2014 Tour de France, Stage 5: Ypres – Arenberg Porte du Hainaut: 156km

[willbick]

i think Froomes gonna have a nightmare. surely riding the cobbles with an at best sore wrist will be grim. wouldn't be shocked if he DNF to be honest. could even result in a surprise winner of the tour if its real carnage

 

[manafana]

don't mind gaps from flats bad positioning etc but I don't want see any nasty crashes that rule a guy out of a race completely.

 

[yetiyeti]

How much of an impact does tire selection have on getting flats? Do guys ride higher profile tires for a cobbled stage?

I mountain bike race and flats are part of the game - and some guys flat more frequently than others because they are poorer bike handlers and hit more rocks hard. Other guys flat more than some because they choose lightweight tires that can't take the same punishment. I'm not sure if some of the same applies to road racing on cobbles, as I've never done it.

 

[Steady]

Hayman

What do we think of Matt Hayman tomorrow? No. 8 in Paris-Roubaix

Surely got a chance as Orica is always in on the fun

 

[The Hitch]

Contenders:
*** Cancellara
** Van Marcke, Sagan, Degenkolb, Terpstra, Kristoff
* Demare, Chavanel, Thomas, Boom, Langeveld, Roelandst, Van Avaermet

You expect Canc to do what? Breal away solo on the cobbles. I don't know. In Roubaix, yeah, in TDF stage 5, 140km only and no real hard sections, it is different.

 

[Parker]

What do we think of Matt Hayman tomorrow? No. 8 in Paris-Roubaix

Surely got a chance as Orica is always in on the fun

I like his chances. No GC guy to look after. Lots of experience. I'd like him to do well. Nice guy.

 

[wirral]

Froome and Sky separately confirming he will absolutely be on the start line for stage 5.

 

[Taxus4a]

IMO tomorrow weather will increase differences, but in turn will decrease crashes by bad luck, and the race will be fairer.

It will be the strenggt and ability of every one to managed onto the cobbles,
the problem could be in the first part of the stage: wind, rain and nervious will be really dangerous.
If I am a director I didnt ask my riders to star first the cobbles, just to keep safe till that moment and later try to recover

 

[cineteq]

You expect Canc to do what? Breal away solo on the cobbles. I don't know. In Roubaix, yeah, in TDF stage 5, 140km only and no real hard sections, it is different.

He doesn't stand a chance since the majority of the riders are not cobble specialists #OhWait

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Since Wiggins got a knighthood for winning the Tour, surely Froome deserves a purple heart or whatever the British give to injured heroes.

 

[go crazy]

You expect Canc to do what? Breal away solo on the cobbles. I don't know. In Roubaix, yeah, in TDF stage 5, 140km only and no real hard sections, it is different.

Why are people trying to downplay the cobbles? There are 15K's of pave tomorrow, including the Arenberg. No real hard sections? We'll see. I don't know if Fabian can win the stage, but I can guarantee there IS going to be carnage, and I hope OPQS brings it. I hope Kwiatkowski can make real time, he's not the biggest threat in the big mountains, but if he gets a few minutes, it could spark even more action amongst the big names.

 

[Pippo_San]

I have a good feeling about Kristoff for the win.
We'll see.

 

[Publicus]

Why are people trying to downplay the cobbles? There are 15K's of pave tomorrow, including the Arenberg. No real hard sections? We'll see. I don't know if Fabian can win the stage, but I can guarantee there IS going to be carnage, and I hope OPQS brings it. I hope Kwiatkowski can make real time, he's not the biggest threat in the big mountains, but if he gets a few minutes, it could spark even more action amongst the big names.

Incorrect. Arenberg is NOT part of the course tomorrow. The race stops before entering the forest.

 

[alspacka]

i think Froomes gonna have a nightmare. surely riding the cobbles with an at best sore wrist will be grim. wouldn't be shocked if he DNF to be honest. could even result in a surprise winner of the tour if its real carnage

Agreed. I was backing him to do surprisingly well, but battered and bruised? No chance. Sky are playing his injuries down, but they did that at the dauphine too.
My experience of riding over even remotely bumpy roads with a sprained wrist is telling me otherwise. I'm not a fan but it would be a shame to lose any major GC rider at this point.
He should whack on some suspension, accept the time loss and kill everyone uphill


PS; Panzerwagon's gonna show these classics *** how it's done!

 

[alspacka]

Incorrect. Arenberg is NOT part of the course tomorrow. The race stops before entering the forest.

Mons-en-Pévèle is 5 star though right?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Froome to lose multiple minutes and his chance to win yellow. Van Avermaet ftw.

 

[Publicus]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Froome doesn't lose any time to any GC candidates tomorrow.

 

[Netserk]

Mons-en-Pévèle is 5 star though right?

Not the part they do today.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Predict the unpredictable.

This is of course the epitomy of a stage where you can't win the tour, but you sure can lose it.

 

[thehog]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Froome doesn't lose any time to any GC candidates tomorrow.

Yes. Short stage. 155km.

 

[thehog]

Yes. Short stage. 155km.

Worth watching the GCN preview of the stage. They rode the cobbled sections in the rain. Might readjust my prediction. Will be carnage.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014-tour-de-france-stage-5

 

[The Hegelian]

I have a good feeling about Kristoff for the win.
We'll see.

Ah yeah, Kristoff is a good call - take the sprint from a smallish bunch?

I have a feeling for Van Avermaet too, but he might be taking care of TJ.

 

[blaxland]

This should be an extremely difficult stage for all riders in the TDF.There are lots of variables to this stage,hopefully Langevelde or hayman can get a lucky win.But realistically Cancellara,Boonen and Van marck are all favourites.What im looking forward to most is seeing which of the gc favourites loose time and which dont?my money is on Froome loosing bigtime"

 

[Lance Armstrong]

I think expectations of this stage are bit too high. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up as a bunch sprint of 40 people. But hopefully I am wrong, I took half-day off in my work to see the stage

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ah yeah, Kristoff is a good call - take the sprint from a smallish bunch?

I have a feeling for Van Avermaet too, but he might be taking care of TJ.

The team has said GVA has been given free reign and the remaining team members will support TJVG