2011 Tour de France, Stage 10: Aurillac - Carmaux, 158 km

[King Of The Wolds]

•Km 62.5 - Côte de Figeac - 2.3 km climb to 6 % - Category 3
•Km 70.5 - Côte de Loupiac - 2.5 km climb to 4.1 % - Category 4
•Km 99.5 - Côte de Villefranche-de-Rouergue - 4.1 km climb to 5.9 % - Category 3
•Km 143.0 - Côte de Mirandol-Bourgnounac - 3.9 km climb to 4.1 % - Category 4



Cav will make it if he tries. The only concern is if tomorrow has been pre-assigned to Goss. If that happens, Boassen will smoke him again.

Tend to agree. 11 is another tough day at the office for HTC, which Cav could take if he wants it enough. Are they and he prepared to do that 2 days running? If not, then EBH or maybe Griepel, if OPL let him potentially take green points from Gilbert.

 

[boomcie]

Let's not forget that VDB leaving doesn't have a negative effect on OPL's manpower. It has a "positive" effect as now they don't have to work for him anymore. Although Frederik Willems is gone as well...

+ the other teams won't expect OPL to do as much work now that their team has been decimated.

Although Phil was already talking about "retaining the respect" they had gained in the peloton, so I guess he'll keep his troops on the front.

 

[ansimi]

It's come to a point where I'm actually hoping for a typical, dull stage where HTC controls everything to get a bunch sprint and nobody gets hurt.

 

[Sneekes]

Sky seems to be in every break after Wiggins crashed out. I'll say Geraint Thomas to win from the break.

Geraint seems up for getting in the break in his latest video blog
http://www.geraintthomas.com/videos/

 

[King Of The Wolds]

It's come to a point where I'm actually hoping for a typical, dull stage where HTC controls everything to get a bunch sprint and nobody gets hurt.

Not sure about that. Libertine would be in pain for days.

 

[taiwan]

Vacansoleil aren't in the breaks quite as much as I thought they'd be. It was only Westra and Hoogerland. Bozic and Feillu will be hanging on for the sprints - Feillu has been good - but Marcato and Leukemans have been quiet.

Stage like this will be good for Feillu.

In the break I'd guess: Rabo, FDJ, Saur (WTF have they been up to?), Cofidis, Astana could do to be there too.

 

[El Pistolero]

Vacansoleil aren't in the breaks quite as much as I thought they'd be. It was only Westra and Hoogerland. Bozic and Feillu will be hanging on for the sprints - Feillu has been good - but Marcato and Leukemans have been quiet.

Stage like this will be good for Feillu.

In the break I'd guess: Rabo, FDJ, Saur (WTF have they been up to?), Cofidis, Astana could do to be there too.

Leukemans is 33th in GC, so he has good legs(remember their team did a crappy TTT)

Vacansolei have been in a lot of breaks actually. Bjorn Leukemans wants to try to go in a break, but every time someone from his team beats him to it

 

[Anonymous]

Geraint seems up for getting in the break in his latest video blog
http://www.geraintthomas.com/videos/

would be interesting for eddy or g to go in the break. Put a bit of pressure on rabobank to decide if they want to defend the white jersey.

 

[manafana]

im thinking goss, greipel or rojas for this, need sprinter but one that will get over the climbs and stay near front.

LL won a finish into here in 08, but think bit much ask for him repeat.

 

[Mambo95]

Full bunch sprint. Probably the usual winner.

 

[maltiv]

would be interesting for eddy or g to go in the break. Put a bit of pressure on rabobank to decide if they want to defend the white jersey.

In my opinion they should rather make sure to drop sprinters like Cavendish and then go for the sprint with EBH. With G as leadout he has a great chance of winning again. But obviously both G and particularly EBH would almost certainly end up with the victory if a break including one of them makes it to the finish.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Not sure about that. Libertine would be in pain for days.

Probably won't even look up from my work if we get an update with 60km to go saying HTC are on the front.

