Presented by Gary Imlach, Chris Boardman and Ned Boulting. Commentary: Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. Stage 16 highlights, Pau to Bagneres-de-Luchon. The first of two gruelling mountains stages through the energy-sapping Pyrenees. A day of spectacular scenery for the spectators, and non-stop suffering for the riders. Today they face the classic route over the Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde
but the rest Daye is never over until the last drug results are in and last night news broke that Frank schle had tested positive not for anything directly performance enhancing but for a diuretic called ziom now zipom is what’s known as a specified substance rather than a band One meaning that there can be legitimate uses for it but generally only if a rider has a medical exemption that we understand is not what Frank schle is claiming nonetheless he is out of the race for details of exactly what he is claiming and what his team radio shess and Trek is saying here’s Ned well there was no sign of course of Frank schle at the Radio Shack Nissan team Hotel this morning he had been Spirited Away from the tour to France in the middle of the night this is a picture of him leaving po police station where he’d spent a good portion of yesterday evening he’d gone there voluntarily and given a statement to the anti-doping branch of the police later on in the evening he released his own statement in which he insisted on his innocence insisted also on his right to have his b sample tested and claimed that should that come back positive then his defense will be B B on contamination or in his own words poisoning and at that stage according to schle the matter could be back with the police he claims as part of a possible criminal investigation at this point in our filming our presence was no longer desired so we headed to the start there the traditional Maelstrom had blown in Radio Shack who already have one name on their bus drawn into the crossfire of doping accusations now suddenly with another Blaze to put out the UCI they told us let’s say around six or 7 yesterday evening that Frank was positive at the same time UC UCI came to Frank to tell him because he has to sign uh papers and so on and then Frank together with uh Al galopa decided not to not to start anymore first of all it made it made no sense he would have every day the circus you see now uh and it’s also kind of respect towards the T of France a somewhat more raw response then came from Yen Voit caught in a difficult no man’s land between friendship and and frustration it’s it it’s hard I mean after all since many years I I said that he’s a good friend of me so I think you know friendship always goes not only in the sunshine but also goes when it rains and um so yeah I still believe in him you believe in him do you understand if large sections of the cycling public just shrug their shoulders and say yet again yes I can see that happen and yes I understand that um I mean it’s the same for me like all I wish for the last five years probably is just have one quiet and peaceful to the FRS where we just concentrate on the sport that we’re going to provide a spectacular battle in the mountains in the time trials that we have a great winner great yellow Jersey a great green jersey a great Mountain Jersey and uh yes every year it seems like we have another happening of the unpleasant kind so yes it is it is pretty hard yes thanks y appreciate the B sample results will be released within four days but due process may be very protracted indeed in that respect doping investigations have some previous yes as Ned says tests on the B sample have to be carried out within four days so on that timeline we might have a cheery update for you on Saturday evening in the meantime on with Stage 16 the first of two massive days in the Pyrenees now in a tour of new and unfamiliar climes stage 16 is about history and tradition the history and tradition of suffering four famous and famously difficult mountains on the menu starting with the super category coldo Beast topping out at just over 1700 M there is some rest bite after that it’s nearly 50 kilm from the summit of the obese to the start of the next climb but then it’s Relentless the C Talay is the highest if not the longest climb on this year’s tour 2,115 m in altitude and once they’re down there that it’s straight over the C aspan at just under 1500 M and the cega sword at 1579 four massive mountains then but no mountain finish instead a 16 km run down into Baner Delan now we’re still not sure what was up with Bradley wiggin bike the other day whatever it was the mechanics have had a full day to work on it so it have better not let him down today he was at the head of a pellaton numbering 153 in po this morning after the departure of Frank schle 198 men started in the age remember no sign of any problems for Bradley early on but in a bit of roll reversal Chris her’s bike threw him in a ditch here’s the bike and here’s her emerging from the bushes to get back on it that was on the climb of the C ois and on The Descent something more serious kuches Vladimir gusov collided with Roman Zang of kofidis and that is the classic post crash Dan that indicates a broken collarbone so 152 in the field and of that 152 somehow 38 of them managed to get in the Breakaway so a quarter of the field was up the road at the head of it as it approached the summit of the obes where Frederick kov the leader in the king of the mountains competition and Thomas Vero started the day in fourth ver with the help of a little lead out from his Europe car teammate Yuki arashiro