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

[Geraint Too Fast]

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

What to make of this?

Climbs
Km 34.0 - Col du Grand Cucheron (1,188 m) > 12.5km @ 6.5% - Category 1
Km 80.5 - Col du Granier (1,134 m) > 9.7km @ 8.6% - Category 1
Km 207.5 - Côte d'Ardoix (366m) > 5.9km @ 3.4% - Category 3

Finish

Two Category 1 climbs - unfortunately both are in the first half of the stage, so there shouldn't be any significant GC changes here. Probably a day for the break (which we'll get to see form because the stage is being broadcast live from the start).

 

[roundabout]

I hope it's a test of the east side of the Granier so that it can be used in the future in a more relevant role.

Battle for the KoM and a break to take the stage.

 

[guncha]

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.

 

[jsem94]

Why did I have EBH in the great GT game. He's not going to be let off into a break.

 

[jens_attacks]

la kernasse will make the hattrick for europcar!

i hope astana will try again,today they put a brilliant show and i was happy to see vino getting better.cobo might go in the breakaway too,he looked good today.

 

[Frosty]

People in the autobus today who could try something tomorrow

Chavanel
Luis Leon Sanchez
Gilbert

Always possible that someone high up on GC might try and attack on the Granier but dont see where it would get them unless someone else high up on GC is having a shocker of a day. Maybe vandenbroeck will send vanendert to the front for a few k's to see what happens. Problem is then following it up - unlikely unless someone is not in the top 40 or 50 climbers.

Maybe Taaramae will give it a go if he eased up today when he realised the top end of the GC was gone. Maybe Peraud, van de velde too. Jerome Pineau?

Prediction: Break goes away early on, someone gets a team-mate to push it on Granier but nothing much happens. Break probably takes it by a long way. Someone down in 25th or something takes a big leap up the overall to 12th.

 

[Chap01]

Who has chance to win this stage? Is going to be again a sprinters final like Farrar, Sagan, Greipel, Goss, Etc???

 

[SafeBet]

Profile showing a little bump near the end. Anybody's got more info?

 

[Old&slow]

My belief is that if the sprinetrs believe there is a chance at a sprint they will chase down any breakaway and there will be a sprint. The stage sets up very under this theory with 146km of somewhat flat terrain after the last cat 1. The issue I see is the finish looks quite tough for pure sprinters. Not to mention the sprinters are tired and there is a sprint day the following day. If this was last year HTC would chase down the break themselves. It also looks to be a good stage and finish for Sagan but again who is going to chase the break?

Any thoughts on the finish? Is it to hard for pure sprinters or hard enough to discourage them chasing?

 

[Frosty]

My belief is that if the sprinetrs believe there is a chance at a sprint they will chase down any breakaway and there will be a sprint. The stage sets up very under this theory with 146km of somewhat flat terrain after the last cat 1. The issue I see is the finish looks quite tough for pure sprinters. Not to mention the sprinters are tired and there is a sprint day the following day. If this was last year HTC would chase down the break themselves. It also looks to be a good stage and finish for Sagan but again who is going to chase the break?

Any thoughts on the finish? Is it to hard for pure sprinters or hard enough to discourage them chasing?

If there are enough teams interested in chasing then they might give it a go. The break could well have got a big gap by the time all the sprinters catch up after the Cat 1. Uphill finish would be good for Sagan if Liquigas are up for it. I reckon most of the sprinters and their teams will fancy an easy day tomorrow and save their energy for the next day.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

THIS is Vinos real chance!

 

[Warhawk]

My belief is that if the sprinetrs believe there is a chance at a sprint they will chase down any breakaway and there will be a sprint. The stage sets up very under this theory with 146km of somewhat flat terrain after the last cat 1. The issue I see is the finish looks quite tough for pure sprinters. Not to mention the sprinters are tired and there is a sprint day the following day. If this was last year HTC would chase down the break themselves. It also looks to be a good stage and finish for Sagan but again who is going to chase the break?

Any thoughts on the finish? Is it to hard for pure sprinters or hard enough to discourage them chasing?

Only issue being that they probably don't want to chase down the breakaway before the cat-3 near the end, because if they do, somebody fresh is going to attack on that and might last till the end if the sprinters lose some time getting over it.

 

[Bala Verde]

LuisLeon Sanchez

 

[Forunculo]

This is a day to form a huge a big brakaway where someone between 10 and 15 at the GC creat problems to the team leaders. It could be a good method to eliminate a Sky helper with the time limit.


Hopefully nobody play to keep the 6th for exemple.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

THIS is Vinos real chance!

Probably too tired after today. And the break is likely to be comprised of really strong riders tomorrow.

 

[djlovesyou]

I reckon it could be a day for Albasini.

 

[manafana]

reckon that 2nd climb might be bit much for sprinters if pace is high enough, a real transition stage really, sprinters have chance if the pace is slow on the climbs and they only break at the top. High pace on the climbs might see off the quick men.

Will be early actions with big points for kom jersey early on.

 

[manafana]

I reckon it could be a day for Albasini.

does suit someone of his talents.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

De Gendt!

*sobs in a corner*

 

[will10]

I'll go for Chavanel. This is one of the most frustrating stages I've seen the ASO design, but at least we'll have some early entertainment seeing the break form on the climb.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Waw, all this 'Sky has already won' has made my mind up that were at the last stages somehow. Only just over halfway through!

 

[Parrulo]

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

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

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.

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

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Waw, all this 'Sky has already won' has made my mind up that were at the last stages somehow. Only just over halfway through!

Halfway in terms of stages means nothing. There are basically only 2 more stages where the GC could change, then the TT. This Tour is basically over and I think most people realize it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

This stage profile makes me want to cry!