Cracked pelvis and broken femur for Alexander Vinokourov, which is terrible news. The Kazakh will not even be able to ride the Vuelta before his retirement. Unless he does an Armstrong and comes back again next year...
    • 71km
    •  
    • The yellow is far from guaranteed for Voeckler for the gap is really tumbling now. It's 5:50 and with so many climbs still to be crossed, the break could yet be caught. Four climbs done, four to go. The leaders are not on the Cat.3 Cote de la Chevade.
    • 76km
    •  
    • The peloton is definitely riding at full gas again. The break now has 6:25. Garmin's Christian Vande Velde was involved in that crash too, but got back on his bike.
    • 80km
    •  
    • Once again, Hoogerland takes the two points ahead of Voeckler, who takes one point. The Dutchman looking good for the KOM jersey today - although Voeckler clearly has far loftier ambitions now: the yellow.
    • 81km
    •  
    • Leopard Trek have been extremely fortunate in this Tour not to have suffered a big fall yet. It's not just a case of riding constantly on the front because that big crash today occured just there: right on the front. The gap is down to seven minutes now.
    • 83km
    •  
    • The five leaders are onto the Cat.3 Col de Cere with a lead of 7:30 over the peloton, which has split in two. No idea where Niki Tepstra is. The QuickStep rider was dropped by the leaders a couple of cols ago.
    • 85km
    •  
    • Hoogerland needs a wheel change and drops back to his team car. Close ups of his bike show that the Dutchman has the stage profile selotaped to his handlebars: he clearly targeted this one.
    • 86km
    •  
    • News in that David Zabriskie has pulled out of the race following that crash. So confirmation that it was the American, and not Britain's David Millar, who came down for Garmin in that terrible crash.
    • 87km
    •  
    • So, it's Hoogerland in virtual polka dots and Voeckler in virtual yellow...
    • 88km
    •  
    • Smile, Spartacus: the sun has come out.
    • 90km
    •  
    • Voeckler and Hoogerland are deep in debate on the descent. It seems that the Frenchman is trying to convince the Dutchman to slow up and wait for the others. Hoogerland, of course, only knows how to attack - but he should listen to Voeckler, the guy has won stages galore. Hoogie is still yet to win a major stage - perhap because of his questionable gung-ho tactics.
    • 92km
    •  
    • This time it's Hoogerland who takes the 5pts ahead of Voeckler at the top of the summit of the Cat.2 Col du Perthus.
    • 92km
    •  
    • One benefactor from that crash - besides the men up front - was Gesink. The pace has slowed and he's back in the peloton it seems.
    • 93km
    •  
    • David Millar, who already crashed earlier in today's stage, was involved in that incident. Still awaiting news on him and Zabriskie - unless he was the man we thought was Zabriskie.
    • 93km
    •  
    • All eyes are on Cancellara on the front of the peloton, as the unofficial Mr Tour chats with both Hushovd and Gilbert about what has just happened. It looks like a go-slow truce is in place. The five leaders now have seven minutes.
    • 94km
    •  
    • Jurgen Van den Broeck is forced to withdraw with a suspected broken collarbone. A terrible spate of crashes and abandonments today in the Tour.
    • 94km
    •  
    • Hoogerland has caught the four leaders. They now have 6:12 on the peloton following that crash, which has seen a big slowing of the pace.
    • 94km
    •  
    • Vinokourov abandons from the Tour de France: a sad way to bid adieu to the Tour de France.
    • 94km
    •  
    • It's curtains for Van den Broeck: he's on the floor beside his bike. On the front of the peloton, Fabian Cancellara tries to slow the pace down - looks like he's trying to neutralise the stage like he did last year. But Hushovd is having nothing of it: I'm in yellow, I make the decisions here.
    • 95km
    •  
    • The leaders are on to the second-category Col du Perthus (4.4km at 7.9 per cent) which is being crossed for the first time in Tour history. It looks like Hoogerland has attacked from the leading group. Either that, or he's chasing the other four. Yes, he's behind and catching them up. He nearly fell twice on the descent - and it was a warning for the bunch.
