Can An Amateur Handle The Toughest Stages Of The Tour De France?
07-01-12, 04:10 PM
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So I guess the answer to the subject question would be "No."
07-01-12, 05:34 PM
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I give that guy a lot of respect for the pain and endurance that he had through this segment. I know I couldn't do it.
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07-01-12, 05:53 PM
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My friend, who lives in Limoges, France, regularly rides L'Etape de Tour, which in the past have included Mount Ventoux, Tourmalet and Issoire to Saint-Flour.
Here is a description of the Issoire to Saint-Flour stage:
[h=3]JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS : Made to measure for a strong man[/h]“This is a long stage with a very up-and-down profile particularly as it features the Pas de Peyrol and the first-ever ascent of the Col de Perthus. Except for the opening 50km, it’s just climbs and descents all of the way. It’s a real leg-breaker. And if the action really takes off then there certainly won’t be 100 riders coming in together to contest the finish. It’s the kind of stage that should suit Sylvain Chavanel. Last year he won the stage at Les Rousses in the Jura when there were numerous attacks. On this stage, a group containing one of the race’s strong guys could get clear, which could in turn set off any number of counter-attacks, especially as a stage like this is never easy to control.”
This April he rode Paris-Roubaix. So I think the answer is yes, amateurs can ride the toughest stages of the TdF.
Here is a description of the Issoire to Saint-Flour stage:
[h=3]JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS : Made to measure for a strong man[/h]“This is a long stage with a very up-and-down profile particularly as it features the Pas de Peyrol and the first-ever ascent of the Col de Perthus. Except for the opening 50km, it’s just climbs and descents all of the way. It’s a real leg-breaker. And if the action really takes off then there certainly won’t be 100 riders coming in together to contest the finish. It’s the kind of stage that should suit Sylvain Chavanel. Last year he won the stage at Les Rousses in the Jura when there were numerous attacks. On this stage, a group containing one of the race’s strong guys could get clear, which could in turn set off any number of counter-attacks, especially as a stage like this is never easy to control.”
This April he rode Paris-Roubaix. So I think the answer is yes, amateurs can ride the toughest stages of the TdF.
Last edited by eja_ bottecchia; 07-01-12 at 05:57 PM.
07-01-12, 05:56 PM
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I imagine most could handle the terrain with proper gearing choices. I dunno how many could make the cutoff time, though.
07-01-12, 07:56 PM
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This. I've ridden a number of the hc climbs in the TDF. I've also done le etape in the pyarenees. In spite of finishing in the top 1/5th, my time for the stage ( about 2 hours down from virenque's time) would have been way out of the time cut.
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07-01-12, 07:58 PM
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The pologue is the toughest stage of the TDF? GOT NEWS FOR YOU THE PROLOGUE IS NOT A STAGE OF THE TDF. ITS THE PROLOGUE. Not watching the rest of that crap. What happened?
07-02-12, 12:15 AM
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07-02-12, 01:36 AM
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07-02-12, 02:17 AM
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Not the full tour de france week, but a quick 5 day highlights spring time holiday
Rode round liege, rode somewhere else for a day, climbed two climbs then rode round the paris rush hour.
The Col de la Croix de Fer was last seen in 2008 on route to alpe d'heuz, just riding up that one climb is not a full tour stage.
Can an amateur handle the toughest stages?
Yes, can they keep in the time limit? No.
proof? Kenny van Hummel 2009, dropped on most stages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTPKaeFbcA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzuQ
we_yqas&feature=related
Last edited by prettyshady; 07-02-12 at 02:23 AM.
07-02-12, 10:40 AM
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Trying to portage over the snowpack covering the pass on Col de Madeleine sure showed some Moxie!
07-02-12, 12:42 PM
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