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

[roundabout]

Looks like headwind again.

 

[hatcher]

Hushovd for Farrar.

Lumpy with a flat finish is why Sky took Swift. EBH's form may well trump that though.

 

[will10]

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.

?

Well that's a bizarre comment. How many times has he been in that kind of situation exactly?

 

[boomcie]

Popo out of the race.

 

[AussieGoddess]

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?

have to disagree

I dont think BMC will be expected to contribute to the chase even if they had no one in the break.

I hope Gilbert goes for it .... but tipping Gerrains FTW

 

[Archibald]

?

Well that's a bizarre comment. How many times has he been in that kind of situation exactly?

just wondering the same thing.
unless he's thinking of RvV and doesn't know that he was called back by Flecha?

 

[kanari]

just wondering the same thing.
unless he's thinking of RvV and doesn't know that he was called back by Flecha?

Maybe he's thinking of cobbled stage last year when he was in the front group but then he was up against Hushovd in the sprint. There was also a stage in Bayern this year where he was in the break away but didn't win. He does seem very fast at the moment however so I think he'll win from a break unless he is up against some sprinter.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Maybe he's thinking of cobbled stage last year when he was in the front group but then he was up against Hushovd in the sprint. There was also a stage in Bayern this year where he was in the break away but didn't win. He does seem very fast at the moment however so I think he'll win from a break unless he is up against some sprinter.

They're the only 2 I can think of. No shame in losing to Hushovd last year, but he should have beaten Albasini in the Bavaria one. Hardly enough to have himself a reputation though, and he still won the race overall in the latter.

 

[goggalor]

?

Well that's a bizarre comment. How many times has he been in that kind of situation exactly?

At least 2 times, in Dwars door Vlaanderen and the British nationals. And then I think there was one more race but I cba to look it up. Considering the amount of wins he has had this year as well, I'd say he's far from being a shoo-in for the win if he makes break.

 

[Tapping Pedals]

First post.....good to be here

Does anyone have the last 2km in road map format? Sounds quite technical, and not an ideal lead-out should the HTC train want to put Cav or Goss up.

 

[Jan the Man]

In Dwars Doors he was cooked and was beaten by Nuyens who went on to win RVV.

In the Nationals he was part of a three man break consisting of Sky riders. Kennaugh attacked and G brought him back. Wiggins attacked straight after G had brought Kennaugh back and got a gap.

I think only Bayern Rundfahrt he should have won the stage.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I truly hope Feillu wins

 

[JA.Tri]

Anybody else consider Ventoso a chance??

Although Thor will always give his best, I recon he will be recovering. I recon he dug really deep into his reserves and beyond to stay in "yellow" as long as he did.

 

[will10]

At least 2 times, in Dwars door Vlaanderen and the British nationals. And then I think there was one more race but I cba to look it up. Considering the amount of wins he has had this year as well, I'd say he's far from being a shoo-in for the win if he makes break.

British Nationals I will give you. Dwars door Vlaanderen against a super strong Nuyens? That ain't worth counting in my book - Thomas had already done shed loads of work for Flecha and just covered the move - he was completely fried.

If he gets in the break in any transition stage he will take some beating.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Anybody else consider Ventoso a chance??

Although Thor will always give his best, I recon he will be recovering. I recon he dug really deep into his reserves and beyond to stay in "yellow" as long as he did.

no. Rojas will be the man for movistar.

 

[goggalor]

In Dwars Doors he was cooked and was beaten by Nuyens who went on to win RVV.

In the Nationals he was part of a three man break consisting of Sky riders. Kennaugh attacked and G brought him back. Wiggins attacked straight after G had brought Kennaugh back and got a gap.

I think only Bayern Rundfahrt he should have won the stage.

Didn't Wiggins say Thomas "stupidly" pulled back Kennaugh, though?

 

[will10]

Didn't Wiggins say Thomas "stupidly" pulled back Kennaugh, though?

Doesn't mean Bradley was right. Geraint was the fastest in the group, it was in his interests to keep it together.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Just gone through the last few km on Google Earth. It doesnt look as technical as the map makes out. The run in is really quite smooth. Very last corner onto Avenue Neckarsulm is a bit tight but the peleton should be well strung out by then.

Cant see Cav struggling too much on those puny hills today (only 158km in total too!) and the last climb (3.9km at 4.1%) is 15km from the end. The final km's gradient is perfect for him (downhill)

My money is on Cav to win at 3:1

 

[TeoSheva]

I truly hope Feillu wins

+1 ________________

 

[craig1985]

Popo out of the race.

And it was a fever that stopped him, not all the crashes. RS really can't take a trick in this Tour.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

TGBM says he feels fresh and hasn't suffered at all so far. He doesn't care about the GC and therefore dropped a lot of time, with helping Gesink and then letting go. He hopes to win a mountain stage and is looking forward to it with his condition

 

[Ratatosk]

It could turn out to be a battle of the teams for green OPL vs HTC.

It would be in Gilbert's interest to let a break away go today. HTC on the other hand probably sees this as one of a couple opportunities for Cav. So I'd expect HTC to do a lot of the work early. Then in the latter part, if the break looks like getting caught, OPL (now without VDB to worry about) should give it everything they've got on the hills. Try and gap Cav, or at least wear him out a bit. If they can keep Cavendish from scoring much today, Gilbert has a massive chance of keeping the green.

 

[Tuarts]

First post.....good to be here

Does anyone have the last 2km in road map format? Sounds quite technical, and not an ideal lead-out should the HTC train want to put Cav or Goss up.

From Cav's twitter:

So 2 90 degree turns at under 1km to go, very important to be top 10 coming into those.

Personally, I think this is a stage for either Cavendish or Boasson Hagen again. Rojas seems to be tiring and Feillu could be still sore. If Cav doesn't have the legs then HTC will try with Goss. Only sprinters I see being up there if Cav goes is Pettachi and Greipel but today is all about positioning, about 200m from finish after that last bend so if someone does a Thor or G.Thomas from Stage 3, they could easily pull 20m from the pack.

 

[El Pistolero]

Sucks that Europcar will ride at the front to keep the breakaway at bay. They shouldn't invite all these French teams anymore, who gives a damn They're just crowding the peloton with useless cyclists(and the exception or 2).

 

[Tuarts]

From Cav's twitter:

Anyone else notice the map and the description don't match up again? Hope EBH read it carefully this time