2012 Tour de France: Stage 8: Belfort → Porrentruy (157.5km)

[jens_attacks]

vino will get polka dots and stage win obviously

gc battle on col de la croix
i even feel that nibali and cadel will go on caquerelle descent

i hope rolland and alejandro will feel better tomorrow

 

[Gubby Allen]

Fascinating stage this, so many climbs in such a short space of time. Interesting the main GC contenders are so far down the betting - all 80/1 bar, except Sanchez.

Looks like a Voeckler/Casar/Chavanel breakaway is written all over it, but with the big climb at the end I'd still expect Wiggins & Evans be top 6-8.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

A decent size group to get away, get a 10 minute advantage and stay that way. Group stays together until the last climb, someone gets away and solos to the finish. Absolutely nothing happens in the peleton. Sagan wins the sprint for place 9 or so. Going to be a boring day.

 

[Panda Claws]

The sky train as of right now, may still have 3 (or more?) weaknesses, add any you know to this as Logic did.

1) Descending

2) Can they maintain a high enough pace over a longer time with more attacks?

3) The most important one: Other GC contenders working together.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The sky train as of right now, may still have 3 weaknesses

1) Descending

2) Can they maintain a high enough pace over a longer time with more attacks?

3) The most important one: Other GC contenders working together.

4) keep it up for 2 more weeks.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Didnt Pierrick Fedrigo win a similar stage a few years back?

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Agreed that we won't see Evans attack - but so many GC contenders have lost so much time that they have got to try something - anything ?

They won't ruin their chances for a top 5.

 

[Panda Claws]

GC contenders need to work together, surely VDB, Nibali, Taaramae, etc... together in a group taking turns can hold off the Sky train?

 

[Anonymous]

GC contenders need to work together, surely VDB, Nibali, Taaramae, etc... together in a group taking turns can hold off the Sky train?

That post shows that you clearly know little about cycling.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

GC contenders need to work together, surely VDB, Nibali, Taaramae, etc... together in a group taking turns can hold off the Sky train?

Yeah, they'll work their asses off to gain back 20 seconds and then get hammered the next day in the ITT.

 

[Afrank]

Albasini for the win on this stage, I could also see Voeckler or maybe LL Sanchez taking the win. I doubt the GC guys will do anything, I think their save their energy for the TT tomorrow. Maybe the former GC guys that have lost alot of time due to crashes might try something on the descent, but I doubt it will put Sky under pressure.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I think this could actually be a chance to put some time into sky. The sky train is a measured tactic over the last climb, turning up the pace only towards the end. Multiple attacks on the last 3 climbs could really upset their rhythm.

I agree.
This is set up more like one of those great Paris-Nice stages from a few years back:
with the climbs packed in, one after another.
It's a pity that Saulcy is slightly out of sync with the rest.
Looks very tough: an ideal place to stir things up, but 30kms from the next ramp.

I hope that those who's GC ambitions are hanging by a thread,
grasp the mettle and throw caution to the wind. (idiomatically speaking )

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Good news here too...the television coverage of this stage actually starts with the roll-out, rather than an hour and a half into the stage.

 

[Dr.Sahl]

Well, hoping for Rabo/Europcar to try and put pressure on the Sky train to soften them up a bit.

Also expecting Morkov to attack early to try and regain his Polka-dot jersey.

Mørkøv is not going out CAS might however..

I expect a few others to try to go for the KOTM. it will be a fun stage.

 

[William H]

Radioshack really need to get someone in the break, put Sky under a bit of pressure.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Good news here too...the television coverage of this stage actually starts with the roll-out, rather than an hour and a half into the stage.

So we get to see the break form. Nice.

 

[Fergoose]

Looking forward to this. Today will have made Nibali & Evans desperate to try something on the descent. With 17kms from the summit they'll need the likes of Sami Sanchez to find his legs soon to help them to the finish. Taaramae also licking his lips at the descent and bigging up his chances.

