Oslo, August 31st

"I remember Oslo, as such. It's people, I don't remember". What is a city, if not a recollection of memories? What is it you remember about the place you moved into, years ago?

The movie opens with a montage of people narrating what they remember about Oslo, overlapped with visuals of town. This creates a beautiful, dream-like effect as we are eased into the movie. We are taken through 24 Hrs in the life of a recovering addict. Things just begin, with no introduction to the characters or their backgrounds. Which is a good thing, as we should not become judgmental, isn't it?

A chance at redemption brings Anders to Oslo, and it is familiar territory for him. Is it melancholy, or is it nostalgia? He has to make the choice. They say it is good to visit places from your past which have not changed. That way you realise how you have changed. So true, is it not?

There are a few gems of sequences which absolutely enchanted me. One is a conversation between Anders and his friend Thomas. It seems like a boring conversation, but it is filled with philosophy. Thomas flits through the minutiae of family life with him mocking himself, and Anders gives us a glimpse of the anarchy in his mind. All this culminates with a delicate goodbye between the old friends, shot in the most beautiful way. Is this the point when things go spiraling downwards?

Old friends

We are almost inside the mind of the protagonist. Long shots, out of focus scenes gradually focusing on Anders, scenes cut into each other. The mind puts itself into other peoples lives, built of their conversations. We become an observer, on the fringes of society, wondering what it must be like, to be 'mainstream' again? For some reason, this song plays in my head and seems quite apt, too. The camera becomes the protagonists mind. The isolation is constructed beautifully, with some stunning locations as backdrop.

Tune in, tune out

The family angle is mentioned fleetingly but is not explored deeply. The ghosts of old girlfriends raise their heads a few times. All we know is that, there are scars and there are wounds. At the end, Anders finds his peace, in his own way. The movie 'completes itself'. If you watch it, you'll see what I imply. That is some form of closure, cinematically.

I've got to say, this is one of the most finely-cut movies in the cinematography(Jakob Ihre) and editing sections (Olivier Bugge Cout). Hats off!

Live in the moment

Anders Danielsen Lie has lived his character to the dot. He delivers a stunning performance, as his silence and torment speaks more than his words. The pain flows from his eyes. A really fine piece of acting. Hans Olav Brenner delivers a solid performance as Thomas. This is an off beat movie, where the subject of addiction has not been treated like a taboo, but an honest attempt has been made to show things in the most unbiased way.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*

Nicky's family

We live in a sad time when money speaks and brains are being deadened by relentless onslaught to thoroughly stultifying content. The less IQ you have (or the more cleavage you are willing to show) the more 'successful' you might be!(and rich, too!). There is an almost-rabid desire to 'be on airtime' - it just does not matter why. No wonder we have 'reality TV' based on everything - teenage pregnancy, obesity, dating, breaking up, living and dying. Life has become a caricature of itself.

There is no time to wait and save the little puppy crossing the road. There is no patience to speak to your 'childhood friends', if at all you happen to meet for dinner. Cos, hey! We have to 'like' our own update, don't we? We can't keep our hands off our phones, and our eyes off the screens. Narcissism knows no end.

In such a time, this story of an English stockbroker during the early days of WW2 overpowers all else and makes up pause and think about a million things. What did he do? Oh, nothing much, really, apart from saving 600 -odd Jewish kids from Auschwitz and other gas chambers. And did not breathe about it to anyone for half a century. He insists that he wasn't doing anything special, adding, 'I just saw what was going on and did what I could to help.' This is an exceptional story from a time which cannot be reasoned out, however hard you try.

Sir Nicholas Winton

There are some extremely painful dramatizations of moments beyond words here. One cannot even begin to imagine the range of emotions felt by everyone who went through this. Most of the kids themselves would be too young to remember anything. Can you imagine living almost your entire life before coming face to face with the random stranger, who is the reason you (and your grandkids) are present today? This is about paramount sacrifice, relentless selflessness and hoping against hope. It is about raw, basic human emotions.

Some moments here absolutely moved me to shreds. There are plenty of folks interviewed, who reminisce through the fog of ages to look at the nostalgic train ride, which changed everything for them . You will remember the simple pleasures of childhood that make an imprint forever - a simple meal, the kind man, a reassuring word. It is beautiful to realize how the smallest things matter a lot. When you see wizened old men and women recollect little incidents from their childhood , it is hard to not soften up. Some of the questions posed by such movies create cannot be answered.

