2014 Tour of California May 11-18

[Parrulo]

Today it's his day

In all seriousness, hot weather is cool for him since he is using to riding in Portugal but he always struggled at higher altitudes. So i think he will be up there in the top 10/5 but i don't think he will win

 

[Hugo87]

He doesn't win a stage since 2010-04-07, so it's about time to take one.

Don't think he will be able to do it today, but would be great for his motivation and for the GC in Cali.

 

[roundabout]

Stage 6. Last call for Sir Wiggo's competitors.

There will not be team mates at Wiggo's disposal when we hit the base of the last climb.

Hot like hell as well presumable.

The Thousand Oaks "criterium" ended up being surprisingly good in 2010.

But you are right, this is probably the last realistic chance

 

[ILovecycling]

Estimated time when they will start climbing the last climb?

 

[christopherrowe]

There's something in the air today, I just feel it.

With Nacer Bouhanni winning in Foligno and Europcar's Bryan Coquard taking the day in Estrées-Saint-Denis it's clearly a day for the French.

So, today, atop "Montagne Haute," I predict today's winner, out of a miraculously successful break, will be... young Clément Chevrier of the Bissell Development Team! Vive la France!

 

[Astana1]

The Thousand Oaks "criterium" ended up being surprisingly good in 2010.

But you are right, this is probably the last realistic chance

Wasn't that the stage where Zabriskie, Rogers and Leipheimer duked it out? If I remember correctly, Ryder won from a small group ahead of them. That race was great.

 

[red_flanders]

Long climb, but avg. grade is 5%. Freddie Rodriguez is in second on the Strava KOM.

Wiggins will be dictating affairs again. No way he loses the lead today unless he just doesn't care, which I'll grant as a possibility.

http://www.strava.com/segments/1562751

 

[Netserk]

The last 2.3km is 8.3%

edit: I see they go higher up than the strava climb. So more like 4.7km @ 7.2%

 

[red_flanders]

The last 2.3km is 8.3%

edit: I see they go higher up than the strava climb. So more like 4.7km @ 7.2%

Cool, thanks for that update. Where did you find it? The ToC site was fairly crap or I just missed it.

 

[roundabout]

Wasn't that the stage where Zabriskie, Rogers and Leipheimer duked it out? If I remember correctly, Ryder won from a small group ahead of them. That race was great.

That's the one. I hope for some action this year as well.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

That's the one. I hope for some action this year as well.

are they going here http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/MULHOLLAND-HWY-CLIMB

 

[Scott SoCal]

Long climb, but avg. grade is 5%. Freddie Rodriguez is in second on the Strava KOM.

Wiggins will be dictating affairs again. No way he loses the lead today unless he just doesn't care, which I'll grant as a possibility.

http://www.strava.com/segments/1562751

I don't necessarily disagree. It's possible however that Sir Bradley could be isolated quite a ways from the finish. The last climb is about 14 miles and finishes at over 7,000 feet. That and the stage will start where it will be very hot (mid-90's F).

So the first couple of hours are going to be reasonably difficult (heat) and it will not surprise me at all if Wiggo has nobody with him in the finale.

 

[red_flanders]

I don't necessarily disagree. It's possible however that Sir Bradley could be isolated quite a ways from the finish. The last climb is about 14 miles and finishes at over 7,000 feet. That and the stage will start where it will be very hot (mid-90's F).

So the first couple of hours are going to be reasonably difficult (heat) and it will not surprise me at all if Wiggo has nobody with him in the finale.

I think he isolated himself a couple days ago.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Yates to time it right this time

 

[Netserk]

Cool, thanks for that update. Where did you find it? The ToC site was fairly crap or I just missed it.

Altitude data from the profile. Then I mapped it (from the strava map) and found out where they end.

edit: got it wrong, will correct after dinner.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

That's the one. I hope for some action this year as well.

You know they've changed the route so now it finishes with 3 laps of a flat circuit?

EDIT - Profile...

 

[murali]

Yates FTW?

he attacked late in the previous mountain stage.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Yates FTW?

he attacked late in the previous mountain stage.

Not late enough - burnt is matches before the final wall - if he times it right he looks to have enough punch to get away near the end though.

 

[roundabout]

You know they've changed the route so now it finishes with 3 laps of a flat circuit?

EDIT - Profile...

Crap, now it's a neither here nor there stage instead of a worthy finish

 

[Netserk]

Cool, thanks for that update. Where did you find it? The ToC site was fairly crap or I just missed it.

I thought they turned right after the strava peak, but as can be seen on the tourtracker, they turn left and finish on the Table mountain:

Going down and up again on the final climb:

http://tracks4bikers.com/beta_tracks/show/206987

Last 4.5km are 7.6%

 

[Afrank]

You know they've changed the route so now it finishes with 3 laps of a flat circuit?

EDIT - Profile...

Way to go Cali organizers. Nice job turning a pretty good looking stage into a crap likely bunch sprint stage.

With guys like Cav coming guess they wanted to make sure Sagan would get one.

 

[BigMac]

Go Machado, the ENTIRE CN forum is with you, hero.

 

[christopherrowe]

Will Routley trying to make a break AGAIN!

Edit: Oh well, it didn't stick.

 

[Hugo87]

Will Routley trying to make a break AGAIN!

Edit: Oh well, it didn't stick.

He already has the KOM jersey in the bag, he's second on the points jersey, maybe he can find some sprint mojo and try to get that one too, almost impossible, but that would be epic.

 

[VeloHuman]

Hoping Ten Dam can cope with this heat, as it really isn't his natural climate. Acevedo, on the other hand, seems to thrive as the mercury rises.