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

[jens_attacks]

.Perhaps what is meant by Europcar having no chance tomorrow because of Movistar revenge is because they will go crazy, thus forcing the GC pace up and so limiting the chances of the break surviving and so Europcar lose out, or that they will have such strong riders in the break that will take the stage win anyway at the expense of Europcar?

no. europcar went at the front too and pushed it very hard. it might have been the final blow to movistar because at one point they made it at around 50 meters to get back. valverde mentioned them and said there will be a payback. there is no reason to doubt his words

 

[Ryaguas]

Nieve won the stage. It was probably Contadors worse of that Giro though because he attacked 7k out on Gardeccia and only put about 10 s into Scarponi.

It was also 1 of only 2 of the 6 mountain stages that he didnt finish in the top 2, though he still finished 3rd.

Yeah was Nieve! that was a back to back from Euskaltel first Anton on Zoncolan then Nieve the next day...

But you have to admit that Contador did superb that day, I was thinking that He was going to crack but He did a great stage.

Will be interesting to see who gets into the break tomorrow
Hopefully we will get another Pereiro situation where the break gets huge time

Would be nice that some GC contenders enter the break and make SKY to suffer a lot hahaha

 

[BigMac]

as was clear from the start quintana was protected just like valverde. now all will work for him. unzue knows he's the future, not valverde

Well.. uh... ye... not exactly. Quintana never was protected like Valverde, he had same or less protection as Rui Costa, which was very little.

Neither Valverde nor Rui Costa, nor Jose Luiz Arrieta said they were going to ride for Nairo, they only made it clear there is still lots of Tour to come, are going for stage wins and plan to take Valverde back in top10.

Unzue said since the begining they would never place leadership on Nairo because it was his first Tour and he had little experience over 3 weeks, so my bet is he will keep the free role and still help Valverde take a stage, or try it himself.

 

[Orbit501]

no. europcar went at the front too and pushed it very hard. it might have been the final blow to movistar because at one point they made it at around 50 meters to get back. valverde mentioned them and said there will be a payback. there is no reason to doubt his words

Ok, fair enough, I didn't hear the AVV interview. I have watched all stages back 'live' though and still don't remember Europcar pushing it hard on that stage, but I'm not saying it didn't happen as I don't have a great memory for things like that.

Ultimate Movistar payback on Europcar would certainly be nicking polka dot off of them like another poster suggested. With AVV himself currently in 6th place in that competition, 30 pts behind Rolland, he could be just the man to do it as he has enough GC rope now to go in breaks, at least to some extent. Also, Quintana could take the jersey by default as well. That would hurt Rolland badly to have to wear plain socks, shoes and shorts again

Personally though I'd prefer Rolland to resist such a plan and be KOM in Paris.

 

[BigMac]

Now that you mention, riding for KOM might be the only way to damage Europcar, apart from just stealing points without wining. I am hoping for a great battle, with Movistar taking the win with either Valverde or Nairo. M'Also making serious voo-doo for both Rolland and Belkin to fail in the Alps.

 

[TheBean]

Hope so. I can't see Froome rolling quietly into second. He'll either blow up or crush everyone.

+1

Predictions:

Quintana has nothing to lose and a stage win would be an enormous achievement for him. Now, he has Valverde at his disposal as a helper, too.

Schleck hasn't done much but hinted he might have surprises. I hope he shows up with the goal of winning the day.

Contador will be aggressive, I wuld think. He might try something from a long was out. What a day that would make it!

Evans will be strong and steady and essentially draw the line between those who rode well and those who survived. I see him surviving well.

I have no idea about the Belkin guys. They could surprise or fade.

Froom will be isolated, and everyone else wil be ready for that this time around. Early attacks by a GC guy would force Sky tochase, leaving the tank empty at the foot of Ventoux.

I look for Chavanel, Voekler, and a bunch of other Frenchmen to attack early in hopes their break survives.

Contador will outkick Quintana for the win, easily. Quintana will be the cause of Froome's suffering. Froome in 3rd - not too far behind - with Valverde and Schleck. The Belkin guys will somehow remain anonymous on the climb and not lose too much time at all.

