astana tour de france 2014

Vincenzo Nibali wins 2014 Tour de France; Marcel Kittel takes final stage

Marcel Kittel takes his fourth stage win as Vincenzo Nibali seals overall victory in Paris

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Marcel Kittel wins Stage 21 of the 2014 Tour de France from Alexander Kristoff and Ramunas Navardauskas

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) sealed overall victory in the 2014 Tour de France in Paris, to join a group of six elite riders to have won all three Grand Tours, as Marcel Kittel won the final stage in a sprint on the Champs Elysées.

The Italian had all-but won the race after Saturday’s time trial, and crossed the line safely with his Astana team-mates in Paris, as Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r) and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) completed the final podium.

For the second year running, Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) won the bunch sprint in front of the Arc de Triomphe, ahead of Alexander Kristoff in second and Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin-Sharp) in third.

Giant-Shimano hit the front early and were leading into the final corner, but it was Kristoff who moved clear with 100m to go. However, Kittel kicked again to close the gap and win on the line by half a wheel ahead of the Norwegian, for his fourth stage win of the Tour to equal his victory haul from last year. André Greipel left his attack too late, and could only finish in fourth.

At the start of the day, the peloton left Evry in a celebratory mood, as has become tradition at the Tour. Nibali led out the bunch with the four jersey winners — Peter Sagan in the green jersey, Rafal Majka in the King of the Mountains polka dot and Thibaut Pinot the best young rider in the white — alongside him. The riders then enjoyed a relaxed ride, sipping champagne and chatting as they made their way towards the French capital.

However, as the Eifel Tower came into view and the peloton hit the Champs-Elysees with 56km to go for the first of eight 7km laps, the racing proper began. Astana led as Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) made the first attack of the day, followed by Jens Voigt, participating in his 17th and final Tour who made his farewell with a spell out front.

A three-man break then formed, featuring Sky’s Richie Porte, Jose Serpa (Lampre-Merida) and Michael Morkov (Tinkoff-Saxo), however they never got a gap above around 26 seconds. Richie Porte was the last survivor, but was swept up with 7.5km to go for the bunch sprint.

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Nibali, 29, ended the race with a winning margin of 7-52 over Peraud, with Pinot a further 32 seconds behind, to add the Tour de France to his victories in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. France could also celebrate a wholly successful Tour with two French riders on the podium, as well as Romain Bardet (Ag2r) also in the overall top 10. The last time a Frenchman finished on the podium was Richard Virenque in 1997.

Nibali, wearing matching yellow shorts to his jersey for the first time in the race, crossed the line and hugged his wife and daughter as he became the seventh Italian to win Tour, and the curtain on the 2014 race came down.

Tour de France 2014, stage 21: Évry to Paris Champs-Élysées, 136km 1. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Giant-Shimano in 3-20-50

2. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha

3. Ramunsas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-Sharp

4. Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol

5. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

6. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky

7. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar

8. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

9. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale

10. Romain Feillu (Fra) Bretagne-Seche Environnement all same time

Final overall classification 1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana

2. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Ag2r at 7-52

3. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ at 8-24

4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 9-55

5. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team at 11-44

6. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r at 11-46

7. Leopold Konig (Cze) NetApp-Endura at 14-41

8. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek Factory Racing at 18-12

9. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin at 18-20

10. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin at 21-24

22. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky at 59-14

Points classification: Peter Sagan (Cannondale)

Mountains classification: Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo)

Best young rider: Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)

Team classification: Ag2r-La Mondiale

Super combative award: Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale)

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Tour de France

Gallery: astana samples the cobbles ahead of the 2014 tour de france, astana scopes out the stage 5 cobblestone sections included in the 2014 tour de france route.

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\n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/evenepoel-vingegaard-roglic-all-crash-in-high-speed-spill-at-itzulia-basque-country\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"evenepoel, vingegaard, vine, kras, quinn sustain fractures, rogli\u010d escapes with no broken bones\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/evenepoel-vingegaard-roglic-all-crash-in-high-speed-spill-at-itzulia-basque-country\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"evenepoel, vingegaard, vine, kras, quinn sustain fractures, rogli\u010d escapes with no broken bones\"}}\u0027>\n evenepoel, vingegaard, vine, kras, quinn sustain fractures, rogli\u010d escapes with no broken bones\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"the third generation bmc roadmachine is suddenly a lot more capable","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/bmc-roadmachine-more-capable\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/bmc-roadmachine-more-capable\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the third generation bmc roadmachine is suddenly a lot more capable\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/bmc-roadmachine-more-capable\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the third generation bmc roadmachine is suddenly a lot more capable\"}}\u0027>\n the third generation bmc roadmachine is suddenly a lot more capable\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/bianchi-issues-paris-roubaix\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/bianchi-issues-paris-roubaix\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/bianchi-issues-paris-roubaix\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues\"}}\u0027>\n bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"photo essay: the drama of paris-roubaix, by chris auld","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/photo-essay-the-drama-of-paris-roubaix-by-chris-auld\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/photo-essay-the-drama-of-paris-roubaix-by-chris-auld\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"photo essay: the drama of paris-roubaix, by chris auld\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/photo-essay-the-drama-of-paris-roubaix-by-chris-auld\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"photo essay: the drama of paris-roubaix, by chris auld\"}}\u0027>\n photo essay: the drama of paris-roubaix, by chris auld\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "}]' > >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>advertise >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>privacy policy >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>contact >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>careers >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>terms of use >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>site map >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>my newsletters manage cookie preferences privacy request healthy living.

