A Final Brutal Week

The Tour started its last few days yesterday with a ride that started to set the tone for the rest of the race. It went uphill quite a bit (although not as much as is to come).

So if I want to get to Paris, now come 5 of the hardest consecutive days I'll ever face on a bike. In the best team to get through it though

— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) July 16, 2013

It was a day for a break as everyone settled after the fireworks of the Ventoux. And a break went out as expected. It was left to Rui Costa to break free on the hilly stage and hold off all the challengers to take a long-overdue stage win for Movistar in this edition of the Tour. Froome was well placed in the pack and the real drama of the stage came as he descended supported by Porte and marked by Contador. The Spaniard had a decided moment on a corner, nearly taking Froome out as well, which Froome was strongly critical of at the finish.

Froome was a little upset:

Almost went over your head @albertocontador.. Little more care next time?

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 16, 2013

But arguably not as much as Cav:

Had the embarrassment of having to stop in a field today in front of the whole peloton with a VERY poorly stomach. #mindyourstep

— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) July 16, 2013

After all of the excitement and a fast downhill finish everything remained much the same in the general classification. Today they time trial in the mountains.

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