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

[Winterfold]

And it looks cold - I took pi55 from Sclecks for that, but it will be a factor - at least they are n European so should welcome cold...

 

[zapata]

Someone's going to crack loudly, and it's not Contador. I'm thinking Evans and one or more of the Schlecks. Basso will be good, Sanchez allright.

 

[Nicoper]

I need help.
I'll be stuck at work tomorrow until 19h.
Can someone send me a link to a stream with delayed coverage or any other stream that will rerun the stage later in the day (I know that I can find last 15min or so on steephill but that is nothing).

If anyone can help me please send me a link as a private message (in order not to go offtopic here).

tnx

 

[Publicus]

If Evans holds on tonight, he'll win the tour. Might be a big call though I think that is the case but tonight will be very tough. He'll have to be on a good day tonight!

The thing is I'm not sure he will hang on. Looking through some of the photos from the stage, I can't help but start to see the fatigue creeping in on his face. Maybe it was just the heat of the day, but it look like he wasn't enjoying the final climb. I guess we will have a sense of things early tomorrow.

I expect fire works . . . early. The Schlecks don't have the luxury to wait until the final climb. Heck, neither does Alberto, Basso or Samu, or anyone else who desires to win the TdF. There is a going to be a ton of pressure on Cadel tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. Surviving tomorrow is no guarantee that he will survive Friday. Or Saturday. But that's why we race the races. Anything can and will happen.

 

[manafana]

Dont know what i can see tommorow evans will just hang on maybe so much depends on risk taken by others go to early and risk blowing up. If its cautious you really can only go at end and shouldnt gain more than minute really.

 

[mr. tibbs]

I need help.
I'll be stuck at work tomorrow until 19h.
Can someone send me a link to a stream with delayed coverage or any other stream that will rerun the stage later in the day (I know that I can find last 15min or so on steephill but that is nothing).

If anyone can help me please send me a link as a private message (in order not to go offtopic here).

tnx

Do you work at a desk? Or do you have to actually do stuff at your job? Happily, I've got myself a cubicle job, so I have the Tour streaming on one of my monitors every day. Productivity drops off faster than a Frenchman in an Alpine parking lot when the ticker gets down to 10km, but it's definitely worth it.

If you don't have access to a computer the whole time, you might find a well-timed lunch break to be the right medicine. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[the chicken from T]

Possible Scenario for stage 18

Movistar will set a blistering pace on the Col d'Agnel in order to drop Cavendish
At the foot the Izoard there will be only 30 riders left.
5 Km before the top Alberto and Samuel will attack !
At the Top they will have over a minute !
On the descent and in the valley we will see a TT between the two Ibericos and The Schlecks and Evans.
Ivan, Damiano and Vanendert will just follow.
Everything will come together at the foot of the Galibier/
Everybody will be exhausted.
Now Ivan will set the Pace. the turnodiesel switches on !
Nobody can follow and he wins the stage!

He will take not enough time to make Podium tough.
Evans will lose 30 secs on Andy and Alberto.
Tommy will lose 5 min +

 

[Parrulo]

I need help.
I'll be stuck at work tomorrow until 19h.
Can someone send me a link to a stream with delayed coverage or any other stream that will rerun the stage later in the day (I know that I can find last 15min or so on steephill but that is nothing).

If anyone can help me please send me a link as a private message (in order not to go offtopic here).

tnx

register yourself to cyclingtorrents.nl

the torrent for the stage will be available when you get home and there are no spoilers in the site (make sure you don't visit any other site if you don't want spoilers tho) if your connection is good enough you should be able to watch it after dinner

 

[The Hitch]

A point about the Agnel.

On one of the Tour guides, well the one i have anyway, each climb has a little table which shows lenght grade etc as well as Energy (kJ):

Of the HC climbs Tourmalet has 3713, Alpe 3241, Luz 2909 Aubisque 3568 Plateau 3660 Galibier Thursday 3585, Friday 3668 Iozard 2861.

The Agnel has 4409. Its like a Giro climb in the TDF.

 

[Thomsena]

Galibier is actually not that terrifying tommorow is it.

 

[mr. tibbs]

The thing is I'm not sure he will hang on. Looking through some of the photos from the stage, I can't help but start to see the fatigue creeping in on his face. Maybe it was just the heat of the day, but it look like he wasn't enjoying the final climb. I guess we will have a sense of things early tomorrow.

I expect fire works . . . early. The Schlecks don't have the luxury to wait until the final climb. Heck, neither does Alberto, Basso or Samu, or anyone else who desires to win the TdF. There is a going to be a ton of pressure on Cadel tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. Surviving tomorrow is no guarantee that he will survive Friday. Or Saturday. But that's why we race the races. Anything can and will happen.

