Professional Cycling For the Fans - Stage 15: Gap - L'Alpe-d'Huez

Stage 15: Gap - L'Alpe-d'Huez, 182 km

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Hills !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hills !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stages 16 & 17 look even worse...or better, depending on whether you're watching or riding ;)

Stages 16 & 17 look even worse...or better, depending on whether you're watching or riding ;)

I have a remote in hand and a beer gut, they still look hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are prognostications alright? If so I'll pick Levi to take it, and if not for the win at least top 3.

Where's Danielson when Disco needs him? Bah, they should have brought him along just for 15, 16 and 17.

Are prognostications alright? If so I'll pick Levi to take it, and if not for the win at least top 3.

That HC climbing finish looks ready made fo Rassmussen.
Since I suspect Menchov will be with Floyd and Kloden, they may turn Rassmussen loose for the stage.

Rasmussen should be helping menchov. Hopefully the 2 of them with Boogert will attack this stage or next. I doubt Ras will go for a solo win this year. He can prob win climber's jersey, while helping menchov on GC.

I think an aggressive climber like Mercado could possibly win the stage to Alp d'Huez.
He obviously has great form, hence the stage win earlier, and a current top ten on GC.
That said, Floyd appears to be the strongest rider in the group.

I can't wait for this one to start. I suppose the riders do deserve their rest day however.

I just checked the weather forecast for l'Alpe Huez:

http://my.excite.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=FRXX0230



Tuesday : Sunny early. Becoming mostly cloudy with showers developing later in the day. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

I wonder whether we'll see the same phenomenon of a lot of riders (not just the sprinters, which is expected, but some decent climbers, too) cracking on a steep stage the day after a rest day here, like they did the first day in the Pyrenees.

I think the rest day messes up a lot of the riders' rythm and form, especially on a steeper stage. In any event, there will probably be another shaking up of the GC pecking order by the time they see the Alpe d'Huez....

I wonder whether we'll see the same phenomenon of a lot of riders (not just the sprinters, which is expected, but some decent climbers, too) cracking on a steep stage the day after a rest day here, like they did the first day in the Pyrenees.

I think the rest day messes up a lot of the riders' rythm and form, especially on a steeper stage. In any event, there will probably be another shaking up of the GC pecking order by the time they see the Alpe d'Huez....

I think the rest day helps more riders than breaks form, they're professionals and know what they need do to keep up. Prolly not so much cracking on 15 as 16. I would expect Alpe d'Huez will wear them down so they crack on 16 and 17.

Rasmussen should be helping menchov. Hopefully the 2 of them with Boogert will attack this stage or next. I doubt Ras will go for a solo win this year. He can prob win climber's jersey, while helping menchov on GC.

I'm sure they'll keep Rasmussen helping Menchov in on 17, and at least one of 15 & 16. I think the peloton will be sufficiently bunched Tuesday Rasmussen's services might not be needed.

You're probably right, Chicken can likely win the dots while doing domestique duty. Funny thing is it's starting to look like Rasmussen's best competitor might turn out to be his leadout man.

A Rab attack is something I expect 16 or 17.

Even if they keep him back, they might turn him loose on final climb after he's pulled for Menchov.

I think the rest day helps more riders than breaks form, they're professionals and know what they need do to keep up. Prolly not so much cracking on 15 as 16. I would expect Alpe d'Huez will wear them down so they crack on 16 and 17.

Check out the stage profile for 16 - it starts right at the base of Galibier - there's no flat section at all, they start climbing that monster right from the edge of town. Stage 16 will be a day of cracking for sure.

Enough with the rest day! I need my 15/16/17 fix! I've been sucked into threads about spoiling spoilers for the spoiled! Start already, before we all go inane, I mean, insane! :D

DrPete

before we all go inane

Doc, there ain't no cure for that :D


But I agree, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming stages...the real meat of the race!

Yeah, in years past you just looked forward to the stages where LA would finally make his move and kill everyone. Now the race has totally changed, anything can happen, and I think it's more exciting than ever!

DrPete

Agree

I'm sure they'll keep Rasmussen helping Menchov in on 17, and at least one of 15 & 16. I think the peloton will be sufficiently bunched Tuesday Rasmussen's services might not be needed.

You're probably right, Chicken can likely win the dots while doing domestique duty. Funny thing is it's starting to look like Rasmussen's best competitor might turn out to be his leadout man.

A Rab attack is something I expect 16 or 17.

Even if they keep him back, they might turn him loose on final climb after he's pulled for Menchov.

You think the pack is going to 'stay bunched' climbing to Alpe D'Huez. Ok. Whatever you say!:p

Rasmussen and Boogered are working for Menchov to win the race. They'll take some mountain classification points if they're easy to get. If Floyd can't get some help, those guys are going to make it hard on him.

If Floyd can't get some help, those guys are going to make it hard on him.

I'm willing to bet that Phonak will be able to give Floyd some help. They haven't ridden hard for several days, and Floyd apparently instructed his team to "take it easy" when he took yellow in the Pyrenees. They ought to be good to go for a few stages at least.

