While this technically isn't the shortest road stage of the 102nd Tour de France (that would be stage 21, largely ceremonial in terms of the GC, though not for the sprint teams), at just 111km today's fireworks would come from the two looming climbs: Col de la Croix de Fer and legendary Alpe d'Huez.
Stef Clement was the first to sign on.
Michael Schär gave a wave to fans.
Nicholas Roche could expect to take a few long pulls for the maillot jaune on the climbs today.
Geraint Thomas finally had the inevitable jour sans yesterday and slipped from fourth to fifteenth in GC.
Lieuwe Westra gingerly descended the slick metal steps from the podium.
Dylan Van Baarle.
Tiago Machado.
Dan Martin.
BMC's trio of Italians: Damiano Caruso, Manuel Quinziato, and Daniel Oss.
Quinziato couldn't have looked more at ease this morning.
After learning late in 2014 that BMC would in fact re-sign the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, Samuel Sanchez has ridden a solid Tour supporting the team and Tejay Van Garderen until the American abandoned.
Tim Wellens had bandages on after a small crash yesterday.
Marcel Wyss.
Matthias Brandle.
Bauke Mollema.
Paul Voss.
When emcee Nicholas Loth asked Brice Feillu to introduce a fellow French rider on stage to the crowd, the lanky rider did so with natural ease and humor, much to the audience's delight.
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg.
Winner Anacona.
Movistar arrived en masse to collect their prize as the best team on stage 19. Top: Gorka Izagirre, Jose Herrada, Jonathan Castroviejo, and Alejandro Valverde. Bottom: Izagirre, Adriano Malori, Herrada, Valverde, Castroviejo, and Imanol Erviti.
Georg Preidler signed autographs while Warren Barguil rode to the podium.
Simon Geschke.
Nairo Quintana and Geschke.
Merhawi Kudus.
After tying Joaquim Rodriguez for KOM points after stage 18, Romain Bardet out climbed Rodriguez the following day, earning the right to wear the polka dots on the penultimate stage.
Mathias Frank has flown under the radar and quietly ridden himself into the top ten.
Bryan Coquard.
Wilco Kelderman.
Bram Tankink.
Perrig Quemeneur.
Roy Curvers.
Svein Tuft.
Domestique and all around workhorse, Ramunas Navardauskas.
Thibaut Pinot.
One week after crashing, Jean-Christophe Peraud continued to wear prominent bandages, though he hasn't let this stop him from emthusiastically greeting fans.
Mick Rogers.
Leo König signed for Sky after an impressive 2014 Tour and has not failed in his duties for Chris Froome.
Froome.
Richie Porte, emcee Marc Chavet, and Froome.
Table for two: teammates Rodriguez and Alberto Losada grabbed a few quiet minutes ahead of a tough day.
Froome, Quintana, and Bardet rolled to the start.
The peloton socialized before the day's riding got underway.
In a nutshell, the much hyped Alpe d'Huez stage lived up to expectation. After several digs, Quintana finally attacked Froome outright to finish second on the stage and slashed his GC deficit from 2'38″ to 1'12″ (though I know we all would like to have seen Quintana try this when there was still time for Froome to feel threatened). As for the stage itself, it was a nail biting race up the switchbacks between Pinot and Ryder Hesjedal. The Canadian, who typically prefers to ride at the back of the bunch, is known to be aggressive when the situation demands it. Hesjedal escaped the peloton to the break where teammate Navardauskas ultimately delivered him to the bottom of Alpe d'Huez before he attacked and caught Pinot up the road. The two led the race up the mountain, both trying to gain open road on the other, with the young Frenchman eventually pulling away in the final kilometers to silence his critics in the French press and claim the stage.
Stage 21 will start out as a parade for the media with Froome and his teammates toasting champagne glasses while riding–slowly–to Paris. The peloton will then fly along the Champs Élysées for eleven circuits. There will be attacks on the famed avenue but the sprint teams will reel them back in with time to set up their trains (I don't see this going the way of the Giro where the peloton repeatedly failed to catch what should have been catchable break aways). Mark Cavendish's lead out train is missing keystone Mark Renshaw and kicks from Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb so far haven't been enough for victory. Peter Sagan locked up the green jersey ages ago but is still looking for a win to compensate for a string of second and third place finishes. Andre Griepel is the man to beat, but he will face plenty of capable competition.
Today's 3 autographs came from:
134. Tom Leezer
172. Nicholas Edet
204. Perrick Fedrigo