That day on the cobblestones that changed the history of the Tour

Today as yesterday, in a succession of unique stories and champions' feats. Il Tour will find the cobblestones again next Wednesday, July 6th, like that day at the 2014 Tour de France. A very strange invention that undermined the scientific and unassailable pragmatism of Team Sky.Especially because it started to rain. The rain made and will continue to make a difference. When Cambrai arrives the following year, on the dry cobblestones, Britain's Froome will be untouchable.

But on July 9, 2014, it rained, it rained all night. It's the fifth stage, barely 160 kilometers, but the cobbled sections are scaryIn the teams, the only ones who seem calm are the men from the North. All the others, light and fragile climbers, have nerves on edge.Froome in particular displays a false sense of confidence.

Nibali, dress rehearsal

Nibali has been wearing the yellow jersey since day two. The Shark knows the secrets of off-road racing. He knows how the bike moves when a stone knocks the wheel off, but he has never ridden on cobblestones.That's why he moved up his departure for the North this spring. And on the Thursday before the Amstel, he stopped to test gear and lines with Peter Van Petegem, who won Roubaix in 2003.

“I’m pretty good at riding a bike,” Vincenzo said immediately afterwards, “and I’ll have a very strong team. Fuglsang has a strong history in mountain biking, rides very well and has a smooth actionThen there are Grivko and Westra. I'm sure Contador will do well too, maybe. who could suffer the most is Froome, although Wiggins showed at Roubaix that he is quite capable on this type of course. Sky and Bradley's choice to do Roubaix makes sense, especially if Wiggins does the Tour. The cobblestone sections are nothing new to me, I already knew them, even if I've never raced them. I came in 2010 on a scouting mission with Liquigas and now that experience will come in handy.. In short, I already have an idea, but if unfortunately it were to rain, I'd need a tracked vehicle..."

Froome has already fallen

Wiggins will not compete in the Tour; the 2012 victory will be his last appearance. But in Roubaix, he finished ninth, 20 seconds behind Terpstra, who won. Froome won't have him by his side and given the friction between the two, things wouldn't have been too different.. In addition, the outgoing winner has a sore wrist due to the fall the day before in the Lille stageBut Chris accepts the challenge and 10 minutes before the closing of the signature sheet, he leaves his name among the others.

"His condition," the race doctor said, "is good, but he's in pain. It's impossible to say now if and how it will affect him in the coming days. There are no fractures, but abrasions on the left knee and left hip and a bruise on the left wrist.. On the right hand, a small wound."

Changed route

It's raining even at the starting meeting and The organizers realize that the risks outweigh the benefits.Even Cancellara is perplexed, let alone the ranking men and their managers. Therefore Twenty minutes before the start, the exclusion of the two most dangerous sections from the race was announced. The official statement cancels sector 7, Mons en Pevele (1.000 meters), and sector 5, Orchies (1.400 meters). The total cobbled kilometers are reduced to 13.

Time to declare that he will grit his teeth and Radio Tour reports the news of Froome's crash on a stretch of asphaltA ride alongside the doctor's car and then Chris sets off again, escorted by Eisel. 

Astana and Tinkoff lead the peloton. Nibali displays confidence. With Westra in the breakaway, the Sicilian has no particular duties other than staying safe in the yellow jersey as it cuts through the water. The first stretch of cobblestones is now in sight.

Contador is afraid

Two hours have passed and Froome falls againWet roads have never been a hunting ground for Sky's men. Wiggins also threw the Giro overboard the year before in the Pescara stage, to the advantage of Nibali who is a master in the wet.

This time a right-hand bend was fatal for Froome. The shots show him holding his wrist with two fingers of his left handHe tries to grip the handlebars, but he can't. They pass him the bike, but he doesn't even look at it. While the leading group starts to get dirty on the first section of cobblestones, Chris Froome raises the white flag.

Now even Contador is afraid. Bennati took him by the hand from the first sector, but without Astana having done anything in front, he is 9 seconds behind. Nibali senses the opportunity and starts talking to the mud and stones, while behind the Spanish flounders and slowly sinks.

The Tour is decided

There are 45 kilometers left to the finish line and A small group of riders has formed around the yellow jersey, determined to compete in the stageContador is 45 seconds behind, Bennati at his side understands that it will be tough, but continues to encourage him and push.

With Nibali are Sagan, Cancellara and Mollema, no one is talking about the escapees still in the lead. It's clear that history is being made behind this. The slips and falls follow one another, but Vincenzo dodges them. He even stops to avoid falling into it, but immediately sets off again with full momentum.Fuglsang is next to him, Westra is waiting for him, while Contador has slipped to a minute behind.

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Ballerini's words

The Spaniard has capable teammates, but the cold and fear are holding him back. Years ago, Franco Ballerini said that the cobblestones are like a climb: if you have a crisis, you sinkContador has never sunk in on climbs, but on this terrain that isn't his, he tastes defeat. Franco has been missing for four years, his advice for Nibali would have been plentiful and invaluable. The night before, however, he called Pozzato, worthy heir of Ballero, and his words on how to grip the handlebars and the position on the cobbles will prove decisive.

The banks are flooded, the potholes are full of water. Nibali, in fact, tackles the fourth sector moving like a Roubaix hunter, escorted by Westra and Fuglsang. With 15 kilometers to go, Boom launches the attackThe Dutchman comes from cyclocross and rides with Belkin. Who knows if it's already settled that next year he'll also be riding for Astana.

Magnificent Fuglsang

With six kilometers to go, history is made. Froome is far away, Contador is increasingly strugglingBehind Boom, Nibali and Fuglsang are digging their way through, trying to be cautious. At the finish line, the Dane is second, Nibali third, Sagan fourth, and Cancellara fifth. Contador is applauded and encouraged after 2'54"There will be a lot of talk about his withdrawal on the day of the Planche des Belles Filles (10th stage), but the Spaniard got off the Tour train on the day of the cobbles.

"Today was a terrible day," Nibali said in the press conference. "I almost fell at least three times, but with a bit of skill and luck I stayed upright. Having raced mountain bikes as a kid made the difference. Certain automatic reactions are never lost. Fuglsang was amazing. I feel sorry for Froome, but unfortunately the Tour and cycling are also made of falls and last year I threw away the World Championship in Florence because of a fall.I now have a good lead in the general classification, but the road is still long and difficult. The kilometers to Paris are many and now the first opponent to watch out for is definitely Alberto Contador».

Again on July 6th

It will be the fifth day of competition also next July 6th, when the Grande Boucle will offer the group the stage from Lille to Arenberg. 157-kilometer section with 11 cobblestone sections. Froome there will be again and this time Birdsong will run alongside himNibali will probably follow it on television, Counter will probably be on site with Eurosport. It will be a day to follow and tellThe great adventure of the Tour is about to begin.