Professional Cycling For the Fans - TdF Stage 6 - Thursday July 9 - 175 km - Girona (Spain) → Barcelona (Spain)

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interesting transitional stage. who wants to get some time back before the pyrenees? the finish
looks particularly intriguing with a big name(s) likely to lose 5-30 seconds to the others with the
finishing kick near the finish. good place to press an advantage...

Maybe a day for an epic breakaway...Jens Voight???

I'm tipping a fired up and pis$ed off Menchov.

with the finish, i'll go with a classics-style rider. pellizotti, gibert, chavanel
or any number of columbia riders-they always seem to have 2 or 3 come
outta nowhere for a win in the gt's.

The GC contenders that want to winl such as CE, CS, Frank and Andy along with Denis better start here.

Richard

The profile would be good for Friere.

Is this still a sprinter's stage? Or do you think it's a windy flat part before a little climbing?

i don't think it's a sprinter's stage. the hills just beg for breakways and with that last climb so close to the finish i'm not sure they will be reeled in by the peleton... it's just going to be a matter of who's in those front groups

Its right along the water too, so I would think it's possible we'll see more wind.

This is the first stage that I expected the break to succeed; I did not expect it on stage 5 - congrats to Voeckler.

Hopefully, Cofidis will throw David Moncoutie up the road. Maybe Sylvain Chavenal will have a go.

I could see this breaking the field up into some serious fragments. The GC contenders who lost time in the TTT may look to hammer this stage in an effort to gain some time back and make the teams like Columbia and Astana really work....which will make stage 7 even more challenging.

You think Astana will get a little aggressive now to get that 1/10 sec? Or wait for the real mountains?

This map looks like a fun opportunity to make something happen, a little strategy maybe, to dump yellow somehow?

Don't think they can get the time on FC tomorrow. He is a beast of a man as is his riding partner Jens. They will get yellow on Friday. If AC decides he wants yellow Friday there will be a real crap storm going on within the team. I am not so sure AC can gap LA on Friday, so I doubt he tries.

If Lance was smart he would let it be known he is working for AC. AC lets him get the yellow for a few days, and likely a win on stage 20.

I am anxious to see if anyone from Astana attacks tomorrow. If someone does then we know all the lip service has been BS, and they really don't care for one another.

Richard

... I am not so sure AC can gap LA on Friday...

I am. If he can't, he won't win the Tour.

Well LA isn't a slouch, and this isn't a really steep climb. That's why they race I guess.

Richard

there's no way lance is going to crack this early in the tour, and short of him getting in an accident, the only way contador is going to lose lance is by cracking him (which i think he can, but not this early)

Contador has 5 years left to win another tour while this may be Lance's final chance. If I were AC I would bow down and be greatful a legend were on my team, you don't see guys like Kloden and Levi *****ing when they haven't even won a tour yet. LA winning would do alot more for the team than AC. Besides LA has done more for than that team than AC will ever do, LA pushed his team on that TTT and AC was back there in the pelton jacking his dick while LA was more aware and experinced on the break.

i'm just sayin

Just watch

Agreed!

The thing about AC is you cannot match his accelerations on steep roads, but if you increase tempo and reel him back in you may stand a chance.

Don't get me wrong I don't think Lance will win, but he is not out there on a walker either. Who in this tour came the closest to beating him in the Tour AK? Now everyone thinks these guys that couldn't hang on his wheel are going to drop him like a hot rock?

I think Lance's words were appropriate. Something along the lines of I have won this 7 times. I deserve a little respect. I think he can be beaten, but I don't want the job. It will take a good effort with smart riding to do it.

Richard


there's no way lance is going to crack this early in the tour, and short of him getting in an accident, the only way contador is going to lose lance is by cracking him (which i think he can, but not this early)

I don't know about all that. I don't blame AC for being frustrated. Lance was originally going to ride to help AC.

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but I think LA is back to get 8 wins, because he sees AC is very young, and may possibly come close or surpass 7 tour wins.

Who knows,
Richard


Contador has 5 years left to win another tour while this may be Lance's final chance. If I were AC I would bow down and be greatful a legend were on my team, you don't see guys like Kloden and Levi *****ing when they haven't even won a tour yet. LA winning would do alot more for the team than AC. Besides LA has done more for than that team than AC will ever do, LA pushed his team on that TTT and AC was back there in the pelton jacking his dick while LA was more aware and experinced on the break.

i'm just sayin

I don't know about all that. I don't blame AC for being frustrated. Lance was originally going to ride to help AC.

