Professional Cycling - TdF Stage 17 - Wednesday July 22 - 169 km - Bourg-Saint-Maurice → Le Grand-Bornand

Welcome to the "Queen Stage"

too bad this isn't a radio free stage as well...maybe next year...

holy hell... looks like some good suffering

Cormet de Roselend (18 km at 6.1 percent), the Col des Saisies (15.1 km at 6 percent), the Côte d'Arâches (6.3 km at 7 percent), the Col de Romme (8.8 km at 8.9 percent) and the Col de la Colombière (7.5 km at 8.5 percent). (http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-19 )


From: http://www.cycling-challenge.com/col-de-la-colombiere-the-hard-way/
Both the Romme and Colombiere. Combined 16 kilometers, almost 9%? Very difficult!

The stage profile looks very similar to this stage in 2004: http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage17
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=results/stage17 where Landis blew the field apart (only Basso, Ullrich, and Kloden could stay with him and Armstrong), and Armstrong caught Kloden at the last moment to take the stage win.

i can't wait to wake up at 5am, call in sick for the morning and watch this stage live.

Even AC is worried about this stage. There will be no forgiveness for having a bad day.

Saxo's got their work cut out for them if they are serious about making another go at AC.

Saxo's got their work cut out for them if they are serious about making another go at AC.

Their ability to crack AC took a big blow when Jens went down today, IMO.

Agreed.....

My prediction PAIN!

Carlos goes of on a long solo. He has tried that before. Astana doesn't immediately chase him down. This looks like the kind of stage where he gives it a go. Will it work? I don't know because of my next thought.

Either Alberto or Andy crack tomorrow. If Saxo attacks like today, and if they can't crack Contador quickly I think he counters. He is itching to go.

Richard

i can't wait to wake up at 5am, call in sick for the morning and watch this stage live.

:roflmao2:

hey i work for myself and there ain't no work so i think i'll call in sick too :D.

ed rader

I think Cadel will once again go on the attack.


Once again, we won't notice it. :lol:

I think Cadel will once again go on the attack.


Once again, we won't notice it. :lol:

Probably so. LOL. But if Cadel could sneak away with Pellizotti and Martinez he might have a chance of lasting until the last Col before he gets caught. Chances of that being allowed to happen are slim to none though.

Cadels updates show him pretty resigned, I wouldn't be surprised if he calls in sick soon.

cadels updates show him pretty resigned, i wouldn't be surprised if he calls in sick soon.

+1

My prediction PAIN!

Carlos goes of on a long solo. He has tried that before. Astana doesn't immediately chase him down. This looks like the kind of stage where he gives it a go. Will it work? I don't know because of my next thought.

Either Alberto or Andy crack tomorrow. If Saxo attacks like today, and if they can't crack Contador quickly I think he counters. He is itching to go.

Richard

I was thinking the same thing... Sastre could pull it off, he has a diesel engine that's good for long climbs.

Does Carlos have the acceleration to get out on a breakaway on a climb, or would they even let him go? Don't think he's down enough minutes that they'd let him away.

Does Carlos have the acceleration to get out on a breakaway on a climb, or would they even let him go? Don't think he's down enough minutes that they'd let him away.

I'm not sure either. But I do suspect it would be a great opportunity for the Schleck's to tag team with Carlos if there's no bad blood there.
If that were the case, then the top GC will be duking it out for sure.

The problem with trying to "out climb" a climber like AC, is like trying to out swim a dolphin. You may well drown yourself in the process.

AC is nowhere near cracking. He's looking cool as a cucumber.

Astana may give Sastre a short leash. The other GC hopefuls I don't know.

As far as Frank and Andy tagging along that won't be allowed.

Richard


I'm not sure either. But I do suspect it would be a great opportunity for the Schleck's to tag team with Carlos if there's no bad blood there.
If that were the case, then the top GC will be duking it out for sure.

short leash or not, gotta try something... drive the peloton, something..

Driving is suicide. He wont launch a vicious attack, but he will pull off Astana may let him go a little. Garmin, Saxo, and Liqui I don't know.

Richard


short leash or not, gotta try something... drive the peloton, something..

you underneath quotes always throw me off... lol.

I'm curious what some teams will try in desperation.... though my hopes are low that most teams have about given up.

I think you can expect the same from Saxo, but I think Astana will be more aggresive tomorrow. JB mentioned they want to put more time in on Wiggins. Final climb Contador attacks hard if things haven't blown up by then. I imagine groups all over the course tomorrow.

Richard


you underneath quotes always throw me off... lol.

