2014 Tour de France, Stage 16: Carcassonne–Bagnères-de-Luchon (237.5 Km)

[Zam_Olyas]

Since the paving of its southern slope in 2007 it has already been included 3 times in the tour (2007, 2010, 2012).

Not to be a smart a$$ or anything, wasn't it 2006?

 

[Ryongsyong]

Sagan from the break! Stunning them on the downhill!

And then somehow managing to finish in a glorious second place!

 

[greenedge]

After Porte's abysmal ride (not his fault) I've emerged again and my jingoism leads me to pick one of Gerrans, Clarke or Rogers

If not Bardet- to descend like crazy and get me my fantasy game points.

 

[SKSemtex]

I will put 10E on Spilak and 30E Rogers this stage.

 

[murali]

Sagan from the break! Stunning them on the downhill!

the HC climb will be too much for Sagan. even if he tries to keep pace, the stronger riders in the break will ride hard to dislodge him.

only chance for Sagan is a break without climbers. but then such a break wont survive the climb.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Descent

Part 1
Part 2

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Don't think Pinot will sleep too good tonight.

It will be very interesting to see when he will be put under pressure on the descent.

 

[tomorrow]

the HC climb will be too much for Sagan. even if he tries to keep pace, the stronger riders in the break will ride hard to dislodge him.

only chance for Sagan is a break without climbers. but then such a break wont survive the climb.

the thing is that sagan doesn't necessarily need to be first on top, with his weight and the fast speed downhill he would have big advantage on the climbers, and there are some corners, but that won't have big influence I guess. Same when Phinney won stage this year on ToC. He was barely pedaling and the others could catch him no matter what cadence they pedalled. With his "no fear" attitude, gap under 1 minute could be doable. So the question would be, if the break companions could make more time on him. He will definately not try to go with the best, but will pace himself instead, so burning him will probably not be their option and they might end up burning themselves once sagan is dropped. Of course, all will depend who's in the break and if he's there too.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Anybody who believes in Porte today?
He's certainly paying well at the bookies, and with his yo-yo performances you never know? Or is he just Shi-te this year?

The latter. His lofty goal is to reach Paris...

 

[Ryongsyong]

the thing is that sagan doesn't necessarily need to be first on top, with his weight and the fast speed downhill he would have big advantage on the climbers, and there are some corners, but that won't have big influence I guess. Same when Phinney won stage this year on ToC. He was barely pedaling and the others could catch him no matter what cadence they pedalled. With his "no fear" attitude, gap under 1 minute could be doable. So the question would be, if the break companions could make more time on him. He will definately not try to go with the best, but will pace himself instead, so burning him will probably not be their option and they might end up burning themselves once sagan is dropped. Of course, all will depend who's in the break and if he's there too.

It's more of a slipstream descent than a make-up-time descent.

 

[SafeBet]

Sagan can take back one minute even if it's not technical at all.
I say this is the stage he wins.

 

[l.Harm]

Kwiatkowski tried to attack, but didn't succeed. Would've liked to see the start of this stage.

 

[jens_attacks]

majkaaaaaa! _O_

 

[jens_attacks]

i feel tinkov team is in awesome shape for this

and now i remember again what if....

 

[Anderis]

Garmin need to put Ben King in the break finally. He is putting in respectable performances, but what's the point of hanging onto 30th place for another time?

 

[Miburo]

Sagan can take back one minute even if it's not technical at all.
I say this is the stage he wins.

wowowow, how will sagan ever be only 1 minute behind?

 

[Miburo]

i feel tinkov team is in awesome shape for this

and now i remember again what if....

Don't forget that they're also missing jesus and kreuziger

 

[Netserk]

i feel tinkov team is in awesome shape for this

and now i remember again what if....

So you're saying that their jersey is actually like the Footon-Servetto one, but when they pull it on, they glow right through it?

 

[Netserk]

Mick in the break! We have our winner.

 

[MBotero]

This man should strike today and finally break Nibali:

 

[SafeBet]

Mick in the break! We have our winner.

Full list plese.

 

[The Barb]

Mick in the break! We have our winner.

18 seconds ... relax peloton, let them go let them go ...

 

[Netserk]

Full list plese.

Rogers (Tinkoff), Roy (FDJ), Reza (Europcar), Albasini (Orica) and Delaplace (Bretagne) on the move since km 28 but the peloton reacts

 

[SafeBet]

Rogers (Tinkoff), Roy (FDJ), Reza (Europcar), Albasini (Orica) and Delaplace (Bretagne) on the move since km 28 but the peloton reacts

Pathetic break. At least 10 teams should chase.

 

[l.Harm]

10 seconds only left. They will get caught.