Tour de France

First mountain stage tomorrow including going up the Grand Ballon. I drove up there which was an experience made more challenging by the thick fog and gales at the top which almost ripped the car door off as I opened it. We were escorted off the mountain by police in a convoy of tourists as it was deemed so dangerous.

As mentioned above it's the 1st mountain stage (6) today. It's 160.5km race between Mulhouse to La Planche des Belle Filles (which translates to the Board of Beautiful Girls?)

The winner of Stage6 was Belgian rider Dylan Teuns. Closely followed Italian Giulio Ciccone.
Thomas ended up in 4th place.

The yellow jersey passed to Ciccone with Thomas moving up to 5th place (49secs behind)

Stage 7 is a long flat 230kms from Belfort to Chalon - Sur - Saone

The winner of the sprint finish was Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen.
Ciccone retained the yellow jersey

Stage 8 today is a hilly 200km course between Macon to Saint Etienne

A good day for the French when Alaphilippe and Pinot broke away from the group in an attempt to join Dutchman De Gendt.
But De Gendt managed to hang on for the win. Alaphilippe did enough to take the yellow jersey

The Ineos team had a crash and only Thomas & a team mate managed to get back to the Peloton

Absolutely cracking stage today, top entertainment, especially the last 16km or so.

That Ineos Pinarello Dogma frame was broken in 2 in that crash...yikes!

It's the French national holiday today, 14th July.

Stage 9 Saint Etienne to Brioude

Todays winner was Daryl Impey of Mitchellton-Scott

Alaphilippe holds onto the yellow jersey

Thomas is still in 5th place, 1min 12sec behind

Yep, the peloton sat up today and had an unofficial rest day ahead of the real rest day.