took the 25 points at the top kov got 20 for second that pulled Vera up to Second Place overall 27 points behind kov with a maximum 45 left on the stage on the climb of the toay a small group formed and in it along with those two were Dan Martin of gin and Bri Fu of s soan as the gradient took its toll first kokov slipped off the group and then Dan Martin did the same so two Frenchmen heading for the highest point of this year’s race and the 5,000 that come with the Jac G prize Fu wasn’t going to deprive the man targeting the polka dot Jersey so Vera took another 25 points behind them Dan Martin was third and kov fourth that brought veret to within 15 points of the lead with a maximum of 10 points each available on the last two climbs of the day as we pick up commentary a yellow Jersey group of only around 35 Riders is on the climb of the Toray 10 minutes behind the Breakaway so we’re looking down now at the yellow Jersey coming up towards the summit Another Mountain to be ticked off by Bradley Wiggins and he’s the guys around him have not raised a pedal in Anger he’s still surrounded by five of his teammates he’s come over the two high climbs of the day with two lower ones although equally difficult I think two first categ climes and he’s never been challenged no I have a feeling they’re going to wait till the very very end the final climb of the day because if they can get a minute or so on the climb of the called The peris Sword venzo nebal or cadel Evans will be able to keep the majority of that on the descent into B Dean but they do certainly need to take the race at some time and try and put team Sky into difficulty well there’s the pellet on what’s left of it as the Gap comes up 10 minutes one is still counting to the summit for the Pelon led by Christian kice and edar boogen it’s the crossing of the cold to to Malay and Bradley Wiggins marching is on towards Luci Thomas vlar wasn’t so much marching as pulling himself Along by the power of facial expression alone and on the climb of the CES ban he took another 10 points to pull himself within six of the outright lead in the king of the mountains competition behind liquid gas had replaced sky at the head of the yellow Jersey group for the first time in the race basso NE starting to tough it up now we’re looking at 27 mil 42 km to go to the finish a little slap on the back for Ev B what do you think it feels like Phil for venzo nibali to have Ian basso as your top gregario helper absolutely fantastic but he’s still going to do it himself in the end Andreas cloudon cleron is also being dropped off the back now these Riders are falling thick going backwards where’s this this is cadel Evans he under pressure Far Side there well that’s a shocker well the pressure’s gone on it’s been applied by EV amaso of liid gas canondale and cadell Evans who’s sitting on the back whe of his teammate M the ru helped him out when he had his flat tire on top of the co the other day that’s a definite split and these riders coming back now as the the yellow Jersey group is at a kilometer to the summit of the climb are Riders who in that early group that got away of 38 Riders but Ian basso is leading the Pelon with what the French call do a pace from hell this afternoon and their first casualty is number one the defending Champion cadell Evans and ARL mu keeps looking over his shoulder to see where is cadell Evans here this afternoon and cadell cannot even follow the wheel of the riders in front of him and he’s at 1 kilm to go so he could recover on The Descent and he’s trying to recover now as he gets out of the saddle accelerates again trying to stay in contact with this group he’s trying to defend his position high up in the overall standings put up front now is the paac making of Evan Bassa that’s caused all the crisis in the back of the pelaton and Wiggins has moved right up to look after himself self now with his rival NE just in front of him I think more than anything else but he just wants to ride on ne’s Wheel he’s got his teammates he’s still got three teammates in the group he’s got Richie PA Michael Rogers and Chris FR but he wants to keep an eye on neble he’s waiting for the move to come from neble I don’t expect it to come here as I’ve always said the move will come on the C sword that is where the Italian will attack yes it’s also interesting to know Paul that TJ Varden who was accused the other day of not waiting for Goodell when he had those flat tires is still in the league group and you know if cadell is feeling bad I think Evans will have said you stay here I think that’s probably right Phil he starts the day in seventh place in the overall standing the best young rider in the tour to France this year and I think he was probably given the nod by his leader to stay in contact with the group because who knows how my body’s going to react this afternoon well this is the cold Dash span reportedly a much easier climb than the two we’ve just had but those two have weakened the body certainly of cadell Evans at the moment the camer is just catching up here with GA isira there’s the top of the C Das span now as the Riders continued to come up remember vo’s gone over the top and failure and this is Kiren is down there look at the time gaps now 9 minutes 10 seconds as basso brings up the yellow Jersey and more importantly for him his teammates Vincenzo and nibali we’re just wondering whether niali will try an audacious attack he’s asking for newspapers here to try and put up his jumper for the cold desent but I wonder if he’ll push home it’s a real tricky attack this is cadel Evans as he comes up the climb now a very