Phil Wrochna is managing editor of firstoffthebike.com.au and a commentator for SEN 1116. He is writing daily on the Tour for BPL.

"On my signal, unleash Hell." These words were immortalised by Russell Crowe and may have been uttered by the race director of the Tour de France as he dropped the red flag and allowed the combatants loose in the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees are four days of super tough racing where the final GC will be shaped. Forget the time trial, the damage that can be done in these high mountains is where the Tour de France will be won.

The first day in the Pyrenees was a beautiful one and the field set for a battle. What they got was a punishing grind and an relative unknown (Christophe Riblon) taking the stage. The big favorites continued to crack and while the top five is starting to take shape albeit missing some big names. But this is the nature of a Tour that has been unpredictable from the start.

Who's Hot

Christophe Riblon - It's a shame about the brown shorts but he rode a great solo race today. Riblon is not a noted big name on the slopes when compared to the men who didn't make the grade but reputations count for nothing in the mountains.

Denis Menchov - The last real favorite left after Contador and Schleck. Menchov had a crack on the climb and gained a small chunk of time. He will need to chip away for the next three days to get himself on the podium.

Carlos Sastre - Fired a few shots but never made the impact that he would have made 4 years ago. The fact that he wasn't chased was an indication of his threat level.

Team Astana - Set a brutal tempo on the second to last climb in support of their man Contador.

Samuel Sanchez - Keeps hanging in there. For a man from the Euskadi team though, the Pyrenees is like playing on your home ground.

Who's Not

Team Sky - Are they for real? They forced the pace again at the bottom of the climbs for..... that's right for no one. Brad Wiggins' tour is a two wheeled nightmare.

Lance Armstrong - Promised a surprise on Twitter and delivered one. He lost 15 minutes on yesterday's stage. Surprise!

Cadel Evans - We know he is injured but Cadel really struggled on the stage losing five minutes. He is still inside the top 20 and still fighting but it's not a happy Tour for Cadel.

Stage Results - Stage 14

1 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale   4:52:42

2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:00:54

3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:08

5 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha

6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank

7 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana

8 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto

9 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:01:49

10 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team

General Classification (Yellow Jersey) after Stage 14

1   Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank   68:02:30

2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:31

3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:31

4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:44

5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31

6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:04:27

7 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:04:51

8 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:04:58

9 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:05:56

10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:06:52

11 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:07:04

12 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:07:11

13 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions 0:07:17

14 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:08:03

15 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:08:15

16 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:09:46

17 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:10:27

18 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:11:30

19 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:12:39

20 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:12:50

Points Classification - (Green Jersey)

1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini   187   pts

2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 185

3 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 162

4 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 144

5 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 138

Mountains Classification - (Polka Dot Jersey)

1 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom   115   pts

2 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 92

3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 76

4 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 72

5 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 68

The Road Ahead

Another day in the Pyrenees and another day of suffering for the riders of the Tour de France. It's like dog years in the Pyrenees, every kilometre feels like seven.