Most of all,I guess, we understand the effect that one man with good intentions can have (of course, with a little help from his friends) on the world. The ripple effect is awe- inspiring and quite hard to sum up, and comprehend. I'm not sure what your reaction will be to this movie, but I was thoroughly depressed after watching it. Anyone who is interested in WW2 should not miss this.

If we decide to measure our life by the good impact on others, then Sir Nicholas Winton would be God.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*

Das Boot: Director's cut

We are conditioned to form stereotypes everywhere. Cinema and media are rife with examples. We are brainwashed to believe that one side is always good, and everyone else is the enemy. Our opinions, ideology and thoughts are forged by what we consume and who we associate with. Mega conglomerates control the media, and political ideology aims to polarize the masses. We divide everyone and everything based on Language, geography, colour ,religion, and everything else in between. In such a time, Das boot stands out with its honest attempt in portraying men during war. There are no heroes or villains here, just crewmen doing their job, and listening to their Captain.

Das boot (The boat) is a German movie about a U-boat and its crew, set during WW2. The movie is based on a 1973 German book by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, who in fact was a war correspondent. He had worked for the propaganda department of the German Navy during WW2. Lt. Werner's character in this movie is said to based on Buchheim. 

Almost the entire movie consists events which happen inside the submarine. There is no hurrying, as we are introduced to each and every character and their stories. Nothing sticks out, and like going through the pages of a good book, we get to identify with the characters - the longing lover, the loving husband, and the energy of youth.

Jürgen Prochnow delivers a terrific performance as the U- boat's stoic, rock - solid, war hardened and unflinching captain. Brilliant leadership traits are on display here. Like a rock on a rough shore, his eyes betray little emotion. Faced with utmost adversity, he is unfazed and issues commands with absolutely no hint of fear. 'I need proper reports', he thunders, when his submarine is on the brink of sinking. Make no mistake, his subtle changes in expression reveal a range of emotions - hope, triumph, dedication and sadness. At no point confuse his demeanor and harsh words as those from a soulless man.

There are some absolutely gripping nail-biting sequences when the U-boat attacks enemy ships and dives, to evade anti-submarine weapons. The atmosphere is fraught with tension and the seconds move like hours. Many times I felt like I had stepped into Maat (Petty Officer) Hinrich's shoes (The radioman and sonar controller, who is the window to the outside world, while underwater). The sonar pings piercing the silence created an atmosphere of heightened awareness and I was riveted. The sounds will stay with me for a long time.

See sounds

At 3.5 Hours, it is a very long movie. But at no point I felt this. There is enough drama and tension to keep you firmly glued to your seat. Do not expect a traditional plot, character or ending. Nothing can categorize the movie, that is the brilliance.

I was amazed at the cinematography, at how the camera moved fluidly within the cramped spaces of the submarine. We feel that we are a part of the movie, living and breathing with its characters. The crew's myriad expressions are captured very well. The editing is top - notch.This is an immersive experience, best seen in the biggest of screens.

Anyone remotely interested in WW2 should not miss this masterpiece. I'm very sure I'm going to watch this gem again. Watch this version with subtitles.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*

Encounters at the end of the world

..overhead the albatross..

All the lines of the map converge at two places. This congregation of lines, geography and magnetic fields brings to one place the full time travelers , part time workers and Professional dreamers, as someone mentions . Drivers, computer scientists, fork lift operators, biologists, welders, climatologists, divers and construction workers. Everyone is poetic, passionate, well traveled, well read and a has a streak of madness, and thats the way things should be :)

..and everything is green and submarine..

There is no North of North pole, I had written somewhere eons ago. And I hear something like this here. Do I fit into this category? :) Imagery of formidable and painfully-beautiful Gorakshep flit through my mind.

I am in awe of the stories of people documented here, as they go about near death experiences (near life experiences?) nonchalantly. These are the folks who live by Carpe Diem. There is a streak of controlled recklessness, with a burning desire to experience what life has to offer. Respect, for having the balls to listen to yourself!! A delicate dialogue with someone who revisits a painful moment in his life, moved me. Fight or flight.

The sounds that seals make, sound like Pink Floyd or something, says a biologist studying them. One of the coolest moments :) And they do, check it out :) The Echoes are around you, if you know what I mean :P:P

..and deep beneath the rolling waves, of labyrinths and coral caves..

