During the first week the 102nd Tour de France progressed from the Grand Depart in Utrecht with two Time Trials, plus seven stages through Holland, Belgium and northern France. On Monday July 13 there was a deserved Rest Day for the riders and teams, before the next three mountain stages in the Pyrenees.
The Tour has been eventful. The crowds have lined the roads. This has to be the most watched sporting event. Two Yellow Jersey holders crashed out of the race: Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) retired after Stage 3 (Anvers – Mur de Huy), along with six other riders, with injuries suffered during a crash-marred day. Later in the week, Tony Martin (Etixx QuickStep) who had fought so hard for the Yellow Jersey, suffered a similar fate, crashing close to the finish, on Stage 6 (Abbeville – Le Havre), effectively ending his Tour participation. On both occasions, Chris Froome (Team Sky) acquired the Yellow Jersey.
Froome and Team Sky looked strong in the first week of racing. This week, was about staying safe, but Froome has looked safe and strong. Vincenzo Nibali, on the other hand, who was expected to do well on these stages, lost time throughout the week. By Stage 8 (Rennes - Mur de Bretagne) Nibali was 1m48s behind Froome. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was 1m56s behind. Both Nibali and Quintana have significant time to make up. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) was 36s behind Froome, and looking ominous. Outside of the Big Four, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) was looking a potential podium finisher (13s behind); whereas Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr) was 6m33s behind, and his potential challenge appeared to have evaporated. In the first week, other than Cancellara and Martin who were wearing yellow, all other aspiring to yellow stayed safe.
