Stage Fourteen: Big Boys All Neutralized by Successful Breakaway. Two Americans Shine.

On the last flat stage before Paris, a large early breakaway group finished the race 7 minutes ahead of the main peleton, depriving the Big Three sprinters of any points.  That’s good for Peter Sagan (Cannondale) in his quest for the Green Jersey, and bad for Mark Cavendish (Omega) and André Greipel (Lotto).  Cavendish took consolation in the fact that his teammate Matteo Trentin rode in the escape group and won the stage for Omega.

All of the top 5 Yellow Jersey contenders, and most of the top 20, finished in the main peleton at 7 minutes behind the escapees, so no substantial change in the GC standings.  However, two Americans managed to join the break and earned some much needed redemption in the GC rankings.  Tejay van Garderen (BMC) moved up from 43rd place to 34th, though he still trails the leader Chris Froome (Sky) by 32'26".  Tejay will remember at least this one bright day from his 2013 Tour.  Andrew Talansky (Garmin) fared even better than TVG.  He finished in 3rd place for the stage, in the thick of a spirited sprint for the victory.  He moved up the GC standings from 17th to 12th place at a deficit of only 5'54".  Barring a miracle, he will not overtake Froome for the Yellow Jersey.  But he could realistically gain the 1'10" needed to overhaul Mikal Kwiatkowski (Omega) for the White Jersey.  He will need to also beat Nairo Quintana (Movistar) who leads him by 36".  Look for Quintana to be super aggressive in the mountains, because he also has a chance to win the Polka-dot Jersey in the climbing classification.  Talansky is admittedly a dark horse for the White Jersey, but the fight between him and these other two youngsters for that prize will animate the remaining stages.

Not only will those three put on a show all next week for the White and Polka-dot Jerseys, but Bauke Mollema (Belkin) and Alberto Contador (Saxo) should spark their own fireworks in the mountains in their bid to capture the Yellow Jersey from Froome.

The excitement begins tomorrow with a summit finish atop Mt. Ventoux, the monster mountain of Provence!

Early in today's stage, the race curled around the town of Roanne.  In this picture two would-be druids are harvesting mistletoe near Roanne for their magic potions.  (Circa 1967.)

Today's Stage 12 ended in Lyon, a sprawling city of many faces.  I found this gigantic statue of Mary and the Christ-child.on the road east of Lyon heading towards Geneva.  (Notice how small the man at the base is.)  (Circa 1967.)

Stage 15 tomorrow travels south into Provence, where it culminates at the summit of majestic Mt. Ventoux. After 221 Km of relatively flat racing, the climbing begins in earnest as the road rises out of the town of Bédoin -- 1600 meters elevation gain in just 21 Km!  Here we see Ashley Jensen climbing out of Bédoin in a daring breakaway!  (Papa Duck's Tour de France 2011.)

 While the peleton of Matt Jensen, Aaron Kennard and Nan Kennard are scrambling to reel her in from her current 5'00" advantage.  (2011.)  Tomorrow, the 2013 Tour will follow this very road as they challenge (or are challenged by) the legendary "Windy Mountain."