Scientists shred away on a tin shed amidst the frozen nothingness, a scientist demonstrates how to get into a travel bag (travel with yourself?!). If you listen to all these people speak, you begin to dream, too.

There are some really stunning and other-worldly images here. This, combined with the grand background score transports you to a place where time stands still. This is a philosophical documentary which will make you ponder on many things. It will remind you about the beauty, fragility, magnificence and the grandeur of the world we live in, and how much there is to explore.

Thanks, GK!

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*

Happy People

Image courtesy filmschoolrejects.com

This is a documentary on the lives of people in Bakhtia, an area in Siberia. With a population of 300, and accessible only through helicopter and boat, its inhabitants are mostly trappers. Directed by Werner Herzog who also provides the voice over, we are taken through all seasons in this isolated, rugged, and merciless place. These are the people who have lived here for generations, and have learnt how to endure and survive in this almost inhospitable place. This is true Man Vs Wild. What is a telephone? What is the internet?

Gennady Solovyev  is the main character who we follow through most of the documentary. Gennady takes us through how he survives in this wilderness using the most basic of necessities and tools (most of which he builds from scratch). We go through one full year, observing Gennady go about his work .He chooses a tree, examines its fibers, deems it fit for building a ski and then chops it down. Using basic carpentry tools and techniques passed on for generations, he creates a pair of skis for his travels. Factory made ones will not last this place, he declares. We also understand how the Koolyomka works(a deadfall trap).

Building the Koolyomka

The age- old bond between dog and man is explored well here. "You are no hunter without your dog", says Gennady. And it rings very true. It is beautiful to observe these loyal beings work with man, as they have, for generations and generations. The images of Gennady's loyal dog making its way across the frozen nothingness, as Gennady makes his way home, will make a lasting impact.

Image courtesy fandor.com

It is also amazing to observe the hardened, man against the elements Gennady reminisce about a sad incident involving one of his dogs and a bear. Side topic: Do you know why dogs turn around in circles before lying down? Read this. More on dogs.

Gennady also becomes philosophical and bestows his wisdom of the ages to us, sometimes borne out of solitude and contemplation. Stripping out the nonsense, he declares that here, it is about who outsmarts whom.

There are moments of family time, and the celebration of Christmas, too. The stark reality of depression and alcoholism, which is a reality in these places is also presented, although briefly here.

Warner weaves this documentary around solitude, industry, resilience, fortitude, and the delicate balance between man and nature. Although I felt that the romance of happiness may not be adequately conveyed/ portrayed here, this is a good watch. The least we can do is to appreciate the ways of these people, and remind ourselves 'how much' is 'too much', and how our mindless ways are crippling the planet, like nothing else in the history of its existence.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*


With Love, from Russia.

A coffee in Berlin

Image courtesy rottentomatoes.com

 
I watched this movie in a phase of Non-English movie viewings which I am in, and I am glad I did so. Being conditioned to predictability and patterns, this is a good break to appreciate viewpoints from around the world.

This movie is in black and white, and it follows a phase of a person in Berlin. There are vignettes of folks you encounter, each with his own quirks. Nikko is a dropout from Law school, and we go around Berlin encountering people.

We are taken through Nikko's interactions with normal people - the pesky neighbour (who lets you into his fragile life over an impromptu drink), the government servant at the driving license centre who asks seemingly unconnected questions, the struggling actor, the classmate from eons ago , the seemingly aggressive film maker, memories of childhood from an ageing man in a bar ( this sequence is quite brilliant, too).

Image courtesy variety.com

Nikko's relationship with his father is explored, too, somewhat briefly. Things move, without dwelling at one point or person for too long. There is no 'plot' as such, things are just the way they are, as in real life.

There is a delicate scene in which Nikko bonds with a friend's granny - I feel that this is one of the most well - crafted sequences here. Many subtle points are explored. I won't spoil it more for you.

One thing loosely ties all the encounters and people in the movie (more so, its Protagonist). There are failed attempts at a seemingly simple thing - getting a good cup of coffee. The coffee machine is broken, the lady who serves coffee is just too painful to tackle,or you're simply out of coffee.

 This is Nikko's journey. An exploration in melancholy..... and the perfect coffee. Or rather, the circumstances surrounding it. What I liked is, the general glumness throughout the movie ends with one simple moment where things work, and when hope is restored, by means of scoring a nice cup of coffee.