definite time Gap he is a good descender and he’s going to have to prove it on this descent because there’s still the C the pay sword to come well that’s a big problem Phil he will take big risks on The Descent tried to get himself back into the leading group with all of the other contenders and then as soon as he makes the junction at the bottom of the climb assuming that he does he starts the final climb of the day the C peris sword which is a difficult climb he’s looking uh as though he’s struggling but he’s stying to keep himself composed he’s a 10 he 10 minutes one down and 40 seconds behind the Wiggins group scell Evans is in trouble on the penultimate climb in the Pyrenees and now Ivan basso they really are trying to put the strangle hold on this race this afternoon but look in second position Sky Richie Port fourth position Sky that’s Chris FR Bradley Wiggins just sitting there his face fil is not showing any emot at all neither is nibble just behind it but nibble is not gaining a second here Chris is pacing his teammate and leader Bradley Wiggins the challenges of the day are almost over for the yellow Jersey a day that he’ll tick off with pride because they’re not going to get the time on him now even though basso is making superb efforts this Riders getting ready for the long descent to the Finishing Line because Thomas vo is heading up to the top of the C peris sword and then he’ll take the lead in The King of the mountains All That Remains will be to win the stage as well what a day and there’s the attack and it’s come from vinzo NE as they approach the summit of called the of Sword there’s no Panic though look at Team Sky they’re looking around discussing what to do how to respond to this attack which we knew was going to come and they knew was going to come and the man chasing after him there is Chris and on Chris’s wheel is Bradley Wiggins well nibble is looking to gain a 2 minutes and 23 seconds be settling for a couple of minutes today I can assure you but on the other hand he’s also looking for only 18 seconds on Chris FR to become second overall in the tour and I reckon that’s his immediate thought herner now in difficulty as they scramble to try and stay in contact but now you’ve got this group this is Jurgen vandenbrook who’s been caught out by the acceleration of Chris FR and look at this two of them left and fr only left to Pace Wiggins well that’s all he needs he’s just sitting there he’s using FR and the discussions about possibility of treason from Chris F in a race like this where where’s the pro there is the proof Phil Chris FR will stick to his word here in the Tour of France this afternoon and he will Pace Bradley Wiggins up this climb and very shortly before they get to the top they will be on the wheel of venzo nibali first second and third place riders in the overall standings no doubt now though that Chris f is sacrificing a tour to V Victory as he did a tour of Spain Victory last year for Bradley Wiggins here but he’s bringing him across the Gap and great Britain are going to keep two men in the top two places in the tour to France meanwhile approaching the last kilometer it’s Chris aner senson in second place the crowd is in a frenzy nibble is gone again Phil he’s got out of the saddle just out of picture is Vincenzo ni there he is but the paac making of Chris V bringing up the yellow Jersey and his team captain they are closing it down yeah you can see Chris room is just tapping out that pace as a great climber he’s taking advantage of this Tailwind FR written down the side of his jersey there behind him the yellow Jersey of Bradley Wiggins Wiggins has never really looked under any pressure at all and having a man like Chris room alongside him has made him almost Invincible it’s down to 5 m now it’s almost done he knows they’re coming back and it is the Brilliance of Chris FR who has done it as he’s been reported as saying in the British papers if he wants to win the Tour to France then he must eventually leave team sky but for now he is leading Great Britain to a one-w in the tour to France and they put the Italian back into the British sandwich well he’s come to the front now Phil and he will continue to set the pace like this Bradley Wiggins has got himself into the position that he wants to onto the wheel of venzo nibali they’ve taken control once again this is an amazing crowd receiving Thomas FAL at the top of the cold sword as they hit the top of the C the peras sword Thomas voer becomes the next leader in the king of the mountains now can he win the stage well the result of the king of the mountains and the C the peris sword now means that Thomas vole with 5 kilometers to go leads the king of mountains tonight by Four Points over Frederick kov and Chris anason in third but a fway back so this could be a great move today by Thomas voley it may well in hindsight have one in the king of the mountain look at that face is this man determined or not he races for France he’s never happier than when he’s in the lead well F you never would have expected this in the first week of the Tour of France when he was still recovering from that tender night as he had in the knee which had him pulled out of the Criterium to doof prevented him from riding the French national championships he was at the back of the pack on numberous occasions then all of a sudden he’s in the front of this bike race and he is enjoying S I know it’s hurting like mad at the moment but once he gets to that finish line and about four and a half minutes time he will be a very happy man this is Vincenzo nib who’s going down with the yellow Jersey and there