2013 Tour de France, Stage 15: Givors - Mont Ventoux 242.5 Km

[Ruby United]

Sundays magnificent Tour stage:

Stage 15 – Sunday 14 July Givors - Mont Ventoux 242.5 km

Weather:

https://www.google.co.uk/#gs_rn=17&gs_ri=psy-ab&cp=16&gs_id=1m&xhr=t&q=weather+mont+ventoux&es_nrs=true&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=weather+mont+ven&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48705608,d.d2k&fp=fdddf8a0227c34ea&biw=1137&bih=714

Remember: The word Ventoux means windy, so expect large winds.

EDIT: Just checked weather forecast; winds seem to be quite light upon the summit.

The Profile:

Today is the longest stage of the Tour, and possibly the most crucial. There are 5 categorised climb, with the last being the renowned Mont Ventoux. It is a typical ‘Vuelta style’ stage; over 200 km of relatively flat roads before hitting an absolute killer. In the first 150 km I think a large breakaway will form, one that should imo, make it all the way to the finish. It is Bastille Day so we could be in for a real show by the Frenchmen. The French will be more eager than ever before to take this stage, as the last French rider to win on Batille Day was David Moncutie in 2005.

A further interesting feature of Today’s stage is that the Peleton will tackle the small Col de la Madeleine with 28km to go. The full 2000m climb will be scaled later on in the Tour. Although it is not shown in the profile, this steep incline will be enough to start thinning the bunch, before Mont Ventoux.

Fastest times on Mont Ventoux:

http://climbing-records.blogspot.ro/2013/07/speed-glory-top-50-fastest-rides-on.html

 

[Afrank]

Quintana will separate the men from the boys as he rides away from everyone to a podium and epic stage win. I am 100% serious.

Unfortunately I won't be able to watch live. Will have to stay away from the forum and all forms of social media the whole day to avoid seeing the result.

 

[Ruby United]

Breakaway will make it to the line.

Quintana will gain some 30 seconds on Froome.

Froome will put small time into other GC contenders.

 

[jens_attacks]

i will be honest. i really hope the breakaway won't make it. i don't want another garate situation

i think quintana or froome for the win. but andy and alberto will be better than on bonascre

prediction of the best time?
full gas froome should be around marco's time from '94. still... very long stage after brutal week we'll see.

http://climbing-records.blogspot.ro/2013/07/speed-glory-top-50-fastest-rides-on.html

hopefully plenty of attacks

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Who will let the dog out?

 

[Ruby United]

http://climbing-records.blogspot.ro/2013/07/speed-glory-top-50-fastest-rides-on.html

Thanks, will include this in original post.

 

[batchuba]

I guess it has to be Quintana to take 30 seconds or so with Bert and Dawg to finish nearly together.

 

[The Hitch]

Tony Martin ftw.

 

[Ruby United]

You have to give the breakaway a chance.

 

[Ruby United]

Tony Martin ftw.

From a break?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Quintana ftw, Froome 15 seconds or so behind, Contador, Mollema, Kreuziger, Ten Dam and Schleck around 45 seconds behind (not necessarily in a group)

 

[LaFlorecita]

That is partially what I hope though. Don't want Froome to crush it again.

 

[ThirdWorld]

Tony Martin ftw.

Excuse The great Hitch, but this is not a ITT!

 

[DirtyWorks]

Breakaway will make it to the line.

Quintana will gain some 30 seconds on Froome.

Froome will put small time into other GC contenders.

Wind forecasts on the run-in to Ventoux suggest this might be possible if there are crosswinds.

Once they make it to the climb, I hope Froome destroys the field. What he needs to do is just ride in with GC threats.

This will be a hard stage to watch.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Wind forecasts on the run-in to Ventoux suggest this might be possible if there are crosswinds.

Once they make it to the climb, I hope Froome destroys the field. What he needs to do is just ride in with GC threats.

This will be a hard stage to watch.

if theer are strong crosswinds it will ruin ventoux because the final 6 km become impossible to attack or keep your distance

 

[the sceptic]

Froome is scared. His team is a mess
Im pretty sure he will go full gas and take 2 minutes

 

[Ruby United]

if theer are strong crosswinds it will ruin ventoux because the final 6 km become impossible to attack or keep your distance

Though, as mentioned, forecast does say light winds.

 

[vcampbell]

Alberto Contador

 

[airstream]

Break win. 5-6 best climbers to finish together. The last 3km are too windy and suit attacks very badly.

 

[Miburo]

Excuse The great Hitch, but this is not a ITT!

It's just a reminder of what happened in 2009.

 

[Ataraxus]

The last 5k are very exposed hence the distances among GC contenders will be minimal (below 1 minute) IMHO.
Unless Froome and Quintana ride away together or Porte and Froome gap the bunch 7k to the top.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

gaps can be big because they will start the ventoux after 220 km of racing. that is really long and will be for riders with strong engines. I think froome has one. quintana definitely has one, kreuziger and more, but contador?...

 

[jens_attacks]

gaps can be big because they will start the ventoux after 220 km of racing. that is really long and will be for riders with strong engines. I think froome has one. quintana definitely has one, kreuziger and more, but contador?...

had one.
i don't know i think for him it would be the best to not lose more than 30 seconds to froome. he will be maybe the strongest in the alpes

about froome, i had my feeling that he might have peaked in the wrong moment. pyrenees. we'll see.

 

[Cimber]

Sadly, I think Froome will go full *** again. Especially after today's smack in the nuts

 

[Opalius]

Quintana ftw.

Hope that the action will start from the bottom of the Ventoux, with Kreuziger and Ten Dam to do ping pong attacks, forcing Froome to respond; hopefully exhausting him, and then Contador and Mollema to take 1.5 min on him (in my dreams... very wet dreams...)