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

[Panda Claws]

Yeah, I gave my last post little thought but I still stick with it, the other GC contenders cannot attack alone and will have to work together to gain time on Sky. This does not mean that I expect them to engage in a TTT for 20 km against the Sky train.

 

[Froome19]

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

Pretty much but I am not so sure about Taaramae, after today I cant imagine he will be allowed to get away and I dont think he will win any puncher sprints.

Also I dont rate Vino atm and I cant imagine Hoogerland winning anything with his suicidal attacks.

 

[Froome19]

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..

None of them are good enough asides from Sanchez if a break as strong as expected gets away.

You have to understand that today the break will be stronger than previous days as the strong climbers who are out of GC and barrodeurs such as Chavanel realise it is very possibly this stage will be won by the break and so will want to get into it.

 

[Chap01]

Pretty much but I am not so sure about Taaramae, after today I cant imagine he will be allowed to get away and I dont think he will win any puncher sprints.

Also I dont rate Vino atm and I cant imagine Hoogerland winning anything with his suicidal attacks.

Thank you very much for your comments, which would be your top 10?

 

[Froome19]

Thank you very much for your comments, which would be your top 10?

Well as this break will probably go to a break it is safe to list riders who are breakaway specialists as you have.

Of course it may also end up as a sprint probably contested by the punchers so they may also be included depending on what the rules are for this predictions game.

So guys like Luis Leon and Albasini are good picks because they have a fast finish and may very infilitrate breaks, also I am unsure whether Garmin will put Dan Martin in a break just yet with his perfomance today but that is just my opinion. Of the riders you have named most of them are good riders who generally attack and get into breaks on these types of stages and they have the power and endurance to win an up and down stage like this. A couple of others guys who could also be considered include Kern, Scarponi, Basso though unlikely as Nibali will want him close, Riblon, Vanendert, Westra, Fedrigo, CAS, Iglinsky, Velits possibly

 

[The Joker]

I hope the other teams put maximum pressure on the sky train today. How about a break including TJVG, Schleck, Valverde, Gesink, Basso, Leipheimer, Izaguirre, Scarponi, Vanendert. All are at least 3 mins behind on GC.

A break like that would force Sky to work hard the whole stage, and could possible allow guys like Nibali, Evans, VDB, Sanchez, Mollema to attack a weakened Sky on the final climb and gain some serious time on the downhill to the line...

PS - I know I am dreaming ...

 

[manafana]

2MORO will depend alot on the early pace being bit high, final climb will create plenty gaps, but if its not followed over the top it could comeback together before the finish.

so many options tommorow if someone wants take it by the horns.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

I have a feeling that nothing at all will happen in this stage and everyone will be moaning about how boring this Tour is.

 

[Ragerod]

None of them are good enough asides from Sanchez if a break as strong as expected gets away.

You have to understand that today the break will be stronger than previous days as the strong climbers who are out of GC and barrodeurs such as Chavanel realise it is very possibly this stage will be won by the break and so will want to get into it.

Izaguirre is good enough but he'll probably be required to protect Sanchez

 

[Old&slow]

While its a very hard stage I don't see much of a chance at all for any change in the GC. Rather I see the GC riders not wasting energy in stage 8 and saving it for the ITT in stage 9.

Most likely a break (made up of people 8+ mins back) gets away unless Sagan decides he wants to win and has liquigas pulls the break back. But other than that I don't see why any team would want to waste energy pulling the break back. This stage is set up for a successful breakaway. Going to be a pretty boring stage. I can't wait until we get back to sprint stages.

 

[RedZone]

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

This isnt really a top 10, more like 1 or 2 of these guys might come in front of the reduced peleton.

 

[Chap01]

Well as this break will probably go to a break it is safe to list riders who are breakaway specialists as you have.

Of course it may also end up as a sprint probably contested by the punchers so they may also be included depending on what the rules are for this predictions game.

So guys like Luis Leon and Albasini are good picks because they have a fast finish and may very infilitrate breaks, also I am unsure whether Garmin will put Dan Martin in a break just yet with his perfomance today but that is just my opinion. Of the riders you have named most of them are good riders who generally attack and get into breaks on these types of stages and they have the power and endurance to win an up and down stage like this. A couple of others guys who could also be considered include Kern, Scarponi, Basso though unlikely as Nibali will want him close, Riblon, Vanendert, Westra, Fedrigo, CAS, Iglinsky, Velits possibly

Thanks!!!! Then I'm going to leave it like this:

1 Albasini
2 LL Sanchez
3 Voeckler
4 Casar
5 Chavanel
6 Hoogerland
7 Scarponi
8 Vanendert
9 Moncoutie
10 Basso

 

[the vagabond]

Evans needs seconds not minutes, whereas Nibali needs minutes not seconds, but they both need time.

