With the Tour de France done and dusted, we’re now well into cycling’s transfer silly season. Big moves have already been confirmed, others are in the offing, and we’ve rather optimistically taken on the task of trying to keep our fingers on the pulse. Without further ado, here’s a quick run down of the biggest deals – both done, and in the process of being made so:
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The tricolore is finally flying at the Tour de France. Ag2r La Mondiale’s Romain Bardet managed to stay upright when other general classification favourites were slipping on the wet tarmac to Friday’s finish at the summit of Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, and was rewarded with an outstanding solo victory. The winning margin was sufficient for the Frenchman to move up into second place overall, with Adam Yates and Bauke Mollema both tumbling down the GC into 4th and 10th respectively. Chris Froome, one of the day’s unfortunate fallers, finished the stage on Geraint Thomas‘ bike, but maintains a healthy margin in yellow.
Peter Sagan won his third stage of this year’s Tour as it made a detour into the spectacular Swiss city of Bern. The reigning world champion consolidated his lead in the points classification by edging out Alexander Kristoff to the line, after the day’s two-man breakaway of Tony Martin and Julian Alaphilippe (and a plucky late move from Rui Costa) had been reeled in. There was no change in the GC, with all the race favourites coming across the line safely ensconced in the lead group.