Someone half decent needs to try to make a move on the penultimate climb to disrupt Sky’s rythym. Ideally someone 3-5 minutes down with KotM ambitions. It won't happen though. If Sky are allowed to conserve energy until the last climb of the day they'll have enough energy left to just serenely tap out a rythym to the top. I can’t see anyone gapping them at the summit under those conditions.

 

[Froome19]

Hopefully Sky will not work here it is not necessary especially with their superiority in the TT.

Will punt for Westra not great today but I think that if he is in a break he will have the power to outgun his fellows. Yet Voeckler after today's pretty decent perfomance cant be discounted either especially as he is not threat whatsoever to GC..

 

[Froome19]

GC contenders need to work together, surely VDB, Nibali, Taaramae, etc... together in a group taking turns can hold off the Sky train?

Doesnt work that way

I think this could actually be a chance to put some time into sky. The sky train is a measured tactic over the last climb, turning up the pace only towards the end. Multiple attacks on the last 3 climbs could really upset their rhythm.

Maybe but the thing is that today showed how much depth the Sky train has and I dont think that constant attacking will affect it to adversly.

Didnt Pierrick Fedrigo win a similar stage a few years back?

Indeed if Fedrigo shows the Fedrigo of old this could be his, only problem is I am unsure whether he will.. he has had a very good season so far and his win in Criterium International was very impressive.

 

[Woody22]

Evans to attack in the final 200m of the final climb in an attempt to gain some time on the descent. Hopefully Nibali can go with him.

Cadel is going to lose time to Wiggans in the TT, he needs to use stages like this one to his advantage.

 

[markov111]

I am wondering if Cadel will wait until after the TT and see what time he will lose (if any).....then attack before the next TT.


Does this stage not have Sammy Sanchez written all over it.....

Is it far enough down in GC to be left go in a break....and if he attacks in the last climb you would him to stay away being a great downhill rider


what you think?

Or does today show he does not have the legs?

 

[Froome19]

I am wondering if Cadel will wait until after the TT and see what time he will lose (if any).....then attack before the next TT.


Does this stage not have Sammy Sanchez written all over it.....

Is it far enough down in GC to be left go in a break....and if he attacks in the last climb you would him to stay away being a great downhill rider


what you think?

Or does today show he does not have the legs?

Sanchez is always a threat and he may have just had a bad day and obviously he is building his form as he was behind due to his Dauphine bruised ribs. He is always a threat and to let him go in a break would be pure idiocy especially as he isnt really all that far down on GC when you come to think about it.

Evans meanwhile may very well do as you suggested mainly because there is only today's stage before the TT and then he has the 4 main mountain stages to put Wiggins and Sky under pressure before the TT and the end of the GC race. Tomorows stage doesnt have enough opportunities to create proper gaps but it will be tough for Sky to control though and that may incite Evans to have a go but as you say it will probably be better for him to wait for the TT.

Good news here too...the television coverage of this stage actually starts with the roll-out, rather than an hour and a half into the stage.

Indeed we will probably see a lot of action then as all the teams scramble to get riders in the break.

 

[Chap01]

So, based on what I'm reading, a decent top 10 for this stage could be?:

1. Hoogerland
2. Voeckler
3. Albasini
4. Chavanel
5. Casar
6. Vinokourov
7. Daniel Martin
8. Moncoutie
9. LL Sanchez
10. Taaramae

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This has the potential to be the best stage of the entire race. One of the few genuinely well-designed stages this year.

Which means, naturally, it'll be a generic transitional stage where the break goes and maybe takes yellow, and the contenders all mark each other to the line. I really hope that's not what happens, but I do fear it, simply because of the Sky show of strength, people won't risk attacking them with the TT to come.

 

[greenedge better then some]

i hope a rider like peter VELITS gets in the break gains 7 mins up to the last climb an sky start to panic an ends up with yellow an 3mins on wiggins.would spice the tour up alot..
my pick is a carrot will win the stage just not sure which one..