Image courtesy filmchair.com

There is a sequence towards the end, stills of seemingly random places - an empty road with signal lights, graffiti, buildings, train tracks,  (There is a shot which is shown in the beginning and towards the end of the movie. I remember thinking how well it is composed - figure it out :)) Reminded me how how the movie 'wraps around itself', like it does in Pan's labyrinth

I kind of feel that this is like the perfect movie, without having the depth of words to express why. This movie is definitely something which grows on you, like old friends and old wine :) Let me know what you think about it.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*

Tour De France 2014

I began to follow the Tour only in 2013 as I had got Dreamcatcher only in March that year. I used to return from work and watch whatever was remaining of the stage that day. And I was transfixed. This was true sport, at its brutal best. And these were Gods who chased the limits of human endurance.  Even though it was not eons ago that Lance Armstrong stunned the world by revealing his doping habits, I was thrilled to watch these athletes in action. There were so many vivid images through the tour. The flashes of the crowds and the many antics of the people are something to be seen and appreciated only in the Tour :) I starkly remember the people going crazy cheering for the cyclists as this was something that I too have experienced, to some extent:)











This time the Tour began just as the FIFA World cup ended. One month of madness followed by another :) So I got a subscription and decided to watch all stages of the Tour. The idea was to understand the sport more deeply. At around Stage 7 I was hit with a brainwave of blogging about it, as I was anyway spending a lot of time watching the Tour :) The objective was manifold , to hone my sports writing skills being one of them :) I have tried to cover the stages with some key moments, with some fun thrown in as well :) The photos outweigh the words this time, I hope going further I can capture the essence of each stage with less photos and more words :) So here goes, from stage 8, the Tour de France 2014!!




*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy nbcsports.com*











Stage 8:

Chasing the leaders

The polka - dotted Jersey

The local farmers put in a lot of effort to make their towns leave a mark on le Tour!

She is the one who shows riders how far ahead / behind they are from the leading pack/ the peloton and I have a mini-crush on her now :)

:)

A warm welcome by the local farmers

One of the many memorials for the fallen heroes of WW1

Astana doing 100% of the pace making until this point

Atom Heart Mother

The rains caught up with the group, with around 50 Km to go. The breakaway group was kissing a 11 minutes lead from the peloton, with the flying 7 going strong still. Yates seemed to be struggling, though, with the medic spraying the magic spray on his back. The peloton did not seem excited to gulp them down.

The rains at around 50 Km to go!

Rain clouds over the finish line

As we hit the first climb - , the leading group split, with Chavanel and Kadri leaving the rest behind, as the peloton inches towards the leaders, pulling the lead down to 4:36. Nibali and Contador's teams were responsible for this, as they want to place their leaders ahead of the pack when the hit the base of the climb. Kadri conquers this climb.







Kadri led and conquered the second climb Col de Grosse pierre which gets to a 16% gradient, with Chavanel and the peloton blazing in the rains.

Mickey Rogers launches him over climb 2

And Nibali locks to Contador's back wheel as they thunder down the descent in brutal conditions of rain and fog!

Kadri launches onto climb three with 2 Km to the finish - the Cote de La Mauselaine. With a 3:29 lead it is still uncertain as the climb goes to 10.3% gradient.

Kadri conquers stage 8!

Kadri wins stage 8 in the pain and rain to conquer. Glory for France! Chavanel is gobbled up by the peloton remnants and it is a head to head strike between Nibali and Contador, which Contador finally wins. Porte is 4th.



Standings for Stage 8:

Stage 9. Gerardmer to Mulhouse. 170 Km. 6 climbs. One Sprint.

Welcome to the Hills

Defying gravity ,friction, and everything else in between

At 106 Km to go, the group is split, thanks to the hills :

Cote des Cinq Chateaux, the third climb for the day. 4.1 Km at a 6.15 gradient. De Marchi and Tony Martin lead the assault.

And they go over the top

And over the top of the Cote de Gueberschwihr too

Next climb: The Le Markstein, at 1183m and 5.4 % gradient. Tony Martin and di Marchi led the assault, and Tony broke away, a few Km into the climb :)

Breaking away

And conquering the last peak for the day

Rodriguez overtakes di Marchi to take second place over the climb

And Tony Gallopin launched his assault at around the 25 Km to go mark. The man is aiming for glory, to be a Frenchman wearing the Yellow jersey on the eve of Bastille day (he was around 3 min behind the current Yellow Jersey, Nibali.





At 10Km to go, Gallopin was consumed by the chase group consisting of around 18 men. So Martin, the time trial champion of the world, rolls into the finish on stage 9.

