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

[roundabout]

The two behind must be hoping that Rolland gets on soon, hopefully then the front group would slow a bit and they could make it.

Ah, the Europcar with the ole slow down for Rolland or we'll catch you trick.

 

[wirral]

Europcar sending a stern message to the leading group of 10.

 

[murali]

Why? They are two men down, Thomas has a cracked pelvis, why should they have to power along on the longest stage of the tour?

Simply because the powerful Sky is having yellow with them. After yesterday's spineless ride, if they do it again today as well, then they are not worth following. Sport is about entertainment, not motoring along below the speed limit.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

who will be working for kwaitowsky in OPQS? I thought he was Chavanel's responsibility. Or is chavanel up to allow for kwaitowsky to bridge a gap to him?

Chavanel wants to win the stage (good luck), Kwia is on his own limiting the damage today. If Chava fails, he may help Kwia a little with pacing later.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

i remember reading somewhere that he will come back to france a bit earlier so that he wont have to face the situation that he faced in spain.

well he didn't he came back 5 days before the tour start and he said he also feared the transition again in temperature but he was fine

 

[Frosty]

Europcar on the front, gap to 6'40, let Rolland in the front group!

Haha! I think we saw the same thing with a different team the other year

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Gap to peloton dropped by over one minute, Europcar very unhappy.

ahah they are forcing the lead group to take rolland in. hope they won't allow it

 

[murali]

Chavanel wants to win the stage (good luck), Kwia is on his own limiting the damage today. If Chava fails, he may help Kwia a little with pacing later.

that makes sense. so its all about the french win, and the fourth winner for opqs.

 

[GazelleFormula]

Europcar on the front, gap to 6'40, let Rolland in the front group!

Exactly. Good tactics from Europcar. Worked last year with another team (Saxo?) in a hilly stage.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Exactly. Good tactics from Europcar. Worked last year with another team (Saxo?) in a hilly stage.

DSs are making phone calls now.

 

[wirral]

Rolland and Burghardt are not going to make it. Will Europcar make good on their threat?

 

[murali]

ahah they are forcing the lead group to take rolland in. hope they won't allow it

lead group should simply slow down then. If pelaton catches them then they will never get a shot for stage win.

 

[murali]

Rolland and Burghardt are not going to make it. Will Europcar make good on their threat?

at last some spice in this bland race. way to go EUC!!!!

 

[FKLance]

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

This might be an old question but what is the starting point for these times?

I'd like to time it myself live as it happens and I guess I'm not the only one. Not sure though where to start the clock. I think we are going to see some fast times. Yesterday was a fairly easy day for the peloton, a long stage today though

 

[Dazed and Confused]

lead group should simply slow down then. If pelaton catches them then they will never get a shot for stage win.

The action today is partly why I love cycling.

 

[GazelleFormula]

Rolland sitting up! It's over for him and Burghardt.

 

[murali]

This might be an old question but what is the starting point for these times?

I'd like to time it myself live as it happens and I guess I'm not the only one. Not sure though where to start the clock. I think we are going to see some fast times. Yesterday was a fairly easy day for the peloton, a long stage today though

the site was quoting 21.5 km from the summit. so i assumed the same. i also am looking forward to time tht climb. Can someone clarify?

 

[Kris13]

6'20'' is not easy to catch.

 

[murali]

Rolland sitting up! It's over for him and Burghardt.

thats bad news. I had voted vino for win.

 

[Miburo]

I'm the glad the break didn't allow it. Rolland is way too dangerous, besides the guy wouldn't have done anything in the break.

 

[murali]

6'20'' is not easy to catch.

60k of hard racing in the flat. but i dont think tht teams will hav to do tht. My reckoning is 3-4 min at base of climb.

 

[Frosty]

letour site says 20.8km. Climbbybike has 21.4km route starting from the D974 roundabout in Bedoin.

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Mont-Ventoux&MountainID=4

 

[Kwibus]

Rolland sitting up! It's over for him and Burghardt.

Allright, go Poels!

Still a long way to go and Poels is unproven on lomg distances and he has some other contenders in the break as well.

I wouldnt be surprised that if the break survives Sagan will take it.

 

[Miburo]

What happend? He became world's best TTer. Pretty good going..

Sagan shouldn't win this. It's going be between Rolland and Poels I hope. Losada as a big dark horse.

Anyway, Sagan said himself if he wins lots of classics in future and dominates the field, he might change to a GC man iirc or something to that extent.

He failed in all the GC's of GT he did and it was a goal. He just always failed, and hopefully he's not gonna try it again.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

So what now? Will Europcar continue to drive the peloton and scoop up Rolland for some action later?