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but I think LA is back to get 8 wins, because he sees AC is very young, and may possibly come close or surpass 7 tour wins.

Who knows,
Richard

Lance may be in it to win, but I doubt it has anything to do with the possibility of Contador winning more tours down the road and surpassing his record. :lol:

What will Contador do if everyone else on Astana supports Lance?

What will Contador do if everyone else on Astana supports Lance?


he'll attack no matter what even if it means he has no1 then himself! :))

Today i think will have another long breakaway! Here are some strong candidates that i think will give it an early go:

CASAR Sandy 101 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 15h 12' 05" + 04' 16"
CHAVANEL Sylvain 151 QUICK STEP 15h 11' 12" + 03' 23"
BARREDO Carlos 152 QUICK STEP 15h 11' 44" + 03' 55"
MOINARD Amaël 128 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 15h 13' 17" + 05' 28"
MONCOUTIE David 121 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 15h 12' 57" + 05' 08"
TXURRUKA Amets 68 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 15h 12' 38" + 04' 49"

add some1 from Shimano and someone from Lampre and you have a breakaway team. If QuickStep sends someone it will be either Barredo or Chavanel, i doubt they would send both. Euskaltel will definitly send someone in breakaway as we didn't see much of them so far.

VEIKKANEN Jussi 109 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 15h 12' 45" + 04' 56"

he would want to get in breakaway to keep Polka dot for another day as today there is strong possibility he won't wear it tomorrow.

i kind of doubt they will make it to the end but it wouldn't be big surprise if guys like Chavanel, Moncoutie get in the breakaway.

Today i think will have another long breakaway! Here are some strong candidates that i think will give it an early go:

CASAR Sandy 101 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 15h 12' 05" + 04' 16"
CHAVANEL Sylvain 151 QUICK STEP 15h 11' 12" + 03' 23"
BARREDO Carlos 152 QUICK STEP 15h 11' 44" + 03' 55"
MOINARD Amaël 128 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 15h 13' 17" + 05' 28"
MONCOUTIE David 121 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 15h 12' 57" + 05' 08"
TXURRUKA Amets 68 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 15h 12' 38" + 04' 49"

add some1 from Shimano and someone from Lampre and you have a breakaway team. If QuickStep sends someone it will be either Barredo or Chavanel, i doubt they would send both. Euskaltel will definitly send someone in breakaway as we didn't see much of them so far.

VEIKKANEN Jussi 109 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 15h 12' 45" + 04' 56"

he would want to get in breakaway to keep Polka dot for another day as today there is strong possibility he won't wear it tomorrow.

i kind of doubt they will make it to the end but it wouldn't be big surprise if guys like Chavanel, Moncoutie get in the breakaway.

Very plausible predictions. It will be an interesting stage if this scenario comes to be.

Rain, rain.... more variables... hooray!

Sastre fell? How bad, and has he caught up all the way?

The main field looks small?

Richard

Never mind looks all together again

Richard

The rain is going to make this next downhill very interesting, won't really effect the standings though.

I hope the breakaway can hang on =]

I'm hoping that after these slippery descents, someone gets antsy and starts attacking on climbs!

But...... I'm wondering if today will be a conservative day.

Astana will wait for the hills imo. I wish CE would take a bit of initiative and make a move, try and get some time back.

By hills I mean stages 7-9

Well... Astana is controlling the peloton applying a little hurt to the back, they could do something on a climb. It'd be pretty cool.

Prescient predictions there. Not sure that Millar getting into the break was smart though, as he is too high up the GC....

FC's like, "Screw this, I'm sticking right with Astana!"

He's keeping his eyes on Lance for sure, glued to him.

He's better off keeping his eyes on LA than AC in a peleton, thats for sure.

Peloton's going Astana -> FC -> Saxo Bank...


How do I get me one of them Popoviches?? I think I could ride forever if he was leading my ride.

6 easy payments of 29.95$

lol...

You think the breakaway can keep the lead? I think they said that'd put Millar in yeller.

lol...

You think the breakaway can keep the lead? I think they said that'd put Millar in yeller.

The peloton won't allow it.

True, I don't think the 4 guys can hold off the Pel with FC really enjoying the way yellow looks on him.

They better real Millar back in.

Gap is down to one minute.

Columbia and Garmin down - and Cervelo

Michael Rogers!! Yikes I am going to quit pulling for him. Poor guys needs a little luck.

Richard

Crap, crash at a round about.