I have seen nothing over the past two weeks that makes me think they would attack before the last climb. I agree that they really don't have that option any more, but I don't think they'll race that way.

If Andy even attacks on the Galibier and manages to take time, I'll be a fan again. It's not hard to imagine Contador wearing himself out and Andy finally capitalizing. But. I don't think it'll happen.

I suspect that Contador will do some animating, be covered by at least Andy, and they'll eventually settle in to ride to the finish with Sanchez and Vanendert. I hope Evans can limit his losses and stay up there for Grenoble. This is looking more and more to be his year.

-OR-

Contador cracks, Andy doesn't have the legs, and Cunego and Voeckler ride off into the sunset, securing steps one & two on the podium. It's...beautiful. ಥ‿ಥ

 

[blaxland]

If they wait to attack each other until the Galibier then Evans and Voeckler will only loose about 30 to 45 seconds...The other favourites(Contador,Schlecks,Sanchez,Cunego)need to attack a lot earlier in the stage.Contador will win this stage..

 

[Mambo95]

None of you are considering altitude here. Most riders suffer at least a little over 2000m. There's 1700m of vertical ascent over 2000m in this stage.

Who suffers at this altitude and who copes (apart from Uran, who thinks 2000m is a valley)

 

[No_Balls]

Galibier is actually not that terrifying tommorow is it.

It favours AC for his time-trial style of riding over AS because it is not that steep. It can be said that it should fit Cadel pretty good although the concern is there because of the lenght (and the height).

And then we have other factors such as the wind, cold, and so forth.

 

[El Pistolero]

They really should start attacking before the Galibier. Evans and Frank needs to crack today. Don't care much about Andy as I think he'll lose more than 39 seconds in the time trial.

 

[ggusta]

It's Evans to lose. Other than that, opinions are like a-holes. Stay tuned. I hope the routes stay as planned.

 

[hrotha]

They really should start attacking before the Galibier. Evans and Frank needs to crack today. Don't care much about Andy as I think he'll lose more than 39 seconds in the time trial.

They should decide which card to play, Fränk or Andy, and send the other one up the road early. Unfortunately, their definition of early probably is "before the 5k to go banner".

 

[red_flanders]

They really should start attacking before the Galibier. Evans and Frank needs to crack today. Don't care much about Andy as I think he'll lose more than 39 seconds in the time trial.

I think the top of the Izoard provides a nice ramp to get away with a few friends. What those needed to make up time do not want is a BMC or Leopard train pulling up the early slopes of the Glaibier.

 

[patswana]

The way they're riding together, it's hard to see anyone other than Contador or Sanchez winning but hopefully not by much.

 

[ggusta]

I need help.
I'll be stuck at work tomorrow until 19h.
Can someone send me a link to a stream with delayed coverage or any other stream that will rerun the stage later in the day (I know that I can find last 15min or so on steephill but that is nothing).

If anyone can help me please send me a link as a private message (in order not to go offtopic here).

tnx

You think you got it bad. I am getting a dental crown while this is all happening. I REALLY need this!

 

[No_Balls]

I think the top of the Izoard provides a nice ramp to get away with a few friends. What those needed to make up time do not want is a BMC or Leopard train pulling up the early slopes of the Glaibier.

Samu and Alberto does a dig on the Izoard. With them go Evans and the Schlecks. The Schlecks cracks (not the spanish word) on the descent and lose a minute there. Evans will falter when half of the Galibier is done after some massive efforts from AC, Samu has been sent up the road.

Samu takes the victory with AC coming in second. Evans third after losing a minute to Alberto. Andy loses around four to six minutes after falter with establishing a good chase.

Remember where you read this first.

 

[Publicus]

You think you got it bad. I am getting a dental crown while this is all happening. I REALLY need this!

And I will be in a board meeting at the tail end of the stage, which means I get plenty of the fluff and none of the meat.

 

[ggusta]

And I will be in a board meeting at the tail end of the stage, which means I get plenty of the fluff and none of the meat.

The two of us should just bail at the bottom of the galibier. "Sorry, y'all figure this sh!t out, rock on!"

 

[hfer07]

The beast is breathing & awaiting to be escalated.................

 

[Dedelou]

Whew, that took longer than I thought.

I wanted to this, and I can only do it today before I'm away from computer.

Hope I did you justice Hitch. Knowing the luck these build ups have, it'll be snowing and it'll end in Briancon.

Thanks too I should add to many of the sites that have information on these climbs, hope I haven't ripped too much of your work.

Nice intro but like the GC riders on the slopes.. you played cat and mouse with the pretenders avoiding giving us your prognostic for the winner among them tomorrow. So .. come on .. what's your favorite Tuarts? (and thanks for the intro BTW)