2011 Tour de France Stage 16 (18/7/2011): Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Gap, 162.5km

[auscyclefan94]

2011 Tour de France Stage 16 (18/7/2011): Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Gap, 162.5km

2011 Tour de France Stage 16 (18/7/2011): Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Gap, 162.5km

Main climb of the day: Col de Manse - 9.5km @ 5.2%

General Classification after Stage 15
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 65:24:34
2 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:49
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:02:06
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:02:15
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:16
6 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:44
7 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:04:00
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:01
9 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:05:46
10 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:06:18

Points Classification
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 319 pts
2 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team 282
3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 248

Total of 50 points available. If Gilbert wants Green he is going to have to do something special on this stage.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

climb is not steep enough. Very easy.

 

[jens_attacks]

breakaway or vanendert/phil/sammy

 

[auscyclefan94]

Very easy??? I wouldn't say that. Cav will be popped out the back no problem.

 

[ILOVEMTB]

Can't see Cav making it to the finish, I think a break will take it if not Gossy, Thor or Phil.

 

[Pharazon]

i think a break will win

 

[karlboss]

Sanchez or Cunego to have a stab at taking time? A breakaway is most likely, wondering if Lotto or movistar will try to control things for the green jersey comp.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Very easy??? I wouldn't say that. Cav will be popped out the back no problem.

I meant GC men, Col de Manse is so very easy. Most of it is 1-2% with a couple km between averaging 5ish%. The descent will be more fun I reckon, someone will get away. I like LLS for this one.

in fact I wonder if tommy v tries something.

 

[JA.Tri]

Phil to attack near Moydans? or wait for the Col?

Don't see Cav in on the finish. But I have no idea on the winner...

Phil/Thor/EBH...???

 

[sultanofhyd]

How the hell does that climb get cat 2 status and how the hell does this stage get classified as a medium mountain stage?

 

[jens_attacks]

How the hell does that climb get cat 2 status and how the hell does this stage get classified as a medium mountain stage?

welcome to le tour de france

 

[nesocip]

http://www.climbbybike.com/climbs_selection.asp?MountainID=6253&Mountainname=Col de Manse

Anyone knows which side its being climbed (and descended) from?

One side seems a total joke, other two are okish.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

How the hell does that climb get cat 2 status and how the hell does this stage get classified as a medium mountain stage?

Who would win if they finished it there?

 

[Tuarts]

Perfect finish for breakaway or a Thor/Sanchez style descent. No doubt Gilbert will go.

 

[Tuarts]

And this is the climb

 

[For The World]

It's essentially a false flat for the first 81km. If a break goes, it's going to need to be of a decent size (at least 10 men), working well together to have any chance of reaching the finish. I could, however, be eating my words if Thor pulls out another effort like that the other day and does the same thing again.

 

[Cimber]

Does any1 knows if the decent is tecnically demanding? Cos if so, Tommy V and Sammy might attack on the decent.

 

[craig1985]

How is Johnny Hoogerland? If he's fine, he must be due an attack soon.

 

[Sylvester]

Does any1 knows if the decent is tecnically demanding? Cos if so, Tommy V and Sammy might attack on the decent.

The group will still be too big anyway; I guess Rojas will be able to make it over this climb. I can definitely see them trying something on stage 17, though.

Gilbert will be very difficult to beat here.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Looks like a nice stage for a breakaway win. If not - looks like a good stage for Thor/EBH/Gilbert or Sammy perhaps.

Imagine Europcar putting Rolland in the break and allowing a 10 minute gap, depending on who else is there of course.

 

[gerrans for the win]

think my namesake will go in a break on this stage or will try,but this is the stage for a break no mistake.... lotto have only 5 men chaseing back a break away an stated yesterday they won't do that ..so break will win by 6mins

my pick carrot to win

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Can't see Cav making it to the finish, I think a break will take it if not Gossy, Thor or Phil.

I think he'll make the intermediate and then get dropped, but still comfortably make it to the finish. It's less than 1% to the first little climb, only 2% for 10km or so for the climb itself and then back to 1% or so up the intermediate and beyond. If the pace is brisk, he'll struggle, but it probably won't be. I guess he may work to make the intermediate and then catch a lift with the team car.

 

[Maxiton]

Gilbert looks like a good bet here, and not much HTC can do to stop him. Also Hushovd.

 

[Anquetil]

Nom Col de Manse
Altitude 1272 m
Départ La Bâtie Neuve
Longueur 8.5 km
Dénivellation 416 m
% Moyen 4.9 %
% Maximal 7.8 %

 

[Duartista]

The official stats for the climb are 9.5km at 5.2%. Steepest km is 6.7%. I don't know where all this about it being mostly 1 or 2 % is coming from.

This is the side they are climbing:

Source: http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Col-de-Manse&qryMountainID=11790