2014 Tour de France, Stage 12: Bourg-en-Bresse–Saint-Etienne (185.5 Km)

[Alcanelo]

Roche or Sagan

 

[shalgo]

Cavendish for the win.

That was written before the start of the Tour.

 

[LosBrolin]

Degenkolb said at the interview that his injuries are getting better day by day and that current shape is not bad at all. Maybe a bunchsprint victory for him tomorrow?

 

[pastronef]

Navardauskas. oh it would be nice

 

[VeloHuman]

Stage 12 isn't nearly as conducive to late attacks as Stage 11 was, but Sagan will probably have to square off against Degenkolb now. Not going to be easy.

 

[Tank Engine]

Degenkolb said at the interview that his injuries are getting better day by day and that current shape is not bad at all. Maybe a bunchsprint victory for him tomorrow?

Sagan is seeing red, so Cannondale will work for a reduced bunch sprint. Kittel won't be there. Greipel might, but after today, Degenkolb looks a good bet

 

[gunara]

Sagan's best chance is probably through a slightly reduced bunch sprint after all, his chance of beating Degenkolb and Kristoff is not getting bigger, but their trains may be his only hope with everything else going against him

 

[dduff442]

Sagan is seeing red, so Cannondale will work for a reduced bunch sprint. Kittel won't be there. Greipel might, but after today, Degenkolb looks a good bet

Sagan and Cannondale are both repeatedly getting suckered. They need to show some nerve and force other teams to work some. That means riding down any breaks with dangerous riders, especially OGE, Tinkoff (now Contador's gone) and Garmin and doing very little else. Other teams need stage wins just as badly as Cannondale who have repeatedly shown they're not strong enough to control a stage.

 

[Jancouver]

Sagan, OBVIOUSLY.

I agree, TOP 10 should be doable for Sagan

 

[Flamin]

Kristoff FTW.

 

[Jagartrott]

I can see Greipel surviving these hills - Kittel, probably not, but not impossible.

 

[thrawn]

Sagan. To come top 5

 

[yespatterns]

I could see Sep doing okay on this type of profile as well.

 

[manafana]

looking at degenkolb today he lookd back to his best in a sprint for me he has the beating of Sagan, and trentin keeps impressing too.

 

[paperboyNC]

Degenkolb looked great yesterday, too bad he couldn't take it all, would have been a very profitable day for me!

He is probably among the favorites to take it here, but I like Greipel and hope can get another stage win.

Anyone aware of Kristoff's status? Has he got rid of his stomach troubles?

 

[blaxland]

Everyone is bangin on about Sagan for the win,and whilst i agree he should be favourite.what about simon gerrans, greenedge have not won anything this TDF so far?There whole Tour was based on stage wins?

 

[Sciocco]

Everyone is bangin on about Sagan for the win,and whilst i agree he should be favourite.what about simon gerrans, greenedge have not won anything this TDF so far?There whole Tour was based on stage wins?

Doesn't help Gerrans has taken out twice in this TdF. He might not be 100%, otherwise Orica has been underwhelming, forgot they existed.

 

[qwerty16]

Doesn't help Gerrans has taken out twice in this TdF. He might not be 100%, otherwise Orica has been underwhelming, forgot they existed.

Losing Matthews even before the start didn't exactly help their chances either.

 

[willbick]

not sure a boiling hot day in south france is Kristoff's cup of tea

 

[Pippo_San]

Just make it Sagan's day FFS.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Almost identical to today, with probably similar results.

:facepalm: absolutelu NOTHING identical to stage 11

 

[veji11]

:facepalm: absolutelu NOTHING identical to stage 11

Indeed, this is route profile tinkering ! Today's stage is really flattish. the two "climbs" before arrival are long "faux plats" at 3%... Yesterday's stage was more akin to Sheffield's stage than todays !

 

[MartinGT]

Griepel please

 

[Eclipse]

Indeed, this is route profile tinkering ! Today's stage is really flattish. the two "climbs" before arrival are long "faux plats" at 3%... Yesterday's stage was more akin to Sheffield's stage than todays !

Yarp, lots of people getting misled by the visual representation imo.

We'll have a lot of the stronger sprinters present if it's not won by a break today.

Greipel's my pick too.

 

[Boardslide]

Talanksky will not start today

@daniellloyd1: After his heroic ride yesterday, Talansky will not start today's stage, preferring to go home and recover from his injuries.