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

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think Evans meant "taking a break" not "going in the break."

 

[Sasquatch]

Evans has said that he will be going into the break either today or tomorrow. The most logical day would be tomorrow, but who knows what he will do.

If the break have a decent gap after the first ascent, knowing the GC guys will take it easy down the descent, if he has the legs, he could very well win as he'll gain an advantage on that descent.

I don't think he has the legs and should wait for tomorrow's stage.

 

[dgodave]

...Unless ofcourse - he has saved something special and just goes beyond the "full ***" that you folks have been calling his MTF performances the past weeks. ...

Wait.... whats BEYOND full ***??? *** and a half?

 

[ThirdWorld]

"Vai lá, vai lá, vai lá!
Vai lá de coração!
Vamos Contador!
Vamos Contador!
Vamos ser campeão!"

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am expecting Rodriguez to do a good ride tonight and through the Alps. He looks like he is improving as the race progresses.

 

[Koba80]

Have Sky/Froome actually come out and said anything about cancellation preferences, or is it the normal CN forum idiocy of deciding they don't want it to be the full stage and quoting it as fact?

As an aside, as much as the team is unlikeable as hell, I'd cream for some sort of Amador/Quintana move...

 

[Afrank]

Have Sky/Froome actually come out and said anything about cancellation preferences, or is it the normal CN forum idiocy of deciding they don't want it to be the full stage and quoting it as fact?

As an aside, as much as the team is unlikeable as hell, I'd cream for some sort of Amador/Quintana move...

“It’s a dangerous descent, if it’s raining it will be even more dangerous,” said Froome. “It would be sad not to do Alpe d’Huez twice as it is something special, but safety comes first. If it rains I hope the organisers will take the decision to have the finish on top the first time.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/oth...lls-for-early-finish-to-alpe-d-huez-1.1466581

 

[Pezrider]

How is Brice Feillu going? Is he a chance in a break? Hasn't done much and he won a mountain stage a few years ago.

Cheers
Pezdog

 

[rainman]

Andy to lead down Sarenne, descent neutralised.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Andy to lead down Sarenne, descent neutralised.

But Paul Sherwen said Andy was 'not bad' at descending?

 

[Blakeslee]

I feel somewhat the same way about racing the descent in the rain as I do about crashes in the closing kilometers of sprint stages. The riders need to take responsibility for themselves. If it is raining and riders try to be overly aggressive on the descent, someone could end up getting seriously hurt. It's going to be up to the riders to reign things in a bit and keep it safe.

 

[airstream]

Have Sky/Froome actually come out and said anything about cancellation preferences, or is it the normal CN forum idiocy of deciding they don't want it to be the full stage and quoting it as fact?

As an aside, as much as the team is unlikeable as hell, I'd cream for some sort of Amador/Quintana move...

Absolutely. These guys are eager to put into Froome's and Brailford's any words to bash and criticize. They cook up themselves to bash it then.

 

[washoezephyr1]

Hope the weather holds, and they run the full course. I'd hate to see something like the 2011 Giro, Zoncolon stage where they cancelled the Monte Crostis climb and basically the Zoncolon was a sprint, vs. a Death March. Both laps up Alpe and we get some separation. Even if Froome wins by five minutes it will be more exciting to see the full course, even if the Serene consolidates any gaps from the first trip up the Alpe. That whole community around the Crostis worked all spring to make it passable and the fact that rider support was only to be on motor bikes influenced the deletion. The protest caused a mid-ride route change so that the townsfolk didn't pepper the team cars for the deletion. Bad decision in my book.

 

[murali]

when do they have to decide whether the second climb has to be cancelled?

Any idea about the climate in alp d' huez?

I just hope that they allow two climbs up the mountain. they can probably stop clock up the climb, and then restart again from the base of the climb.

 

[xrayvision]

Race Radio ‏@TheRaceRadio 1h
No rain here on Alp d'Huez. Lots of lighting and thunder last night but supposed to not rain till the afternoon


I doubt that.

http://www.worldweatheronline.com/v2/weather.aspx?q=AHZ

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/L'Alpe-d'Huez+France+FRXX0230

 

[lemoogle]

What are the race start/air times today? as well as the estimated finish? I'm going to be travelling and I don't want to miss it !!!

 

[spalco]

Col de Sarenne - extended descent http://vimeo.com/70139351

If the weather forecast stands, and it’s raining, this could end up in a real bloodbath...

I think the lower parts might actually be more dangerous in heavy rain. Everyone, even the desperate daredevil types will be careful at the top where the road is narrow and the surface questionable, but in the second half it's full speed ahead.

I do hope they ride the full course though, even with rain. Would be a big disappointment if they don't.

 

[SafeBet]

What have Riis and Contador said about this descent? Doesn't look safer than Crostis 2011.

 

[theovaf]

so Froome's afraid of attacks on the 1st ascent. he doesn't want to chase on the descent. he is terified of the thought that he may loose this. well that's the pressure he has to cope with.
if it's dangerous, then it's dangerous for everyone. fighting the elements is part of the sport

 

[thrawn]

But Paul Sherwen said Andy was 'not bad' at descending?

He isn't, compared to Frank

 

[Bobito]

so Froome's afraid of attacks on the 1st ascent. he doesn't want to chase on the descent. he is terified of the thought that he may loose this. well that's the pressure he has to cope with.
if it's dangerous, then it's dangerous for everyone. fighting the elements is part of the sport

Don't go up what you can't come down.

I like the idea that the race is not completely determined by who goes up the biggest mountains fastest.

 

[Aguirre]

if I'm not mistaken they did the col de sarenne at dauphine, with rain.

then? where is the problem?

 

[janraaskalt]

if I'm not mistaken they did the col de sarenne at dauphine, with rain.

then? where is the problem?

They did it earlier in the race, not in the final hour. I don't think it was raining.

However, I'm more afraid we won't see anything because of the fog.

 

[Lupetto]

Evans has said that he will be going into the break either today or tomorrow. The most logical day would be tomorrow, but who knows what he will do.

His career is over, so nobody cares if today or tomorrow.

 

[Cimber]

Chicken: Its to early to say if the descent is to dangerous. If 3 riders go over the side I guess its to dangerous. Time will tell.

lol