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

[Woody22]

Porte is much more ridiculous than Rogers. What has Rogers done, a 1 minute pull on the first MTF? He also did a horrible ITT while going "full gas" (being the only one except from Froome and Wiggins allowed to do so).

Maybe Tan could ask.. "how does a former triathlete who gained 12 minutes in one stage of the Giro and then lost the pink jersey easily over the next few mountain stages suddenly climb better than nealy every rider in the peloton"?

Have to hand it to Sky... that swimmimg coach has revolutonised cycling. To get the whole team improving as much as he has is amazing. It reminds me of a few Olympics ago when an Irish female swimmer suddenly started winning in the middle of her career.I wonder if he coached her as well. Can't for the life of me recall what happened to her though.

 

[its like that]

Have to hand it to Sky... that swimmimg coach has revolutonised cycling. To get the whole team improving as much as he has is amazing. It reminds me of a few Olympics ago when an Irish female swimmer suddenly started winning in the middle of her career.I wonder if he coached her as well. Can't for the life of me recall what happened to her though.

Probably dead by the age of 40

 

[Montanus]

Maybe Tan could ask.. "how does a former triathlete who gained 12 minutes in one stage of the Giro and then lost the pink jersey easily over the next few mountain stages suddenly climb better than nealy every rider in the peloton"?

2010 was Porte's first year as a pro. The Giro 2010 his first GT ever. Even if you disregard the 12 minutes he got thanks to the break he still would have placed top 10 on GC (Sartre and Kiserlovski was also in the break and he finished ahead of them.). And don't forget he placed 4th in WC ITT 2010. Quiet incredible given that he is relatively smal guy. Tells me he can produce some watts. Chop off a few kilos, like he has done this year, and it's not that incredible that he can performe like he now does.

 

[happytramp]

It reminds me of a few Olympics ago when an Irish female swimmer suddenly started winning in the middle of her career.I wonder if he coached her as well. Can't for the life of me recall what happened to her though.

Michelle Smith. She won 3 golds and 1 bronze in 96 if I recall. Had been a decent swimmer but not champion material. However after hooking up with a new coach who had served four year suspension for doping she suddenly became unbeatable. She was later found guilty of doping but not stripped of her medals because it happened so much later. Sounds like a similar story to everyone's favrouite Tri-athlete doesn't it?

 

[Woody22]

Michelle Smith. She won 3 golds and 1 bronze in 96 if I recall. Had been a decent swimmer but not champion material. However after hooking up with a new coach who had served four year suspension for doping she suddenly became unbeatable. She was later found guilty of doping but not stripped of her medals because it happened so much later. Sounds like a similar story to everyone's favrouite Tri-athlete doesn't it?

Verey impressive.

Thanks for that Happy Tramp.

 

[manafana]

Just like point out that last year the short high moutain stage produced fireworks, i actually think short stage produce more as lads dont worry about long day in saddle and give it more of a go, should be interesting to see what they can do to sky.

 

[Morbius]

Prediction for gap between Evans and Wiggins?

My money is on Wiggins to gain 20-30 seconds (not real money).

I don't think Evans has it at this tour as shown by his ITT, and his 'sprints' have just been for show. On a long drag Froome can put the hammer down, then Wiggins take over for the last 1-2k.

 

[jniagGr]

Evans and Nibali have never been the attacking / explosive riders on climbs.. I do not understand why people are expecting attacks from them.

If Nibali has the legs a good strategy would be to send a teammate in the break, have Basso and Smyd do a very high tempo ride on the Gladon and he attacks on the descent, the teammate helps on the Mollard to maintain the gap from the descent and attacks again on the descent..

As for Evans although I really enjoyed his win last year he is in fact a defensive rider, who does not really attack to long climbs (I have no recollection of him doing so… if anyone can..), his best shot would be to follow Nibali (if the above sticks) and then try to outpace him on the last climb..

My expectations for attacks are with riders like Frank (although it seems he is dreaming of his brother), VDV and Rolland..

If I was Wiggins / SKY I would give full gas today on the climbs and go for the win, as I remember a few years back the commentary on LA.. “if you win in the time trials and win in the mountains, there is nothing else left”!!

 

[Fidolix]

My guess would be JVB and Nibi makes an alliance and attack together UPHILL.
And I wouldn´t be surprised they do it on Madelaine.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

My guess would be JVB and Nibi makes an alliance and attack together UPHILL.
And I wouldn´t be surprised they do it on Madelaine.

Would make it a harder day for Sky, but in practice if they want to ride the entire stage in the wind whilst members of team sky take it in turns in front of Wiggins, they're going all in on a 7-2.

 

[its like that]

This looks like a stage tailor made for Froome ftw

 

[its like that]

On an aside, Cancellara abandons the tour to be with his pregnant wife

 

[Mellow Velo]

Just like point out that last year the short high moutain stage produced fireworks, i actually think short stage produce more as lads dont worry about long day in saddle and give it more of a go, should be interesting to see what they can do to sky.

True, but that was the last opportunity for desperate men.
The counter argument would be to point out what had happened earlier, during the Pyreneean stages.
I truly hope we don't get a repeat of those dullfests.

