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Stage 11: Courchevel - Briancon, 173 km

gsteinb

:/ how come these maps don't have the climb ratings?

jameyj

Because that is only the Stage Profile.

Look here, https://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005...tages/tour0511, to see the Stage Map which has the ratings.

alanbikehouston

Stage 11 is a "killer", coming right after a day where the top GC contenders were putting out 100% effort. Almost 13,000 feet of climbing, including the HC Col de la Madeleine and the Col du Galibier.

As much as some of the contenders might want to "take it easy", after a brutal Stage ten, no contender can afford to allow another top contender to out of his sight. So, if Basso takes off up the road, Armstrong, Ullrich, Vinokourov, Moreau, and Kloden must go after him. Any contender who reaches the top of the Col du Galibier five minutes behind the top contenders may as well start planning for NEXT year's Tour de France.

Smoothie104

How many will make the final split over the top of the Galibier?

Devil

There are a lot of Vuelta-length mountain stages in this year's Tour.

lupson

does anyone know lances the average speed over the last climb

Laggard

It was slower than Valverdes average.

gcasillo

How do you not pick Lance? Maybe since he's got so much time in his bag, he gets in the lead group or one close to it?

Basso
Armstrong
Rasmussen

SunSwingsLow

The climb to Col du Galibie is basically a 60km climb with just a short descent to break up things and call it 2 different climbs. That is going to be a real grinder, esp considering how much effort they GC contenders put in just the day before.

I wonder if it will be Ace and Ruberia in this stage that protect Lance? How will T-mobile react after getting smashed? Can Rassmussen put in another effort?

God I love the Tour.

SunSwingsLow

waltergodefroot

It appeared that Ulrich/Kloden and Vino had two different experiences today. While Ulrich/Kloden seemed to ride their pace, it appeared Vino blew, although he did recover enough to ride in with Julich. If appearances are reality, I would think that Ulrich and Kloden will be ready to ride tomorrow while Vino may have a tough time of it. However, Vino's post race interview seemed optimistic so who knows.

I'm hoping Leipheimer can continue to be as consistent as he has been. Mancebo continues to quietly finish well, and Landis is well placed. I was really hoping for more from Botero, but....shrug. And Moreau...

Dolomiti

The Galibier is a monster, but the descent is huge too.
It might rain on the Galibier tomorrow! That would change everything. The field could blow to pieces like in 1998. If the weather stays nice... who knows.

Telegraphe - Galibier detail profile

It just gets steeper and steeper with a final km of %10 average gradient, well above 2000 meters.

With many previous 'favorites' having lost so much time, you figure they will go all out to attack now right? It could get very interesting. Not to mention the technical descent that some may take major risks on to gain time.

reef58

Do you think an attack by a GC contentder would hold? I suspect the field can catch up with the long descent which ends the stage. I suspect only a non GC threat breakaway will work tomorrow. What do you guys think?

Richard

Dolomiti

Just my opinion, but I think the level of competition right now in this race is too high for any GC contender to stay clear. Especially if they're marked by Discovery, I cannot see them staying away. Really depends how the riders 'race the race' I guess... and the weather. You never know if some riders can make some joint attacks work... this climb is tough enough to make big gaps for a successful descent.

captin pank

Shot in the dark, but I think a break consisting of non-GC threats climbers and Rasmussen (trying to get points), getting caught on the descent with the GC contenders sprinting it out for the time bonuses at the finish. It's more or less 24 miles from the peak to the finish line, I think that if Savo leads the descent a break will be caught. That is if there's a peloton left to make a catch. All bets off if there's no peloton.

JungleCat

What are you like 12 or something? That was sooo lame lol!

waltergodefroot

Why? Valverde won the stage so the average speed for the stage/climb would be taken for his finishing time. The race is filled with other riders than LANCE is the point, and in this case, Valverde's time was the significant time.

LANCE won the yellow jersey today, one day after working so hard to get rid of it so his team wouldn't have the pressure of defending it(at least according to the forum members here) , but he didn't win the stage. Valverde did.

Just curious. Is LANCE going to try to get rid ofthe yellow jersey again?

SunSwingsLow

Yeah I think thats the big 'IF' here. I really dont think the peleton will be intact at the top. That climb is merciless and I think a contender toping that would have a very good chance of getting home safe.

Its very long which does not favor Vino at all, I would be very surprised if he does well tommorow. It will be interesting to see if they pull team orders on him and have him ride for Jan...till stage 10 he was a contender now hes just a pretender.

Marge

I LOVE THE TOUR!!!! Today's final was so exciting!!! I even knew the race results at
work and came home and watched it delayed on OLN. Valverde is just plain FUN!!!
He's young and he's the up and coming guy! God I even felt sorry for Ulrich, man if he didn't have bad luck he'd have no luck at all. Can't wait until tomorrow.

doctorSpoc

Can Lance and Discovery really put everyone in the hurt box again... they have to be wasted after today? Wonder how many were suffering from day after rest day sore legs? Botero always seems to suffer in the mountains the firs day without fail? I think the Race is still wide open.. Ullrich seems to get better as the race goes on and by the way Basso was talking before the tour he seemed to be focused on the Pyrenees to make his move... throw Valverde and Rassmussen into the mix... the fat lady hasn't started singing yet.

Dolomiti

Well since they had the same time, and knowing that Armstrong took the overall lead, and is likely to win a seventh straight Tour de France, it's understandable that someone would specify his name and not Valverde's.

my58vw

I personally expect a result simular to todays. I do not think any GC contendors will get out front, the discovery train will reel them in over and over. I do like the idea of Raminson in a break away for KOM points, but I do not see him at the finish. He will be wasted after the effort today.

meb

Easy-it's a hard climb and Rasmussen is further from being spent.

sunninho

Rasmussen has been incredible and I'll be rooting for him. He's David vs. Discovery/Lance's Goliath.