2012 Tour de France: Stage 11: Albertville → La Toussuire - Les Sybelles (148km)

[maxmartin]

Not sure that is accurate. He was one of just a few climbers to stick with Wiggins, Froome and Evans in all the mountains during the Dauphine. In the tour he has been happy to play his team role of helping Goss in the first week with some turns on the front and then resting whilst the sprints have been happening. Looked like he purposely took it easy in the previous stage and White says that Stage 11 could be a good one for Weening. Lets hope it happens that way. Importantly he hasn't crashed or injured himself during the first week of the tour.

Maybe he doesn't want to try or help OGE for fear of losing his hair. Team bet apparently that if GE win any stage Weening has to get a close crop or even a O'Grady type haircut. Apparently he hasn't changed his hairstyle/cut since he was 17

yep i watch every backstage pass
but tour is not Dauphine, good at Dauphine does not necessarily mean he will be good here, But i hope him and albasiny can have a good run

 

[maxmartin]

i'd like to see Richie Porte take it.. or even Juan Cobo ? where the hell is he ?
but from what I've seen, it'll be more of the same.. last 2km.. same old, same old..

using tour to prepare for vuelta

 

[BillytheKid]

Big Ring HC climbing

Chris Horner will attempt all on the big ring as he was forced to do on the Gand Colombier yesterday and still managed to finish with in 30 seconds on the GC group also after chasing VdB for the "boys."

http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/...121001&yr=2012

I hope he recovers. Not many riders could catch back on after something like that. 1!@#$54 bad luck, but funny at the same time.

I am looking forward to an epic stage.

 

[uconnryan]

New to the forum but avid cycling fan and haven't missed a stage in years, play fantasy cycling, etc. Figured I'd share my view on stage 11.

Basically, I see this as a stage for a pure climber far enough down in the GC standings. I don't see Wiggins, Evans, Nibali, or Froome winning the stage because the only time those guys got a sniff of winning the stage was on La Planche des Belles Filles because Team Sky were interested in bringing back the escapees to try and get Wiggins in yellow, which they did. Now with that jersey under control Sky are content with letting most guys go up the road. Evans and Nibali don't have the teams to bridge the gap the break like Sky do, but Sky aren't interested in this at the moment. Evans and Nibali seem content with trying to pick up time on the descents, which I here are very technical tomorrow so I'm expecting more of the same from them although Nibali has promised to attack even more tomorrow so maybe he tries something uphill? Since it's the first real Alps stage I'm looking less at the opportunists for the stage win but rather a pure climber far enough down in the GC standings and I'm looking no further than Frank Schleck. Thoughts?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Followed by

And

With as largely disappointing finish

 

[maxmartin]

New to the forum but avid cycling fan and haven't missed a stage in years, play fantasy cycling, etc. Figured I'd share my view on stage 11.

Basically, I see this as a stage for a pure climber far enough down in the GC standings. I don't see Wiggins, Evans, Nibali, or Froome winning the stage because the only time those guys got a sniff of winning the stage was on La Planche des Belles Filles because Team Sky were interested in bringing back the escapees to try and get Wiggins in yellow, which they did. Now with that jersey under control Sky are content with letting most guys go up the road. Evans and Nibali don't have the teams to bridge the gap the break like Sky do, but Sky aren't interested in this at the moment. Evans and Nibali seem content with trying to pick up time on the descents, which I here are very technical tomorrow so I'm expecting more of the same from them although Nibali has promised to attack even more tomorrow so maybe he tries something uphill? Since it's the first real Alps stage I'm looking less at the opportunists for the stage win but rather a pure climber far enough down in the GC standings and I'm looking no further than Frank Schleck. Thoughts?

I actually think this stage as GC stage. For sure sky is willing to let some people go. But sky is is still willing to ride high tempo to crush other GC contenders to secure the yellow, or the other GC team will ride high tempo or attack to crack the SKY the train. I honest can't see breakaway getting away. There are not many mountain stages in this tour can produce big time gaps, I am sure other GC contender team won't let this one easily go. Plus this stage is quite short, time gap is real possibility to eliminate some riders. I predict the race will be full gas from the start. And in the end will be big favorites fighting for the win.

 

[AntonioRossi]

sky is going to fail big time today. Menchov for the stage win

 

[maxmartin]

BMC is on fire?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-shorts-im-on-fire-poels-moves-home

will tomorrow be Cadel's day????

 

[Wilba60]

yep i watch every backstage pass
but tour is not Dauphine, good at Dauphine does not necessarily mean he will be good here, But i hope him and albasiny can have a good run

I think this top 10 at Dauphine is a pretty good indicator of people in good form at the TdF;

GBR 1 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) 26h 40' 46"
AUS 2 ROGERS, Michael (SKY PROCYCLING) + 01' 17"
AUS 3 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 01' 26"
GBR 4 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 01' 45"
BEL 5 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen (LOTTO BELISOL) + 02' 12"
BLR 6 KIRYIENKA, Vasili (MOVISTAR) + 02' 58"
SLO 7 BRAJKOVIC, Janez (ASTANA) + 03' 07"
NED 8 KELDERMAN, Wilco (RABOBANK) + 03' 26"
AUS 9 PORTE, Richie (SKY PROCYCLING) + 03' 34"
ESP 10 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 03' 50"

Hopefully the fact that Weening was riding with all of them will prove interesting.