I'm curious what some teams will try in desperation.... though my hopes are low that most teams have about given up.

I'm pretty sure that Astana's and Wiggins' plan is to just hang with things. I don't see anyone besides Andy, Carlos or possibly Liquigas being able to mount any sort of attack that will get a response.

I don't know Johan mentioned today he is worried about Wiggins in the time trial, and wants AC to put more time into him before then. Could be a ruse, but it sounds reasonable, because if Wiggins finishes with the leaders tomorrow he will probably give a beatdown in the time trial.

Richard


I'm pretty sure that Astana's and Wiggins' plan is to just hang with things. I don't see anyone besides Andy, Carlos or possibly Liquigas being able to mount any sort of attack that will get a response.

I don't know Johan mentioned today he is worried about Wiggins in the time trial, and wants AC to put more time into him before then. Could be a ruse, but it sounds reasonable, because if Wiggins finishes with the leaders tomorrow he will probably give a beatdown in the time trial.

Richard

Makes perfect sense.
And by putting time on Wiggins, they could potentially move Kloden up to the podium as well.
I wouldn't want to be Wiggins right now. Uggg.

I don't know Johan mentioned today he is worried about Wiggins in the time trial, and wants AC to put more time into him before then. Could be a ruse, but it sounds reasonable, because if Wiggins finishes with the leaders tomorrow he will probably give a beatdown in the time trial.

Richard

i think contador need to attack today to put time on wiggins and armstrong, the two biggest threats to him wearing the yellow jersey in paris.

ed rader

This is a tough stage to call. It could go a few ways.

1. Astana just drives the train fast enough where if anyone wants to attack, they many not have what it takes.

2.. Some top guys go for it and it blows everything apart.

Going for a big day here, could really hurt you the next day in the time trial, so everyone has to be careful.

I want to see how Wiggins holds up on the last two climbs. I don't think it will get nuts before then.

I want to see how Wiggins holds up on the last two climbs. I don't think it will get nuts before then.

The last climb could sort some things out. I don't think the run in to the finish is as long as stage 16,

I wouldn't be surprised to see Saxo Bank up at the front of the start of that 2nd to last cat 1 climb. If they can blow apart the field there, they might get Contador and A. Schleck one on one going up. A lone rider might get away. Saxo Bank sure ain't going down without a fight though.

But what the hell do I know?

Wiggins won't get enough time in the tt that Contador can't get back on Saturday. I doubt they will risk trying (too hard) to drop him today. Then again, I am pulling for Garmin at all times.

Here's to a fun race!

Hopefully this one will be good!

Could be an explosive stage today, if the peloton is breaking up already on the first climb I could see something real happening later on regarding the GC.

They're all Armstrong sackriders... lol (nothing wrong with that though ;))

I think Cadel will once again go on the attack.


Once again, we won't notice it. :lol:

yep, he is attacking the back end of the main field so far today, guy needs to spend less time with his twittering and more time focussing on the task at hand

Does Astana really want to take that chance? That would be tough.

Richard


Wiggins won't get enough time in the tt that Contador can't get back on Saturday. I doubt they will risk trying (too hard) to drop him today. Then again, I am pulling for Garmin at all times.

Franco Pellizotti is batman!!! What a beast.

Richard

Good cape weather in this race

Its good to see Thor fighting to lock up the green jersey at the mid-race sprint. Complain as he might, you don't see Cavendish anywhere near the front of the race looking for points.

Its good to see Thor fighting to lock up the green jersey at the mid-race sprint. Complain as he might, you don't see Cavendish anywhere near the front of the race looking for points.

Well said...

Saxo Bank taking over tempo - maybe another big plan unfolding.

...and thinking about it, if they have the horsepower I wouldn't be surprised to see them win one for Jens, or create some drama trying.

Any one else notice that Thor is using the older dura ace 7800? Hmmm better in the rain maybe? Better for sprinters maybe. I think I saw him using it in the Hencapigate stage too.

Thorrrrrrrrrrr!

Its good to see Thor fighting to lock up the green jersey at the mid-race sprint. Complain as he might, you don't see Cavendish anywhere near the front of the race looking for points.

The thing is, that the green jersey isn't exactly the jersey for the best sprinter, although it's often seen as such, but rather one for consistency. And there's no doubt Hushovd is better in that regard than Cavendish, so I guess he deserves to win it. Cavendish has a lot to learn about road racing still...

Cavendish has a lot to learn about road racing still...

You mean like, more "win salutes"?

What's he doing in that picture? Pointing out his formidable manhood?