2011 Tour de France, Stage 12: Cugnaux - Luz-Ardiden, 209 km

[Ramira]

I'm not a big fan of massive leaps in form in July, so on the Tourmalet I'd like to see Andy struggle to keep up with Danielson, just like he did on Mt. Baldy and again at the Tour de Suisse. Twelve days in between Tour de Suisse and Stage 1 of the Tour, with rest days, Luxembourg Road Nationals and presumed easy days before the start - there's no time to transform a guy into one of the top two climber's in the world.

Cadel has been consistently strong since day one, so I wonder just how much longer his peak can last, like the 2010 Giro.

I wish that Contador was overplaying the injury for the media, but the actual photo of the knee with acupuncture needles in it was depressing.

Have some teams pushed too hard in early stages? Has Saxo Bank really been resting, or are Navarro, Porte, Tosatto and Hernandez cooked from the Giro?

I'm excited for the day because all the talk and spin stop on the Luz-Ardiden. This is the Stage Of Truth.

It's not like Andy is the only rider that wasn't really on form during TDS or the Dauphine Libere and it's a jump of form that I've seen so many riders make over the last few decades it's not exactly something new.

I think it's to early to say anything about the saxo form. Last year both Contador's helpers as quite a few of the Saxo guys dropped out early on flat stages to save energy so until they drop off to early in the mountains I'm going to say they'll be fine.

 

[icefire]

What would make my day is watching Contador, Basso and Evans riding off on both brothers chasing Sammy who gets the win by 10-15 seconds with Andy and Fränk distanced 1 mini-sh

maybe a dream

Your dream and the dream of the zillions making the orange tide that will cover the slopes of Luz Ardiden. Statistics also tell that riders from the south side of the Pyrenees own this mountain.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Il Piccolo Principe

The Little Prince is coming for all your Spanish goblins, Aussie ogres, and skinny Lux wizards.

TdS Stage 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-iuQ2dfyZE

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

it still is beyond me how people consider evans a favourite.

cuz hes an underdog with a better chance than most other underdogs (e.g. Klodi, even Basso IMO) this year. Many ppl like underdogs over clear favorites. Plus hes a bit older than the other clear favorites, and to me that makes him a sentimental fav (as in it would be nice to see him get a win). Others will have more opportunities in the future to get the win, but his time is running out.

 

[Anonymous]

The Little Prince is coming for all your Spanish goblins, Aussie ogres, and skinny Lux wizards.

TdS Stage 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-iuQ2dfyZE

He could actually do something great but he tends to dissapoint.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

we waited far too long for this stage imho

stupid tdf with their 2 weeks of flat/hilly and dangerous stages

 

[Deagol]

Could be a good stage for Garmin to let Danielson take a flyer.

This I would LOVE to see.
I would be pretty suprised if it actually happened, though.

 

[Alberto Attack]

Was looking forward to see what wiggans could do here, plus sucks that many GC contendors have dropped behind i dont want it just to be a battle between conti and andy again, Maybe sanchez can make a move to gain back some time.

 

[Parrulo]

The Little Prince is coming for all your Spanish goblins, Aussie ogres, and skinny Lux wizards.

TdS Stage 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-iuQ2dfyZE

i downloaded that stage the day after it and since then i have watched it a bunch of times, in matter of fact i watched it yesterday again

one of the best more spectacular performances of the year

 

[craig1985]

Worst timing for this stage. I want to watch it live but there is a 5:45am group ride that I go on and I have a doctor's appointment at 8.15am.

****s.

 

[BYOP88]

Worst timing for this stage. I want to watch it live but there is a 5:45am group ride that I go on and I have a doctor's appointment at 8.15am.

****s.

Record the stage and avoid the interweb etc at all cost.

 

[Ramira]

i downloaded that stage the day after it and since then i have watched it a bunch of times, in matter of fact i watched it yesterday again

one of the best more spectacular performances of the year

Just watched that stage (it wasn't broadcast live back here), gotta admit he looked even more impressive then he did in the other mountain stages (I did manage to see those). If he was able to keep that kinda form he might well sneak into the top 10.

 

[Pantani_lives]

The Day of the Reckoning!!

 

[luckyboy]

Anyone but Schleck
Anyone but Schleck
Anyone but Schleck
Anyone but Schleck

 

[Scirea]

Let's say a prayer that Contador's knee is fine. Otherwise the 2011 TdF could be decided by Thursday evening.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Keep underrating Evans...thursdays victory will be very sweet!

 

[Publicus]

Keep underrating Evans...thursdays stage will be very sweet!

No one needs to tell you to keep overrating Cuddles. You've already got that one covered.

 

[OneNameGuy]

Contador will be worried about his knee and try not to put too much pressure on it, so unless the Schlecks show any weaknesses he will ride defensively I reckon.

the Schlecks will want to test Cadel and Contador's knee so I see their team taking control and keeping on the pressure and in the end one of them will attack. Hopefully Contador and Evans can repond and ideally drop one of the bros.

+1
Andrew and Frank will use their team to put pressure on Contador and Conti will try to nurse his knees.

 

[auscyclefan94]

No one needs to tell you to keep overrating Cuddles. You've already got that one covered.

Touche! Fair enough but I certainly don't think Evans will crumble like some are saying.

 

[Scirea]

Touche! Fair enough but I certainly don't think Evans will crumble like some are saying.

Don't get me wrong, i don't think he will suck. I just think he will lack that little extra you need for the big win. It's almost a banker he will finish top5 so he can't be too bad.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Don't get me wrong, i don't think he will suck. I just think he will lack that little extra you need for the big win. It's almost a banker he will finish top5 so he can't be too bad.

Thursday is Evans's best chance, I think. (Same with Cunego.) The Contaschelcks will just sit pretty till the Alps: Contador b/c of his knee; Schlecks b/c they're the Schlecks. A guy like Evans or Cunego may be able to sneak away.

Ah, who am I kidding. The group of favorites will be kept together by Contador, who will be constantly tailed by Andy, who will be constantly tailed by everyone else. Anyone who tries to attack against this wall of forced cooperation will just blow themselves up and make an early transition from "GC contender" to "stage hunting."

Let the hunt begin ಠ_ಠ

 

[spanky wanderlust]

bertie is full of crap! as soon as he has good sensations in his knee and in his legs, he will go. and there isn't anyone in this field who can stop him. he will not win this stage because saxo will not be in control of this race.

however, he will ride all of the other gc contenders off his wheel and do some serious damage. andy will lose time on luz ardiden.

 

[Scirea]

bertie is full of crap! as soon as he has good sensations in his knee and in his legs, he will go. and there isn't anyone in this field who can stop him. he will not win this stage because saxo will not be in control of this race.

however, he will ride all of the other gc contenders off his wheel and do some serious damage. andy will lose time on luz ardiden.

I think Contador will be fine and will attack in one of the Pyrenees stages but i admit i'm biased so it may be just hope. Can't wait for sure. Only thing i know for sure that there will be a couple of sad riders from Luxemburg if he is at least 90% healthy.

 

[movingtarget]

I think Saturday's stage will be the decisive one of the two mtf's. If one of the Schleck's take the yellow jersey by a small margin, Evan's won't be too unhappy. Be surprised if the time gaps between the GC contenders were large on this stage and I don't think Voeckler will lose a lot of time. He will fight to hold onto the yellow jersey as long as possible.

 

[saganftw]

contador has to attack,all that talking about his knee just gives hope to schlecks and other potential gc candidates so he has to crush their dreams

if hes really injured or out of form he will sit back watching others,imo that would be the best sign hes not 100%