 

[Anonymous]

I think sky will chuck Knees in the break. Hes not been in one yet.

 

[hrotha]

Leukemans is 33th in GC, so he has good legs(remember their team did a crappy TTT)

Vacansolei have been in a lot of breaks actually. Bjorn Leukemans wants to try to go in a break, but every time someone from his team beats him to it

I wouldn't say Leukemans has good legs when he's been completely invisible despite the fact that several stages suited him like a glove. He hasn't lost lots of time, but if he had good legs he would have been in the top 10 in several stages.

 

[H2OUUP2]

What happens with the intermediate sprint so close to the start? Probably a small group gets away?
Thor ftw!

 

[KassyC]

Really hope Johnny Hoogerland can finish the stage to keep his mountains jersey another day.

Agree about Vacansoleil not being in the breaks as much, but with de gendt and Poels injured/sick I guess that's been part of it. But they have had a big presence at the tour, unlike some teams.

Would love Feillu to win today (obviously a bit of a Vacansoleil fan) or Farrar. Would rather not have Cav win, but then not sure if he's more annoying at press conferences if he wins or loses. He's the best sprinter, but he needs to get over his complaining IMO, hopefully he'll grow out of it.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I like this stage - should be a good chase after the last two climbs between the leaders peloton and the HTC / Cav second peloton. If Cavendish can't contest the finish I'd say the green jersey is pretty much done for him. The intermediate sprint after descent also looks interesting - fortunately there are only a few teams contesting now so hopefully won't be too dangerous

It's probably the last chance to win for Petacchi and Rojas - I hope one of them can pull it off

 

[LabMonkey]

I heard a rumour on another forum that the lantern rouge... Jerome won't be starting tomorrow? Anybody else seen this anywhere?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

In my opinion they should rather make sure to drop sprinters like Cavendish and then go for the sprint with EBH. With G as leadout he has a great chance of winning again. But obviously both G and particularly EBH would almost certainly end up with the victory if a break including one of them makes it to the finish.

Lol

Even an injured or not 100% Gesink should not be worried by Thomas or EBH getting a head start on the white jersey
edit: was meant for TSF

 

[goggalor]

But obviously both G and particularly EBH would almost certainly end up with the victory if a break including one of them makes it to the finish.

G would almost certainly not end up with the victory if he makes the winning break. He always finds some way to **** up.

I'd be very happy for him if he proved me wrong, though.

 

[greenedge]

It's going to be another EBH with Cav just getting to the intermediate sprint. Rojas to come 2nd. Thor or Farrar 3rd. i expect to see some Astana riders in the break as well and maybe Hivert could join it from Saur.

 

[Connor Pass]

I think sky will chuck Knees in the break. Hes not been in one yet.

Was thinking he could be involved too!

To me this looks like a breakaway win - I think HTC will keep things together for the intermediate sprint but after that I don't see them chasing down a break until maybe the last 20k if Cavendish is definitely going to be involved in the sprint. It wouldn't make sense for them to chase it for a Goss win as that would mean Gilbert would get more points at the finish, assuming Cav had been dropped. I'm not sure Europcar are the ideal team to be pacing the peloton either.

I'll go with Jerome Pineau.

 

[greenedge]

Rabo should work as well. They have someone 2nd and they need to mask Gesink's pain, whilst Luis could even finish in the top 10. Also i don't think anyone can now get in a break that would threaten Voeckler's lead as there is a GC buffer in between. Katusha might send someone after Kolobnev's expulsion. The all Russian team has been quiet except for the Cossack

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I would expect at least one Vacansoleil in the break tomorrow. Sky will go as well. Fofonov from Astana maybe. Saur and QS must go too. Chavanel may give this a go.

 

[hfer07]

I'd love to see a breakaway making it to the finish line-but we all know they either get caught by the peloton or get knocked off by a French driver.........

Casar might try once more with a couple of brave riders....