TdF Stage 12 - SPOILER

[yello]

20 minutes to go to the off.

A long flat-ish stage, nothing really bumpy to challenge anyone; a sprinters stage again? Or will we get a breakaway succeed?

Personally, I reckon it'll be another sprinters' day. So no change at the top.

We might see other teams getting a bit more aggressive with the Columbia train (that could be fun!) but I suspect it'll be business as usual.

 

[rich p]

These stages plus the anaesthatised Tourmalet one have really taken the edge of what was building up to be a very interesting tour in the first week. There was a lot of stuff going on which has been put in limbo until the Ventoux stage.
I like seeing Cav win but the last few kms are the only adrenalin moments.

There is a possibility that it will explode in the Alps and the ITT will be interesting. I hope so!

 

[biking_fox]

the Tdf shows it as an actual descent to the finish line? Or does it flatten/rise in the last few hundred metres?

If ti si downhill all the way the teams will have to be a bit careful about the distance a breakaway gets, because it will harder than normal to catch them downhill?

 

[rich p]

the Tdf shows it as an actual descent to the finish line? Or does it flatten/rise in the last few hundred metres?

If ti si downhill all the way the teams will have to be a bit careful about the distance a breakaway gets, because it will harder than normal to catch them downhill?

It looks a bit uphill on here but it's hard to tell.

 

[yello]

I thought it was uphill but nothing too severe.

 

[yello]

Hmmm, interestingly Vaughters (on Rich's link) seems to think it's maybe not a sprinters day with that final climb maybe being too much for them. I bow, obviously, to his superior wisdom... there is 40km between it and the finish line though.

He seems to be suggesting a Friere day. I'd like to see that! He & Rabobank have been there and thereabouts a few times now.

 

[dtp]

They really don't want a breakaway forming by the looks of it.

 

[biking_fox]

Cav's just taken his first intermidiatre sprint points - ever? certainly in this tour. Just ahead of Thor. Ha ha.

 

[andrew_s]

the Tdf shows it as an actual descent to the finish line? Or does it flatten/rise in the last few hundred metres?

If ti si downhill all the way the teams will have to be a bit careful about the distance a breakaway gets, because it will harder than normal to catch them downhill?

1.5%, ignoring the 100m error on avenue georges clemenceau

 

[rich p]

It looks like the breakaway might succeed today.

 

[yello]

Has Cancellera upset the puncture fairy or summat? How many's that now?

Nasty little climb that one eh? Shades of a Belgian classic!

 

[yello]

Cav's just taken his first intermidiatre sprint points

darn! I KNEW I shouldn't have gone out! It'll be perhaps be the only excitement of the day.

 

[johnnyh]

thank goodness the scenery is nice, cause the riding aint much to watch for sure.

heck, I have even broken out into periods of work during the last few hours!!!

 

[yello]

It looks like the breakaway might succeed today.

It's looking increasingly like it. Unless someone decides to pull finger pretty sharpish.

If you thought yesterday was dull because of 'no radios'.... look what they can do WITH them!!

 

[biking_fox]

Anyone good at maths?

Where does Cav need to finish to ensure Thor can't take Green away from him. The break's going to make it. so Thor could be 8th....