2012 Tour de France: Stage 2: Visé → Tournai (208km)

[Caruut]

Leaders of team classification now do. And yes, it does look ***.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Cav is so much ahead of everyone else as a sprinter, that even when not in top shape he can still do it imo.

Apparently he only once won the first sprint stage in the TDF.

 

[the vagabond]

until Sagan shows something

You've got to be kidding me.

Until somebody else shows something, Sagan is the favorite in any type of sprint, any terrain, against anybody, including Cavendish.

 

[greenedge]

Petacchi, Kittel then Cav.

 

[cineteq]

Greipel ftw!

 

[SHAD0W93]

1. Cav
2. Greipel
3. Sagan
4. Kittel
5. Goss
6-10 some randoms.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Greipel ftw!!!!

 

[royalpig180]

You've got to be kidding me.

Until somebody else shows something, Sagan is the favorite in any type of sprint, any terrain, against anybody, including Cavendish.

Sagan has clearly shown that he's capable of winning almost anywhere, anytime, but he's never proven he can win a flat out bunch sprint against the creme de la creme of sprinters. He definitely impressed with wins over Boonen and Haussler at the Tour of California and with wins over Bennati and Petacchi at the Vuelta, but he's never beatent Cav, Kittel, or Greipel in a flat out bunch sprint. (What about Goss? I'm not sure there). I think Sagan will be top 4-5, but Greipel, Kittel, Cav, and possibly Goss will be the ones duking it out for the stage.

I'll go with Greipel...
Sagan 4th.

 

[hughmoore]

Im hoping for Goss, dont think Greipel has the leadout. Cav is awesome though and hard to beat.



Hugh

 

[movingtarget]

The usual suspects, one of Greipel, Goss, Cav or Sagan will win. my tip is Greipel.

 

[bicycle_rack]

The sprint teams miscalculate and the break stays away, some French guy holds the jersey to the first TT.

 

[The Barb]

The sprint teams miscalculate and the break stays away, some French guy holds the jersey to the first TT.

Unfortunately in these days of GPS and radios the only people who are incompetent enough to consistently "miscalculate" the break are Paul and Phil.

 

[hughmoore]

Anyone know what the last 2km is like, roundabouts, corners?



Hugh

 

[auscyclefan94]

The finish is not very technical and looks to be quite fast so a team with a strong leadout could really stretch it out and take the win easily. This makes me think that Cav won't win.

 

[hughmoore]

Unfortunately in these days of GPS and radios the only people who are incompetent enough to consistently "miscalculate" the break are Paul and Phil.

Several breakaways succeeded in the GIRo


Hugh

 

[bicycle_rack]

Unfortunately in these days of GPS and radios the only people who are incompetent enough to consistently "miscalculate" the break are Paul and Phil.

Didn't it happen in 2008 when Feillu took the Jersey? Break picked up a tailwind and coasted in iirc. Law of averages says its time bro.

 

[Fetisoff]

Would love to see Greipel or Kittel win here.
But anyone other than Sagan or Cav is OK with me though

 

[The Barb]

I'm not saying breaks don't succeed, I'm just saying they very rarely succeed because of a miscalculation by the peloton (and of course I was also having an unnecessary dig at Phil and Paul).

That Feillu stage win was very different. It was the first mountain stage and the yellow jersey (ironically also Cancellara) knew he had no chance to hold it so his team did not chase, while the GC contenders just marked each other until the final climb.

I'd like to see the break succeed as much as anyone, but no chance it happens today unless there is bad weather, crashes, and/or Cancellara neutralises the stage.

 

[bicycle_rack]

I'm not saying breaks don't succeed, I'm just saying they very rarely succeed because of a miscalculation by the peloton (and of course I was also having an unnecessary dig at Phil and Paul).

That Feillu stage win was very different. It was the first mountain stage and the yellow jersey (ironically also Cancellara) knew he had no chance to hold it so his team did not chase, while the GC contenders just marked each other until the final climb.

I'd like to see the break succeed as much as anyone, but no chance it happens today unless there is bad weather, crashes, and/or Cancellara neutralises the stage.

Other Feillu

 

[The Barb]

Other Feillu

Ahhh, ok.

 

[Winnen]

Kittel ftw. Somehow I am not convinced about Cav. Lotto is going to do a terrible leadout so no Greipel.

Interesting to see how Sagan can compete with this guys on a flat sprint. If he wins this as well, it could be that the kids of Erik Dekker are right and Sagan is going to win 7 stages this tour. Although they also thought that he could win the prologue.

 

[bicycle_rack]

Why is everyone saying the Lotto lead out is so terrible? I seam to remember Henderson doing a pretty good job of delivering Greipel this year, admittedly it was a while ago, but add Hansen and Roelendts they should be at least as good as Argos. I agree that he does need a lead out since he seams so bad at positioning. I know they screwed up yesterday but it was not a classic sprint, although I did enjoy Greipel's pull on the front

Green Edge seams to have displayed the best train most recently in the Giro fwiw.

 

[gustienordic]

The finish is not very technical and looks to be quite fast so a team with a strong leadout could really stretch it out and take the win easily. This makes me think that Cav won't win.

Therefore Gossy? I would like to see Kittel or Feillu take a win, but thats unlikely. I suppose Greipel should have a good chance. Too flat for Rojas I think.

 

[bicycle_rack]

Therefore Gossy? I would like to see Kittel or Feillu take a win, but thats unlikely. I suppose Greipel should have a good chance. Too flat for Rojas I think.

The sprinting Feillu isn't racing tis year.

 

[The Joker]

1. Cavendish
2. Goss
3. Renshaw
Greipel to be overhauling all of them at the line, but only finish 4th because once again he started too far back...