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THIS IS A TOUR STAGE THREAD - POSSIBLE SPOILERS TO FOLLOW!

I can see VDV ripping up the final climb while Evans, Schleck & Menchov start the staring contest.

I can see VDV ripping up the final climb while Evans, Schleck & Menchov start the staring contest.

I hope, but i doubt Cadel would be apt to let VDV go on the attack ( and God knows Cadel wont have any teammates to run him down), so he'll have to do all the work. I would love to see VDV, Schleck, and Menchov just attack Cadel one right after the other and drop his wierd ass.

I would expect more of a 3-pronged attack from CSC. Getting two guys up the road in a break, and eventually Schleck using them on an attack.

I am going to go with Nibali, a little under the radar in 10th place and wanting to move up. I don't see the big guns covering him.

Cavendish in a bunch sprint...to the airport for the trip back to England to get ready for the Olympics. Can anyone beat him and Wiggins? I think not unless he's fried his legs.

I am going to go with Nibali, a little under the radar in 10th place and wanting to move up. I don't see the big guns covering him.

Maybe they'll let Valverde go also. It's going to be hard for Evans to counter all the moves unless he gets help from riders wanting to protect their positions.

Show me the suffering.

Show me the suffering.


Finally. The drama begins.

Show me the suffering.

Show me the suffering.


Finally. The drama begins.

Copy that. The next couple of days are gonna be a b***h. I'll be thinking of those poor guys as I watch them from my recliner.

I can just hear the coach in the car

big chainring!

big chainring!

Is that HC one of those 15%ers?

I can just hear the coach in the car
Is that HC one of those 15%ers?

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile_520/Colle_dell_Agnello_Guillestre_profile.jpg

Maybe they'll let Valverde go also. It's going to be hard for Evans to counter all the moves unless he gets help from riders wanting to protect their positions.

Do you think maybe Periero attacks first to test the waters, and maybe Valverde follows? Honestly, at this point I don't know which is the stronger rider. I am leaning towards Periero (gack, I can never spell his name correctly!).

Do you think maybe Periero attacks first to test the waters, and maybe Valverde follows? Honestly, at this point I don't know which is the stronger rider. I am leaning towards Periero (gack, I can never spell his name correctly!).That would be i before e except after "per".:)

Do you think maybe Periero attacks first to test the waters, and maybe Valverde follows? Honestly, at this point I don't know which is the stronger rider. I am leaning towards Periero (gack, I can never spell his name correctly!).

I honestly think Valverde has blown his pistons from peaking to early but I'm still hoping he will pull some good rides. Pereiro may well be the stronger.

That would be i before e except after "per".:)


LOL...I knew there was a simple rule...I've been out of school too long. :lol:


I honestly think Valverde has blown his pistons from peaking to early but I'm still hoping he will pull some good rides. Pereiro may well be the stronger.


I didn't want to be the one to say that, I'm glad you did! I think Valverde would be a good decoy, then let Pier...Periie....Pere....uh, Oscar go for it. :D

LOL...I knew there was a simple rule...I've been out of school too long. :lol:





I didn't want to be the one to say that, I'm glad you did! I think Valverde would be a good decoy, then let Pier...Periie....Pere....uh, Oscar go for it. :D

oh Suzie...repeat after me P-E-R-E-I-R-O

I'll test you again tomorrow ;)

oh Suzie...repeat after me P-E-R-E-I-R-O

I'll test you again tomorrow ;)

Arghh.....chit, I'll forget. I'll have to owe ya! :roflmao2:

What happened to the I before e rule above?
Dang, even more confused now!

tomorrow is a day for damiano cunego.

I know he is the guy who barely ever attacks but Cadel Evans will go off the front of the field for the win

I know he is the guy who barely ever attacks but Cadel Evans will go off the front of the field for the win

Oh hell no.

I would love to see VDV, Schleck, and Menchov just attack Cadel one right after the other and drop his wierd ass.

Thats more like it. And maybe some Jens tearing it up at the front for a while to really put Cadel in a spot of bother.

