We have had the next big mountain stage, and for Wiggo, there is only one left. Only one more day where he will be threatened, and only one more man who is a threat.
Sadly, Cadel Evans’ shot at back to back Tour victories is done and dusted, if it wasn’t already.
On a truly massive day, where an enormous break got away early in the stage, the defending champ was in trouble on the earliest climbs, and only worsened through the day.
He had great help from his team, and did everything he could to stay in touch, but there is no hiding on the big hills. If you’re a little bit off, you’re all the way done.
Thomas Voeckler again danced up the mountains with the grace of Peter Garret, eventually shimmying and shaking his way up the hills and dropping all of his rivals one by one through the stage.
He now holds the mountain jersey, and will likely hold it through to Paris. Couple that with his two stage victories, and he has had almost as good a Tour this year as last.
Wiggo showed why he is the team leader of Sky today, taking the job over from Froomey when Nibali unleashed his assaults to shut everything down, and Wiggo is now borderline untouchable for the podium.
Tomorow will show if today hurt the Sky boys enough, but on form, it looks like Wiggo is home
Chapeau.