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

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think he will be slightly dissapointed with a podium, but it would be a very good result for him. I would like to see him win the vuelta. a 2nd stage win in this years tdf will make him real happy.

I fear vuelta comes far to soon for anyone riding the tour, and really chasing the win in france.

Vuelta starts what 2 weeks earlier this year?

 

[dlwssonic]

I fear vuelta comes far to soon for anyone riding the tour, and really chasing the win in france.

Vuelta starts what 2 weeks earlier this year?

why did they change the date

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

why did they change the date

I assume the fact riders treat it like a mockery and pulling out in favor for worlds form.

 

[Parrulo]

why did they change the date

to avoid people using the vuelta to save their season after tour failure? and maybe to give an edge to people who actually focus on the vuelta for the win as one of the main season goals.

also what Timmy said

 

[dlwssonic]

anyways it will mean less waiting after the tour for the vuelta which is fine with me. And it shouldnt clash with my exam period. I dont think this change of date will affect cuddles that much. However that are strong riders like anton, nibali, scarponi and the schlecks(kidding)

 

[Duartista]

I think the Vuelta being earlier will actually help people who have done the Tour. More riders used to do the Giro-Tour when they were closer together (although there are other factors in why that changed too).

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

anyways it will mean less waiting after the tour for the vuelta which is fine with me. And it shouldnt clash with my exam period. I dont think this change of date will affect cuddles that much. However that are strong riders like anton, nibali, scarponi and the schlecks(kidding)

I think it means competing for the win will be very difficult for cuddles.

Vuelta will go to someone with supreme form. I suspect Anton takes it.

 

[Parrulo]

some people may be able to carry their form from the tour to the vuelta but will prolly feels the effects on the third week. good thing for those people that this years vuelta doesn't has much happening on the last week

 

[dlwssonic]

I think it means competing for the win will be very difficult for cuddles.

Vuelta will go to someone with supreme form. I suspect Anton takes it.

anton is the favorite but who knows. there will be much stronger competition in the vuelta this year than last year right.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

some people may be able to carry their form from the tour to the vuelta but will prolly feels the effects on the third week. good thing for those people that this years vuelta doesn't has much happening on the last week

that is a good point, I haven't studied the vuelta course yet, so not too sure.
But yes if it is not so 3rd week heavy it could provide opportunities.

But still 3ish weeks between races will be very tough.
I suspect the fresh riders will benefit greatly.

We've already seen riders from the giro show the affects at the tour before even hitting the 3rd week.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

cadel actually tends to get worse as a Gt progresses. Often he struggles in 3rd week.

Anyway form is fine and dandy, but I don't see in translating into sudden climnbing ability. Cavendish on form of his life isn't going to own in the mountains either (ok not a fair example, but maybe you understand what I am saying..)

Just for the record it isn't like I am writing cadel off completely, I suspect he will get podium still as he has a tendency to grind out a good result.

I just can't see him not losing much time to have a chance, no way imo.

goob point that many people don't seem to know it's also a reason why he think he will suck even more this tour because the mountains start late and evans has already wasted a lot of energy

 

[Duartista]

some people may be able to carry their form from the tour to the vuelta but will prolly feels the effects on the third week. good thing for those people that this years vuelta doesn't has much happening on the last week

It also has mountain stages much earlier than normal, so anyone going for GC will have to be on or near there best form from the start.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

anton is the favorite but who knows. there will be much stronger competition in the vuelta this year than last year right.

looks that way. even more so with some off the early tour abandons.

 

[Sasquatch]

Someone from the break has a good chance of winning this stage.

If a solid climber has a 5 minute advantage at the base, they can hold on depending on what happens. Teams will ride tempo heading up to the final climb but if Contador isn't feeling that well he will just sit on which will help the rider in the break who broke away from everyone else at the base of the climb.

Anyway, Contador will probably attack anyway and even if he does, that said person from the break may take stage glory.

Here is what will happen.

Leopard will send Voigt in the break.
RadioShack will send Paulinho.
BMC will send someone up the road
As will probably a few other teams and a few opportunist Frenchmen will go up the road.

On the final climb, Leipheimer and the other Shacker will ride with Kloden if he is not on. Either way, if Kloden is not in his good form due to being injured, Leipheimer will be by his side and they will use the guy in the break to either drop back and help or to go for a stage win.

Velits and Sanchez will do strong rides tomorrow. Potential top 10.

1. Breakaway rider
2. Contador
3. Schleck
4. Sanchez
5. Schleck
6. Velits
7. Basso
8. Evans
9. Gesink
10. Cunego

I favour someone from the break taking this stage as chances are if Contador doens't attack, then the main favourites will watch each other.

 

[bicing]

Cadel didn't have a problem in the 3rd week of the 2009 Vuelta................

 

[just some guy]

Cadel didn't have a problem in the 3rd week of the 2009 Vuelta................

Just his tire

 

[Liquigas]

Taaramae to surprise the world, at least those who doesn't know too much about cycling, or at least this is what I hope

 

[Captain_Cavman]

keeping out of trouble is part of racing isnt it.

It is. I wasn't knocking Cadel, I was just commenting on the fact that the attrition rate at this year's Tour is so high that anybody that finishes is likely to finish high up the GC.

 

[No_Balls]

goob point that many people don't seem to know it's also a reason why he think he will suck even more this tour because the mountains start late and evans has already wasted a lot of energy

AND he is not a youngster in the sport anymore. It is way more easier to pass your peak after 30.

 

[Jan the Man]

I will be intrigued as to how long he second tier outsiders such as Velits, Martin and Taaramae etc can hang with the main favourties tomorrow.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Tomorrow is Bastille day, French teams will **** the race up if they dont get in the break.

 

[VeloCity]

AND he is not a youngster in the sport anymore.

True, but that can be an advantage too - Evans knows what he's doing. Contador and the Schlecks often appear as though they don't have a clue.

 

[El Pistolero]

True, but that can be an advantage too - Evans knows what he's doing. Contador and the Schlecks often appear as though they don't have a clue.

Lol, seriously? You think Cuddles has more experience than Contador?

One guy won the last 6 GTs he entered and the other one screwed up countless of times.

 

[thirteen]

True, but that can be an advantage too - Evans knows what he's doing. Contador and the Schlecks often appear as though they don't have a clue.

true of the Schlecklett, but i think Fränk and (especially) AC do too.

 

[sultanofhyd]

True, but that can be an advantage too - Evans knows what he's doing. Contador and the Schlecks often appear as though they don't have a clue.

Ehm, this tour is an anomaly. You don't win 6 grand tours without having a clue.