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

[dlwssonic]

Gilbert for the win!!!!!! I hope cadel can stay with samu on the descent and gain some time. IF samu attacks which might not happen.

 

[Mellow Velo]

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.

My guess is the climbybike TDF climb guide.
They have the put the wrong road in: 11kms @ 2.1%
Bad, considering they have the right road. (the one you posted)


Gap has one really bad day of weather forecast in the next 10 days..............and it's tomorrow.
Heavy rain, with local thunder storms.
Could mean a really tortuous descent and may well mean
that the break of the day should produce the stage winner.

 

[The Barb]

think my namesake will go in a break on this stage or will try

Isn't tomorrow better suited to your man? He's done so well in the past on stages that are tougher than this one (Prato Novoso, most notably). I agree he's the Sky rider who is overdue to get in a break.

In previous years I would've thought this was a certain stage for a break to succeed, but if Rojas and Gilbert still have green jersey ambitions then this is the stage for them to chase down the break, go hard to drop Cavendish on the Cat 2 climb, and try to get maximum points at the finish.

 

[Duartista]

My guess is the climbybike TDF climb guide.
They have the put the wrong road in: 11kms @ 2.1%
Bad, considering they have the right road. (the one you posted)


Gap has one really bad day of weather forecast in the next 10 days..............and it's tomorrow.
Heavy rain, with local thunder storms.
Could mean a really tortuous descent and may well mean
that the break of the day should produce the stage winner.

That will be it I then. It's odd that the TDF website doesn't have a profile. I guess they want to give people an incentive to buy an official guide.

 

[guncha]

And this is the climb

They'll climb from Gap N85-D944. According to http://www.climbbybike.com it has 5,6% over 9,4km.

See the profile here:
http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Col-de-Manse&MountainID=11790

 

[L'arriviste]

Pedants' corner: the date of this stage should be tomorrow (i.e. July 19th). Rest day today (18th)

 

[saganftw]

this is gilbert stage to take, i think his team will control the break all day,i cant see better oportunity,he is good enough climber and descender

i doubt sanchez can take this, other GC men wont let him go away again,if u give him 20-30 sec on the climb its gonna be 1 minute in the finish...same for voeckler

if gilbert fails,proly rojas out of 50-60 men group

i also expect top 10 guys and their teams "saving" themselves for alpes

 

[AussieGoddess]

Phil to win comfortably

 

[jens_attacks]

i can't see omega controlling the race...so a breakaway will win.vanendert will be let to go and he will wipe out 7 minutes from his deficit.so it begins...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

if I was voeCKLER I'd attack here, he also has great downhil. let's hope this will be interesting for gc.

 

[dlwssonic]

if I was voeCKLER I'd attack here, he also has great downhil. let's hope this will be interesting for gc.

he will be using precious energy for the alps.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

i can't see omega controlling the race...so a breakaway will win.vanendert will be let to go and he will wipe out 7 minutes from his deficit.so it begins...

basically all they need is 4 guys controlling the break, then vanendert putting a blistering pace up the climb and gilbert to attack in the final k's

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

he will be using precious energy for the alps.

in downhil?

 

[labratty]

if I was voeCKLER I'd attack here, he also has great downhil. let's hope this will be interesting for gc.

I had the same thought, even 10-20s would start to tip the balance towards him but looking at the decent there are only 4 or 5 switchbacks so it may not be technical enough to put time into anybody. Not Cuddles anyway, the brothers maybe but even that shouldn't happen on this decent.

 

[dlwssonic]

in downhil?

if he wants a gap i suggests he has to start attacking late on the hill. however either way the gc contenders wont let him go.

 

[Descender]

This descent is not particularly demanding. The one to Pinerolo on Wednesday is very technical and steep though.

 

[PedalCastro]

Woud love to see Roche do something, he says he will bemore attacking now h is no longer the man for GC so hopefully

 

[Jamsque]

Another day with 'breakaway' written all over it.

 

[The Hitch]

If Cancellara wasnt slaving for the Schlecks...

Anyway the stage is of minor importance. What is of major importance is that Tommy Voeckler and Sammy Sanchez go for it on the descent.

They might want to save their cards for Wednesday but with 2 MTF stages coming up, if descending is your specialty, its wise to try and cash in on it.

 

[Sasquatch]

Chavanel takes this one.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

This descent is not particularly demanding. The one to Pinerolo on Wednesday is very technical and steep though.

then that's where evans, frank and basso could lose (serious) time

 

[Cimber]

This descent is not particularly demanding. The one to Pinerolo on Wednesday is very technical and steep though.

Looking forward to that one then

 

[Tank Engine]

Woud love to see Roche do something, he says he will bemore attacking now h is no longer the man for GC so hopefully

Yes, looking forward to Roche trying something. If not tomorrow, then the day after. Possibly one for the roulers/classics types. Hope to see Hoogie or De Gendt up there (I guess it depends how they're recovering), as well as Gerrans. Can't see much happening on the GC front. For someone like Sammy an attack on the descent would be a relatively low risk option, but only minor gains possible, especially if the descent is not technical. This stage might be crucial for the green jersey. Since Cav is going to go out the back, Movistar will look to control any break and will probably get some help from Europcar and Lotto. Looks like a good route for a strong break to hold so HTC might try and get one of Tejay or Tony in the break to help it stay clear mop up the points. If it comes back together, look out for a late attack from Phil or Goss, EBH and Rojas in a sprint.

 

[Mellow Velo]

if he wants a gap i suggests he has to start attacking late on the hill. however either way the gc contenders wont let him go.

Which means they will also have to use some of that alpine "energy".
IMO, Voeckler is in a win, win situation here.
The Gap and Pinerolo parcours are right up his street, so if he want's to try and gain further time, or force an error from the favourites, he must attack.

 

[nomendil]

Voeckler entering into alliance with Gilbert, giving him the stage in return for time on the yellow?