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Astana Pro Cycling Team Sets Sights on 2014 Tour de France Success

By Jan Furst in Sports on 20 January 2014

“Last year we worked as a team to win Giro d’Italia and it was quite difficult,” Vinokourov commented. “But our efforts, motivation and drive led us to a victory in Brescia. It is an honour to be standing here today to say that we are ready to accept the challenge for Tour de France 2014.”

2013 Giro d’Italia winner and top Astana Pro team rider Vincenzo Nibali also noted that July’s Tour de France will be the team’s top priority.

Nibali’s efforts will also be aided over the summer by the team’s recent signings of mountain climbing pro Michele Scarponi and Mikele Landa, a young talent acquired from the Euskaltel team.

“In Euskaltel, the team was very united, more than a team, but a family. In Astana, it is different. There are so many different languages, new people, different cultures. … I hope to get used to it quickly,” he said in November 2013.

“I accept the challenge respectfully. I need to move step by step but I know that I can achieve a lot here [with the team]. People trust me, that gives me peace of mind, so I want to achieve big results here.”

The July 5-27 Tour de France 2014 will include 21 stages running through France and neighbouring countries and will cover 3,656 kilometres. The Tour de France, along with Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana, is considered one of the top three races in the cycling world. However, since it is the oldest and has run annually since 1903, except during two world wars, it is considered by most to be the most prestigious.

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2014 Tour de France 101st edition: July 5- July 27, 2014

Stage results and photos.

Back to 2014 Tour de France |

Sunday, July 6: Stage 2, York - Sheffield, 201 km

Live Updates | Stage 2 photos | Stage 2 map and profile |

Vincenzo Nibali wins stage two. Photo ©Sirotti

• Km 47.0: Blubberhouses, 1.8 km @ 6.1% average gradient - category 4
• Km 85.0: Oxenhope Moor, 3.1 km @ 6.4% - category 3
• Km 112.5: Ripponden, 1.3 km @ 8.6% - category 3
• Km 119.5: Greetland, 1.6 km @ 6.7% - category 3
• Km 143.5: Holme Moss, 4.7 km @ 7% - category 2
• Km 167.0: Midhopestones, 2.5 km @ 6.1% - category 3
• Km 175.0: Bradfield, 1 km @ 7.4% - category 4
• Km 182.0: Oughtibridge, 1.5 km @ 9.1% - category 3
• Km 196.0: Jenkin Road, 0.8 km @ 10.8% - category 4

The Race: A group of seven escapees went almost from the start. They were never allowed much rope and by km 140, most were back in the pack and eventually the final holdout, Blel Kadri of Ag2r, was also caught.

Yellow Jersey Marcel Kittel was unable to handle the nine categorized ascents (plus all the unrated climbs that made the day so hard). He finished 166th, about 20 minutes down.

The final climbs reduced the peloton to the 20 best. All the contenders were there and several threw in vicious attacks. But near the end Italian road champion Vincenzo Nibali took off. It was perfect timing and for those few crucial seconds the others just looked at each other. That was enough. Nibali is enjoying the form of his life. He dug deep and crossed the line a couple of seconds in front of the charging pack. Nibali not only won the stage, he is the new yellow jersey. Chapeau!

Complete Results:

Winner's average speed: 39.1 km/hr

Team Classification:

Live Updates:

Weather at York, at 12:25 local time: 19C (67F), wind from the northwest at 16 kph (10 mph), partly and mostly sunny. It will change to cloudy with a 50% chance of rain.

Omega Pharma sprinter Mark Cavendish, who crashed hard during the final meters of yesterday's stage, did not start today. Simon Gerrens, who also fell, did start.

Km 45: The day's break again went early. Today it's bigger than the trio who formed yesterday's escape. Today eventually seven riders came together and have been allowed a gap of 3min 8sec so far. The riders are: Armindo Fonseca (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Perrig Quémeneur (Europcar), Matthew Busche (Trek), Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis), David De La Cruz (NetApp-Endura), Blel Kadri (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Bart De Clercq (Lotto-Belisol).

