Result: Mark Cavendish won the 18th stage of the Tour de France, a 226 km ride between Blagnac and Brive-La-Gaillarde, to claim his 22nd victory on the race today. Sky teammate and British compatriot Bradley Wiggins came over the finish line seconds later with his 2min 05sec overall lead on Chris Froome intact.
How it happened: After holding off the final challenge of Vincenzo Nibali yesterday, Bradley Wiggins led the cyclists out, resplendant in his yellow jersey. A stray dog caused carnage in the early stages and a breakaway group of 16 riders pushed almost five minutes clear before being slowly reeled back in by the peloton. Green jersey hopefuls praying for a sprint finish looked like getting their wish when the leaders were gobbled up in swatches of two and threes.
Adam Hansen and Ireland’s Nicolas Roche pulled clear of a five-man group and looked like making it a duel before they were caught by Team Sky – including Wiggins, who was racing hard to give teammate Cavendish the chance for a sprint win. The Manx Missile burst pasty a dogged Roche with 400m to go to claim the win ahead of Matt Goss and Peter Sagan. Roche finished in fifth.
Big winner: Wiggins must feature each day that he nears the Sunday cruise into Paris but he gets a lot of credit for cycling hard to put Cavendish into position to win. Roche comes out with a lot of credit too as he rode superbly again.
Who is wearing what jersey?
- Yellow (Overall): Bradley Wiggins
- Green (Points): Peter Sagan
- Polka-Dot (Mountains): Thomas Voeckler
- White (Young Rider): Tejay Van Garderen
What about the Irish? Roche, as mentioned above, was determination personified today and just needed an extra 10 seconds to hold off Cavendish for a deserved stage win. He gained a few seconds on those around him but remains 11th overall. Daniel Martin finished down mid-pack in 61st but climbs one place in the general classification to 35th overall.
What happens tomorrow then? The 53.5km time-trial from Bonneval/Chartres will give Wiggins a chance to extend his lead, although Froome pushed him hard earlier on in the tour.
After the referendum, i bet Ronaldo marries himself.
All this Bale lark is hyped up rubbish generated mostly from Real Madrid’s horrendous fans. The fact is Bale has matched the scoring and assist power of Eden Hazard (a chief target of Madrid many would feel, and seen as the PL’s MVP this season) for them this year and has played some fantastic football. Sure, no trophies, that’s not his fault.
I grew up adoring this club, but as I grow older I grow to detest their fans.
They remind me of Rangers. They think they are better than everyone else.
The rte lads were on the money regarding the dwindling of poor schoolyard victimlike bale under the cult of Ronaldo…throwing shapes and glances when passes go astray.Ronaldos problem is an incurable one…His ego is the size of that rock in ocean he’s from.Even his bronze statue was hilarious,such is his hunger for stardom,it must make him puke that he’s not fit to tie messi’s laces.
Haha not fit to lace his boots. Someone is forgetting who the Current world player of the year is! Messi has been better this year yes but that’s just a stupid comment
I’ll vote yes so you can marry Ronaldo…. Jeez, undying love for a player that played for your club…. Another that tried to move away every summer….
Lee ..get a grip…did you buy a share….#bringronaldohome
Did I say something wrong in that statement? If I did can someone correct me on who the current world player of the year is then?
And for the record I don’t want Ronaldo back at united. Yes he did great at the club when he was there but I don’t want to see him come back.
What a mental statement to make. Giles doesnt a clue whats going on in the dressing room at Real Madrid. “Id tell Ronaldo to f**k off”? Its clear he doesnt like Ronaldo anyway but to blame him for Bales dip in form is a bit much.
It’s a statement from someone who’s played and knows the game.
He’s right. He should tell Ronaldo to f&@k off. Ronaldo would probably show him more respect
What evidence does Giles have to “think” that Ronaldo is intimidating Bale? None. And then to suggest he should tell him to “f**k off” on the back of the lack of evidence is rediculous.
Toni Kroos threw a wobbler when Bale gave him a bad ball the other night, maybe Kroos is bullying him too?
But Toni Kroos doesn’t get as many views and comments as Cristiano Ronaldo does. What I don’t understand is how it automatically isn’t Bale’s fault he is playing crap ha
Ya he missed 3 great chances the other night coz he knew Ronaldo was looking at him.
Haha yeah it’s all because of the pressure Ronaldo puts on him. Never mind all the fans. It’s all Ronaldo’s fault
Yes, but Fiach, Giles is not an expert like here on the42.ie….
Why would Bale tell him to f**k off when its widely known and has been often reported that the two of them get on well together.
Scoring goals in Spain football is much easier than the EPL
?
Barca & Madrid regularly hammer teams 6-nil, every forwards scoring stats are bound to be higher
They are the best teams in the world. Ronaldo scored freely in premiership too….
Its a better league, Premierships best was shown up for what it is this season in both European comps.
Madrid drew 2-2 last weekend by the way..
Hahahaha, good one.
You could ask Giles or Dunphy about the weather and they’d somehow bring Ronaldo into the conversation. Like him or hate him they are infatuated with the bloke
Its about time Giles be put out to pasture.. he a dinosaur whos wrong more than he is right
This is why Johhny Giles is the best football pundit on the planet.
You can’t even compare – the unselfish Messi, the humble Messi to the greedy , me me Ronaldo.
Bale going to a bad patch alright but he’s not getting much support from the big names at RM. He’s a class footballer, might be best for his career long term to move on.
He has been awful this year but it doesn’t change the fact that he is a great player. Just don’t agree with blaming Ronaldo or anyone else for. Your responsible for your own form. But being a united fan I’d love to see him at old Trafford next year but only if we can afford to sign quality defenders at the same time
You see any other players celebrate like they scored everyones goals?? Ronaldo is THE problem…..
As a utd fan, I’d be disgusted if we signed Ronaldo. Absolutely disgusted, what a petulant arrogant P*ick on the field. His attitude stinks. He’s at a club he deserves with fans he deserves. Probably the best footballer on the planet but I don’t wanna see him put on a utd jersey again.
Wow, Kevin, respect…. You see it as it is…..
Real Madrid might be the most successful club in European football, but I can’t stand them, because they don’t really stand for anything. The likes of Barcelona, Manchester United, etc. at least generally have a philosophy of how they want to play throughout their history (although United are struggling with that at the moment, for obvious reasons), but Madrid’s only philosophy is continually buying galacticos. Sure, both clubs that I’ve mentioned spend big on players, but they’ve brought through great players of their own over the years, while Madrid turf their academy players out the door for expensive imports…only to have them come back to haunt them! (Morientes, Morata the other night, among others). Bale’s first season there was one of the most successful seasons in a foreign league by a British player, yet he’s never won over the fans, which surely can’t have helped his form this campaign, with all of the grief they’re giving him. Jacob Steinberg called it right on The Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast recently- it must be miserable being Real Madrid or one of their fans, because no matter what they ever achieve, it’s never good enough.
And it’s because of remarks like that Eamon you’ll only ever be remembered as a journo that writes for the Star
Haha, no, I’m not saying that millions of Mancs would marry him. I think most of them would be happy to suck him off
He should really give him a kick in the bo–x
Since The air at Real Madrid is poisonous, all players lack concentration and do not take their chances very well near the goal. Their long shots are disastrous. If they concentrate for only one second before they shout the ball, no one can beat this team.
Giles way off the mark there.bale missed 5 goal chances against juve,ronaldo gets the blame .lazy talk.
Wish there was a football site where those making comments understood the game. It’s such a buzz kill to read all this shite.