2012 Tour de France: Stage 12: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne → Annonay Davézieux (226km)

[gustienordic]

This stage profile makes me want to cry!

Can they please race it backwards?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Can they please race it backwards?

It is another one of Prudhomme's 'facepalm' stages. What do you expect?

 

[Warhawk]

I actually like it. Adds a bit of variety.

I like mountain-top finishes as much as the next guy, but I also don't want all the mountain stages to be the same.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I actually like it. Adds a bit of variety.

I like mountain-top finishes as much as the next guy, but I also don't want all the mountain stages to be the same.

This is not really a mountain stage...far from it. This is just madness and boredom.

 

[JetSet]

Full coverage on Eurosport for some bizarre reason


Pete

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I actually like it. Adds a bit of variety.

I like mountain-top finishes as much as the next guy, but I also don't want all the mountain stages to be the same.

I agree... if it were stage nr 2 instead of stage nr 12

 

[trevim]

Costa said that today it took easy as soon as he realized he wouldn't be able to fight for a decent GC position and started to save himself to get into breakaways.

so i will tip him off for tomorrow

good to see he still prefers a stage win over a top 20 place

Completely agree. We already have Machado for that

 

[Ferminal]

This is not really a mountain stage...far from it. This is just madness and boredom.

It's just a breakaway only stage, Tour always has lots of them. In addition to the GC stages which are won by breakaways anyway.

 

[uconnryan]

Can Gilbert finally break out of his slump? Correct me if I'm wrong but a year ago he would be the favorite to win this stage. Could be his day.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

De Gendt!

*sobs in a corner*

Can the guy get married in peace? (that is, after all, why he skipped Le Tour)

 

[marioni]

This is not really a mountain stage...far from it. This is just madness and boredom.

Well summed up. Pointless stage, so Tour.

 

[mad black]

About the only thing that will make this stage exciting is Wiggins falling off and loosing 5 minutes. Just quietly that what I'm hoping will happen.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Its a good opportunity for those 10:00-15:00+ minutes down to ride themselves into the top 10, so hopefully we'll see a high quality break. Best case scenario is they ride themselves into GC contention, 2010 Giro-style .

 

[auscyclefan94]

About the only thing that will make this stage exciting is Wiggins falling off and loosing 5 minutes. Just quietly that what I'm hoping will happen.

Minus the falling off, that is what I hope to happen.

 

[the asian]

Looks like a pointless stage.
I predict MJ group won't be going too fast. Breakaway will win of course. If the break has riders outside top 20 or top 30 only Sky can afford to lose 15 or 20 etc. minutes.

Pretty much this.

 

[Kopuliak]

Yep. Pretty worthless stage. Two meaningless mountains early on then a group ride to the finish. Breakaway or Sagan takes it.

So Sagan should be in breakaway again if he want win (or at least get some points on Goss)...

 

[Martin]

Full coverage on Eurosport for some bizarre reason


Pete

Well I think it's because the first mountains will be interesting to watch and the rest except last kms might be a little bit boring with a predictable winner.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Breakaway win.

This stage is so much Sagan-like that there will be no interest in peloton to pull them back.

 

[Cimber]

Nuyens would be great. He just needs to survive the 2 early cat 1 climbs

 

[Mellow Velo]

The poor man's 2003 stage to Gap.
Possible the main reason that folks latched onto the weak parcour observation.
The start of 4 consecutive stages with little or no GC significance.
Better yet, 226kms long: Pathetic.

 

[manafana]

should be plenty going on early doors, and 2nd climb will crack a few.

 

[aspider]

According to bookies ,huge favorit to take the stage is Sagan,odds range from 2,75 to 5,9,.but last night Sagan in the interwiew said that he is a little tired and ahead is another though stage,just to make it through and try to get points in following stages.He`s a human after all
So I guess breakway is most likely going to win,hope I am wrong and The Tourminator will show his greatness

 

[Red Rick]

Worst stage design ever, period

 

[Cimber]

Worst stage design ever, period

Perfect for teams without a sprinter or a GC contender. Tbh it wont by more boring that a flot sprinter stage (well, both are boring )

 

[Montanus]

Live coverage from 11.00am CET. Six hour live coverage on a stage like this. There will be a lot of zzzzzz...