    • 96km
    •  
    • There were a lot of BMC riders gathering so the world thought Evans was involved, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Riders from Garmin and RadioShack were involved too... Perhaps Zabriskie and Kloden.
    • 97km
    •  
    • That crash happened right on the front of the peloton. Vino must have gone over the edge of a small cliff and landed amongst the trees. He's being carried up the slope by team-mates. Looks like his leg is broken. Omega Pharma-Lottos' Jurgen van den Broeck is down too. Looks like a broken collarbone.
    • 98km
    •  
    • BIG CRASH: BMC and Astana both involved. Vino is in the trees on the side of the road...
    • 102km
    •  
    • Both Gesink and Chavanel were dropped by the bunch on that last climb. It's going to be a long day for both riders, who crashed heavily on Wednesday's stage five.
    • 104km
    •  
    • Voeckler, Flecha and Casar break away on the descent. The Dutch pair are in pursuit but Sanchez is pulling clear. Hoogerland tries to follow his compatriot but overcooks a corner and almost hits the deck not once but twice! He's not cornering well and twice has to unclip his left shoe to stabilise himself after his rear wheel slips in rain. Take it easy Johnny, or it will be the ambulance for you...
    • 106km
    •  
    • Cavendish is beginning to suffer off the back of the peloton. To his right, Arnaud Coyot, the man who was sick earlier, rides in a pair of high socks, looking more like a German tourist than a bike rider.
    • 108km
    •  
    • There's going to be a contested sprint for these mountain points... Voeckler leads the sprint and just pips Hoogerland. Those 3pts for the Dutchman puts him into the lead in the KOM competition on 8pts, but Voeckler is now tied for second on 5pts - and there are still six more climbs today. It's going to be quite a tussle. Third over was Casar and fourth Flecha.
    • 109km
    •  
    • Hoogerland on the front, but is overtaken by Voeckler who ups the pace. The Dutchman doesn't look too comfortable, it has to be said.
    • 109km
    •  
    • There's a big "Allez Sandy" banner on the side of the road - that should give Casar a boost on this climb. Someone who needs a boost is Niki Terpstra, who is being distanced by the leaders. They pass the one-to-go banner so Hoogerland will no doubt prepare himself to sprint for those mountain points soon.
    • 110km
    •  
    • The clouds look ominous although the rain is holding off for the time being. Some of these lush green hills have their peaks capped in white fluffy clouds. Of the back of the peloton, Vacansoleil's Romain Feillu receives treatment on his knee. He's been troubled today, although no signs that he was involved in that crash.
    • 111km
    •  
    • Garmin and Omega Pharma-Lotto on the front of the peloton. The BMC team of Cadel Evans are not doing any work today after their heavy, but ultimately fruitless, presence on the front yesterday. The lead is three minutes.
    • 115km
    •  
    • The six leaders start the Cat.2 Col du Pas de Peyrol (7.7km at 6.2 per cent) with a lead of 2:42 on the peloton. Voeckler is on the front - he's the danger man in terms of GC today.
    • 116km
    •  
    • TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Luis Leon Sanchez could be a good tip for the win today - but who was the last Rabobank rider to win a stage on the Tour de France? Wikipedia not allowed...
    • 117km
    •  
    • Finally Contador has two team-mates beside him, and the Saxo Boys rejoin the back of the bunch. But he's stopping straight away for a bike change. He's not making it easy for himself this year with all these crashes and incidents. Shades of Armstrong last year - except, he's still in touch of the summit and not minutes off the pace.
    • 118km
    •  
    • Contador is having a bit of trouble trying to get back on the peloton, which has pulled away on this long downhill drag.
    • 120km
    •  
    • CRASH: Alberto Contador takes a tumble on the side of the road! It's nothing serious, but he takes a while to get back after landing on his hip on the left-hand side of the road. It was heading uphill and so he wasn't at speed. Just a small touch of wheels. But again, what was the Spaniard doing halfway back and on the edge of the bunch?
    • 122km
    •  
    • Terpstra on the front of the six-man break, with Sanchez tucked in right behind. They're on a downhill drag before the start of the Cat.2 climb a few kilometres up the road. It's been wet here in Cantal, but the rain is not falling at the moment and the roads are getting dryer.
