2015 Dauphiné, stage 5: Digne-les-Bains > Pra-Loup 161km

[Flamin]

Pra-Loup stage as a preview for the Tour. Unleash the dawg!

Btw, how ridiculous is this character limit in the thread title? at least make it a bit longer.

 

[Kwibus]

Looking at all the climb profiles after the Giro is a bit 'meh'. Final climb weak is fine with me, but the penultimate is weak as well.

 

[Miburo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkuu0Lwb5EM

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Van Garderen or Valverde methinks.

 

[TheYouyou7]

Valverde

 

[Hakkapelit]

Vroom to TT away from km 66

 

[Escarabajo]

It is about 60 kms of climbing a false flat with a respite of 8-10 km. Climbs are weak but the length can be tricky!

 

[BigMac]

Re:

Kelderman to gain one minute on Allos, only to bonk halfway through Pra Loup. Bardet with a monster climb catches him with only two kilometers to go and ends up 1.56 minutes ahead of the second coming of Merckx. Three seconds down on the frenchman will be an Italian.

In all seriousness, Costa.

 

[May0maniac]

Valverde should at least be able to gain a few bonus seconds on Froome.

 

[Jspear]

Valverde for the win.

 

[johnymax]

Can anybody drop Valverde? I think yes, but with Bala you never know. The final climb should suit him. On the other hand I hope to see loads of "full retardness" from "various species". Can't wait.

 

[HelloDolly]

Dan Martin or Nathan Hass

 

[SeriousSam]

Valverde or Vroom.

 

[Aguirre]

Nibbs and Valverde should try descending Allos, gaining few seconds to Vroom neutralising somehow him. Then Valverde gains with few seconds plus bonus. Ideal scenario

 

[SeriousSam]

Highly unlikely. You don't want a charging dawg behind you. It's probably better to follow the Sky train which will be going supersonic up Allos, and then, in Valverde's case, hang on to the attack at the steepest part of the final climb and sprint away close to the finish, and in Nibali's case, look to the ground as they ride away.

 

[Rollthedice]

Astana to test Froome's mental and tactical strenght.

 

[Netserk]

Froome. Probably only with 10-15 seconds though.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Wilco attack today was so serious, I expect him to be good tomorrow.

 

[Arredondo]

Jrod's time to shine.

Dawg 2nd. Bardet 3rd.

 

[Anderis]

Re:

Dan Martin or Nathan Hass

No way Haas will be anywhere near stage win here. It's too mountainous for him.

 

[DFA123]

This is going to be the next chapter in Rodriguez v Valverde. Probably both be too busy watching each other on the final climb and will let some non-specialist climber jump clear to take the win.

Can't see Froome doing anything here. He'd have to probably attack on the penultimate climb, which isn't really his style, because he'd just get caught on the descent. The last climb is too easy to drop Valverde and Rodriguez on, especially after a 20km descent where they can fully recover.

 

[Von Mises]

How hard and technical is descent?

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

How hard and technical is descent?

Lemond on Tour rode it and it looked very scary ....and one point Lemond nearly came off

 

[BigMac]

Re:

How hard and technical is descent?

Pretty straight forward in most part.

 

[Velolover2]

Alaphilippe ftw. Froome to attack with Alaphilippe being the only one who is able to hang on. The young frenchman beats him in a sprint.