2011 Tour de France Stage 18 - Pinerolo - Galibier Serre-Chevalier 200.5km

[RdBiker]

Who is still in the back with the leaders? Navarro (but he's blowing himself up) Rolland (I reckon he won't blow himself up in the valley) but who is there to ride the valley? I'm sure I missed someone but there aren't to many I reckon.

And if any of the favourites start to chase Fränk will get a free ride

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Uran is not that far behind the favorites. He could still make it back in the downhill

 

[sulgpallur]

just came back again and seen andy has attacked
didnt contador try to go with him?

 

[DamonAlbarn]

Navarro is hardly putting the hammer down

Ah crap now Navarros selling his soul.

You make BMC do the work. Its their tour to lose.

Then you crack him. You dont chaufer him to Paris

It's more a sign that the pace is pedestrian

 

[sportzchick]

Nobody thinks it's over. Some people just like attacking riders. Crazy right?

That's if he isn't wasting energy & doesn't blow...

 

[Ramira]

So what do we all think?

he's gone too far out and will be chased down / dropped before the finish, or is this going to pay off?

Personally I think it's a big ask.. don't think he can descend / ride on the flat well enough to make it count..

He won't need to, Monfort will go crazy for him, not to mention it's likely that Roche or Ignlinsky might end up helping a bit as well. And as I said before there's not that many helpers out the back either.

 

[hatcher]

Anyone knows the gap back to Uran?

Looked about 15 or 20 seconds I would say. Had G and Zandio pulling him along.

 

[dgodave]

Suicidal by AS IMO. He'll get caught before Galibier gets steep.
.

 

[Sidbike]

Can Voeckler let Contador/Evans chase Andy and then maybe stay attached in final climb?

 

[Grayguard]

So what do we all think?

he's gone too far out and will be chased down / dropped before the finish, or is this going to pay off?

Personally I think it's a big ask.. don't think he can descend / ride on the flat well enough to make it count..

I think it's a big gamble - and thats exactly why it earns him alot of respect, no matter the outcome.

 

[Jamsque]

Zandio is pulling Uran back in to contention here.

Monfort is dropping back so he can have a snack and hook up with Andy.

 

[khodder]

Will the Katusha and Quickstep riders help pull Andy in the chance of a stage win???

 

[ericthesportsman6]

just came back again and seen andy has attacked
didnt contador try to go with him?

No one did. They just sat there.

 

[Ramira]

That's if he isn't wasting energy & doesn't blow...

Even if he does, he's still animating the race. And that's what we like to see.

 

[Pharazon]

urans not far behind the peloton - should get basck on the descent

 

[The Hitch]

Love how every thinks it's over....long way to go

Who said its over.

You do live in your own little world?

From what i see most of us are saying Andy probably will fail but is showing a lot of balls.

But i guess what we actually mean when we say that is that Andy is going to win and we are overjoyed because we all (the whole forum) spends every waking moment poking Cadel voodoo dolls in the hope that he will fail which will add meaning to our sad lives

 

[Wergeland]

Monfort over the top. Leopard's plan is working 100% so far. Andy missed his drink/food though...

 

[Granville57]

No one took the Andy bait. There's a lot of racing yet in this stage.

 

[BYOP88]

If the main group bomb it downhill, will Frank be able to stay with them?

 

[franciep10]

ballsy attack by andy I don't know if it'll work out for him but kudos to him for trying

 

[lilyprotector]

omg was that andy who almost went off the road or monfort

 

[RdBiker]

The only thing gone wrong with the Leopard plan is that Andy didn't catch the leaders before the top and now Monfort will need to wait a bit.

 

[Epicycle]

Didn't Ullrich do this once? Maybe on the Galibier.

 

[Ramira]

Hmm this seems like a very open and clean descent. Andy isn't a great descender but he can do a descent like this well enough, especially in Monfort's wheel.

Anyone has a clue which helpers are left?

 

[Sofía_]

Fränk looks pretty good