Victory is sweet

Stage 10.
        With 4 category 1 climbs, this is the real - deal day. The finish, too is atop a mountain (last 5 Km at a staggering 20% gradient!!!). The second time that the wheat will be separated from the chaff, after stage 5!



Sagan broke away from everyone towards the top of climb 1, and rocketed down in flooded roads at terrifying speeds!! Truly legendary cycle handling skills.

Voeckler and Rodrigues dash to the top of climb one, amidst pouring rain! Voeckler won this contest by a hair's breadth

Climb two, the petit ballon. 2nd category climb, tops at 1163 msl.

Battle between Voeckler and Rodriguez again, Rodrigues gets it this time.

 Going downhill from climb two, Contador has a very bad crash as his frame snaps!

Getting treated for the fall

Climb 3 is the Col du Platzerwasel, 1st category climb at 1193 msl.

And Rodrigues and Voeckler square off for climb 3 as well! Rodrigues gets this one as well.

Contador could not continue after his team nursed him towards the rear of the peloton and had to give up. One of the saddest moment of the tour for me.

Another sad moment in the Tour :/

The next climb is the Col d' Orderen, at 884 msl. A 2nd category climb.

Rodrigues gets it again

Climb 6 - the Col des Croix.

And again

Martin was pulling the front of the race ahead phenomenally, while Astana led the chasers group. Next was the penultimate climb of the day, the Col des Chevreres, at 915 msl and gradients reaching up to 18%!! Martin delivers Kwitowski till a point in the penultimate climb in a mind blowing effort, considering he broke away to the end on stage 9.






Final climb of the day! The La Planche des Belles Filles. 5.9 Km and 1035 msl. With 3 Km to the summit, Niballi made his move :)

Nibali wins the stage and re claims the yellow jersey :)

Stage 11. Besancon to Oyonnax. 187 Km. 4 climbs. One Sprint.

Stage 11 elevation profile

The tour is always interesting. Expect the unexpected :)

The breakaway

As we reached the final climb of the day, Gallopin took the lead, with Sagan's team pulling him ahead in third place just behind.

Gallopin wins in style :)

 Stage 12. Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint Etienne. 185 Km.One Sprint and three climbs.

Stage 12 elevation profile

At around 90Km to go, David de la Cruz of Netapp has a very bad crash, and had to abandon.

A beautiful Chateaux on the way. This dates back to the 12th century!

I would love to travel these parts of the world for a variety of reasons. There is so much history and trivia associated with everything :) The Matrix creates another angle of interest. Does the tour pass close to the MIND BLOWING Rennes Les Chateaux? I have to check.

It is really hot today and we see many riders place ice packs on their necks. With 40 Km to go, we have Clark and Langeveld in the breakaway, with the peloton chasing 2 minutes away

The art of  descending

Everyone expected Sagans team to deliver him to the front. Sagan has been among the top 5 in five occasions till today, but has not managed a stage win.





With 30 Km to go, Gautier and Quemeneur from Europcar breakaway from the peloton to chase the leaders.





With 25 Km to go, Clarke attacks at the front and leads. We are in the final climb for the day.

Clarke gets gobbled by the Europcar team

At 10 Km to go, the peloton is snapping the heels of the leaders, at just 19 seconds behind! A little while ahead, the engine loses power as Clarke is unable to take his turn in the front and pull.


Griepel crashes! Sagans team forms the train pulling him ahead.

Kristoff wins, Sagan second

Stage 13. Saint Etienne to Chamrousse. 197.5 Km. Three climbs. One Sprint. Hilltop finish.

Stage 13 elevation profile

At 60 km to go, the 9 man breakaway loses organisation for some reason and splits into smaller groups. The peloton closes in from a gap of 1:42





The col de Palaquit. 1154 msl and a 15 km climb

Bakelants summits and changes his cycle at the top :)

A fort perched in an amazing place

The mountain finish for today, Montee de Chamrousse. 1730 msl and 18.2 Km to climb. Bakelants gets taken by the peloton along the climb. Nibali's teammates drop off from around him. At 14 Km to go, the peloton take d Marchi too. Porte begins to fall off from the peloton at 12 Km to go. The commentators feel that the person to stand on the podium in Paris is one among this select group in front of this climb.

of daring plans and of youth

In one of the best accelerations I have seen till now, Niballi closes 17 seconds between him and the two leaders in like a minute :) He just gets up and switches on  the afterburners!! A few Km ahead, he switches on stage two and loses everyone :)

Niballi wins! And this is his expression always, poker faced.