he is marking his man all the hills behind him a big day for Bradley Wiggins to tick off and he hasn’t conceded a single second of his yellow Jersey and Chris F has done his job he kept his man in the hunt now he’s at being the ticket collector in the thre man descent on the climb itself still going up cadel Evans last year’s winner of the tour to France he won’t be taking the final yellow Jersey to Paris this time around as the clock still counts and over 11 and A4 minutes now well the situation as you saw by the clock there he’s going to concede over four minutes to Wiggins by the time he gets over the summit of called the pord so it will be his teammate TJ Vanguard who will be the highest placed of Team BMC the American proving to everyone that in the long term maybe his one day will be to win the toil of France we are not far away now we’re getting into this beautiful town here 2 kilomet now we are in the streets of Bard de L one of the most famous towns throughout history in the Tour of France if he doesn’t stop at the Finishing Line he goes straight on he will go into Spain of the C dep poron I’ve Got a Feeling he’ll stop at the finishing line today he’s seen enough of the Pyrenees well I have to say Phil we’re going to be looking at pretty close to 5 minutes deficit for cadel Evans and his dream of Defending his Tour of France Championship from last year will go out of the window in the Pyrenees yes Evans has gone over the top there about 1215 which is 4 minutes and 50 seconds behind the yellow Jersey I think the spirit’s gone he realized this is it and time now no longer important he can’t recoup it well Thomas voer was the last stage winner by the way in B Del was Stage 15 in 2010 so he’s doing exactly what fedrigo did in po two days ago cuz he was the last stage winner in po well in 1983 the winner down here in luon was the great Scottish climber Robert Miller who won the king of the mountain so I wonder if that’s going to be the same thing for Thomas V this afternoon enjoy this one Paul at one kilometer to go Thomas voer is already celebrating he’s looking over his shoulder he may or may not know that saon is chasing but I’m going to close a minute and a half now team car’s gone up shaking his hand this is a great moment and he’s had some big moments in history in the Tour of France this is the main street in luon here this is where all the restaurants are what a way when what a great day when you’re French enjoy the crowd tomorrow he’ll be in the spots of the king of the mountains and he was the king of the mountains today that’s for sure well the amazing thing is pH you might wonder why he’s just cruising up to the Finish Line he’s not concerned about time at all here this afternoon because he’s so far down in the overall standings not like last year when he was fourth overall but this year he’s going to take away two stage victories from the Tour of France what a race it was he was in a breakaway of 38 Riders almost from the gun he got rid of them all in the end he crossed the Pyrenees on his own it’s just a perfect day he’s now the king of the mountains he’s won the stage France have now won five stages of this year’s tour well Chris Anor senson he fought to try and get himself back into the bike race here this afternoon but he just did not quite have the power of Thomas vler this afternoon great moment and s’s closing quite considerably as you would expect but it was never in danger of course of taking the big moment away there’s the celebrations behind and after the celebrations behind the Riders behind here’s how they trickled in after Chris aner senson was first a minute 40 behind GA isir and Alexander vorov came in together Bree Fu who hung on with Vera longer than anybody was fifth the head of Yen Voit and Dan Martin who perhaps worked too hard too early was seventh behind them was the real race the top three riders in the tour but not necessarily in that order and now they turn towards the finish here they they’ve established today one thing that these are the three best riders in the 20 12 toour of France and the three of them come home together it’ll be still Wiggins up front it’ll still be Chris TR sitting second and it will still be venzo niali in third but he looks as though Nali is going to get something out of this he’s no he’s not yes he is he’s going to win the Sprint at least and I don’t know what position he is about 10th or 11 I’ve lost count well there’s plenty of riders coming now already this is just a question of Pride for venzo nibali to lead to the line but Wiggins just stays on his wheel Andis through him at the back won even give him one second here Wiggins is going to finish in the same time he’s not giv him a single second theal shrugs his shoulders they’re all same time nibble Wiggins FR was the order at the line but it wasn’t the order that mattered it was the time difference and there wasn’t any next in was a group led home by Nicholas roach trying to ride himself up into the top 10 and containing yurgen Vanden Brook and TJ Vanguard trying to ride themselves even higher they were just over 8 minutes behind the winner but crucially 3 minutes 49 seconds ahead of cadell Evans who’s hand shaped with George hppy as he crossed the line looked as much a gesture of resignation as thanks no change in the top three then but some jostling behind the podium as it were Jurgen Vander Brook is up to Fourth now but nearly three and a half minutes behind Vincenzo NE imar zubel deer is Fifth and TJ vardan is now sixth above his team leader as the defending Champion cadel Evans Falls to just over 8 minutes behind Bradley Wiggins