2013 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 2 Châtel - Oyonnax , 183 km.

[Miburo]

2013 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 2 Châtel - Oyonnax , 183 km.

Km 74.5 - Côte de Mornex - 2.6 km de montée à 4.7 % - Catégorie 4
Km 120.5 - Côte de Mons - 1.0 km de montée à 5.5 % - Catégorie 4
Km 136.0 - Côte de Lancrans - 3.1 km de montée à 5.2 % - Catégorie 3
Km 151.5 - Côte de Communal - 5.6 km de montée à 6.3 % - Catégorie 2
Km 168.5 - Côte du Bugnon - 1.9 km de montée à 6.1 % - Catégorie 4
Km 179.5 - Col du Sentier - 2.7 km de montée à 7.6 % - Catégorie 2

Next stage is rather flat so no excuses. Anything can happen here.

Hopefully they'll test Sky in descending

I'm shocked the dauphine considers this stage 'en ligne'... If only the tour had 'en ligne' stages like this.

I expect this man

 

[maltiv]

Will be interesting, there's basically not a single section of flat in the last 50 km. Definitely a hard stage to control, doubt there'll be a bunch sprint.

 

[ILovecycling]

I hope there will be plenty of attacks at penultimate climb and last climb.
Puncher ftw solo, especialy if the downhill is technical.

 

[jens_attacks]

this stage has europcar all written on it

tommy or pierrot
and an alberto attack

 

[Roderick]

If OPQS doesn't **** it up this time this is all Meersman's

 

[Afrank]

Some breakaway rider to take it solo. Tommy V a good bet or some other Europcar rider. Could see Vichot taking it as well.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm shocked the dauphine considers this stage 'en ligne'... If only the tour had 'en ligne' stages like this.

'En ligne' is French for 'in line', i.e. a regular road stage as opposed to a time trial.

 

[Miburo]

'En ligne' is French for 'in line', i.e. a regular road stage as opposed to a time trial.

Doesn't it stand for flat stage? That's what i always thought since they describe the tougher stages differently. Anyway deserves medium mountain stage.

 

[Poursuivant]

I fancy Contador to attack on the last climb.

 

[Orbit501]

Samu to get the stage win he missed out on in the Giro.

 

[Leonardus]

looks like a nice stage. They should have included some of this stages in the TdF. I think a reduced bunch sprit although it's hard to control. But if they do, Meersman should take this.

 

[Le breton]

This afternoon I went for a fairly long ride and since the wind was quite strong (NE) I started going SW towards Bellegarde, hoping that the Jura mountains would cut the wind in the Valserine valley when I would go back north towards la Faucille.

Well, after Bellegarde the wind was still quite strong, mostly against me this time of course, the Jura didn't protect me that much.
I soon realized I was following tomorrow's stage (DL) through Confort, le Pont des pierres (I turned left there for protection from the wind), Montanges, Champfromier, Communal, Giron, then towards Belleydoux. The 3 km downhill stretch from Giron to the Semine river was just as bad as it always is : potholes, fallen rocks. Obviously DL does not get the same road improvement work as the TdF
In Belleydoux (roughly km 160 of tomorrow's stage) I parted ways with stage 2 and went North against the wind towards the Col de la Serra (1049m). Later I had to climb from near Saint Claude(430m) to Lajoux (1170m) before going back home via la Faucille. Actually that was a good choice of road, I had good protection from the wind over long stretches.

Anyway altogether I followed stage 2 for about 30 km and the best place I saw to try a breakaway was on that bad downhill road past Giron.

BTW, stronger wind expected tomorrow
http://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/web/fr/meteo/previsions_en_detail.sec0005.html#Karte

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

alberto and samu in the attack in hilly stages like it's 2011

 

[del1962]

this stage has europcar all written on it

tommy or pierrot
and an alberto attack

Surely Euro have to ride for the jersey!

 

[manafana]

euro capable of either ridding crazy tempo or going into days breakm orica surely play a card.

 

[burning]

Surely Euro have to ride for the jersey!

Offence is the best defence, they can attack or respond attacks and just follow wheels, which could be probably better than pulling all day on a stage like this

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage looks ideal for some action, at least on paper.
Couldn't design a better hilly stage on a computer imo.

Last little hill is 2,7km @ 7,6%. If we have any winners in the field, they better step forward.

Also early break gotta involve this guy now:

 

[Sasquatch]

Offence is the best defence, they can attack or respond attacks and just follow wheels, which could be probably better than pulling all day on a stage like this

Exactly

Europcar's best play is to send someone into the break. If they don't get caught, they will most likely keep the jersey. If they do get caught, then Europcar have done ****** all work.

 

[Telmisartan new]

Some of the pictures posted on this forum are beautiful,they encapsulate everything that is special about this sport,i hope the Dauphine Libere is as good as the field suggests,bring it on,best races this year have came from nowhere,Tour of Oman,Tirreno,Roubaix(not a standard Spartacus procession),we need a good Dauphine and Tour after anti-climax of Giro.Meersman ftw today.

 

[greenedge]

Hopefully Europcar can go on the attack, as the best form of defence. Sky will pace the last 60 or so km, the question is whether they will lose time?

 

[hfer07]

Fedrigo Should do something along with a crew of serious escapades from Europcar, EE & Lampre (Serpa should give it a go). Chavanel can do some performance if he gets the chance..... overall the stage is good for a successful breakaway-unless of course SKY thinks otherwise...

 

[Michele]

It was funny yesterday close to the finish line when Contador looked like trying to contest the sprint and as soon as Froome realized it he jumped like if it was the World Championship.

I expect Froome/Sky to control any Contador's move and that might kill the race if Contador feels like to give it a shot.

 

[SafeBet]

Goes live at what time?

 

[search]

12:45 cet, Rai Sport 2

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Goes live at what time?

Earlier than you might think.
RaiSport2 are due to begin at 12:45 CET so live might be 13:00