Stage 10 **SPOILER**

[yello]

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Crackle]

He didn't go for the intermediate though, so I'm not sure that was anything more than a bit of psychology. Hushovd is worrying me, his form doesn't seem great and Pettachi is making a determined effort.

 

[iAmiAdam]

FINALLY, boring stage is over. Sprint tomorrow anyone?

Cavendish anyone? It's all peloton talk, course he can get and still wants green, he's sitting fifth in the table.

 

[yello]

"We can't go and try to collect every point on the road, that's not realistic," said HTC-Columbia's sports director, Rolf Aldag, "The main goal is try to win stages and then the jersey comes or it doesn't."

From Cycling Weakly

 

[Crackle]

He can't do it surely.

Hushovd has 137
Cavendish 97

There are what 3 sprints left. So 30 per sprint = 90 points.Cavendish would have to win all three and Thor be worse than 7th in each one and not get any intermediate sprint points. Petacchi on the other hand.......

 

[yello]

Well, as the man said, win 3 and see what happens. It's possible even if highly unlikely. Like a lottery ticket; there's no chance of winning without one!

 

[iAmiAdam]

Thor finished 9th in one sprint last week, if the team see a possibility, they'll take it, even if it means going for intermediates.

 

[Crackle]

It''s not just Thor though, Petacchi and McEwen in front to. Petacchi is a funny one, I can't decide if he wants the Jersey before the Alps and abandoning or if he wants it full stop. If he gets it before the Alps, then really he only has to stay in the race and mark the others on the Champs Elysée and it's his. These next two stages are key.

 

[ColinJ]

They've already done the Alps!

 

[Crackle]

Oh aye, I meant the other mtn. range