2011 TDF: Stage 19 - Modane - Alpe-dÂ’Huez

[just some guy]

I hope ACF has the paramedics on call. Not sure if he can take it after todays stage.

 

[Anonymous]

i hope frankie boy takes this stage and wins the tour. i have always liked him so it would be epic.

if not that i hope andy takes enough time on evans to make sure he doesn't blow it in the ITT

Evans not winning sounds good.

 

[Ramira]

i hope frankie boy takes this stage and wins the tour. i have always liked him so it would be epic.

if not that i hope andy takes enough time on evans to make sure he doesn't blow it in the ITT

I think Andy believes he'll be able to win this tour if he doesn't lose any more time tomorrow. So I would expect Fränk to go hard and force Evans to chose, let him go and potentially suffer the same fate he did with Sastre back in 2008 or counter him, push himself to his limit and risk Andy jumping away from him in the final few KM's and lose the tour that way. Tactically he's in a lose-lose situation, he'll need good enough legs to be able to counter it all.

 

[2wheels]

If Evans can make Contador crack on this, he can make Andy (after his efforts today) crack on Alpe.

Disagree also. Conta cracked, but I don't think you can really put it down to Evans. Lots of other factors. There were still like a half-dozen guys having no problem following Evans at that point. Tomorrow's outcome will be decided by how everyone recovers tonight-- and that's a total crapshoot, especially after a stage like this, and at this altitude. My recollection is that Andy typically hits his peak just about at the end of the Tour and recovers pretty well after mountain stages-- but we'll see.

 

[RdBiker]

Voeckler is in a hard spot. It's the first time he has to chase after attacks and he looked very tired after today compared to all the others.

We'll see, but for the sake of realistic performances I hope he would finally crack.

 

[VoidSix]

The Hitch just hates Evans. Evans can't hang with Frank or Andy on climbs if they're going all out. Frank is going to eat Evans alive on L'Alpe d'Huez. 60 to 90 seconds tomorrow for Frank.

I also don't know where this "Cadel is still a great TTer" stuff is coming from. If he couldn't pull back Sastre several years ago, he can't do it with Andy this year.

 

[RdBiker]

I think Andy believes he'll be able to win this tour if he doesn't lose any more time tomorrow. So I would expect Fränk to go hard and force Evans to chose, let him go and potentially suffer the same fate he did with Sastre back in 2008 or counter him, push himself to his limit and risk Andy jumping away from him in the final few KM's and lose the tour that way. Tactically he's in a lose-lose situation, he'll need good enough legs to be able to counter it all.

I would guess Leopard is giving it's everything tomorrow to keep the pace high enough to enable the Schlecks to launch their Voeckler-dropping attacs. I don't think anyone will let them send riders up the road after today (actually I don't understand why they let them do that today) so they'll probably be setting a huge pace at the foot of the Alpe.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Vanendert will probably loose his polka dots

 

[Lanark]

I really can't wait for this stage. Anything is possible. Andy, Fränk, Evans and maybe even Voeckler can still win the Tour. It would be epic if Fränk goes on the Galibier tomorrow, but a battle on the Alpe D'Huez will be great as well.

 

[SirLes]

I think Cadel has just got to time trial himself up the Alp in much the same way he did the last 10-15km today and hope that neither Andy or Frank can go much quicker. My guess ( which is usually wrong ) is that Frank will take 30sec to a minute and Andy little if anything after today's efforts. That will still give Cadel a chance in the ITT.

 

[taiwan]

Please Voeckler don't lose any time

And please Evans don't lose any time

Those are my two wishes for the stage of tommorow. And although I know Voeckler will lose a truckload of time in the TT, I still hope he will win the tour, if not him than Evans, who does seem to have the best position at the moment

+1

...Has to be a hard stage for Voeckler after turning himself inside out to keep the Maillot Jaune today. Maybe he can use the descent off the Galibier to his advantage, though.

 

[kurtinsc]

I think Andy believes he'll be able to win this tour if he doesn't lose any more time tomorrow. So I would expect Fränk to go hard and force Evans to chose, let him go and potentially suffer the same fate he did with Sastre back in 2008 or counter him, push himself to his limit and risk Andy jumping away from him in the final few KM's and lose the tour that way. Tactically he's in a lose-lose situation, he'll need good enough legs to be able to counter it all.

