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

[auscyclefan94]

I hope Sky and Movistar puts the hammer down on the climbs in order to drop Cavendish etc. In that case EBH could win and Rojas could get 2nd

If they were smart they would but using team mates to split the field may cost a team riders when leading out.

 

[greenedge]

I would go Vaitkus from Astana. Fofonov for another day. Maybe Marcarto from Vaconsoleil. Sky will send Geraint and i hope Hivert goes from Saur. QS might send Devenyns. Cofidis will also get someone in it. OPL might send someone to take off the pressure.

 

[Gingerale]

TdF getting closer to luz-ardiden.

i like this stage.

voeckler keeps yellow
gilbert - green
gesink- white

not sure about the mountain jersey. and i don't know if htc will allow tejay to get in a breakaway. hoogie to keep the dots if he can ride and finish the stage.

breakaway to have at least 2 french teams represented, euskatel, sky, rabo, movistar...tough to guess which rider. has to be some1 experienced, clever. chavanel if he's feeling good, nah...i go for sandy casar.

 

[Dedelou]

I bet BMC are in the break

i agree with you JSG. I bet BMC put one guy or even two in the break now that Evans is no longer a second away from yellow he needs not use his team to chase anymore, his only interest is to take more time on his rival and this kind of stage will not serve that purpose

 

[Dedelou]

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

the intermediate sprint gives many points, so I imagine that being so early in the stage many guys will be sprinting for something. We tend to look at the 3 top guys battling for green, but a number of other guys are willing to make an effort for the lesser spot in that competition.

 

[Dedelou]

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....

wow! did you really get to meet her? We all have heard she was once a slalom rider.

 

[auscyclefan94]

i agree with you JSG. I bet BMC put one guy or even two in the break now that Evans is no longer a second away from yellow he needs not use his team to chase anymore, his only interest is to take more time on his rival and this kind of stage will not serve that purpose

Why? It is totally not necessary to have BMC riders wasting there energy in the break when they should be saving it for the last half of the race or keeping cadel protected from the wind.

 

[Dedelou]

Why? It is totally not necessary to have BMC riders wasting there energy in the break when they should be saving it for the last half of the race or keeping cadel protected from the wind.

I would agree with you to a point but I expect the break to be large tomorrow and being in it may not take more efforts than having to contribute to a chase if they have nobody in it. On intermediate stages like this one when the break has a good chance to make it , it is good to have a team mate in it , no?

 

[auscyclefan94]

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

LOL, I think I will squal like a little girl if Greipel wins! Hope he gves abuse to cavendish!

I would agree with you to a point but I expect the break to be large tomorrow and being in it may not take more efforts than having to contribute to a chase if they have nobody in it. On intermediate stages like this one when the break has a good chance to make it , it is good to have a team mate in it , no?

Meh, I don't see it being that way though I could be wrong. I think they would put Quinziato if anyone in the break.

 

[kukiniloa]

How could you not tip Hoshovd for the win?

 

[The Barb]

How could you not tip Hoshovd for the win?

Are you serious? As much as I love Thor, he's not in the top half dozen fastest riders on a flat finish (let alone one, like today, where the last km is 1% downhill). Sure, he'll get over the climbs better than some, but even if Cavendish is dropped (and I don't think he will be) Farrar will be there too and Thor will simply be part of his leadout train.

 

[Publicus]

I'm not sure that Sky (with Boasson Hagen) and Movistar (with JJ Rojas) will really want a break, especially since they both already won a stage (Boasson Hagen and Rui Costa). I think it's more likely Vacansoleil (as always), Astana and Quickstep will want to be up front.

Astana has to save its energy to assist Contador on Thursday Now that Vino is out, that is

 

[hughmoore]

Are you serious? As much as I love Thor, he's not in the top half dozen fastest riders on a flat finish (let alone one, like today, where the last km is 1% downhill). Sure, he'll get over the climbs better than some, but even if Cavendish is dropped (and I don't think he will be) Farrar will be there too and Thor will simply be part of his leadout train.

In that case, Gadret for the WIN!!!

 

[patswana]

Simon Gerrans FTW.

 

[nevada]

Ben swift or GT from the break.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I don't think Sky would put Thomas or Swift in a break today, as it's a great stage for EBH and he needs their help in the finish. Knees or Gerrans are better options, and both have a half decent finish as well.

 

[Cycling the Alps]

Climbs of today

4 climbs in a very hilly stage.
Check them out.
http://sites.cyclingthealps.com/worldtour/tour-de-france-2011

Especially the last one looks very nice.
http://www.cyclingthealps.com/#cote-de-mirandol-bourgounac-streetview

 

[auscyclefan94]

Final km's are very technical. There is a nasty left hander inside the last km.

 

[greenedge]

I have not seen any Saur and since two breaks have succeded and they were not part of them, they should try before the mountains as only Coppel will survive. Fedrigo would be my pick from a break if he were here. Cancellara to bomb the descent as well with Samu. Hincapie could get in the break??? Cunego could try and Oss should as well. Goss, EBH, Thor and Rojas to fight FTW.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I have not seen any Saur and since two breaks have succeded and they were not part of them, they should try before the mountains as only Coppel will survive. Fedrigo would be my pick from a break if he were here. Cancellara to bomb the descent as well with Samu. Hincapie could get in the break??? Cunego could try and Oss should as well. Goss, EBH, Thor and Rojas to fight FTW.

Too far out to go for an attack if you are reffering to the descent from the big lump which its peak is at 40km to go. That is the only possible place but it is still much too hard.

 

[momomomo]

Thor to get in a break after the intermediate sprint, with someone equally strong, break to stay away.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

FWIW - don't forget Petacchi - if he gets round the last corner well placed.

 

[Thomsena]

After recovering well over the downhill to the 4. cat Cavendish gets his popo over it and eventually wins the stage. No doubt!

 

[Mellow Velo]

Actually, a fascinating bit of route planning from the ASO.
Short stage, with the IS at just 37kms in. Mostly downhill/flat, too.
HTC will pull out all the stops to control the early cavalry charge.

Don't think a break will form until around the 3rd cat climb.

After that, they have 3 climbs of about 9kms and the other 50 odd km of rolling parcour, to get the decisive gap.
Peloton will hit the chase button at around the 40km to go mark.

I feel a bunch sprint coming on, but the stage will be fast.

 

[Cimber]

"Thrilling fast finish. 2km of winding downhill descent then last 1km very technical. Tight turns"

Oh my, could we possible hope for Schlecks to lose some time here? SS could attack.

I hope we wont see any crashes though