2013 Tour de France, Stage 13: Tours - Saint-Amand-Montrond (173 km)

[Jericho]

Btw., looking at the stage results, I find it hilarious that Greipel and JJ Rojas apparently thought it necessary to sprint for the "win" in their respective groups.

eta: Van Poppel too.

Well, Greipel was going for the last of green jersey points (not much, but mine as well take them) and Rojas was liking just leading out Valverde to try and gain every second he could.

 

[sultanofhyd]

According to the onscreen graphics of LeTour's highlights video, the Saxo group covered the last 25 kms at an average of 53.6 km/h.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

ok, so what were they pulling for? i thought that sky was the team loosing under the circumstances. so sky had to pull to bring the break back. the other teams could have waited for sky and Froome to die first. that would create a more open field for the stages to come.

well this i find hard to believe:
froome to bmc/ag2r- could you pls bury yourselves dor me?
answer- sure why not

kristoff, greipel and peraud, how hard was that to see.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Great News Setting up Quintana to win stages and keep his GC top 10 I guess. Was thinking maybe Valverde would back off and save something for the Vuelta now.

quintana isn't just going for top ten gc. he will win white btu can eaisly still make the podium

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I still haven't been able to find any independent confirmation that Kittel had a mechanical - just de Kort's Tweet. Does anyone have any details?

his chain went off and he manuall put it back on which cost him time

 

[Savant12]

I wonder how much effort it took out of the Saxo's given that Ventoux was only 2 stages away?

Even Contador was taking big pulls on the front and grimacing most of the time, moving up and down the line trying to get others to take a pull on the front. Whereas, Froome was just following whoever was in front and not putting in any big efforts.

Hernandez and Paulinho weren't in the move so are they being kept fresh for Ventoux? However, it seems that it's only Kreuziger who can stay with Contador (or is that vice versa) when the road goes up.

Anyway, Sky are looking weaker and fatigued; Movistar are out of it; and will Saxo's big effort on this stage tire them out for the mammoth task ahead of dropping Froome? Should make for an interesting Ventoux stage!

 

[Winterfold]

I know it sounds weird when talking about Froome, but maybe, just maybe, he simply couldn't...

Theres an interview on here - Cav did more Watts to sprint to the break than he did in the sprint to win - so Froome could not bridge as he does not have 1700W

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I wonder how much effort it took out of the Saxo's given that Ventoux was only 2 stages away?

Even Contador was taking big pulls on the front and grimacing most of the time, moving up and down the line trying to get others to take a pull on the front. Whereas, Froome was just following whoever was in front and not putting in any big efforts.

Hernandez and Paulinho weren't in the move so are they being kept fresh for Ventoux? However, it seems that it's only Kreuziger who can stay with Contador (or is that vice versa) when the road goes up.

Anyway, Sky are looking weaker and fatigued; Movistar are out of it; and will Saxo's big effort on this stage tire them out for the mammoth task ahead of dropping Froome? Should make for an interesting Ventoux stage!

less energy than pretty much all other teams had to spend yesterday, including sky

 

[Dutchsmurf]

I only have a dirty taste in my mouth with Belkin/Valverde.

Why that? Valverde himself isn't blaming them. Belkin was already riding long before Valverde had his mechanical. Besides, Valverde wasn't in yellow, so doesn't have any protection that way.

 

[kriisp]

Brian Holm (OPQS) told a Danish reporter yesterday after the stage that they planned the attack with Belkin already in the morning. When talking to the journalist he reached for a piece of paper lying in his car - the note said "km 117".

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Why that? Valverde himself isn't blaming them. Belkin was already riding long before Valverde had his mechanical. Besides, Valverde wasn't in yellow, so doesn't have any protection that way.

belkin had already stopped riding before valverde punctured. still when a rider flats or crashes one should always attack of it's useful. this is f'n competition for god sake, not some friendly match

 

[Kwibus]

belkin had already stopped riding before valverde punctured. still when a rider flats or crashes one should always attack of it's useful. this is f'n competition for god sake, not some friendly match

True, but they were allready planning to hit the gas again once they passed the village. That's why Valverde and the Kittel group came close again as the first group was not going all out at that time, when they passed the village there was another wide open field on a straight road again for a while.

They would push hard there anyways. Belkin also agreed not to wait for anyone before the stage started. Wether it was a crash or a mechanical. Finally they showed some balls. Glad they did that.

 

[The Hitch]

belkin had already stopped riding before valverde punctured. still when a rider flats or crashes one should always attack of it's useful. this is f'n competition for god sake, not some friendly match

So then races are won on total flukes.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So then races are won on total flukes.

luck is a factor in any sport. especially cycling

 

[pastronef]

True, but they were allready planning to hit the gas again once they passed the village. That's why Valverde and the Kittel group came close again as the first group was not going all out at that time, when they passed the village there was another wide open field on a straight road again for a while.

They would push hard there anyways. Belkin also agreed not to wait for anyone before the stage started. Wether it was a crash or a mechanical. Finally they showed some balls. Glad they did that


Brian Holm (OPQS) told a Danish reporter yesterday after the stage that they planned the attack with Belkin already in the morning. When talking to the journalist he reached for a piece of paper lying in his car - the note said "km 117".

the more I read the more I like it. it was a well planned attack

 

[akrogirl]

his chain went off and he manuall put it back on which cost him time

Thank you Very bad timing for AS.