I don't think Evans will try to pull Frank back. Even if he's strong, I think he'll be perfectly happy riding a lesser pace to keep Frank at 1 minute as opposed to killing himself to bring him back. Looking at it from Evans' perspective, Having both Andy and Frank a minute up going into the ITT doesn't change things for him... he'd still have to beat Andy by a minute to win it. Frank's TT means he'd have to gain 2 minutes tomorrow to possibly threaten as much as Andy is right now.

 

[Jamsque]

Cadel will be having nightmares

Schleck sanwitch on the Alpe.

Can anyone say 2008.

The important difference between 2011 and 2008 is that Cadel isn't beat to ****. He is probably going to lose time to Frank tomorrow but I think his TT this year will be significantly better than the one that failed to take Yellow from Sastre.

 

[2wheels]

I actually hope Andy attacks first again tomorrow, and from a good distance out again. Evans isn't worried about Frank; he can safely give him 60 to 90 seconds. He'll just be looking to mark Andy and then try to steal 30 sec. or so at the end. But if Andy goes early, it's really going to hurt Cadel if he has to chase it down-- especially if Leopard gets a man or two up the road. And God help Evans if Cancellara or Voigt is waiting at the top of Galibier for either Schleck tomorrow!

 

[just some guy]

The important difference between 2011 and 2008 is that Cadel isn't beat to ****. He is probably going to lose time to Frank tomorrow but I think his TT this year will be significantly better than the one that failed to take Yellow from Sastre.

True wonder if he will get more help as well from BMC and maybe Basso. Basso might still get on the podium but needs a good day tomorrow.

The Aldo alliance might be on.

 

[luckyboy]

Can see Frank attacking and getting time but if Andy gains time on people after today then

Hope Evans hangs on and Andy cracks.

 

[Nastyy]

True wonder if he will get more help as well from BMC and maybe Basso. Basso might still get on the podium but needs a good day tomorrow.

The Aldo alliance might be on.

No way Basso will podium now. He hasn't shown anything in the mountains that suggests that he would gain massive time tomorrow. He will end up 5th behind Schlecks, Evans and Voeckler in Paris.

Kinda hoping Voeckler to let Rolland to go and try for a stage win.

 

[Kwibus]

I really hope Voeckler will lose more time. I don't think I will enjoy him winning the TdF. I really like the guy, but he isn't a GT winner.

p.s. If he starts the TT with the yellow jersey then you just never know. We've seen lots of poor TT guys ride an awesome TT because they had the yellow jersey.

 

[Tank Engine]

Well somehow I got the right tactics yesterday, got the Shlecks and Evans performance pretty on cue, but was way off with AC. It's now down to four guys. This time the real GC battle will happen on the final climb. TV will be holding on for dear life and he'll be even more of a French hero if he just gets on the podium. Thus as today he'll let Cadel and the Schlecks fight it out. The Schlecks have the stronger cards to play on this stage and so will be the initiators. Andy is in the best position and is not going to do a worse TT than Frank, but I would say he needs a bit more time on Cadel, around 30secs or more. If Leotard have anyone capable of making a decent pace at the bottom of the Alpe after today, then they'll thin out the group. If Frank attacks, then I think Evans will just ride at his own tempo and that might be enough. So after today, Frank has to be in the service of Andy. When the group thins out Andy should attack each time the road gets steep. Let the best man of AS and CE win. TV to take the final podium position.

 

[michaeld]

I really hope Voeckler will lose more time. I don't think I will enjoy him winning the TdF. I really like the guy, but he isn't a GT winner.

p.s. If he starts the TT with the yellow jersey then you just never know. We've seen lots of poor TT guys ride an awesome TT because they had the yellow jersey.

But if he wins it, then he is a GT winner.

 

[jens_attacks]

andy will win by 1:30 on cadel.game over

 

[cineteq]

andy will win by 1:30 on cadel.game over

Andy doesn't have enough training to go back-to-back. He'll pay the price tomorrow for today's effort...

 

[brollebol]

Andy doesn't have enough training to go back-to-back. He'll pay the price tomorrow for today's effort...

I have a hard time believing that Cadel had an easier time than AS today... Only people that might have 'saved' some energy are Basso and FS. Basso is not a contender anymore and FS is no threat to AS.

 

[El Pistolero]

Andy or Frank to win. Cuddles to lose all hope for the yellow jersey. Voeckler to finally crack. And then I'll be a sad panda

Can't believe I'm actually wanting Cuddles to win now!

 

[sulgpallur]

i wish TV could again hang on with big boys tomorrow and time trial well on saturday to TDF win.
Also Contador for stage win