To The Climb

At this point (10:04 am EST) its 4:04 pm in Frogville. After completig the first climb, the early breakaways are still maintaining a slight lead on the peloton. Prior to the climb up Cormet de Roseland their breakaway lead was over 8 minutes and 30 seconds, by the time the Discovery led peloton crested they were 3:30 behind the breakaway pack. This gap increased slightly on the descent (the leaders were clocked at over 105 kph) but 30km out as the final climb quickly emerges, it is once again the gap between the 75 rider peloton and the breakaway (initially 7 riders, but I am not sure how many survived the first climb).

Interestingly, Iban Mayo - certainly someone thought to hold an outside chance of challenging for the yellow jersey, was dropped on the first climb and is now riding behing the peleton with the lowly sprinters.

The climb up Courchevel should erase the breakaway completely.