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

[LaFleur]

Any chance of a sprinter going in to a break tomorrow, Rojas? 20 points and a green jersey would be awesome for him tomorrow

 

[perico]

So apart from the big dogs... who else may be up there tomorrow... who are the surprises likely to be?

 

[Florian]

It's time for Moncoutie if he really wants this polka-dot jersey! I'm confident, he will be in the first breakaway.

We are going to see other guys from tomorrow, and probably few spanishes. Euskaltel riders will play at home.

 

[just some guy]

Any chance of a sprinter going in to a break tomorrow, Rojas? 20 points and a green jersey would be awesome for him tomorrow

I think he has to if he wants to win it.

 

[VeloCity]

Are you ****ing kidding me? Cofidis have been in about 7-8 breaks so pretty much every stage and cofidis was the one that instigated the attack of voeckler and gilbert yesterday. Taaramäe is lying 18th on the GC and 2nd on the white jersey. Are you seriously freaking asking if they are on the tour? Have you watched it?

Yep. If that's the best you can come up with - getting in a couple of breaks over 11 stages and a rider in 18th on GC and 2nd in white - then they've really done very little of note, haven't they?

 

[The Hitch]

Gilbert to do surprisingly well.

Thor for the win

Only one of those statements is a joke.

 

[b.broadhurst]

If Contador believes he can win the tour then he will win tomorrow.

 

[LaFleur]

Ok, where have SaxoBank been? Haven't seen any of them in the first 11 stages, strange... Katusha? Astana?

 

[Duartista]

It's time for Moncoutie if he really wants this polka-dot jersey! I'm confident, he will be in the first breakaway.

We are going to see other guys from tomorrow, and probably few spanishes. Euskaltel riders will play at home.

Moncoutie has actually said that he isn't bothered about the polka dot jersey:

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-interview-david-moncoutie-laquo-le-maillot-a-pois-net-8217-est-plus-ma-priorite-raquo-17068.html

His priority, and the team's, is a stage win.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Ok, where have SaxoBank been? Haven't seen any of them in the first 11 stages, strange... Katusha? Astana?

Nearly all of Saxo-Bank have been out the back saving as much energy as possible for the mountains. Only Noval and Vandborg have been on the front protecting Contador.

 

[stetre76]

Moncoutie has actually said that he isn't bothered about the polka dot jersey:

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-interview-david-moncoutie-laquo-le-maillot-a-pois-net-8217-est-plus-ma-priorite-raquo-17068.html

His priority, and the team's, is a stage win.

and i think there won't be a better stage than the one on July 14, and a mountain stage at that...

 

[LaFlorecita]

... Only Noval and Vandborg have been on the front protecting Contador.

And Tossato and both Sörensens.

 

[Spaniard]

Interesting:

http://www.marca.com/2011/07/13/ciclismo/tour_francia/1310576900.html

For those who don't speak Spanish: Samu wouldn't mind to make an alliance with Contador in the high mountain if he can follow him.

 

[Cimber]

Rolf Sørensen on Danish TV: "The brothers will try to shake Evans, but they wont be able to. He is my biggest favorite to win the Tour at the moment"

 

[b.broadhurst]

Interesting:

http://www.marca.com/2011/07/13/ciclismo/tour_francia/1310576900.html

For those who don't speak Spanish: Samu wouldn't mind to make an alliance with Contador in the high mountain if he can follow him.

Contador is always going to have a strong alliance with Euskatel after the Giro and being Spanish. Don't forget to add Tiralongo to the mix. Other teams might struggle against this combination.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Interesting:

http://www.marca.com/2011/07/13/ciclismo/tour_francia/1310576900.html

For those who don't speak Spanish: Samu wouldn't mind to make an alliance with Contador in the high mountain if he can follow him.

Spaniards making alliances with other Spaniards, is that even news? I think most people here consider it a fact Contador has 3 teams riding for him.

 

[luckyboy]

If Contador believes he can win the tour then he will win tomorrow.

If he is building up to peak/recover from kee injury in the final week, he should just finish with the leading group/Andy here. No point him wasting energy if he is still recovering. I think there will be group of about 4 or 5 at the top anyway.

Ok, where have SaxoBank been? Haven't seen any of them in the first 11 stages, strange...

haha

 

[LaFleur]

Nearly all of Saxo-Bank have been out the back saving as much energy as possible for the mountains. Only Noval and Vandborg have been on the front protecting Contador.

Check last post of page 23, was ment for him cuz he thinks Cofidis has been invisible

 

[LaFlorecita]

I hope Andy is going to lose time tomorrow. 20+ seconds would be great.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Check last post of page 23, was ment for him cuz he thinks Cofidis has been invisible

Hahahaha, he better pop to specsavers!!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Contador is always going to have a strong alliance with Euskatel after the Giro and being Spanish. Don't forget to add Tiralongo to the mix. Other teams might struggle against this combination.

"Being Spanish" isn't really going to endear him to Euskaltel. The Giro might, but you might want to rethink the idea of Euskaltel loyalty to Spain.

 

[Angliru]

Top 5 tomorrow
(no particular order)
A.Schleck
Contador
Tony
Evans
Sanchez

Tony who???? Surely not Martin? He who has shown no resemblence of elite climbing ability and on the one attack in the mountains he attempted in a recent week long stage race he blew up spectacularly never to be seen or heard from again? That Tony??

 

[b.broadhurst]

"Being Spanish" isn't really going to endear him to Euskaltel. The Giro might, but you might want to rethink the idea of Euskaltel loyalty to Spain.

Considering he his training partners with most of the squad, i'm sure they are all quite loyal.

 

[just some guy]

Tony who???? Surely not Martin? He who has shown no resemblence of elite climbing ability and on the one attack in the mountains he attempted in a recent week long stage race he blew up spectacularly never to be seen or heard from again? That Tony??

That would the Tony

 

[b.broadhurst]

If he is building up to peak/recover from kee injury in the final week, he should just finish with the leading group/Andy here. No point him wasting energy if he is still recovering. I think there will be group of about 4 or 5 at the top anyway.

He said he was fine today so I will be surprised to not see him attack tomorrow. I genuinely think it will be 2/3 together tomorrow.