julian

So you only have a B&W TV in you parent's basement?

SunSwingsLow

How is it possible i can set you up for your patented one word response and you give me this!!?!!

botto 

try again. fail again. fail better.

Dolomiti

My guess is Wiggins will try to attack early, but won't have the legs, and he'll get reeled back in and eventually dropped. One or two of the Schlecks will attack and get away, except with Contador on their wheel. In the last few kilometers, Contador attacks, gaps, and wins the stage.
The main thing about this stage will be Frank Schleck and Wiggins trying to beat Armstrong and Kloden. Armstrong will have to put everything he's got in defending 3rd. They can attack him, but Armstrong might just gradually reel them back in whenever they do.
Will the peloton feverishly reel in breakaways before the start of the climb? Or could a huge break head out early, gain a 20 minute lead, and contain the stage winner? I would guess that Saxo will ride the front and keep the pace high until the climb, inadvertently preventing a long break?

RacerX

Prediction
1.Contador
2. Frank
3. Andy

Wiggo, Nibali, Armstrong, Kloden will round it out.

Kloden will sacrifice his podium to pace Armstrong but Armstrong will drop out of the top 3 GC.

julian

I am done making guesses, but am anxiously awaiting tomorrow's stage. I was hoping for an epic battle up Ventoux for the win but it will be an epic battle to round out the podium.

Laggard

The Schlecks will attack on Ventoux. AC will obviously be forced to follow. If Armstrong is capable he'll go with (no reason not to and AC would benefit from his help) and should hold onto third. My guess is though that he'll be dropped and will lose third.

Quel

Seems like Lance has climbed very well, but hasn't been able to keep up with the initial burst and breakaway. If someone breaks and is really pushing it hard, I'd guess he needs a little help to pace him back up to the group.

xfimpg

+1
I predict the Schlecks will tag-team and finish with Contador, and there's the podium.

erader

it's up to lance to win that third spot. wouldn't that be something if he beat scheck by 3 seconds ?

ed rader

jmpsmash

if the brothers goes off and put LA in trouble, i wonder what AC would do. go back and help LA, or forget it and go chase the brothers.

has it ever happened that the yellow jersey potentially sacrifice a stage win to help a domestique?

xfimpg

I can't answer your question.... but I think that would be foolhardy on AC's part because on the Ventoux you can lose 30 minutes if you have a bad day.

Farby

I think AC has to go with the brothers if they are gonna go off. And if his actions so far are any indication, i'm pretty sure he's not gonna worry about LA.

Quel

It should be interesting to see. What is best for Andy staying in 2nd isn't necessarily best for the Schleck combo as a whole. Will Andy risk pushing himself too hard to get his brother onto the podium when he could just be marking Lance? If he pushes himself very hard, he doesn't have a real shot of catching AC, but he does have a shot of overexerting himself and potentially losing time to the other guys behind him. So the benefit of him attacking is only for his brother.

calRider

Originally Posted by botto:
"who gives a gives a monkey['s]."


@ss.

calRider

^^that was a one word response. Sorry. Couldn't resist.

Tsuru

Yep!

Allen H

Lots of intrigue, all probably resolved by the end of the stage tomorrow:

does Andy ride to help Frank's shot at a podium finish, and in any way jeopardize his own 2nd-place spot?
does Kloden still ride for Lance, or for his own shot at the podium?
does AC help either Astana rider with their chances at the podium, or does he just sail off on Mt Ventoux by himself, to cement his spot for climbing dominance in this year's Tour?
can Lance stay with the Schlecks without help from Kloden or AC?
can Wiggins regain his earlier surprising climbing form on the biggest, baddest climb of them all?
will either Saxo or Astana put two riders on the podium?

Alphalegacy

I think Lance will probably lose 3rd to Frank. Throughout the race, LA hasn't been able to follow the Schlecks on the mountains. However, I would like to see AC may push Lance up the mountain.

reef58

How would this be for excitement. Unrealistic I know, but Frank and Andy attack Lance counters and heads up the road. AC cracks. Lance does a u-turn and ******* AC to maintain the yellow by less than 10 seconds.

I vote for a drag race. I doubt they let a break get too far tomorrow.

Richard

erader

1) andy rides to keep second place. he won't endanger his podium spot nor would his brother want him to.

2) kloden rides for lance. this year and next year. unless lance cuts him loose, which is doubtful.

3) AC rides to keep the yellow jersey -- not to elevate domestiques -- and will win the stage if the opportunity presents itself.

4) the schelcks would drop lance like a bad habit if he were isolated with them.

5) wiggins is toast

6) i think either saxo or astana will have two on the podium. 60/40 saxo, imo.

ed rader

erader

i know you're kidding but i believe lance would do it if he were in that position .

ed rader

jmpsmash

i think if the brothers goes off and put potential time on LA, AC should just go with them.

why wait for LA ? both JB and LA will be in a different team next year and there is no real need to go help him esp after what they have done.

on the flip side, if the brothers goes off and work hard enough, they put time on AC and start challenging the yellow jersey, it will be too big a loss. too risky imo.

USAZorro

Will Cav look for sprint points?

cibai

I see AC attacking and dropping Lance, taking the brothers with him. That is more AC's style. He took Kloden off the podium, why not Lance too?