If there is a selective ascent on the final climb and they are both there it is almost inconceivable that Evans and Nibali won't both take big risks to try to gain something on Wiggins on the descent. Evans's (new) style is not to wait until the TT to see how he stacks up.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Crikey what an utter utter waste of time I have spent reading for 1 second what peoples prediction for a top ten is - Stop it !
The field is so wide open the favourites are 20/1 and you guys are sputtering on about a top ten.
Please bring something worthwhile to read next time SVP.

 

[happytramp]

One thing is sure. Any GC hopefuls cannot give Wiggans a day off before the TT. They need to make him work hard to see how well he does after a day of mountain chasing......(read wheelsucking)

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Ah ****, just realised the guy that started the top ten predictions is a noobie. Better shut the F*** up before I get my head ripped off again.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Aided and abetted by Groom19 of course lol

 

[RedZone]

Thanks!!!! Then I'm going to leave it like this:

1 Albasini
2 LL Sanchez
3 Voeckler
4 Casar
5 Chavanel
6 Hoogerland
7 Scarponi
8 Vanendert
9 Moncoutie
10 Basso

Albasini and Sanchez were in yesterdays break, unlikely theyll go again today. Moncoutie probably wont go now taaramae is a genuine podium chance. Basso surely wont breakaway here, unlikely scarponi will either. Of your 10 Veockler Casar, Chavanel and Hoogerland are the only ones i possibly see going in a break here. Id add guys like Fedrigo, Morkov, Sorensen (might be going for polka)

 

[hfer07]

The only way I believe the UK Postal could be put under pressure is IF this stage is ridden entirely as a Classic, where GC riders "must" start the attacks early, & have some guys not far off the GC getting in breakaways, so the UKP would have to work harder to maintain everyone under control.

I foresee a breakaway succeeding, because Wiggo & Co. will be more concerned about monday, where gains in the ITT have the priority...

 

[Fight.The.Power]

The only way I believe the UK Postal could be put under pressure is IF this stage is ridden entirely as a Classic, where GC riders "must" start the attacks early, & have some guys not far off the GC getting in breakaways, so the UKP would have to work harder to maintain everyone under control.

I foresee a breakaway succeeding, because Wiggo & Co. will be more concerned about monday, where gains in the ITT have the priority...

Agreed . Exactly what I was saying earlier. Teams must Attack

EDIT: Individuals must attack !

 

[auscyclefan94]

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.

Yes, I think Evans could and should attack on the Saulcy but ideally he would have a team mate to work with which seems unlikely. Maybe something like what Hincapie did with Contador on the Peyresuode?

In saying that, after 9 days of racing and going into the time trial, I am not so sure that Evans will lose that much time if any time in the time trial. This may seem to be an optimistic forecast rather than realistic but I believe that this tt will be good for Evans.

Anyone could win this stage but I hope the gc riders attack. Shall be fun.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Yes, I think Evans could and should attack on the Saulcy but ideally he would have a team mate to work with which seems unlikely. Maybe something like what Hincapie did with Contador on the Peyresuode?

In saying that, after 9 days of racing and going into the time trial, I am not so sure that Evans will lose that much time if any time in the time trial. This may seem to be an optimistic forecast rather than realistic but I believe that this tt will be good for Evans.

Anyone could win this stage but I hope the gc riders attack. Shall be fun.

Last thing in the world that Evans will do tomorrow is attack.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Matty Lloyd ftw

 

[CQmanager]

For obvious reasons I need these guys to attack and stay away

1. DI GREGORIO Remy
2. KESSIAKOFF Fredrik
3. OSS Daniel LIQ
4. PAULINHO Sergio Miguel Moreira
5. PERAUD Jean-Christophe
6. PORTE Richie
7. SCHLECK Fränk
8. VANDE VELDE Christian
9. VOIGT Jens

Porte and Oss wont probably go OTF but the others should do it

CQM

 

[dlwssonic]

The TT is the day after this stage. So I'm really unsure if the GC contenders will bother to attack especially when it is so far out.