2013 Tour de France, stage 18: Gap - Alpe-d'Huez, 172.5km

[Ryo Hazuki]

btw Quintana told ES, that he feels very fatigued, expects to lose time today and hopes pace isnt too high.

everyone is fatigued I'm sure quintana has the best recuperation of all the riders in this tour, he also prooved that in vuelta

 

[search]

Bookies stand to lose a lot of money if he makes podium. No problem if he finishes 4th

Favorites not winning is always very good for the bookies, as that's where the money goes to. Things like Tejay to win white, Voeckler winning the mountain classification, Team Sky team classification and so on

 

[Pippo_San]

This is gonna be the end of Vomistar and RaboBlancoBelkinFail hopes.

 

[kriisp]

Riis has just told a journalist that Saxo will attack from km 0.

 

[Ruby United]

And off they go!!

 

[maltiv]

everyone is fatigued I'm sure quintana has the best recuperation of all the riders in this tour, he also prooved that in vuelta

It's easier to recuperate when you're not fighting for GC.

 

[Liquigas]

Riis has just told a journalist that Saxo will attack from km 0.

With Roche? Hernandez? Nobody (Sky) will care, they are crap.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It's easier to recuperate when you're not fighting for GC.

all his opponents are also fighting for gc and those climbing well obviously suffer less and recuperate better in general

 

[hoerpi]

got myself a serious setup, golf on small laptop, cycling on main laptop cricket on the box.

Awesome setup! Myself, I'm recording the cycling to watch at home after work and follow the cricket by live scoring. This is a graet sports day.

 

[maltiv]

Nordhaug saying that Belkin will be happy to defend their positions and won't attack. Surprise surprise.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

With Roche? Hernandez? Nobody (Sky) will care, they are crap.

rogers, they will send them in front and contador attacks on first alpe and dwescend it will be hell for sky

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Nordhaug saying that Belkin will be happy to defend their positions and won't attack. Surprise surprise.

can't believe people in netherlan ds are fan of them. still they will suck horribly though and good riddance to them

 

[Finn84]

Hoogerland among those who were first to attack. Anyone surprised?

 

[Netserk]

Sky and Saxo with a man

 

[sometriguy]

Sky and Saxo with a man

According to NBC, Saxo's man is there for the team competition

 

[Netserk]

Hoogerland is very active

 

[The Hitch]

Pescheux talking some sense "Twice up Alpe d huez, yeah, but twice up Alpe d huez isnt any harder than say Glandon and Madeline".

 

[Frosty]

According to NBC, Saxo's man is there for the team competition

Could be. Radioshack are only a minute behind and will be looking to get man/men in the break. The again, Saxobank might want a man in the break to help later on if it breaks up (although with Contador, Kreuziger, Rogers, Roche they should be ok).

If it takes some time for the break to get established on the 2nd cat then we could see a few guys getting dropped and having a long chase to try and catch on. Might not be steep/long enough for a proper autobus to start forming.

 

[Ruby United]

Pescheux talking some sense "Twice up Alpe d huez, yeah, but twice up Alpe d huez isnt any harder than say Glandon and Madeline".

Agree. 2011 stage to Galibier was 3 times harder than today's stage. In the 1900's to 1940's stages were 400km long.

 

[Netserk]

Rogers with the move?

 

[Ruby United]

Could be. Radioshack are only a minute behind and will be looking to get man/men in the break. The again, Saxobank might want a man in the break to help later on if it breaks up (although with Contador, Kreuziger, Rogers, Roche they should be ok).

Maybe an Andy Schleck Galibier attack by Conta/Roman where Monfort and someone else got into breakaway to help schleck when he attacked?

 

[Miburo]

Rogers with the move?

It's hernandez

 

[Netserk]

I was talking about the move before

 

[Miburo]

I was talking about the move before

timing of your post made me think otherwise

 

[sometriguy]

Pescheux talking some sense "Twice up Alpe d huez, yeah, but twice up Alpe d huez isnt any harder than say Glandon and Madeline".

I've been thinking the same thing since the start, granted it is a spectacle, but it is no harder than any other alpe stage