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

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I asked this earlier, so bump.

With regard to tonight, is a high tempo from Basso's team (or others) an advantage to Cuddles or disdvantage.

Arnt Basso and Cuddles similar styles, both Turbo Diesals?

I would have thought with very high tempo, harder for attacks.


Hugh

disadvantage. His best bet is an easy pace up the previous and final climbs.

Depends which Cadel 2007 or 2009 thats why we watch I guess

It doesn't matter. Obviously 09 he was in bad form, but he hasn't improved in the cols much over the years.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Not a chance, he has looked good on the 1km uphill finishes like he does always in tours but when it comes to the steep stuff he will get dropped.

+1

lol the first 11 days are not comparable to what they are about to face.

 

[Sophistic]

Evans is the biggest anti-diesel among the GC guys.

 

[Woody22]

Sitting here in Sydney Australia so excited to see what unfolds tonight. I am obviously a huge Evans fan and I will be so nervous watching him try to stick with the big guns tonight. And yes, if history is to be observed, he will probably be dropped and lose time, but I know he will be giving it his all and there is always that glimmer of hope that he will do something special.
To all of you, hope your favourite riders and teams perform how you want tonight and that you all enjoy the show.
Lets get it on!!!!

 

[b.broadhurst]

After a nights sleep I have this prediction for today.......

SBS and Euskatel plus the extra help of Tiralongo and maybe Arroyo if he doesn't get in the breakaway will ride hard from the bottom to the top of the Tourmalet and drop all GC pretenders.

Sanchez to attack the descent with Contador wheel hugging, gain a few seconds on the more cautious descenders due to so many crashes already and then Sanchez and Contador pacing up the Luz and Contador giving him the stage win.

Tourmalet is tougher than the Luz so I think they will push people into the red on the Tourmalet and not the Luz.

 

[Ferminal]

I asked this earlier, so bump.

With regard to tonight, is a high tempo from Basso's team (or others) an advantage to Cuddles or disdvantage.

Arnt Basso and Cuddles similar styles, both Turbo Diesals?

I would have thought with very high tempo, harder for attacks.


Hugh

The only thing that suits Cuddles is a "faux tempo" like Szmyd did for Nibali on Finestre.

 

[LaFleur]

Omega Pharma-Loto will try to push pace on 1st climb to make cavendish to be outside of the timelimit?

Lol, to get Greipel out of the race aswell? That's would be stupid as hell

 

[Florian]

Omega Pharma-Loto will try to push pace on 1st climb to make cavendish to be outside of the timelimit?

I red somewhere they will try to eliminate Cavendish during the Alpe d'Huez's stage.
Modane - Alpe d'Huez is indeed a very short distance, and the timelimit won't be beyond 25-30 minutes in my opinion.

 

[Scirea]

I will be interested to see which of the outsiders such as Taramaae, Velits, Martin, Danielson, Uran, Cunego, Coppel, De Weert will be able to show something and who will hang the longest with the big guns.

Danielson, Taramaae, De Weert, Velits, Cunego, Uran, Coppel, Martin. In that order.

 

[b.broadhurst]

I red somewhere they will try to eliminate Cavendish during the Alpe d'Huez's stage.
Modane - Alpe d'Huez is indeed a very short distance, and the timelimit won't be beyond 25-30 minutes in my opinion.

Cavendish is in better form than people think, proven by his win on Stage 5 and his efforts getting over the last climb and being in contention for sprint on Stage 10.

 

[Tuarts]

has anyone the rules of the cut-off time?

I this is the right one as its now Coefficent 4, which I think is just for the Alp d'Heuz stage.

Coefficient 3 (stages presenting intense
difficulty)
The permitted finishing time is calculated according to the winner’s finishing time plus:
• 6% if the average speed is less than or equal to 30 km/h
• 7% between 30 km/h & 31 km/h;
• 8% between 31 km/h & 32 km/h;
• 9% between 32 km/h & 33 km/h;
• 10% between 33 km/h & 34 km/h;
• 11% between 34 km/h & 35 km/h;
• 12% between 35 km/h & 36 km/h;
• 13% between 36 km/h & 37 km/h;
• 14% between 37 km/h & 38 km/h;
• 15% between 38 km/h & 39 km/h;
• 16% between 39 km/h & 40 km/h;
• 17% over 40 km/h

 

[b.broadhurst]

Danielson, Taramaae, De Weert, Velits, Cunego, Uran, Coppel, Martin. In that order.

Velits has got to be higher, he is definitely the dark horse in the peloton.

 

[Scirea]

Seriously this saving yourself for Alps is bull****, especially for Contador. What if he just follows the Schlecks through the Pyrenees and is unable to drop them on the Alps? Thats his tour over and he didn't even attack in the Pyrenees.

Not really. You think Contador putting 1,5 minutes on the Schleks in the ITT is not possible? Hardly.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Who's going to be in the breakaway then?

 

[just some guy]

It doesn't matter. Obviously 09 he was in bad form, but he hasn't improved in the cols much over the years.

It does if I think will happen happens - ie a group of 6 or so sprint the last 500m after finishing together.

 

[rmacek]

Who's going to be in the breakaway then?

Kreuziger and Moncoutié
edit: and about 4-7 others of course..

 

[metya77]

Today, Bastille Day.
The French will be on top. Morale is lifted.

 

[TeoSheva]

I red somewhere they will try to eliminate Cavendish during the Alpe d'Huez's stage.
Modane - Alpe d'Huez is indeed a very short distance, and the timelimit won't be beyond 25-30 minutes in my opinion.

that's right! if the time limit is 15% like in the Giro for the "high mountains stage", and supposing that the winner will cover the 109km in 180minutes, the time limit will be 27minutes.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Kreuziger and Moncoutié

I feel there will be at least 8. Its frenchie day!!

 

[metya77]

In my opinion Kreuziger, Navarro going to be in the breakaway.

 

[TeoSheva]

In my opinion Kreuziger, Navarro going to be in the breakaway.

no way _________

 

[b.broadhurst]

In my opinion Kreuziger, Navarro going to be in the breakaway.

Navarro? Odd choice considering he is Contador's domestique.

 

[metya77]

I'm sorry Tiralongo

 

[metya77]

What time will start the stage?

 

[b.broadhurst]

I'm sorry Tiralongo

Tiralongo will domestique for Contador, Di Gregorio and Kreuziger in the breakaway!!