Fonseca was the attacker who got the break going.

Km 58: Cyril Lemoine was first over the Blubberhouses climb, taking the only KOM point available from Armindo Fonseca Fonseca's Bretagne team has ambitions to take the KOM classification from Jens Voigt today.

There was a crash that took down Tejay van Garderen, Simon Gerrans (again!), Joaquin Rodriguez. The pack slowed to allow the riders to rejoin. With the Keighley intermediate sprint coming, Marcel Kittel's Giant-Shimano team has taken control of the front of the peloton. Van Garderen has made it back to the pack. The gap to the break is 2min 46sec.

Km 66: The day's parcours is very lumpy, with far more small climbs than just the nine rated ascents listed for the day. Today will be a bit like an Ardennes classic. The riders seems to be nervous with lots of little crashes happening along the way. The crowds might be even larger than yesterday. The break's gap is 2min 16sec.

Km 68: The riders in the break did not contest the intermediate sprint with Blel Kadri (Ag2r) being first over the line. They just kept their well-oiled paceline driving down the road. But back in the peloton, the sprint was taken seriously. Cannondale and Katusha set up sprint trains, but it was FDJ's Bryan Coquard who won the field sprint for eighth place, follwed by Alexander Kristoff, André Greipel and Peter Sagan. The increased speed reduced the break's gap down to 1min 45sec.

Km 85: The stage is 2hr 21min old. Perrig Quémeneur took off on the Oxenhope Moor climb to claim the two KOM points with Cyril Lemoine getting the remaining single point. On the descent the break regrouped. The pack is 3min 6sec back. So far the sky has clouds, but no rain. Average speed so far: 37.1 km/hr.

Km 98: The riders have passed through the Hebden Bridge feed zone. Janier Acevedo and Koen de Kort crashed and the Lampre rider Kristijan Durasek went down. The break seems to be tiring. Without an organized chase, the pack, led mostly by Tinkoff-Saxo, has brought the gap down to 1min 50sec.

Km 106: The race is slightly more than half over and even out in the remote moors, the fans have turned out in huge numbers. Next up, the third category Ripponden at km 112. French champion Arnaud Démare flatted and got a lightning-fast front wheel change and is chasing back on.

Km 112: Matthew Busche (Trek) hung back a bit on the mid part of the Ripponden climb and then attacked. Cyril Lemoine was on him instantly. Lemoine went over first with David De La Cruz second. At this point Lemoine is tied with Jens Voigt for the KOM classification. The pack didn't coast down the climb and Démare, who had just regained the field, was dropped. Démare has help from a teammate who has gone back to the French champion. He's back on and in just a few kilometers he'll face the third category Greetland.

Km 119: Things are getting warmer, the pack is showing still more energy. Riders are getting dropped from the peloton on the Greetland. Démare (and now André Greipel) was dropped again. Up front, Cyril Lemoine and David de la Cruz fought for the two KOM points and Lemoine got it, making him the virtual polka-dot jersey. Next, a real climb, the second category Holme Moss.

Km 126: The break has less than a minute now. The peloton may be together for the Holme Moss ascent and then the race will be truly engaged. Démare (and I assume Greipel) has again gained the pack. The service vehicles have been pulled from behind the break, which is now only 44 seconds ahead of the pack. Sky, Astana and Garmin are moving to the front in preparation of Holme Moss. Something has happened to Peter Sagan, he's picking his way through the follow cars.

Km 136: Another crash. Richie Porte and Nicolas Roche are caught in it and Porte needs (and gets) a new bike. Porte is almost more than a minute back. They will have a hard chase getting back on. The break now has only 18 seconds and the pack can see them.

Km 139: The Holme Moss climb has started. Blel Kadri attacked the break taking Lemoine with him. Back in the pack, riders are getting shelled, including the yellow jersey, Marcel Kittel. The rest of the break has been swept up. Porte has help from Danny Pate chasing the pack.

Km 142: Europcar's Thomas Voeckler has taken off and is closing in on Kadri. He's caught him. Sky leads the peloton, probably not wanting to go too hard with Richie Porte chasing. Porte is at the back of the peloton.

Km 143: Kadri has dropped Voeckler. Kadri goes over the Holme Moss first. Nicolas Edet has caught and passed Voeckler and goes over second, Voeckler third. Marcel Kittel has flatted and got a slow repair. He's three minutes back. Now a hair-raising, fast descent.

Km 154: Five riders have separated themselves from the pack and are chasing Kadri: Tony Martin (OPQS), Marcus Burghardt (BMC), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Cyril Gautier and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)

So, it's Kadri alone, off the front, the gang of five at 45 seconds, the main peloton a further 31 seconds behind and the yellow jersey group three minutes behind the main peloton.

