2013 Tour de France, Stage 3: Ajaccio - Calvi 146 Km

[Bushman]

Well, if a Sagan's fanboy says so...

Please do yourself a favour and go watch the stage again before commenting further on it. Sagan was near the front of the group on the climb and he was on the front and closed a gap himself right after the descent when he did not have any teammates there.

 

[Gugashwill]

Please do yourself a favour and go watch the stage again before commenting further on it. Sagan was near the front of the group on the climb and he was on the front and closed a gap himself right after the descent when he did not have any teammates there.

Closed the gap?! You should rewatch the stage.
Lets wait and see how it pans out tomorrow.
If he comes at the top on the front, I'll admit I've made a mistake.

 

[Bushman]

Closed the gap?! You should rewatch the stage.
Lets wait and see how it pans out tomorrow.
If he comes at the top on the front, I'll admit I've made a mistake.

Not the gap to the group with bakelants of course. Before that there was a group of ~10 riders who got a gap to the peloton and sagan was in that small group.

 

[manafana]

yellow to change hands again, its pretty likely.

 

[Gugashwill]

Not the gap to the group with bakelants of course. Before that there was a group of ~10 riders who got a gap to the peloton and sagan was in that small group.

So he was gapped?

 

[Swede1]

I think if sagan wants to win he will have to follow attacks on the last climb because cannondale wont be able to bring back attackers after the last climb. I think a small group will go away on the last climb and win the stage. I dont think many sprinters will be left, so not many teams will have an incentive to chase back breaks.

 

[Roderick]

yellow to change hands again, its pretty likely.

And why is that?

 

[the sceptic]

yellow to change hands again, its pretty likely.

EBH has a big opportunity to get yellow in the next couple of days

 

[Ryaguas]

@Netserk
Where was he in the Amstel?
Where was he today

You're just a immature hater and cynic.

 

[Shardi]

Got to love the refreshing forum winds of July..

Apart from that - my money is on a small, select group staying away over the cat 2 climb.
Another thing to consider is: Would taking over the lead on stage 3 to start last in the TTT be worth spending energy on? Given that its only for start position, not creating a significant time gap to the closest rival, think froome vs contador.

 

[gjb483]

It's safe to say that these forums will be a little more interesting for the next three weeks.

 

[manafana]

And why is that?

nasty climb at end may well crack backlants , and that would result in a new leader, or a break away or a late attack, theirs only a second in it.

 

[Kingsley A]

That profile screams breakaway or classics specialist. Sagan could be a contender but Cannodale are looking week as a support team. Twelve months ago I would have fancied Gilbert but his season has been horrible, curse of the rainbow jersey. I reckon Chavenel will have another go as will several riders from Europecar, Sojasun and Vaconsoleil. Garmin will look to minimise time loses with a view to putting Millar in yellow after the TTT.

A day that should have little effect in any of the main competitions but looks set to provide entertaining racing.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Chavanel ftw

 

[hfer07]

Quintana's been surprisingly good so far, I'm very curious what he'll be capable of tomorrow.

Keep your curiosity for the real mountains- those bumps ain't going to tempt my man Quintana to do his thing

 

[hfer07]

About this stage - I hope & pray a breakaway will make to the end - If Sagan is hungry to win it-then He must either join the escapades or do some serious attack before the finish line.....

 

[hughmoore]

Simon Gerrans FTW!

Hugh

 

[Ryaguas]

mmmm I have a feeling that Bala will try something...

 

[Telmisartan]

Gilbert must get his win soon.I hope he shines.Old fashioned solo attack ftw.

 

[boringboy]

I think Gilbert will take this one

 

[Carols]

Tommy V.

 

[blaxland]

Albasini and Gerrans have this stage as a target during the tour.But i think Sagan will hang on for this today?

 

[Tigerion]

Got to love the refreshing forum winds of July..

Apart from that - my money is on a small, select group staying away over the cat 2 climb.
Another thing to consider is: Would taking over the lead on stage 3 to start last in the TTT be worth spending energy on? Given that its only for start position, not creating a significant time gap to the closest rival, think froome vs contador.

Does TTT follow GC or team ranking order?
Really to get the benefit you only need to be ahead of of your rival. I don't think sky are going to be too concerned that RST come after them. So Froome has the advantage over Contedor with EBH sitting in 5th. So best result for Sky is probably a small group bunch finish with EBH winning but Bakelandts holding yellow. Although if that's the result the next holder of the yellow will be which team wins the TTT anyway so probably not much poitn worrying about it.

 

[rata de sentina]

Having tested his legs out yesterday Froome will ignore team instructions again and go full **tard from the bottom of the final climb, time trialling over the top and down to the finish with Porte and taking 5 min out of the rest by the finish. Tour over.

 

[Ryaguas]

Having tested his legs out yesterday Froome will ignore team instructions again and go full **tard from the bottom of the final climb, time trialling over the top and down to the finish with Porte and taking 5 min out of the rest by the finish. Tour over.

That would be really funny!