 

[Montanus]

My guess would be JVB and Nibi makes an alliance and attack together UPHILL.
And I wouldn´t be surprised they do it on Madelaine.

More likely on the 2nd climb, Col de la Croix de Fer. There is a steep section on the climb from 11k to 19k with an average of 8.9%. I definately think we will see some action here. One scenario I would like to is that Smyzd and Basso give it all on this section, trying to isolate Wiggo/Froome and set up Nibali for a late attack maybe with Evans and VdB that will continue on the descent.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

More likely on the 2nd climb, Col de la Croix de Fer. There is a steep section on the climb from 11k to 19k with an average of 8.9%. I definately think we will see some action here. One scenario I would like to is that Smyzd and Basso give it all on this section, trying to isolate Wiggo/Froome and set up Nibali for a late attack that will continue on the descent.

There isn't much evidence either of them could drop Boasson Hagen before they fall off, from this year's tour so far.

 

[Montanus]

There isn't much evidence either of them could drop Boasson Hagen before they fall off, from this year's tour so far.

Maybe they are waiting for today... Basso, at least looked a little bit better yesterday...

 

[jrolaf]

Would make it a harder day for Sky, but in practice if they want to ride the entire stage in the wind whilst members of team sky take it in turns in front of Wiggins, they're going all in on a 7-2.

As nearly the entire stage is either uphill or downhill, the strength of the team is not as imortant. It still matters, but there are almost no sections where a strong team can easily reel inn a break. I hope either JvB, Nibali, Cuddles or Menchov really tries something early on. If they wait for the final climb it will amount to nothing. An attack has to come early if they want to make an impact.

 

[Kwibus]

As nearly the entire stage is either uphill or downhill, the strength of the team is not as imortant. It still matters, but there are almost no sections where a strong team can easily reel inn a break. I hope either JvB, Nibali, Cuddles or Menchov really tries something early on. If they wait for the final climb it will amount to nothing. An attack has to come early if they want to make an impact.

It does matter. The climbs ain't very steep so sittng in the wheel definately helps.
If Nibali and Evans attack early Wiggins and Froome won't react. They will let Rogers and Porte do the hard work on the first climbs while Evans and Nibali burn themselves. Ofcourse if Nibali and Evans create a huge gap during this Wiggins and Froome will be forced to react, but I honestly don't see it happening.

On the Madeleine nothing will happen besides the creation of the BOTD.

 

[Froome19]

On this stage the challengers will have to up their game big time; the main question I have is how much more does Evans have that he is not showing.. was he at his limit on Stage 7 when Wiggins on a climb which didnt suit him easily matched him or was he capable of doing better, considering his inability to match Froome at the end I would surmise that he was on his limit and that does not bode well for Stage 11.

In truth the challengers will have to attack on the Croix Fer and not just some tame attacks like today, but proper attacks as if this was the final climb of the day. The only way to break Sky is to attack like that and they wont gain enough time doing that on the final climb. They also may have to attack close to the foot of the climb as otherwise Sky may be bring it all back together on the descent regardless of Nibbles descending skills. I expect VDB2 to attack there but from what I have heard and seen from Evans I dont think he or Nibali will but like Samu last year I expect VDB who like Samu is out of contention to go on the attack and win the Stage. It may give him some valuable time but in reality their is not much chance of VDB2 outclimbing and TT Cadel, Menchov Nibali, Wiggins and Froome so imo he should be aiming for a podium and therefore he should not be collaberating with the others.

Froome to win this stage is my opinion, he has been the strongest climber so far and have not seen sufficient facts to see that changing.

 

[bucko007]

What happened to mollema ? Maybe he will get into the break today unless he is injured.

 

[jrolaf]

It does matter. The climbs ain't very steep so sittng in the wheel definately helps.
If Nibali and Evans attack early Wiggins and Froome won't react. They will let Rogers and Porte do the hard work on the first climbs while Evans and Nibali burn themselves. Ofcourse if Nibali and Evans create a huge gap during this Wiggins and Froome will be forced to react, but I honestly don't see it happening.

On the Madeleine nothing will happen besides the creation of the BOTD.

I'm not saying it does not matter. I'm saying it does not matter AS much. A lot of the time it's 9-10%, not much less wind resistence in wheel sucking then (disregarding strong headvind). I would say an attack on the 2nd climb is well worth the risk.

 

[theyoungest]

What happened to mollema ? Maybe he will get into the break today unless he is injured.

He's pedaling squares. More likely to abandon today than to get into the breakaway.

 

[markjohnconley]

Won't Porte be stuffed after yesterdays effort?
I'm a biggggg Rogers fan but is he capable of a Porte effort?
Froome and Wiggins isolated?

 

[SetonHallPirate]

uci points system didnt exist in 2006

i would be surprised to see anything happen today that changes the top 5

I thought the UCI ProTour rankings started in 2005, and even before that, the UCI World Ranking had existed since the 1980's, I thought.

 

[will10]

Won't Porte be stuffed after yesterdays effort?
I'm a biggggg Rogers fan but is he capable of a Porte effort?
Froome and Wiggins isolated?

The same Rogers who's putting out more power than the T-Mobile days? I think he's more than capable of a "Porte effort"