2013 Tour de France Stage 1: Porto Vecchio -> Bastia, 213km (29/06/13)

[Broth3r]

I heard the roads are narrow as well. With this being the 100th edition, we may well see a crazed attacker moving up on that hill at 5 Km or even in the bends closer to the finish, and they do stand a chance.

Without Spartacus (or Vino), I'll rest my hopes on Jens or Chavanel. The first yellow must go to an attacker. Only that can honor the 100th edition.

 

[movingtarget]

Most boring first stage ever

Yes, not too interesting and hard to see Canvendish being beaten.

 

[MatParker117]

I heard the roads are narrow as well. With this being the 100th edition, we may well see a crazed attacker moving up on that hill at 5 Km or even in the bends closer to the finish, and they do stand a chance.

Without Spartacus (or Vino), I'll rest my hopes on Jens or Chavanel. The first yellow must go to an attacker. Only that can honor the 100th edition.

Jens will go earlier and Chavanel will be sitting in Cav's train.

 

[RHRH19861986]

It´s not too bad, first stage as a sprint royal... I prefer this to a hundredth prologue won by Cancellara (I know he is not in the race this year).

 

[Roderick]

I go with Cav, if the cannonball really wants somethin, he usually gets it

 

[Hugo87]

I feel happy just to open the forum and see a Tour Stage on sticky.

Maybe some crashes will already occur, many nervous cyclists riding on the bunch tomorrow, for the stage win I would like a late winning attack but i guess OmegaPharma train will be fresh and very powerful at least tomorrow.

Probably a win for Cav.

 

[Broth3r]

Chavanel will be sitting in Cav's train.

Ugh, right, completely forgot. What a waste.

 

[kingjr]

Most boring first stage ever

What's boring about a Sprint Royal? I'll never understand it. Or would you rather have a sprint from a reduced group where only Sagan can possibly win the stage
This year you have 3 guys almost equal in speed who will try their utmost to get yellow plus a handful of strong 2nd tier sprinters. If that's not exciting I don't know what is

 

[ILovecycling]

Voted for Greipel,but I have just one wish - no falls.

 

[King Boonen]

A chance for a sprinter to pick up yellow means every man and his dog will be trying to win this one. Cav should be ok, people usually want his wheel which can keep him out of harms way, but I'll be shocked if there isn't a crash.

 

[gruppeto993]

My only wish is for Gesink to stay on his bike.
Rooting for Greipel for the win!

 

[The Hitch]

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for every sprinter. I can't see anything but carnage coming out of this one.

Not really once in a lifetime considering the first stage of next years tour is also a sprint stage

 

[SKSemtex]

If the weather is the same as today it won´t be so easy afterall. Very very strong headwind. ( at least here, near Bastia )

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

Not really once in a lifetime considering the first stage of next years tour is also a sprint stage

Twice in a lifetime?

 

[puffin]

I'm a Cav fanboy but just voted Greipel. Cav wont be as dominant in the bunch sprints he contests as in previous years. Greipel and Kittel are basically as fast and the Lotto train is better drilled and will be more successful in the chaotic first week.

As the tour progresses Cav and OPQS will get stronger but Greipel to take yellow tomorrow. :-(

 

[DenisMenchov]

Voted with my heart for the Beast from Slovakia.

 

[*G*K*S*]

Grepiel taken out by a crash, Kittel gets dropped on the 200m @ 2% climb, Cavendish wins sprint under the Flamme Rouge – before realizing there’s still 1km to go, Sagan accidently rides on top of car, Goss relegated for obstruction, Bouhanni relegated for headbutting, Kristoff wins

Viking power!

 

[The Hitch]

Twice in a lifetime?

Only if cav wins tomorrow

 

[Broth3r]

Not really once in a lifetime considering the first stage of next years tour is also a sprint stage

...what the hell are they thinking? Screw the prologue, token yellows for all sprinters!

 

[The Hitch]

...what the hell are they thinking? Screw the prologue, token yellows for all sprinters!

Prudehomme was on ES yesterday talking about the Corisca stages saying about how he really hopes 1 of them will end in less than a 70 man bunchsprint and he "dreams" that the gc contenders will have to work during those stages too.

And im thinking - you are the ****ing TDF director. If thats what you want why don't you make stages that allow that to happen

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Stage 3 will be way less than 70.

 

[Broth3r]

Prudehomme was on ES yesterday talking about the Corisca stages saying about how he really hopes 1 of them will end in less than a 70 man bunchsprint and he "dreams" that the gc contenders will have to work during those stages too.

And im thinking - you are the ****ing TDF director. If thats what you want why don't you make stages that allow that to happen

I'm not saying they should,I'm just saying they goddamn should.

 

[xrayvision]

Prudehomme was on ES yesterday talking about the Corisca stages saying about how he really hopes 1 of them will end in less than a 70 man bunchsprint and he "dreams" that the gc contenders will have to work during those stages too.

And im thinking - you are the ****ing TDF director. If thats what you want why don't you make stages that allow that to happen

It would be a big mistake to underestimate tomorrows stage.
4 - 5 top sprinters who all believes they can win, narrow and curvy roads, all gc contenders want to stay in front, the first stage of the tour... a lot of things can happen and probably will.


EDIT: Sagan ftw by the way.

 

[spalco]

It would be a big mistake to underestimate tomorrows stage.
4 - 5 top sprinters who all believes they can win, narrow and curvy roads, all gc contenders want to stay in front, the first stage of the tour... a lot of things can happen and probably will.


EDIT: Sagan ftw by the way.

I hope they pull off with 3K to go, I don't want anyone to get hurt tomorrow.

 

[Miburo]

I hope they pull off with 3K to go, I don't want anyone to get hurt tomorrow.

It's gonna be insane, absolutely insane. Crashes will come for sure. These are the most important days of the tour.