TDF 2010 stage 12 - Bourg-de-Péage - Mende 210.5 km, Fri. Jul 16
 

profile:

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2010/1200/PROFIL.gif

map:

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2010/1200/CARTE.gif

ouch! that jalabert climb into mende is going to cause some gaps; couple of gt contenders will likely
get caught out and lose anywhere from a handful of seconds to 2 minutes.

Looks like this stage was designed to reward a string breakaway. It has Bettini written all over it, but since he's retired, and Garrens is out, I think a rider like Barredo, or one of the Katusha riders could snag it.

I'd like to see the Rabobank boys ramp it up and send Gesink and Menchov up the road. They're close enough that everyone would have to go with them. Just make everyone suffer again.

Looks like a Lance Armstrong stage to me.

Oscar Friere for the win!

Samu Sanchez maybe?

Good call. That would be nice to see.

Mt. Laurent Jalabert:


10% for 3k, that's really about all the GC guys race on a final summit climb, so maybe we'll see some fireworks from Schleck. He knows he needs more time, and there are only going to be so many opportunities to get that time...

Tomorrow is gonna be awesome.

While I see you're point and hope you're right, don't they need a few more k's for teammates to ramp up the pace and thin down the pack? I guess it cou;ld go either way. Hope you're right though; should be a good stage!

I don't think the route before the final climb is tough enough to tax Contador into having problems on the finishing climb

Well I must have been on crack when I said Oscar Freire.
thats what happens when you look at the profile of stage 11 and post in the thread
on stage 12.

Charteau or Vino for the win

That's an interesting break they let go today.

Farrar is out?!? WTF... Wonder if he quit or the team pulled the plug. Either way, it will be interesting to hear the reason.

yah just heard and read the confirmation. Vaughters can't be too happy.

Pettachi on front at sh start of the climb**********??

Haha, that really is crazy steep. I think I'd be faster pushing my bike than riding it there. :D

Well... I guess that answers many questions...

Big move there...good stuff!

I thought the distance between Contador and Schleck would be much bigger than that, 10 seconds is still ok. Big point for AC psychologically though.

Vino attacked by his own teammate. Too funny.

Alberto rides for Alberto ..... way to attack Vino !!

Astana gets no stage win, despite it.

Not the first time Vino's been pulled back by his own team. I don't recall the year or stage but when he was riding with Jan he went out on an attack at the start of a climb and had the pleasure of watching his own team pull him back putting 3-4 guys on the front to set the pace.

So how happy do you think Vino is gonna be with that move?
was the 10 seconds worth the win for Vino? Given the attack by Alberto
I don't know that Andy can counter him in the Pyrenees. It's gonna get
interesting