 

[Alpechraxler]

I repeat myself, Sagan will win. He has a nice pirate beard. He has the engine for 250 k. And he can climb.

 

[Pippo_San]

I can't see how anyone can even barely make Froome suffer tomorrow.
I mean there's no room for ambushes, and Piti, honestly, when was the last time you saw him attacking seriously?

Not to mention Froomey is gonna push 7 W/Kg.
DEAL WITH IT.

 

[Alpechraxler]

piti ? on stage 9 ?

 

[Rajna31]

I'm surprised Purito doesn't get many mentions here. He is a great climber, could be allowed to go because he is not a factor for the GC and tough finishing climbs on single-mountain stages are his speciality. I think this is his best chance to win. Quintana and Andy could do much better from Thursday.

 

[Pippo_San]

And that was a serious attack? More like a half assed attempt from the entire team.

 

[Alpechraxler]

It was a serious attack on the flat. Froome was caught by surprise and he could bridge because there wasn't any wind in the valley. Plaza and Piti are not Team Saxo. But i think it was a real attack.

 

[jmspinto]

Truly, only if Kreuziger and Ten Dam force Froome move, otherwise he will follow and then attack himself just to show who´s in command! And I just expect to be wrong!!

 

[The_Juan]

I can't see how anyone can even barely make Froome suffer tomorrow.
I mean there's no room for ambushes, and Piti, honestly, when was the last time you saw him attacking seriously?

Not to mention Froomey is gonna push 7 W/Kg.
DEAL WITH IT.

If Froome gets isolated before the Ventoux his TdF is over. I really do not see Sky making that mistake this time around.

 

[Ryaguas]

If Froome gets isolated before the Ventoux his TdF is over. I really do not see Sky making that mistake this time around.

Nah that is not going to happen unless there is heavy crosswinds before Ventoux and even with that condition is not likely to happen..

 

[go crazy]

If Froome gets isolated before the Ventoux his TdF is over. I really do not see Sky making that mistake this time around.

What are you talking about? Froome could race 15 Alberto Contador's by himself and still win with ease.

 

[Ryaguas]

What are you talking about? Froome could race 15 Alberto Contador's by himself and still win with ease.

Over confidence is not good

 

[Alpechraxler]

What are you talking about? Froome could race 15 Alberto Contador's by himself and still win with ease.

15 Albertos reminded me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzPq0hDdDhs

 

[BYOP88]

I don't see Froome losing time to Mollema, Contador etc on the climb, based on what we saw last Saturday. The small chance that Froome does lose time is if Sky are attacked from the start of the stage and teams send threats up the road, but that wont happen because some teams will be busy defending 7th/8th etc on GC and will help the Sky train.

The best Mollema, Contador can probably hope for his to finish with Froome or eek out a few seconds from him and hopefully go to work later in the week. So watch tomorrow as Froome blows up and loses several minutes.

 

[go crazy]

I don't see Froome losing time to Mollema, Contador etc on the climb, based on what we saw last Saturday. The small chance that Froome does lose time is if Sky are attacked from the start of the stage and teams send threats up the road, but that wont happen because some teams will be busy defending 7th/8th etc on GC and will help the Sky train.

The best Mollema, Contador can probably hope for his to finish with Froome or eek out a few seconds from him and hopefully go to work later in the week. So watch tomorrow as Froome blows up and loses several minutes.

Do we chalk all of this non-Froome win talk purely to hope? Dawg doesn't get tired, he just goes more alien. It would be the most shocking thing I've seen in cycling in the last decade if he blows up. Slightly less shocked if he loses the stage to one of the other GC guys (unless he "gifts" it, not likely).

 

[happytramp]

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

Maybe last year. Not right now.

 

[happytramp]

Dawg doesn't get tired, he just goes more alien.

Even if he breaks his chain or something he'll just grow a new one back.

 

[hfer07]

No my friends.......... My man Q.U.I.N.T.A.N.A has his eyes & mind set for Alpe d'Huez

This is a "dog fight" between "the dawg" & "El Pistolero"

 

[bridgeman]

Not a dawg fan by any stretch, but also in the 'anyone but Contador' camp. Froome wants to light it up, and is damn well going to.

 

[Christian]

I am really hoping for Quintana to make this an epic one