2014 Tour De France stage 1: Leeds › Harrogate (190.5km)

[murali]

Cav was pretty much ****ed off for not being able to win the first stage in Corsica. That stage was made for sprinters to get a chance to wear the Yellow jersey. He had also said that the stage in UK is not suited for him.

Having said that, i still feel that Cav and OPQS will take this stage.OPQS might change their recent tactic of easing off with 3 k to go and returning to the front. Cav wont like to be part of a crash.

I want Cav to win.

But the winner will be decided by who manages to avoid crash. I just pray that no one gets hurt.

 

[42x16ss]

Haussler

Ok, I'll really go with Greipel

 

[melkemugg]

Would be perfect for a Boasson Hagen in good shape.
Oh well.

 

[BeagRigh]

Vote for Greipel from me too.

I think Kittel will make it over the hills in the bunch but they'll take the edge of his sprint. Too much pressure on Cav - think he or OPQS will blow it.

Obviously stage 2 is much more interesting!

 

[Arredondo]

I will go for Greipel this time. Finish is quite difficult and lumpy, so don't expect a classic big sprint between the big guys.

1. Greipel
2. Cav
3. Sagan

 

[Akuryo]

Cav will take this. He gets better over hills than Kittel. It will be just a margin, but between these two that is all that he needs. And his train is just incredible with Martin > Trentin > Petacchi > Renshaw. If they are at the front with 2 or 3 Kilometers to go there is no way of stopping them. I just fear they will f*** it up again to be at the front at that time.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Cav will take this. He gets better over hills than Kittel. It will be just a margin, but between these two that is all that he needs. And his train is just incredible with Martin > Trentin > Petacchi > Renshaw. If they are at the front with 2 or 3 Kilometers to go there is no way of stopping them. I just fear they will f*** it up again to be at the front at that time.

At least this year they have Renshaw who is worth his weight in gold in these close situations. Hopefully the rest of the train can do their work and leave Petacchi, Renshaw and Cav in the clear inside the final k.

 

[MBotero]

I really hope Greipel will win this one because i'm tired of that QPQS train.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Cav will take this. He gets better over hills than Kittel. It will be just a margin, but between these two that is all that he needs. And his train is just incredible with Martin > Trentin > Petacchi > Renshaw. If they are at the front with 2 or 3 Kilometers to go there is no way of stopping them. I just fear they will f*** it up again to be at the front at that time.

Do you realize there is 600m at 6% with 1,5km to go? There will be no trains, just chaos. When punchers launch their attacks Petacchi and Renshaw will have a hard time trying to follow their wheels.

 

[Anderis]

Do you realize there is 600m at 6% with 1,5km to go? There will be no trains, just chaos.

And crashes, I'm afraid.

That bumpy section is likely to create some splits, so all GC contenders will want to be at the front. So will be puncheurs trying some attacks and sprinters hoping to win. First day of the Tour, everybody with a lot of energy and adrenaline. I fear. I only hope none of GC contenders is seriously hampered by any crash.

 

[kingjr]

Degenkolb, Demare, Greipel would be my favourites for that sort of finish. And Cavendish, I don't think the finish favours him, but he'll be hugely motivated.

 

[thrawn]

Hoping for someone like Cancellara to take a flyer in the final km.

 

[BeagRigh]

Also worth noting the position of team cars is based on GC, so the GC teams are likely to want someone (not necessarily their leader) high up in the placings prior to Stage 5.

Possibly more likely to affect stage 2 but could add an extra tactic consideration (plus more carnage) to the stages 1, 3, and 4 too.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Check this out:-

http://blog.veloviewer.com/the-climbs-and-finish-of-stage-1-of-the-2014-tour-de-france/

All the profiles of stage one plus flyover

Will be on the finish line on Saturday !!

Got some cash on Cav to win - 3:1 looks like great odds !

Hope I am not disappointed as I was last year in Corsica !

Neat !

 

[dan_mcloughlin]

I quite liked Degenkolb at 27/1

My thinking is that Cannondale (and possibly OGE) will push it on for Sagan (Michael Matthews) and Kittel, Greipel and Cav will fall out the back.

This leaves Degenkolb to sit on cause he is waiting for Kittel to come back and Giant will leave OPQS and Lotto to do the chasing cause they have Degenkolb up there. Degenkolb beats Sagan in the sprint and I'm laughing all the way to the bank

That's how it all works out in my head anyway

 

[Ferminal]

Do you realize there is 600m at 6% with 1,5km to go? There will be no trains, just chaos. When punchers launch their attacks Petacchi and Renshaw will have a hard time trying to follow their wheels.

600m @ 6% is pretty pathetic when you hit it at 60kmh. 2 and a half good leadout men can cover it, whether or not you have the gas to carry it into the final false flat is another matter. Plus if they can't get back up to speed it opens the door for those who are good sprinters but don't have the top speed such as Cancellara and Gerrans (not that they can beat an unweakened Cav/Greipel/Kittel). Teams should think about reshuffling their trains as final men like Henderson and Renshaw will probably not survive with enough to have any real impact. You will need them as well as uphill into the wind you're going to want to open up at the last possible moment.

 

[Netserk]

Do you realize there is 600m at 6% with 1,5km to go? There will be no trains, just chaos. When punchers launch their attacks Petacchi and Renshaw will have a hard time trying to follow their wheels.

Lol, Ale Jet will be faster than most puncheurs on that bit.

 

[Ferminal]

Think it has a lot in common with Greipel's classic win in Algarve.

 

[VeloHuman]

Think it has a lot in common with Greipel's classic win in Algarve.

Greipel's climbing ability is underrated. Will be interesting to see how he goes against Tour de France competition; he's been racking up wins lately but mostly in Continental-level races.

 

[wirral]

Renshaw = Cav's bodyguard

OPQS and everyone else out the way.

 

[yespatterns]

I'm a little surprised that didn't end in fisticuffs.

 

[Pulpstar]

Apparently Garmin Sharp and OPQS have just done a sneaky ride outside my office, and noone told me D:

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Greipel's climbing ability is underrated. Will be interesting to see how he goes against Tour de France competition; he's been racking up wins lately but mostly in Continental-level races.

I would say over-rated.

People think he's much better than he is because he does ostentatious riding on the front in races he can't win.

When it counts, like Cap Frehal and MSR, he dropped before Cavendish.

Anyway, they will all make this finish fine, crashes aside.

 

[hfer07]

Flashback to 08

Perhaps...?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDPVFX2vvKY

 

[Jancouver]

Hoping for someone like Cancellara to take a flyer in the final km.

It may happen. Obviously those like Sagn, Degenkolb, Gerrans and few others would be on his wheel just to enjoy his "leadout" skills.