I'm willing to bet that Phonak will be able to give Floyd some help. They haven't ridden hard for several days, and Floyd apparently instructed his team to "take it easy" when he took yellow in the Pyrenees. They ought to be good to go for a few stages at least.

They'd better be, or there will likely be attacks coming fast and furious from the other teams w/ GC contenders to try to isolate and/or crack Floyd.

My Guess is that Floyd will ride defensivley, one Piero is gone. Although Peiro has finished in the top 10 in the TdF before, remember, he rode for Phonak last year, so they are aware of his abilities. I would like to see Oscar become inspired by the Yellow and fight to keep it at the finish, That would be exciting.

I can't wait for this one to start. I suppose the riders do deserve their rest day however.

I just checked the weather forecast for l'Alpe Huez:

http://my.excite.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=FRXX0230



Tuesday : Sunny early. Becoming mostly cloudy with showers developing later in the day. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Looks like good climbing weather to me.

got Switchbacks? LOL


Ok, Its hincapies turn, hes gonna redeem on stage fiddeeen!

My Guess is that Floyd will ride defensivley, one Piero is gone. Although Peiro has finished in the top 10 in the TdF before, remember, he rode for Phonak last year, so they are aware of his abilities. I would like to see Oscar become inspired by the Yellow and fight to keep it at the finish, That would be exciting.

Floyd won't attack unless provoked, and Oscar will fade back all on his own. Probably.

But Pereiro seems inspired by his Maillot Jaune--Apparently, when he first put it on, he said "I can win the Tour." Big words--we'll see if he and is team are up for it, but I'm thinking not.

I think the Col d'Latauret will decide the stage, and we'll see the top handful of GC hopefuls alone on the Alpe d'Huez, without Oscar Pereiro. He'll crack on the Col d'Izoard.

DrPete

And then you wake up and whaddaya know? Hincapie is nowhere tobeseeeeeeen!

Hincapie for the win!

...gotta keep the faith!

You think the pack is going to 'stay bunched' climbing to Alpe D'Huez. Ok. Whatever you say!:p



No, I think the GC contenders and a handful of climbers will be bunched till they start clmbing Alpe D'Huez. But most of the pack will get strung out earlier. They'll start dropping some contendors and climbers as they start up Alpe D'Heuz, and a little further up the hill will we'll see some splitting of the leaders. With the rest day leading into this stage, I think this is more of a stage to wear down the contendors for 16 and 17 rather than split them.

I'd like to see Cadel Evans take the win on this stage. He's broken his collar bone enough times to appease the cycling gods. Plus he's a former mountain biker. What the heck ever happened to Miguel Martinez? Oh, Google to the rescue regarding Little Mig (http://www.rothar.com/pages/archive/191103.htm).

In the past, the rest day prior to the big mountain stage has been used to reinfuse some blood that was drawn after or during the Dauphine. Should be an epic day of suffering and survival. Vive le Tour!!

i'll place my bid on levi leipheimer

My Guess is that Floyd will ride defensivley, one Piero is gone. Although Peiro has finished in the top 10 in the TdF before, remember, he rode for Phonak last year, so they are aware of his abilities. I would like to see Oscar become inspired by the Yellow and fight to keep it at the finish, That would be exciting.

Pereiro lost almost half an hour in one Pyrenees stage. It's very seldom to see someone recover so well, particularly with the existing hot weather conditions. My guess in the Alpes is say goodbye to all those who lost more than 10 minutes in the main Pyrenees stage (except of course for those, who'll try their luck right from the start).

Zubeldia

I think the GC contenders will be watching each other closely....a break will go & get caught on Alpe D'huez. If theres any attacks they'll come from menchev or Levi. Floyd is a 'wheel follower' at the best of times & has nothing to gain by doing anything other than following. Cadel for mine today

Hincapie is in the lead group. Go George. Where's Landis?

.....Goodnight Tom, ......goodnight Johnboy

Bone-in has left the race. :(

A damned shame about Boonen.

I'd love to see Cunego win this stage.

Hincapie is in the lead group. Go George. Where's Landis?

With Kloden and Evans. Landis looks comfortable as well as Evans.

Menchov is in trouble...about 15 meters behind

A damned shame about Boonen.

Robbie looks to be a lock for the green now.

Landis GOES!! Drops Evans and Kloden

Landis GOES!! Drops Evans and Kloden


Now the 3 regroup...Landis' attack wasnt enough. Kloden andEvans still have power left to match Landis.

Evans cracked

Cunego looks strong.

I think it will be Schlecks day.

Axel Mercx has drifted back and is now pacing Landis...Levi is hanging on to the back trying to get back on the wheels of this group....accelerations coming more quickly now.

Flandis actually has a teammate on the hill - go Axel!

Hincapie for the win!

...gotta keep the faith!

hahahahahahahahahaha

16:29 - Hincapie Dropped...
Hincapie could not maintain the tempo of Merckx, Landis, Kloden, Sastre and Kloden who have just ridden ahead of the Discovery Channel rider.

16:29 - Landis’s Group Catches Hincapie..
Hincapie has been caught by Merckx, Landis, Kloden, Sastre and Kloden.

The race is on! 4 km to go