    • 123km
    •  
    • Returning to the withdrawals: Pavel Brutt (Katusha) was also involved in that crash which saw Amets Txurruka head to hospital with a broken collarbone.
    • 124km
    •  
    • Lunch time for the peloton. They'll want to get all the energy they can ahead of the looming second category climb.
    • 125km
    •  
    • On the front of the peloton, GC rivals Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck are sharing a joke. Jens Voigt has a trademark grimace. It's the last year he'll have to do this, probably.
    • 125km
    •  
    • So, who do you think will win today? Will this experienced six-man break hold on? Will France finally get their win? Could we see Voeckler in yellow tonight? How many more riders will retire from the race before the rest day? Have your say below...
    • 128km
    •  
    • The race is LIVE NOW on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521) and is also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player:
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    • 135km
    •  
    • After a tricky start to the stage, Rabobank's Robert Gesink is back afloat - although that big second-category climb is coming right up after the feeding zone. The lead has stabilised at around 3:40 with Garmin and Omega Pharma-Lotto leading the peloton.
    • 140km
    •  
    • Following up on those withdrawals - Poels has been ill while Txurruka has a suspected broken collarbone. No news on why Brutt withdrew as yet.
    • 142km
    •  
    • Frenchman Arnaud Coyot clearly not feeling on top of the world: the Saur-Sojasun rider has just vomited off the back of the peloton. The six leaders have 3:50 over the bunch.
    • 145km
    •  
    • A third abandonment to report: Pavel Brutt of Katusha calls it a day. The Russian went on the offensive early on, but now sits in his team car, his Tour over.
    • 148km
    •  
    • This is an experienced group up front with four of the six having already won stages on the Tour. They are Frenchy duo Voeckler and Casar, and Spanish pair Flecha and Sanchez. Of the remaining two riders - both Dutch, incidentally, only Hoogerland is riding in his first Tour. Terpstra has no wins to his name, but has ridden in the past three editions.
    • 150km
    •  
    • Two withdrawals to report: Vacansoleil's Wouter Poels has pulled out of his debut Tour. Also throwing in the towel is Euskaltel's Amets Txurruka, who was involved in that crash earlier today. The Spaniard is on his way to hospital in an ambulance - more news on that when we get it.
    • 152km
    •  
    • Of the six leaders, Voeckler is the best-placed in the GC: 1:29 down on Thor Hushovd in 19th place. That puts him in virtual yellow because the gap has ballooned to 3:35.
    • 155km
    •  
    • The two leading groups have come together so we have six riders out in front now: Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Sandy Casar (FDJ), Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) and Niki Terpstra (Quick Step). They have 50 seconds over the bunch.
    • 157km
    •  
    • Casar has been dropped by the Hoogerland trio and is riding with Sanchez and Terpstra 15 seconds down. The peloton is 50 seconds down, while a load of riders are off the back, including Millar and Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil).
    • 160km
    •  
    • Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha, Vacansoleil's Johnny Hoogerland and FDJ's Sandy Casar have joined Voeckler in the lead. Two riders are chasing them: Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) and Niki Terpstra (Quick Step). The pack is at 30 seconds. David Millar, who crashed earlier, is off the back.
    • 162km
    •  
    • Europcar's Voeckler takes the two points at the top of the Cat.3 Cote de Massiac climb. Johnny Hoogerland takes the point for second place, and the Vacansoleil rider is now level on five points with Van Garderen and yesterday's stage winner Rui Costa in the polka dot jersey standings. Voeckler's lead is just 15 seconds.
    • 163km
    •  
    • ATTACK: Carlos Barredo digs in before being reeled back, but that gives Thomas Voeckler an ideal opportunity to counter, and the Frenchman pings off the font.
    • 164km
    •  
    • Gesink in trouble! The Dutchman is already off the back of the peloton... it's going to be tough for the Rabobank white jersey today with those injuries he's carrying. Gesink is not the only one: a whole group of riders have been dropped by the peloton.
    • 165km
    •  
    • The riders involved in that crash are all safely back on their bikes. Meanwhile, on the opening climb of the day, the Cat.3 ascent of Massiac, Pavel Brutt (Katusha) has been dropped. The Russian was one of the riders who tried to break clear early on in the stage.
