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

[go crazy]

I believe Froome will just mark Contador/Mollema and maybe attack within the last kilometers. He has the time advantage and there is no point in attacking early on the climb risking to crack (after 230k you can't be to confident you won't crack when going full gas). He knows there is an ITT on wednesday where he can gain more time on the contenders. Better to ride more passively tomorrow and save energy for the third week where there is a greater chance he might get isolated early on and will be forced to spend energy to close attacks.

I fear you may be right, but I'm hoping for Alien Mode. He may want to teach Saxo a lesson for daring to drop him on a flat stage, so that, combined with the time lost to AC, I think there's a slightly better chance of it. However, my guess is he goes with about 3 or 4 K's and puts in 40 seconds or so.

The only way to see real fireworks is to employ the Garmin chaos strategy, by Movistar or Saxo. Just send Valverde and Costa (Kreuziger/Roche) up the road a'la Landis/Pereiro, make Sky burn up their guys in the rollers before the foot. Isolate Froome, take turns attacking. Make Dawg mad to the point he goes full ******.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Saxo will (should) make sure the break doesn't stay away.

 

[jens_attacks]

costa and valverde in the breakaway is pretty much a given in my opinion

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The Dawg and Pony show must go on:

But who will be the pony?

Don't think Porte, he will be spend earlier. Rolland will wait for his beloved Alpe. I think J-Rod or Schleck.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Saxo will (should) make sure the break doesn't stay away.

how come?

hlkhl

 

[sultanofhyd]

how come?

hlkhl

They have to keep the pace high before Ventoux to drop Froome's teammates. They can't afford him going up Ventoux with the bulk of his team alongside.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

They have to keep the pace high before Ventoux to drop Froome's teammates. They can't afford him going up Ventoux with the bulk of his team alongside.

Wouldn't it just be better to stick Rogers in the break?

 

[jens_attacks]

i'm sad that europcar doesn't have absolutely no chance for tomorrow. movistar won't allow any of their moves

 

[TourOfSardinia]

I always thought *** in France meant slow down
So lets hope Alien goes full ***

 

[taiwan]

1. All the big KOM points for the break are in the Alps, not tomorrow.

2. Tommy V has not been in a proper break yet and is itching to go.

3. It is Bastille day and the French public demand a gurning show worthy of the day.

1+2+3 = Tommy V to help Rolland by winning the stage tomorrow and letting Rolland save himself for the Alps, thus preventing the GC riders threatening the polka dot jersey.

Simples

I buy this.

 

[gthx_gthx_]

I always thought *** in France meant slow down
So lets hope Alien goes full ***

It means being late precisely

I fear you may be right, but I'm hoping for Alien Mode. He may want to teach Saxo a lesson for daring to drop him on a flat stage, so that, combined with the time lost to AC, I think there's a slightly better chance of it. However, my guess is he goes with about 3 or 4 K's and puts in 40 seconds or so.

The only way to see real fireworks is to employ the Garmin chaos strategy, by Movistar or Saxo. Just send Valverde and Costa (Kreuziger/Roche) up the road a'la Landis/Pereiro, make Sky burn up their guys in the rollers before the foot. Isolate Froome, take turns attacking. Make Dawg mad to the point he goes full ******.

I like your post , this is what my expectations of this TDF have come to. Hoping that Froome's rivals will put him in danger so that Froome can switch to Alien mode.

I'd like to see him him having a flat tyre at the feet of the Ventoux , come back like a bullet , drop everyone and win by 2 minutes
Anything but status quo really.

 

[Miburo]

i'm sad that europcar doesn't have absolutely no chance for tomorrow. movistar won't allow any of their moves

True as valverde said afterwards "Revenge will be sweet"

 

[DirtyWorks]

It means being late precisely



I like your post , this is what my expectations of this TDF have come to. Hoping that Froome's rivals will put him in danger so that Froome can switch to Alien mode.

I'd like to see him him having a flat tyre at the feet of the Ventoux , come back like a bullet , drop everyone and win by 2 minutes
Anything but status quo really.

I'm hoping for crosswinds on the roads to Ventoux. Sky seems to have zero skills for handling crosswinds. Once the race hits Ventoux, it's well practiced Sky territory.

 

[DirtyWorks]

1. All the big KOM points for the break are in the Alps, not tomorrow.

2. Tommy V has not been in a proper break yet and is itching to go.

3. It is Bastille day and the French public demand a gurning show worthy of the day.

1+2+3 = Tommy V to help Rolland by winning the stage tomorrow and letting Rolland save himself for the Alps, thus preventing the GC riders threatening the polka dot jersey.

Simples

I agree with all of it. Except Froome will likely go alien. Plus, IMHO Movistar will deny the French "their" stage. It will be a good show for French riders until the feared Ventoux.

Let's hope I'm wrong!!!

 

[hfer07]

is sickening to hear Brailsford & Froome bragging about this stage-even with a weakened team,they appear to be so confident on how they're going to dispose the competition like a bad habit........

 

[Poursuivant]

Did Europcar work against Valverde though? I thought it was OPQS and Belkin

 

[airstream]

is sickening to hear Brailsford & Froome bragging about this stage-even with a weakened team,they appear to be so confident on how they're going to dispose the competition like a bad habit........

Agreed. But bragging about Froome being dropped on flat is absolutely normal.

 

[postmanhat]

is sickening to hear Brailsford & Froome bragging about this stage-even with a weakened team,they appear to be so confident on how they're going to dispose the competition like a bad habit........

Ok I'll bite. Give us some examples of this bravaggio

 

[LaFlorecita]

is sickening to hear Brailsford & Froome bragging about this stage-even with a weakened team,they appear to be so confident on how they're going to dispose the competition like a bad habit........

Agreed it's disgusting. I can't wait to see them fail.

 

[Frosty]

What's up with Coppel this year? Last two tours he has done well but he's way down in this one. Could be a potential for the breakaway. Cofidis also have Le Mevel and Taaramae. Maybe the team has been waiting for the mountain stages at the end -if so, then tomorrow is the time to start attacking!

 

[DirtyWorks]

Ok I'll bite. Give us some examples of this bravaggio

We're looking forward to it and can't wait to get on to Ventoux.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/sports/brailsford_bring_on_ventoux

The same interview is posted at 100 other sites, so just choose one.

This one is loaded with contempt for fans and bravaggio http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-shorts-more-pseudo-science Also posted at a few other sites.

 

[airstream]

Lol right to beat Contador is such a big crime. Oh...Poor Froome. How he dared to be born...

 

[jaylew]

Anyone predicting Froome won't win this is living in dream land.

Sadly, this. Nairo will give it a go at some point and will be given some leeway, but Froome eventually will put the hammer down, drop everyone and chase him down to win the stage.

Purito will drop him but Dan Martin won't.......right.

Makes perfect sense to me. Purito is a better climber than Dan.

 

[Afrank]

is sickening to hear Brailsford & Froome bragging about this stage-even with a weakened team,they appear to be so confident on how they're going to dispose the competition like a bad habit........

I'm not getting that at all from what they've said. They sound more like they're just looking forward to the stage and are confident they can do well.

I'm by no means a Froome/Sky fan, but I don't see anything inherently wrong with what they've said about the Ventoux stage.

 

[jens_attacks]

I'm not getting that at all from what they've said. They sound more like they're just looking forward to the stage and are confident they can do well.

I'm by no means a Froome/Sky fan, but I don't see anything inherently wrong with what they've said about the Ventoux stage.

you didn't see the live interview on eurosport

on brailsford eyes and smirk you could only read: "ventoux...7 w/kg, ventoux 7 w/kg kill them all"