Stage 9: Val-d’Isère - Briançon
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Stage 9: Val-d’Isère - Briançon
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Looks like it will be another painful day in the saddle for the peloton! Any predictions on what will happen during the stage?
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37km descending to the finish... How fast/technical is it? Is the peloton going to have a big enough advantage to reel in any small breaks or individual riders on the way down to the finish?
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Originally Posted by Blaireau
Why not?
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Originally Posted by Jinker
How fast/technical is it?
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Originally Posted by botto
how much do you know about bike racing?
if you think he's going to be allowed to ride away a 2nd time from the peloton, obviously not much.
if you think he's going to be allowed to ride away a 2nd time from the peloton, obviously not much.
Michael
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Originally Posted by gapowermike
I agree, however, I think that you overestimate the intelligence of the peloton. I think they could let him walk away with it while they play circle jerk.
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This stage is better suited for rasmussen to grab 5 minutes at the top than the last. Rest day should help. He just needs to hang until the final climb. Most of the field will go up @ 10kmh-ish
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I will have to say no to that. The long downhill finish should keep the GC's together pretty much.
I will be interested to see how he defends yellow, and whether he still goes for KOM points.
Richard
I will be interested to see how he defends yellow, and whether he still goes for KOM points.
Richard
Originally Posted by godspiral
This stage is better suited for rasmussen to grab 5 minutes at the top than the last. Rest day should help. He just needs to hang until the final climb. Most of the field will go up @ 10kmh-ish
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Originally Posted by godspiral
This stage is better suited for rasmussen to grab 5 minutes at the top than the last. Rest day should help. He just needs to hang until the final climb. Most of the field will go up @ 10kmh-ish
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nasty stage...erk.
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Originally Posted by 2wheeled
With over 35k from the top of the climb that's not going to happen. Forget the intelligence of the peloton, Rasmussen's intelligence will tell him to conserve energy and wait for stage 14.
If there is a breakaway ahead, he could reach them and descend with them, and they'd probably cooperate knowing Ras can't sprint at the end.
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Wait a second.
I've been watching bits and pieces of a bunch of different broadcasts and re-broadcasts all week.
But why am I listening to Phil and Paul at 10:30 at night? I swear I was watching Bob and Al laugh at each other at 8:30. Al was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.
Perhaps that's my answer.
I've been watching bits and pieces of a bunch of different broadcasts and re-broadcasts all week.
But why am I listening to Phil and Paul at 10:30 at night? I swear I was watching Bob and Al laugh at each other at 8:30. Al was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.
Perhaps that's my answer.
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Originally Posted by wtex
I predict Salvodelli will have a good day.
I think the hills are too steep for Savoldelli to remain with the leaders on the final climb. I'm thinking a very good climber who can flat-out sprint will take the stage. Unless Rasmussen builds up an enormous advantage, I'd expect Valverde to take this one.
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Sylvain Chavanel goes for a long one, to initially get KOM points.
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Last edited by 2wheeled; 07-15-07 at 11:47 PM.
#21
Its Freakin HammerTime!!!
Rasmussen is a badass. He dont play.
By the way, what does the HC climb stand for? "helluva climb" ?
hehehe.
I rode yesterday and I pulled a few hills here and tried to imagine it but theres no way. I dont see how they do it.
By the way, what does the HC climb stand for? "helluva climb" ?
hehehe.
I rode yesterday and I pulled a few hills here and tried to imagine it but theres no way. I dont see how they do it.
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Originally Posted by C_heath
By the way, what does the HC climb stand for? "helluva climb" ?
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What will that first HC climb do to the peloton? Will a lot of those riders be able to catch back up before the cat 1 climb later in the stage?
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Originally Posted by botto
most likely (unless there's some mad attack at the start, ala pantani in 2000, or landis last year) which there won't be, seeing as the Pyrenees have yet to come.
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Many of the teams will try to send guns up ahead to be there to assist at the top of the final climb and the downhill.
But the steeper the climb, the bigger the advantage the pure climbers have. It's not a matter of whether the peloton allows Rasmussen to ride away - the fact is that he can.
Between Telegraphe and Galibier, there are about 30 km of steep and steeper climbing (with maybe 6k of descent in between), followed by the final 37 km of descent. A pure climber should be able to gain way more time on this climb than he will lose on the descent, especially if he's a decent descender.
But the steeper the climb, the bigger the advantage the pure climbers have. It's not a matter of whether the peloton allows Rasmussen to ride away - the fact is that he can.
Between Telegraphe and Galibier, there are about 30 km of steep and steeper climbing (with maybe 6k of descent in between), followed by the final 37 km of descent. A pure climber should be able to gain way more time on this climb than he will lose on the descent, especially if he's a decent descender.