Stage 14: 177 Km,3 climbs. Mountain finish.
Today will feature the biggest climb of this years tour.

Stage 14 elevation profile

16 man breakaway includes Sagan, looking for the sprint points? He is slated to join Tinkoff-Saxon next year. The first climb is 34 Km long! The ascent is long and gradual and the peloton keeps a steady pace, with them being behind the leading group by 5 min, by the time the summit is conquered. The descent too, is a long one!





The highest climb! The Col d'Lzoard. It tops at 2360 msl and is a 16 Km climb. Along this, Sagan begins to fall back towards the peloton. Sprint points in his kitty, this is a good move.

At 50 Km to the finish, Sagan joins the peloton

Awesome switchbacks of the Col d'Lzoard. Flashbacks of Gata Loops galore.

Rodriguez takes the mountain points from the highest point of this years tour.

With 10Km to go, di Marchi and Serpa attack from the front of the leading group. The chasers are just a minute behind!





Fulsang begins to drop. What a performance from the man, to deliver Nibali to the base of the last climb! All this after a bad crash yesterday! Serpa drops as Majka gets ahead of di  Marchi now. Attacks galore as Nibali switches on his afterburners at 3.6 Km to go.

Majka's first tour and a stage win!

Stage 15: 222 Km, No categorised climbs. 1 intermediate sprint.

Stage 15 elevation profile

Bauer and Elmiger in the breakaway

Extreme descending by Bauer. Is this a stoppie? :P

At around 70 Km to go, the peloton begins to apply pressure to bring down the gap to around 4 minutes. The commentators observe how the crosswinds can play havoc, even on a stage as flat as today.

With 50 Km to go, the rain greets the Tour. Kwiatkowski makes his move from the peloton at 20 Km. It is now tour de water, with the rain pouring down. With 10 Km to go, the gap between the leaders and the peloton has fallen to 40 Seconds. This will be a sprinters finish. Will it be a German affair today? Tony Martin attacks as the sprinters teams prance to deliver their leaders to the finish.

With a Km to go,Bauer and Elmiger have led for 220 Km and the peloton is still snapping at their heels :)

A frantic dash

It i cruel. After leading for 221 Km, Bauer and Elmiger lose the finish in the final few meters to Kristoff! A stage win is elusive to Sagan, who comes in at third.








Stage 16. Carcassone to Bagneres de Lunchon. The longest stage of this years tour at 237 Km. 5 climbs and 1 sprint finish.





Somewhere between Carcassone and Belpech we  reach a point closest to the legendary Rennes Les Chateaux. Madness is imminent!!!

Stage 16 elevation profile

At 100 Km to go, we have a breakaway group is clear from the peloton by 7:43.

:):):):):):):)

Treatment on the move. That is the medical car.

The third climb of the day, the Col de Portet d Aspet. 2nd category, at 1069 msl.

Voeckler collects the polka-dot points

The Fabio Casartelli memorial 

This will be a finish after the downhill from the last climb of the day.

Rogers wins a stage of the tour for the first timetour defranmce 

Stage 17. Saint-Gaudens - Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet. 124.5km. 4 climbs and 1 sprint. Mountain top finish.

Stage 17 elevation profile

Rodriguez is the first over the second climb of the day

Kiryienka over the top and leading at climb 2

Kiryinka gets overtaken on climb 3

Rodriguez gets climb 3

Majka wins :)

Stage 18: Pau to Hautacam. 4 climbs. One sprint. Mountain top finish. 145 Km.

A 20-man group of leaders has formed, and they lead the peloton by 3:25 with 100 Km to go.

Kadri takes the third climb of the day

At the beginning of the last climb of the day, the peloton is behind the leaders by just 1:20. At 10Km to go, Horner attacks and Nibali follows him! One of the most powerful bursts of acceleration I have seen, as he goes past Nievi of sky and continues this amazing momentum till the finish! Nibali is untouchable.

The shark nails it!

Standings after stage 18

I could not get to watch the last three stages of the Tour this time :/ Next time I vow to plan better and write better :)

 

The shark eats all.

"I pointed to my heart because I raced with my heart today," 
- Nibali

“Now that I find myself on the highest step on the Champs-Élysées podium, it’s more beautiful than I ever imagined,”

-Nibali




*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy nbcsports.com*