Km 163, 38 km to go: Tinkoff-Saxo is pounding away at the front of the main peloton. Kadri isn't waiting, but the five chasers are only 17 seconds behind and the main peloton (which sprinter Bryan Coquard has just regained) just 13 seconds behind the five. It should come together, though the yellow jersey group is five minutes behind the peloton.

Km 165: The five escapees and then Kadri are caught. The peloton is on the third-category Midhopestones ascent. The relentless climbing is softening the legs of a lot of the riders. Hey, Andrew Talansky is climbing in second position. Something up or just being careful?

Km 167: Tom Jelte Slagter led Talansky over Midhopestones and now comes a technical descent. Froome and Nibali are close by. Now comes and uncategorised climb and the high heat Garmin is throwing is having a big effect on the pack. Riders are getting tossed. The front group might be down to about 25 riders!

Km 173: The pack is on the fourth-category Bradfield. There has been a big regroupment and the pack is up to 60 riders, including all the GC contenders as well as Peter Saga and Simon Gerrans.

Astana rider Andrei Grivko was first over the Bradfield. Geraint Thomas of Sky leads the field with Astana close by.

Km 183: Pierre Rolland (Europcar) amd JC Péraud (Ag2r) got away on the third-category Oughtibridge hill. They have just 15 seconds. Péraud didn't feel like working and Rolland (2011 L'Alpe d'Huez winner) has gone off alone.

Km 190, 10 km to go: Rolland has just seven seconds before the short, steep Jenkin Road ascent. Cannondale, working for Peter Sagan, is massed at the front and leads the chase.

Rolland is caught and Orcia-GreenEdge leads with Sky right next to them.

Km 196: Hoo Ha! Here comes Contador. This is STEEP! Nibali is next to him. Contador makes a dig and Sagan matches him. Froome goes and is first over Jenkin Road with Tejay Van Garderen on his wheel. Sagan leads on the descent with 4 km to go, taking chances on the technical descent.

Bam! The attacks are coming one after another. Nibali launches a perfectly timed attack and the others watch each other. No one wants to drag Sagan to the line.

The finish: Nibali makes it stick! The champion of Italy wins the second stage of the Tour de France. Nibali is also the new leader of the Tour de France.

Stage 2 photos:

Mark Cavendish talks with Omega Pharma team boss about abandoning the 2014 Tour de France because of his stage one crash. Cavendish did not start today's stage. Photo ©Sirotti

Vincenzo Nibali gets ready to head to the start. Photo ©Sirotti

Race leader Marcel Kittel signs an autograph before the start. Photo ©Sirotti

André Greipel heads off to a day in the Yorkshire hills. Photo ©Sirotti

Tejay van Garderen is showing excellent form this Tour.

Alejandro Valverde has been quiet these two stages, but he's had a superb season so far.

Jens Voigt got to spend only a single day in polka dots.

The scene at the York departure. Photo ©Sirotti

Alberto Contador leads Vincenzo Nibali up the day's last climb, Jenkin Rd. Photo ©Sirotti

Chris Froome. Photo ©Sirotti

Vincenzo Nibali not only timed his attack perfectly so that no one wanted to drag Peter Sagan to the line, he had the suds to stay away. Photo ©Sirotti

Nibali gets help putting on his new leader's jersey from an expert on the subject, Bernard Hinault. Photo ©Sirotti

Blel Kadri holds up his well-earned combativity prize. Photo ©Sirotti

Stage 2 map and profile:

Stage 2 map

Stage 2 profile

© McGann Publishing

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Vincenzo Nibali: ‘Today if cyclists are doping, they will be caught’

V incenzo Nibali turned 30 last week and, reaching that milestone during a landmark year for the Tour de France winner , it seems natural he should remember his boyhood on the last day of his holiday. Sicily is a long way from Dubai, where Nibali is on vacation with his wife and baby daughter, but the memories tumble through him.

For a while, at least, it hardly matters that his romantic story from the past is framed by a bleakly familiar backdrop of cycling controversy. We can even briefly set aside the uncomfortable fact that Nibali’s triumphant Tour has since been tainted by four positive drug tests for riders associated with his team, Astana, which is managed by Alexander Vinokourov, who was suspended for two years himsel after blood doping in 2007 .

“It’s true that my hero was Marco Pantani ,” Nibali says as he recalls a compatriot who won both the Giro and the Tour in 1998 – a year scarred by the infamous Festina affair, which reduced the sport to a circus of cheating. Nibali was only 13 then and he struggled to understand the problems that engulfed his icon after Pantani’s immersion in doping led to isolation, depression and his eventual death.

Everything that is tawdry and tragic about professional cycling can be found in the fate of Pantani, who died in 2004. But for the teenage Nibali, racing around Messina in Sicily, Pantani was simply Il Pirata (The Pirate). “I was only really interested in having fun,” Nibali says, “which meant cycling with my cousin and friends. Everyone wore the bandana like Pantani. Everyone wore his yellow shoes and kit.