 

[For The World]

I think this stage should actually be reversed, and they finish at the top of the Madeleine. Then we'd really separate the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys and all those other horrible phrases.

I can only hope that someone tries to open up the race as Andy did last year. At least that made things a bit exciting for two days. It's all good and well for Team Sky to make their marginal gains, and produce a Tour winner within five years, but if it's at the expense of exciting racing - well, that's just a shame.

 

[Big Doopie]

here's hoping rolland continues his inexorable climb into the top 5.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Fortunately, coverage starts with the rollout for this stage!

 

[RHRH19861986]

I think this stage should actually be reversed, and they finish at the top of the Madeleine.

Not possible, AFAIK, since the top area there doesn´t offer the space for the organisation and broadcasting stuff... Same as on Galibier, so MTFs on Galibier have to end somewhere below the highest point.

 

[Unkown]

Not possible, AFAIK, since the top area there doesn´t offer the space for the organisation and broadcasting stuff... Same as on Galibier, so MTFs on Galibier have to end somewhere below the highest point.

Last year I am pretty sure they finished at the highest point on Galibier.

 

[Tigerion]

what stage did Greenedge win?

I think that would be the night stage when they broke into Sagan's room


I wonder if it is possible to try and put some pressure on the sky climbers on the run up the the Madeleine like Lotto seemed to try and do for a bit yesterday.
If Lotto and BMC put their big guns on the front and go full gas from the flag can they take some of the sting out of the legs of climbers. BMC have a team of classic riders who we know are going to be no help once you get half way up the first climb so why not use them up at the start.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Last year I am pretty sure they finished at the highest point on Galibier.

It was actually a little bit below, in the ski resort of Serre Chevalier... They called the arrival "Galibier-Serre Chevalier" therefore... - maybe because fans´ faces start to smile when hearing the names like Alpe d´Huez, Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden or Galibier.

Ah, well, now I also remind of Tourmalet, I think it´s the same story... MTFs below actual summit. At least this is what I remember of 2010´s stage there.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

It was actually a little bit below, in the ski resort of Serre Chevalier... They called the arrival "Galibier-Serre Chevalier" therefore... - maybe because fans´ faces start to smile when hearing the names like Alpe d´Huez, Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden or Galibier.

Ah, well, now I also remind of Tourmalet, I think it´s the same story... MTFs below actual summit. At least this is what I remember of 2010´s stage there.

Generally, the climb of Tourmalet ends at La Mongie when it is an MTF.

 

[UlleGigo]

Who will Wiggins insult today?

Should be a fairly big breakaway group so he's going to be a busy boy after today's stage. Hopefully all the breakaway riders can assemble somewhere at the finish line so Wiggo can attempt to humilate them altogether rather than one at a time. Really would be the polite thing to do since we all know how busy Wiggo is now that he's 'not just some sh!t rider'.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

1. Froome
2. Wiggins
3. Porte
4. Rogers
5. Hagen
6. Knees
7. Cavendish
8. Eisel
9. Evans +5'00

This isn't a team time trial!!!

I guess DT is not ready to join the ACF Mafia after all.

The problem for Evans and Nibali is that Sky know that they don't have to react straight away which means it is harder to attack and counter attack. This is why another team is required to break up the Sky train.

They simply need a situation in where Sky have to chase all the time. And especially burn through Porte/Rogers early.

Agree with you both. Cadel, Menchov & Nibs' should join forces, and bring in another team, say Europcar w/ Voeckler or Rabo w/ LuLu. Let Voeckler or LuLu have stage wins in exchange for the added support. Unofficially OFC. With Cadel, Nibs, and Menchov each taking shots here or there. Kind of like 2003 when everyone was attacking Lance left and right on the Alpe d'Huez stage.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Generally, the climb of Tourmalet ends at La Mongie when it is an MTF.

Ah, you´re right, I forgot that. But remains strange, in 2004 they only spoke about La Mongie, in 2010 only about Tourmalet.

 

[the asian]

Nothing will happen on this stage to shake up the GC classification. The stage is not long enough , the gradients aren't steep enough and the riders aren't good enough for big time gaps to appear. The final climb is especially disappointing. It should be a stroll for the diesels.
This stage is perfect for those wanting to win the Polka Dot Jersey though.
I expect people like Rolland, Pinot, Vanedert, CAS and Kessiakoff to have a go and a breakaway rider to take the stage.
Nibali will try to attack on the descent from the Mollard only to be effortless reined in by SKY. Cadel as usual will try to win a precious few seconds by sprinting to the finish.
We of course will be screaming at the top of of our voices after another disappointing ride by the favourites.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Interesting to read that Lelangue watched the 2006 stage to La Tousuirre last night. The 2006 stage starts a bit different because instead of the Galibier, this year they climb up the Madeleine but the rest of the course is very similar. If what happened in 2006 is anything to go by, the stage should be a cracker!

 

[maxmartin]

Potential GC contenders are gunning for this stage
i want fireworks

 

[auscyclefan94]

The Molllard is from the wrong end as that profile shows the descent.

Above is the correct profile.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Getting news in that there are a lot of police out and about around the tolls in Albertville who are checking TDF vehicles and the luggage of people. Could be interesting.