spezi3

I'm looking forward to this stage and hope that it doesn't end up being anticlimactic. What would make it really interesting is for AS and AC to be so busy concentrating on each other that Menchov sneaks in ahead of them and cuts his time deficit. AS will have to rely on himself to get up the big climbs because he doesn't have other teammates who can hang with him in the mountains. AC has the advantage of two teammates who are good climbers (Vino and Navarro). If Menchov can cut some of his deficit, then it could come down to the time trial on Saturday.

This Tour is exciting because the yellow jersey is still up for grabs this late in the race.

rogwilco

No helis today apparently because of bad weather - that could really mix things up if the DSs don't know what exactly is going on.

memorex88

Oh boy, rain and cold to add to this dangerous stage! This should be very interesting and exciting!

rogwilco

That's a strong breakaway group - Koren (LIQ), Boasson Hagen, Flecha (SKY), Kolobnev (KAT), Burghardt (BMC), Pauriol (COF), Perez Moreno (EUS).

LeeG

oh man, no helicopters, no coverage.

Shadco 

looks like AC may not have to worry about SS

memorex88

I've got coverage? It cuts due to the weather but it's on. Sanchez hit the ground hard and stayed down for quite a bit!

rogwilco

For now yes, apparently it's really bad on the mountains though. If the clouds are so thick that the signals can't get through to the satellites we might not even get any live images from the motorcycles.

USAZorro

Nah. We're not in California.

LeeG

there's coverage now but they say the weather in the mtns is too bad to fly. I'm assuming all the video feeds are bounced from motorcycles up to them. Hopefully they can put together good reporting after it's all done.

Shadco 

How much time do you think they will let Sastre have?

memorex88

Yes most of the feed is from bike to heli but there are vans placed around the mountains as repeaters also. Anyway lets hope for coverage.... specially the col du Soulor downhill!

rogwilco

Has he even made it to the breakaway yet?

xfimpg

I wonder with this rain if they will have changed their tires to something more suited to raining conditions...?

LeeG

enjoy the feed from this: https://www.fromsport.com/v-0/0/148/v-14923.html


I'm really behind the times, video goes from motorcycles to satellite? wow

memorex88

Actually, motorcycle to heli to big van with switchboard then to satellite.

LeeG

ok, that makes sense. I couldn't imagine all that clean video going from a motorcycle to satellite.

USAZorro

Sastre is on yet another fool's errand.

USAZorro

Sheep!!!

memorex88

better on the way up than sheep on the decent!

LeeG

just what I was thinking

hiker88

Looks like they'll have Sastre here in a sec. Too bad he couldn't close that gap. That would have been interesting.

rogwilco

Come on now, Andy! I want a halfway exciting time trial.

hiker88

I'm with you. He's got to go soon or there just won't be enough distance to take time out of AC.

Bacciagalupe

How long did Cancellara last up front -- 3 minutes?