2011 Tour de France Stage 1: Passage du Gois - Mont des Alouettes 191.5 km

[auscyclefan94]

Link of Stage 1 finish - Google Maps

Not a technical finish but with the curving final km, it will be important to have good position.

 

[craig1985]

Does Ille mean peninsula in English?

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Does Ille mean peninsula in English?

Presqu'Ile means peninsula. Ile means... island.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I think the wind will be a huge factor what will happaen in the finish.

 

[dlwssonic]

It would be really interesting to see someone beat gilbert, vino could be a good bet. we will get to see for the first time how contadors form is really like. I dont think he will be challenging for the win though but i dont think he will lose time. evans will do well but this climb is too easy for him and he does not have the acceleration like the others on these easier hills. GO EVANS!

 

[boomcie]

I don't get why people are suggesting Voeckler or Vino as possibile winners... They basically have to to the same thing as Phil, but they're worse at it. If Phil doesn't win it, it will be a Goss-like rider.

 

[jens_attacks]

about vino,this might be the last chance to put yellow and he's almost as strong as phil is.voeckler...i don't see him at the front saturday.

 

[no crostis no party]

Maybe too easy for Gilbert; a lot of men can ride 2.2 km @ 4.7% pretty fast.

 

[Tuarts]

Everyone is saying gilbert or hushovd but i have feeling for goss who showed in milan san remo he could get over the poggio in good nick. With the ending too tough for cav i think HTC will give goss the freedom to go on this stage.

Yes, Goss can get over a climb well but winning on a climb/sprint? Different story.

I don't buy into this discussion of Goss being a favourite of the sprinters on this, nothing to indicate he can do this (I would still be cheering like mad if he did though). Looking at just the sprinters, the person most suited would be Sagan. Out of the people here: Hushovd, Pettachi, Rojas/Ventoso (depending on who is leader) even Marcato as a dark horse.

Of course its hard to look past Gilbert, who the finish looks perfectly suited for. Thing is though if he attacks and "destroys the field" then you have to expect others to follow and then you can't discount the other puncheurs like Voecler or Vino, or even any of mountain goats who feel it is their day. All the GC contenders will be looking to protect themselves too.

If it comes to a sprint:

1. Hushovd
2. Rojas
3. Pettachi

Attack:

1. Gilbert
2. Voeckler
3. Chavanel

 

[TeoSheva]

about vino,this might be the last chance to put yellow and he's almost as strong as phil is.voeckler...i don't see him at the front saturday.

no way...and Gilbert has the same motivation than Vino...

 

[TeoSheva]

Maybe too easy for Gilbert; a lot of men can ride 2.2 km @ 4.7% pretty fast.

the only thing that is TOO EASY for Gilbert in that stage is to win the stage

 

[auscyclefan94]

NO sprinter will be near the finish. The classics guys will fly up the climb and take it away from the sprinters.

 

[lucybears]

Cav on stage 1: "I've won on harder but lost on easier, I'm not going to be a favourite"

 

[TeoSheva]

Cav on stage 1: "I've won on harder but lost on easier, I'm not going to be a favourite"

He has the same chance that Pozzato has to win that stage

 

[canyonball]

First time in three years I'll be able to follow the tour live on TV. Needless to say I'm excited!

As far as stage 1 goes, I'm rooting for Rojas. He's in form (look at TdS and the nationals), he has punchy legs and it would be the perfect gift to a team struggling with bad luck.

I also believe* Gilbert's win isn't a done deal. This stage is a good chance for a considerable amount of teams to take a win. Dumolin, Goss, Rojas, Ventoso, Hushovd, Feillu. I want to see those teams putting men in breaks and OLP working hard to bring them back.

*hoping is more what I'm looking for

 

[AlejandroValverde]

I also thin it;s too easy for Gilbert. I bet Rojas can win it ahead of Hushovd, who is not good at sprints his year at all.

 

[Wergeland]

What about Cunego with his tremendous form in TDS? Can he do something on stage 1 and 4? Surpringsly little talk about Cunego before this tour. He won't be able to hold on in the big mountains and should imo try to get a stagewin in the easier mountainstages/hilly stages.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

about vino,this might be the last chance to put yellow and he's almost as strong as phil is.voeckler...i don't see him at the front saturday.

yeah... no he isn't.

Gilbert
Dumoulin
Feillu

 

[Parrulo]

What about Cunego with his tremendous form in TDS? Can he do something on stage 1 and 4? Surpringsly little talk about Cunego before this tour. He won't be able to hold on in the big mountains and should imo try to get a stagewin in the easier mountainstages/hilly stages.

if the climb is raced hard enough for the sprinters to get dropped cunego can try and steal it from gilbert. it would certainly make me a very happy bear

 

[King Of The Wolds]

This is definitely not one for the sprinters, even the stronger ones, like Petacchi or Hushovd. Gilbert is a massive, massive favourite.

I think the other teams should let OPL do ALL the work bringing back the break. If they do, attack again, and keep letting them work. Don't contribute to anything, let them do the lot. The only way to stop Gilbert winning these types of races is to go in with the intention of stopping him from winning, rather than trying to beat him, in the same way they ganged up on Cancellara at RVV and PR.

 

[kanari]

Thor recon'ed the finish yesterday and says it was even harder than he thought. Says he would need an extremely good day to be able to win and says Gilbert is a huge favourite.

http://www.procycling.no/article3182276.ece

 

[Kwibus]

If you look at similar finishes this year than it's impossible not to see Gilbert as favourite.

I'm 99% sure he will win it. Even if there are sprinters near the front they won't be able to pass Gilbert.

Other riders that will be in the mix are the powerful sprinters like Goss, Feillu and Hushovd.
And people like Vino, Dumoulin and Rojas.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I just had a dream of stage 1, and it ended like this:

1. Hushovd
2. Gillbert
3. Vinokourov

 

[boomcie]

I just had a dream of stage 1, and it ended like this:

1. Hushovd
2. Gillbert
3. Vinokourov

Also had a dream about stage 1.

1. Natalie Portman
2. Mila Jovovich
3. Scarlett Johansson

 

[Descender]

Also had a dream about stage 1.

1. Natalie Portman
2. Mila Jovovich
3. Scarlett Johansson

haha nice.