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

[thirteen]

Andy Schleck Organization

i should not have read that wine in hand (and now all over keyboard)... chapeau!

 

[jobiwan]

Andy cant sprint. Contador would beat him anytime in a sprint.

Also I dont think they will use Frank to just pull hard. That will be Fuglsang and Monfort. Frank will attack as the first of the two bros though.

You're probably right with how they will use Frank.

As for the sprint, I'm probably thinking more along the lines of an attack in the last KM rather than a sprint, just didn't word that correctly.

Because you are right, the only time Andy won a mountain sprint, it took Sanchez cramping otherwise he would have got it easily.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Only a couple of domestiques will make it in the group to Luz Ardiden then it will be every man for themselves.

 

[Liquigas]

One thing is clear, Liquigas has to ride a big tempo, Basso can't afford to not try it, he has many guys ahead of him that time trial much better than him, and if he's aiming for at least the podium, and with so few mountain stages, he needs to try on all of them.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Fair enough. I like Samu and play the fanboy mode with him at the Tour.

I'm expecting big things from Sammy tomorrow, only him, contador and basso left at the end.

 

[Dedelou]

Would be great if leopard and liqui really do tear it up on the tourmalet.

It is still my opinion that tomorrow will be a battle a teams strengh and the teams leaders settling for keeping an eye on each other. I imagine that the "strong" teams (Leopard-trek and Liqui- Lampre -Euskadi) will attempt to use their power houses to destroy the weaker ones. (BMC, Saxo - RS) The one thing that comes to disrupt that thought is the reminder that once they made the left turn in Ancizan the road either climb or descend but there is no more flat section and a climber that can descend could be dangerously capable to make "big difference that team tactics cannot counter

 

[jobiwan]

It is still my opinion that tomorrow will be a battle a teams strengh and the teams leaders settling for keeping an eye on each other. I imagine that the "strong" teams (Leopard-trek and Liqui- Lampre -Euskadi) will attempt to use their power houses to destroy the weaker ones. (BMC, Saxo - RS) The one thing that comes to disrupt that thought is the reminder that once they made the left turn in Ancizan the road either climb or descend but there is no more flat section and a climber that can descend could be dangerously capable to make "big difference that team tactics cannot counter

Look for Frank Schleck to attack then!!

 

[b.broadhurst]

Who are the best descenders out of the GC contenders?

 

[jobiwan]

Who are the best descenders out of the GC contenders?

Sammy Sanchez out of these guys. Hands down, almost made the gap to Andy/Alberto back off the Madeleine last year.

 

[Cimber]

depsite the tour-forecast it looks to be dry on luz ardiden tomorrow. Contador had hoped for raid as Andy dislikes it and the rain today helped to cool his knee (go figure):

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/LuzArdiden/6day/mid

http://en.skiinfo.com/weather-forecast/luz-ardiden-EFRLUZARDIDE-101-en.jhtml

Had they dont Luz Ardiden today then it would have been raining like hell.

 

[just some guy]

It is still my opinion that tomorrow will be a battle a teams strengh and the teams leaders settling for keeping an eye on each other. I imagine that the "strong" teams (Leopard-trek and Liqui- Lampre -Euskadi) will attempt to use their power houses to destroy the weaker ones. (BMC, Saxo - RS) The one thing that comes to disrupt that thought is the reminder that once they made the left turn in Ancizan the road either climb or descend but there is no more flat section and a climber that can descend could be dangerously capable to make "big difference that team tactics cannot counter

and if it is wet Leopard will have to ride slower on the descent as both Fränk and Andy have admitted they have problems with a wet descent.

 

[jobiwan]

depsite the tour-forecast it looks to be dry on luz ardiden tomorrow. Contador had hoped for raid as Andy dislikes it and the rain today helped to cool his knee (go figure):

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/LuzArdiden/6day/mid

Wow, the ASO must really have some good connections!

 

[b.broadhurst]

Sammy Sanchez out of these guys. Hands down, almost made the gap to Andy/Alberto back off the Madeleine last year.

Yeah he was the only one that I thought was any good 2bh, probably see Sammy and Contador attack the last km on Tourmalet and then Contador uses Sammy to attack the descent.

 

[Cimber]

Who are the best descenders out of the GC contenders?

Ye its definately Sanchez.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Sammy Sanchez out of these guys. Hands down, almost made the gap to Andy/Alberto back off the Madeleine last year.

samu isn't a great downhiller anymore for quite some years.

 

[Gingerale]

Andy Schleck Organization

ha.... ASO. that was good.

i can't wait for this stage! meanwhile, it is fun reading the posts

 

[dgodave]

Fascinating that Tourmalet is an "NC" climb, while Luz Ardiden in an "HC" climb.
.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Ye its definately Sanchez.

I find it odd that he can descend well, good descenders are normally good TT's and he is pretty poor.

 

[Cimber]

Yeah he was the only one that I thought was any good 2bh, probably see Sammy and Contador attack the last km on Tourmalet and then Contador uses Sammy to attack the descent.

That would be awesome but Contador wont be able to hold Sanchez wheel ona decent if he goes full throttle. Contador is only an average decender.

Basso and the Schlecks are all rather bad though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I find it odd that he can descend well, good descenders are normally good TT's and he is pretty poor.

samuel sanchez is a very good timetrialer

not to mention great downhillers aren't great itt riders per se. I could name a ton of downhillers that can't itt very well

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Evans is a handy descender too. This race is missing Valverde. He's a great descender.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

That would be awesome but Contador wont be able to hold Sanchez wheel ona decent if he goes full throttle. Contador is only an average decender.

Basso and the Schlecks are all rather bad though.

frank is a bad downhiller but andy isn't and contador is a very good dwonhiller

 

[b.broadhurst]

That would be awesome but Contador wont be able to hold Sanchez wheel ona decent if he goes full throttle. Contador is only an average decender.

Basso and the Schlecks are all rather bad though.

Contador stayed in contact on the descents with Nibali so he must have a good chance with Sanchez

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Evans is a handy descender too. This race is missing Valverde. He's a great descender.

evans isn't that good as a downhiller. also he showed that during duaphinee this year

 

[The Hitch]

I find it odd that he can descend well, good descenders are normally good TT's and he is pretty poor.

Samu is a great descender because of his MTB background.

Also he is an awesome tter.

He beat Dennis Mencov in the main Vuelta tt a few years ago.
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=6328

Came second in the main Vuelta tt 2 years ago, beating Cuddles, losing to Millar, and I think he won one other Vuelta tt.

Yeah he was the only one that I thought was any good 2bh, probably see Sammy and Contador attack the last km on Tourmalet and then Contador uses Sammy to attack the descent.

Unfortunately i severely doubt he will attack on a downhill here. If he does attack on a downhill its either Pinarollo or Gap.