CSC will light a large fire towards and on the final climb so that Evans is isolated.

I can just see it now Evans going clear only Menchov able to follow him put 5 minutes into everyone and duel it out on L'Alpe-d'Huez on wednesday

Cavendish is a non-starter today, no surprise really. Hope he does well in the Olympics. He was a breath of fresh air into this Tour!

The break does not look fluid on the narrow descent of the Col Agnel.

that decent looks fun

MASSIVE FALL BY PEREIO dang that really is not good

oh god... he went into a barrier and rolled down the other side across the road.

apparently hes up and riding and the peleton are waiting for him

EDIT: nope. hes gone to hospital with suspected fractured shoulder and femur

Peiero is gone. Broken leg and shoulder

i before e except after "CRUNCH"

Here's hoping he hangs on.

edited to add:

Oh bugger I see he's badly injured.

That's too bad for Pereiro, he would have spiced things up a little on the last climb.

From Velo news:
Race Radio says Peirero is being transported to the hospital with a suspected fractured shoulder and femur.

Folks, he fell about 30 feet when he crashed over the barrier and then landed on the road below. He's lucky that he didn't suffer a head injury, but this is an awful way to leave the Tour.

that was a very very scary crash.

and they're all down on their asses, Millar, Vandervelde + others

The biggest wreck I've seen has just occurred.

At least 40 riders down, on both sides of a roundabout. O.o

Lots of bent wheels and roadrash for all.

Another crash...vande velde & cunego. Up and riding again though.

The biggest wreck I've seen has just occurred.

At least 40 riders down, on both sides of a roundabout. O.o

Lots of bent wheels and roadrash for all.I don't understand why they don't route the entire peloton around one side of the roundabouts. This whole splitting and rejoining of the peloton while evading these obstacles is an invitation to disaster.

I don't understand why they don't route the entire peloton around one side of the roundabouts. This whole splitting and rejoining of the peloton while evading these obstacles is an invitation to disaster.

I've always worried about the rejoining part, but nothing has come of it yet.

The problem with roundabouts is the accumulated oil, diesel and other crap on the road from cars driving around in circles.

These guys are pros, with pro handling skills. As such, navigating a roundabout while riding in a large group is well within their comfort zone on the bike.

Losing a front wheel to something you can't see, is something that no one can prepare for.

Those roundabouts are never usually a problem, there've already gone through 2-3 since the crash. There must have been oil or something on the road to see that many riders wheels just slip away from them.

The bunch is really putting down the hammer but surely they can't catch the break now.

Those roundabouts are never usually a problem, there've already gone through 2-3 since the crash. There must have been oil or something on the road to see that many riders wheels just slip away from them.roundabouts have historically been a problem. there are crashes every year at roundabouts, not only in the tdf, but in other races. they should route the riders around one side, but that would diminish the spectacle, especially for tv viewers who love the helicopter camera views of the riders splitting and rejoining.

Well, that's true...thinking back to that crash a day two ago where the bike was servered in two because of an island in the middle of the road.

I was thinking how many times they negotiate the roundabouts on a daily bases times every day in the tour.

Martinez is looking strong in the break. CSC are dragging the bunch along at 70k's. They're trying to isolate Evans.

Sean Kelly thinks Martinez could be creating a big problem for the leaders. He is a good climber and this may really screw the pooch for the top gc contenders, but i see now egoi was 53 minutes down at the start today, so he'll have no impact on gc.

Evens is alone and CSC are now playing their hand.

as long as he stays close, i think evans would be thrilled to let schleck have to defend the jersey in the alps. let it go here and get it back at the time trial. force csc to work hard the next two stages

Menchov slips on the corner after attacking the gc group.

Menchov = EPIC LULZ.

Menchov slips on the corner after attacking the gc group.

makes it back up and attacks again.

Evans is cracking. What a great stage.

Kohl, Sastre & Menchov forcing the pace, Valvarde bridging the gap and Evans losing a little time.