“All us kids had fun imitating Pantani. We loved his image but his style of climbing and sprinting fascinated us – and the way he kept his hands so low on the handlebars. We loved that cool style of riding.”

I had heard that Nibali, as a boy, sold photographs he had taken of amateur races in Messina so he could buy a replica of Pantani’s skull-and-crossbones saddle. “Yes,” he exclaims in English before switching to Italian. “Absolutely. I did it so I could buy the saddle and other components. Then my dad started taking pictures of us riding and we could sell those too. It helped because the cost was really high.”

Nibali’s extraordinary triumph this year marked the culmination of a long journey of sacrifice. In Sicily there had been few opportunities for an aspiring cyclist. Nibali had to leave home at 16 to travel to Tuscany and carve out a new life in the unforgiving world of road racing. It has taken him 14 long years but he is now only the sixth rider to have won all three grand tours (joining Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Alberto Contador). He had already conquered the Vuelta a España in 2010 and a snowy Giro d’Italia in 2013. In this summer’s Tour de France he finished 7min 37sec clear of the second-placed rider, Jean‑Christophe Péraud.

“[Chris] Froome and Contador were ahead of me at the Critérium du Dauphiné [in June],” Nibali says, “but I arrived at the Tour in peak form. I did fantastic altitude training and I could feel it. Boom. I was in great shape. It was the first time I’d prepared for just one race and we saw the impact from the start.”

Nibali’s face lights up as he remembers “the amazing first two days in Yorkshire. The crowds were incredible but they made the roads even narrower. There was stress – but winning in Sheffield was beautiful . I took the yellow jersey for the first time and I was very happy. Even if it seemed a bit soon I knew the significance. On that stage Froome attacked first – and then Contador came. I closed them down because we’d discussed it as a team. It was very important to win that day and take control, with your team car in front, for the cobble stage.”

His stage two victory in Sheffield featured a clinical attack that suited his nickname. The Shark dominated the rest of the race. Froome fell twice and retired during the brutal fifth stage across 10 miles of rain-slicked cobbles while Nibali looked astonishingly controlled. “In the morning I was scared. But the first pavé was easier and gave me confidence. By the time I hit the third stretch, the really tough one, I felt ready. The rain meant you needed special bike-handling but it became better. I felt fantastic … afterwards.”

Nibali always regarded Contador as his main rival – but he was in charge of the race when the Spaniard crashed on stage 10 and broke a leg. It is hard to believe either Contador or Froome could have beaten Nibali. He rode with supreme conviction and skill in one of the year’s great sporting performances – which made the subsequent controversy surrounding Astana so galling.

Nibali should be credited for allowing over half of our two hours together to concentrate on doping. He shakes his head and grimaces when asked to describe his feelings after hearing last month that one of his nine team-mates at the Tour, Maxim Iglinskiy, had tested positive for the blood-doping agent EPO in early August .

“Apart from the obvious reaction – anger – my main feeling was that this was unbelievably stupid. It did not make any sense. He had just renewed his contract. He did not have a massive goal to chase. Our sponsors in Kazakhstan weren’t happy at all. We were in Kazakhstan the week after [at the Tour of Almaty] and there was such a feeling of betrayal because he is a Kazakh rider.”

At the time Nibali said: “The mother of the imbecile is always pregnant.” He smiles sadly. “We say this in Italy but it sums up my feelings perfectly. The great things we’re trying to achieve can be jeopardised by a single rider. That’s why it’s so upsetting. One mistake can ruin so much. But I believe cycling is the cleanest sport because of all the doping controls.”

Iglinskiy’s brother, Valentin, had already been suspended in September after failing a test for EPO. “Same family,” Nibali shrugs. The problem for Nibali is that Maxim Iglinskiy, if not his brother, was part of his Tour team. “Yes,” Nibali concedes. “But he was not part of my training team. I have a training team of seven and he was never part of it. The two other members of the team are chosen at the last minute. They are like a filler.”

Did he speak to Iglinskiy after the positive result? “No,” Nibali exclaims. “He disappeared.”

Nibali would love to win some of the Classics and it must infuriate him that, in 2012, he finished second to Iglinskiy in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. “Yes, yes,” Nibali says, raising his hands helplessly. “It’s normal to feel that. But the past is the past.”

Last month, a third Astana rider, Ilya Davidenok, tested positive, this time for anabolic steroids . “This guy is not from our team,” Nibali insists. “Astana has a satellite team of youngsters. It’s a completely different team. I dug up a little info on him because I didn’t even know who he was. I discovered he was racing with the Kazakh national team. So only the brothers were really associated with Astana and the Kazakhstan federation has been very tough on them. It’s right that they should.”