    • 170km
    •  
    • CRASH: The peloton is rocked by a crash involving David Millar (Garmin), Andrey Zeits (Astana), Haimar Zubeldia (RadioShack) and Lars Bak (HTC).
    • 175km
    •  
    • The first Cat.3 climb is on the horizon but still no breakaway group has managed to form. Check out the Tour stage nine preview on our
      cycling video page
    • 180km
    •  
    • Despite those early attacks, the race has calmed down over this initial flat segment of the 208km route. There are eight climbs up ahead, so we could possibly see a change in both the yellow and polka dot jersey's today.
      Stage 9 guide: Hushovd to hold on?
    • 183km
    •  
    • Cofidis rider Leonard Duque picks up a puncture. The French team have been terribly unlucky with flats - they seem to have spent the entire Tour changing wheels.
    • 185km
    •  
    • Finally, Rabobank's Robert Gesink still leads the youth standings despite a troubled day in the saddle. Injured in a crash on Wednesday, the rangy Dutchman has been out of sorts ever since, and finished yesterday's stage 1:23 off the pace. His main rival for the jersey, Roman Kreuziger, fared even worse, coming home a massive 20 minutes in arrears, meaning Rein Taaramae of Cofidis is a new man to watch.
    • 188km
    •  
    • HTC's Tejay Van Garderen moved into the polka dot jersey yesterday by taking the maximum five points atop the first Cat.2 climb of this year's race. The American youngster is fully embracing his moment as king of the mountains: not content with the polka dot jersey, he's even wearing a spotty helmet today. Safe to say, with so many climbs today, we could well see a change of owner in the jersey tonight.
      King of the mountains standings
    • 190km
    •  
    • The intermediate sprint today comes about 25km from the finish, after the first six climbs and before the final two Cat.4 ascents. Probably safe to say that there should be a break on the road by then. Yesterday, Philippe Gilbert pulled of a veritable coup by taking a bunch of points for finishing the hilly stage in second place, and whereby leap-frogged Jose Rojas to the top of the green jersey standings.
      Green jersey standings
    • 192km
    •  
    • The weather forecast at the finish in Saint-Flour is not ideal: although there are patches of sun, there is also rain and thunder forecast.
      Weather report
    • 194km
    •  
    • Westra has been caught and the peloton is back together. No doubt the Dutchman is secretly pleased about that - who would want to ride today's stage, with its eight climbs, alone?
    • 195km
    •  
    • Yesterday, big Thor Hushovd managed to defy all expectations by holding on to the yellow jersey. It looked like he would lose it to, first of all, Alexandre Vinokourov - who attacked but then floundered on the final climb - and, secondly, Cadel Evans, who looked set to overturn the slender one-second deficit that splits the two riders. But no, Thor dug deep and the Norwegian is still sitting pretty atop the summit.
      General Classification
    • 200km
    •  
    • Brutt was quickly dropped by Westra, while two more riders pinged off the front in pursuit. They were Anthony Delaplace (Saur-Sojasun) and Ruben Perez (Euskaltel). But they were reeled in, and Westra only has 15 seconds so it may all come back together again pretty soon.
    • 205km
    •  
    • ATTACK: Pretty much moments after the official start of the stage there was an explosion of pace off the front from a Vacansoleil rider. It's that man Lieuwe 'The Beast' Westra. He's been joined by Katusha's Pavel Brutt and they have a slender lead over the pack.
    • 208km
    •  
    • They're off! Minus two more riders: Highly rated Movistar youngster Benat Intxausti, who withdrew yesterday with a broken arm, and Rabobank veteran Juan Manuel Garate, who did not sign in this morning.
    • 11:15
    •  
    • It's going to be yet another wet day in the saddle for the remaining 187 riders. Monday's rest day couldn't come sooner... Sunday's stage about to get under way - the riders are in the neutral zone and are raring to go.
    • 11:05
    •  
    • Welcome to live coverage of stage nine of the Tour de France, a seemingly relentless undulating slog from Issoire to Saint-Flour that includes eight - yes, eight - lower category climbs.

 

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