Yellow jersey makes it all worthwhile

IF Bonnie Tyler was still holding out, she was spoilt for choice in the Alps on Thursday. There were heroes everywhere en route to the Galibier summit.

Andy Schleck’s lone furrow. Another no guts, no glory reaction to bitter disappointment from Nicolas Roche. Thomas Voeckler, misery and pride etched on every feature, clinging by his fingernails to the yellow jersey for one more night.

For the millionth time, we asked ourselves how these fellas do it and, in truth, we don’t much care what shortcuts they take with the physiological side of things.