On Wednesday it was announced that a second rider for Astana’s reserve team, Victor Okishev, had tested positive for steroids in May . The catalogue of failed drugs tests could have severe ramifications for Astana in 2015.

Does Nibali feel bitter that he has been tainted by association? “No. I’m just surprised. Today we have a biological passport, regular doping control, race controls. If you are doping, you will be caught. Even if the technique of doping can be advanced you will still be caught in another four years. It makes me laugh. Risking and cheating today is for stupid people.”

Did he have any doubts signing for Vinokourov, the general manager? “No. I didn’t actually sign with Vino. I signed with the team owner and with Giuseppe Martinelli [Astana’s team-manager] who I know well. The key thing is that they agreed I would take my whole group. This gave me the opportunity to lead my own team.”

Nibali smiles when asked if there is anything he could do differently. “If I think too much about the doubters it would not be good.”

He is still tied to his deeply flawed hero, for Pantani was mentored and managed by Martinelli at Carrera and Mercatone Uno. During this year’s Tour de France Martinelli defended his reputation . “I’ll never deny my past with Marco,” Martinelli said, “because I’ve pretty much nothing to worry about.”

Pantani and Nibali are also linked by Emilio Magni who worked as a doctor at Mercatone Uno. Is Nibali still working with Magni? “Yes. He comes from [Nibali’s former team] Liquigas and I’ve been working with him only as my nutritionist. Magni just advises me what I need to eat – and when. He’s the key guy when it comes to weight and getting it down.”

Magni and Nibali were both at Fassa Bortolo, before joining Liquigas – whom the rider represented until joining Astana in 2012. A judicial inquiry into doping at Fassa Bortolo was held in 2001 but Nibali stresses that Magni’s good reputation is completely intact. “In 2006 I started with Magni and I took him to Liquigas and I have been with him since. That’s all.”

In 2011, Liquigas denied claims by one of their former riders, Leonardo Bertagnolli , that he was given permission by team management to work with Dr Michele Ferrari – one of cycling’s most notorious figures. There have also been recent internet rumours that Ferrari might be in contact with people on the fringes of Nibali’s team. It is an allegation Nibali has quashed in the past.

Nibali shakes his head when I ask him if he has ever met Ferrari himself. “No,” he says emphatically. How does he respond to the suggestion that members of his group might have met Ferrari recently? “Maybe in the past they did – but, for sure, not now. I don’t know anything about them seeing him.”

Nibali moves on to safer terrain and confirms that his 2015 season will begin in February with the Tour of Dubai – which he rode last year. “It’s great that cycling is becoming more international. And, for me, it’s especially good to start the year in Dubai. I like the race. The weather is perfect and in Europe, in February, you can’t really train. I will start very happily here in Dubai.”

Will he consider an audacious attempt to emulate Pantani – the last man to win both the Giro and the Tour in the same year? “It’s not decided yet. The chances are that Fabio Aru [his team-mate] will do the Giro and I’ll focus on the Tour. But I don’t want to close the door on the Giro yet.”

Is it still possible to win both in the same year? “Nothing is impossible. Maybe it’s possible for older riders with the right approach. I think it’s doable but next year they have chosen a very hard Tour route.”

He is more amused in dismissing the Russian team owner Oleg Tinkov, who offered €1m to cycling’s top four riders – Nibali, Contador, Froome and Nairo Quintana – if they race all three grand tours in 2015. “I want to have a life and see my family too. I can understand the fans’ dream but the chance of anyone competing for all three is almost zero.”

There is still time for Nibali to remember his tribute to Pantani after winning the Tour. “I decided near the end of the season to go to the Pantani museum and give them one of my jerseys. Not many people know I received a yellow jersey from Marco’s mother. It meant such a lot to me. It was the same when I went to the museum. I learned a lot about Marco that I didn’t know – that he liked painting. It was very good and touching to remember how much he meant to me as a kid.”

Is Pantani still his hero – despite everything? “At the time he was my hero because he won the Giro and the Tour in the same year. It’s difficult to change your view of that hero even when you grow up. I was a kid but I saw the slow decline. I don’t really know what happened but, as a fan, it looked [as] if Pantani was a scapegoat. Everyone pointed a finger at him. That’s our general perception in Italy.”

Nibali makes no further mention of Pantani or the Iglinskiy brothers as, after our interview, he charms everyone at a press conference to announce the new route of the Tour of Dubai. Late that afternoon, driving around Dubai with his wife, Rachele, and daughter Emma, it is striking to see Nibali at his most relaxed. In the back seat he blows raspberries on Emma’s neck, making her squeal with delight. The problems of cycling, and the enduring questions around Astana, recede briefly. Even the thought of turning 30 seems to please him – especially as the future seems more crammed with meaning than the fact that he has already won every grand tour.

