2014 Tour de France July 18, Stage 13: Saint-Étienne - Chamrousse 197.5km

[karlboss]

Movistar, BMC, ALM and Lampre all looking to get in the early break

 

[Kragbaek]

I think we'll see a strong break with 7-9 riders who are out of the GC.

B. Feillu, König, Majka and Navarro are some of my favorites Oh, and JRod...

 

[ILovecycling]

Kittel falls
First small break up the road.

 

[karlboss]

Kittel falls
First small break up the road.

I don't think Katusha will let Kadri up the road.

 

[ILovecycling]

Situation:

Visconti, Durasek, Oss, De Marchi, Kadri

B.Feillu y Huzarski a 10"

Pelotón a 25"

Un grupo con Demare o Greipel entre otros queda descolgado.

Demare and Greipel dropped.

 

[ILovecycling]

I don't think Katusha will let Kadri up the road.

Hard to say,there are plenty of riders who aim KOM,they cant control everyone.Thats why they want put Smukulis out there.De Marchi is dangerous too.

 

[karlboss]

well that's it, no serious GC action today folks, opportunity gone.

EDIT: Except MTF

 

[classicomano]

Katusha gonna keep this on a leash. Rodriguez to rocket op de first cat climb.

 

[ILovecycling]

Molard and Bakelants chasing...Im not sure imo this stage is too hard for Ian.

fall of vdb2

 

[ILovecycling]

well that's it, no serious GC action today folks, opportunity gone.

EDIT: Except MTF

Only 55 secs tho.Depends if somebody is chasing
edit: 1'40 now,break clear

 

[Carstenbf]

well that's it, no serious GC action today folks, opportunity gone.

EDIT: Except MTF

You expected GC attacks on a cat 3 with 100k of flat after?

Palaquit looks promising as a launch pad imo.

 

[BeagRigh]

Visconti could be useful to Valverde later on but that would assume Valverde will attack before the last 500m which seems unlikely....

 

[ILovecycling]

Yeah,depends on tactics.If Visconti is allowed for stage win,he is the hot favourite imo,but Valverde attack would be fun tho

 

[karlboss]

You expected GC attacks on a cat 3 with 100k of flat after?

Palaquit looks promising as a launch pad imo.

Hoping. I knew it wasn't steep enough.

You're wrong though. The flat is the advantage, the flat is where a break of 20 has the advantage over a team of 8. This advantage is lost uphill as its more or less man against man. Wait for the Cat 1? Astana will run a train and Nibali will hide behind team mates and in all likelihood the team will catch you before Nibali even needs to attack. There are...now were 2 opportunities here. 1 was to get a break of 15 or more away from the Peloton without Nibali, and probably Fuglsang, and the second was to get a larger group away 40 or so even if Nibali and friends are in it. Attack and counter attack on the flat, again counting on the fact that they can't counter every attack from 30 odd guys with their 4-5 and eventually crack.

In my opinion those were the risks, and they are now gone. Now everyone is backing that one on one they can't out climb Nibali

 

[Eclipse]

Molard and Bakelants successfully bridged across. Really hoping for Jan to have a couple of good days before this is over.

 

[liamito]

is katusha riding? still only 3 minutes

 

[l.Harm]

Yep

 

[Miburo]

Yep

I don't get it, purito really thinks he can follow nibali and the other riders? i doubt it but we'll see.

 

[jens_attacks]

purito show!!!!!!

 

[ILovecycling]

I don't get it, purito really thinks he can follow nibali and the other riders? i doubt it but we'll see.

I think he can (or at least do top5)

 

[Eclipse]

I don't get it, purito really thinks he can follow nibali and the other riders? i doubt it but we'll see.

Probably just wants to get it back together and go for points on the first cat? If a decent group attacks on that maybe they can stick it out to the finish too

 

[classicomano]

Rodriguez said himself he will go into an early breakway if its a big one, if not he will control and then unleash on the first cat climb. Then rocket to the finish to get his stage win.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Definitely due to the amount of mountain points.

JRod is going for Polkadot.

Edit: I mean, JRod is calculating his chances for points at the last climb being sparse, hence going for max points at Col de Palaquit.

 

[Akuryo]

Damn, Jan has no luck this Tour. First time he really gets into a break and then Katusha is pushing behind.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think todays stage won't be that interesting. If you want to make a difference today, you'll have to attack on Palaquit or in the first km's of Chamrousse, but that's not gonna happen.

Valverde will probably sprint to victory.