“I don’t think about it,” Nibali says in the fading desert sunlight. “Maybe later I will enjoy the significance but not now. The only thing I realise is that I am with a select group in cycling history. That makes me happy – and determined to improve as a rider. Everyone always told me when you hit 30 you have reached your peak years. That’s what I hope and I expect. I still have a lot to give.”

• Tour de France 2014
• Tour de France
• Chris Froome
• Alberto Contador
• Drugs in sport

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Top Sprinter’s Crash Ruins Bid for First Stage Win

By Ian Austen

• July 25, 2014

BERGERAC, France — It was another rainy day at the Tour de France with a rider from the American Garmin-Sharp team at the front as the finish neared. But unlike Jack Bauer, who was caught only yards before the finish line in Nîmes on Sunday, Ramunas Navardauskas managed to win alone Friday after a 129.5-mile trek through downpours, thunder and lightning.

“From the last minute, I was afraid to look backward in case it happened like Jack,” Navardauskas, a Lithuanian, said after his seven-second win in Stage 19. “I had no idea what was happening behind me. I was thinking that maybe the sprinters were chasing me.”

That was the plan, at least. But the chase for Navardauskas fell apart with a crash on a tight, slick right-hand turn about a mile and a quarter from the finish.

Peter Sagan, a Slovak with Cannondale, accepted blame for causing the spill, although the rain might have been more at fault.

It was an unusual misstep for Sagan, who has a reputation for extraordinary bike-handling skills. A video released last year shows him riding onto the hood of a car and into the vehicle’s rooftop bike rack.

On Friday, Sagan hoped to move out of his frustrating position of holding the green jersey, given to the best sprinter, without having won a stage. Points from a series of near misses at finishes have accumulated with points from sprints midway through stages — which race organizers include to liven up the proceedings — to make him the points leader.

For Sagan, though, a stage victory would be a greater source of pride. He now has 417 points in the green-jersey standings, compared with 253 for the second-place rider, Bryan Coquard of the French Europcar team.

But Friday brought more frustration. After the fall, Sagan stood in the downpour with his hands on his hips for an extended period, apparently waiting for a replacement bike. His last hope for saving face will come Sunday, the final day of the Tour, which finishes with what is often the most intense sprint of the race.

Vincenzo Nibali, the Tour’s leader and the presumed overall winner , stayed out of trouble and finished with a large group behind Navardauskas. As the cyclists neared the line, however, they were riding more at the pace of a training outing.

Saturday will feature the only time trial of this Tour, a race against the clock. Officials with Nibali’s team, Astana, said he would try to win the stage, which will be important mostly to riders looking for spots on the podium.

Nibali will have some unusual technical assistance. Specialized, Astana’s bicycle supplier, will have people along the route measuring the wind speed and direction using equipment normally seen in yacht races. In an event in which there is no hiding from the wind behind other riders, the radio reports could be an advantage for Nibali.

Ji Cheng, the first Chinese rider in the Tour de France , further secured his last-place status. Enduring knee pain, he finished alone in the rain, 12 minutes 41 seconds after Navardauskas’s solo trip across the line. To move out of last place, Ji has to make up more than 38 minutes.

An earlier version of the picture with this article was published in error. It showed Tom Jelte Slagter, not Ramunas Navardauskas.

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Nibali wins stage 2 of the Tour de France

Astana rider rides into yellow jersey with bold final attack

Vincenzo Nibali ( Astana ) was the surprise winner on stage two of the Tour de France after jumping clear from a group of favourites with a late attack. The Italian champion also took over the race lead, as he finished the stage two seconds ahead of Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQS).

Nibali shows he is also a threat at the Tour de France

Overnight leader Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) was unable to survive the day’s nine climbs and was dropped on the stage with Nibali’s two second lead enough to move him into yellow and head of Peter Sagan (Cannondale).

There were multiple attacks on the final climb, Jenkin Road, with Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, and Tejay van Garderen all featuring. Pre-stage favourite Peter Sagan carefully marked a number of attacks but he had no answer when Nibali attacked inside the final two kilometres.

The Italian established a small gap on his rivals and despite another late effort from Froome and world champion Rui Costa, he had enough to seal the win and Italy's first yellow jersey since 2009. 

Nibali called it a "wonderful victory! It pays me off for all the sacrifices. The beginning of the season has been a difficult one for me but I've trained hard with my team-mates for the Tour de France and my confidence is now boosted by the two victories I just got, at the Italian championship and here today."

It was also Nibali's first Tour stage win, and the first stage win by an Italian national champion since 1999.

Kittel had never been seriously expected to defend his race lead, but was able to hang on to the lead group until the fifth of the day’s nine climbs. He fell back into the grupetto, finally crossing the finish line over 15 minutes down.

"Despite 3,000 altitude metres I had a good time on the bike," said Kittel after the stage. "The fans were incredible, there are no words for that and it was an awesome day. I was in front and there were so many people I just yelled at them to tell them to be even louder pretending like I couldn't hear them – I thought I lost my hearing."

Welcome to Yorkshire The peloton took off from York without Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) who was forced out of the race after a crash near the end of the first stage left him with a serious shoulder injury. He was at the start, his arm in a sling, as he briefly talked to the media before departing.

The break of the day formed almost straight after the flag was dropped with Matthew Busche (Trek Factory Racing), Blel Kadri (AG2R La Mondiale), Perrig Quemeneur (Team Europcar), David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Team NetApp-Endura), Armindo Fonseca (Bretagne-Séché Environnement) and Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) going clear. Bart de Clerq (Lotto Belisol) soon made contact, to make it seven leaders.

The peloton seemed happy with this group and let them go, with Giant-Shimano relaxed at the front. The gap peaked at just over three minutes and was hovering around the two minute mark at the day’s only intermediate sprint.

The break didn’t contest the sprint but it was more fast and furious when the peloton came by with Bryan Coquard (Europcar) taking it ahead of Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) and Peter Sagan (Cannondale).

There were a number of minor crashes along the way, with even yellow jersey Kittel hitting the deck at one point.

Lemoine had taken the one point on offer at the first climb, the Blubberhouses. Quemeneur was determined to grab the two points at the second climb, so he took off and picked them up in a solo move, with Lemoine getting the one point for second place.

The third climb, Hebden Bridge, saw huge crowds, and also Lemoine taking the points ahead of de la Cruz. That put the Frenchman in a tie with Jens Voigt for the KOM, and there were still six more climbs to go. The gap was again around the two minute mark.

That climb looked to have been the cue for the field to wake up though and the gap soon dropped to one minute and then kept falling.

As they started up the day’s only category 2 climb of Holme Moss Greipel was spotted dropping off the back with 62km to go, and yellow jersey Kittel was the next to go.

The attacks start Thomas Voeckler then attacked. Most of the break had been reeled in as the Europcar rider caught the only remaining rider, Kadri, but the AG2R rider crested the climb alone, while Voeckler was joined by Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), who took second on the climb.

The peloton was 1:15 back and Kittel over three minutes down, having also punctured.

Voeckler and Edet moved back into a high-powered chase group, which also included Tony Martin (Omega Pharma QuickStep), Marcus Burghardt (BMC) and Cyril Gautier (Europcar), less than 30 seconds back.

Sagan was over a minute back in the peloton and slowly realized that such riders as Martin and Burghardt could prove dangerous to his dreams of a stage win and the yellow jersey. Cannondale turned up the speed and caught themwith Kadri captured soon after.

Garmin-Sharp then moved to the head of the field, as they led up the day’s sixth climb, the Midhopestones. Tom-Jelte Slagter and Andrew Talansky took the few points available on the category three climb.

The increased tempo and the continuous climbing took its toll. The lead group, headed by Garmin, held only some 20 to 30 riders, including Froome and Contador. With 30km to go, Froome sent his teammates to the front to take control.

The last four climbs were bunched fairly close together. Climb number seven, Bradfield (cat. 4), saw Sky move to the front again and drive towards Oughtibridge.

Pierre Rolland (Europcar) took the two points, and Ag2r’s Jean-Christophe Peraud the next point, as they pulled away from the field.

The French duo continued their attack on the descent, sensing an opportunity.

Sky, Cannondale and BMC were up front in the chasing group. Peraud was caught first, and Rolland hung desperately to his slim lead, taking 14 seconds into the final 10km. He was caught within 2km.

One more climb remained, Jenkin Road, topping out with 5km to go. Only a category four, it nevertheless seemed destined to play a role.

Orica Green-Edge took over the lead work, working for Michael Albasini, but Cannondale wasn’t going to let this one get away. Then Contador moved to the front, with Nibali and Froome right behind him.

Froome attacked as they neared the top, catching his rivals by surprise. Van Garderen led the others back up to him, but the Sky rider was first over the climb.

Fuglsang took off on the descent, with Froome then leading the chase to neutralize him.

Attack followed attack, with Sagan marking them all. With 2km to go, Nibali jumped and quickly pulled away. Porte and Sagan looked at one another in the chase, but it appeared that no one could organize anything to catch the Italian champion. By the time the group turned up the speed again, it was too late and Nibali pulled off the upset.

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Race information

• Date: 27 July 2014
• Start time: -
• Avg. speed winner: 41.08 km/h
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 137.5 km
• Points scale: GT.A.Stage
• Parcours type:
• ProfileScore: 6
• Vert. meters: 805
• Departure: Evry
• Arrival: Paris
• Race ranking: 0
• Startlist quality score: 1612
• Won how: Sprint of large group
• Avg. temperature:

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