2015 Tour de France Stage 11: Pau › Cauterets

[The Blues]

Fuglsang won't be in the break tomorrow, because he thinks there are other days better suited for early attacks. Also he wants to test himself against the other big guys. Apparently, he was told by his team that he climbed the last 8 km only 30 seconds slower than Froome did.

 

[Ruby United]

This does threaten to be a Bagneres de Bigorre stage
I wonder if Tinkoff Saxo, Movistar and Astana will gang up on Sky early on

 

[Windsor1334]

Team sky leave the tour, because froom is bored and want to get ready to beat the record of pikes peak international hill climb.....

 

[SkyTears]

BMC and Movistar will help protecting their precious top5 positions
Sky won't have much to do

I think if Giro was Tinkoff win and 2 Astanas on podium here it will be Sky win and 2 Movistar on podium. Quite balanced

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

If one of Majka, Kreuziger, and Pinot are not in the break I will be dissapointed.
If weak break is away without pure climber then Kwiatkowski should join, he can catch up on descents.

If break doesn't make it then Valverde ftw

LOL. Now I am going to have fun with you. You got tired of trashing the Colombians?
You really think that Kwiat can do something in this Tour?

No, I dont . Wishfull thinking from me but I have zero issue with admitting that. It is possible though that really weak break (which I specified) goes and is allowed to stay away. Even if they distance him by 30-40 seconds at the top of the climb, he can get that back on descent and then wheelsuck on lower slopes just to hang on and outsprint them. In that case why would't he have a chance? Of course if there is good climber in the break then its not going to happen
A man can dream

I like Kwiat. Looks like a nice guy and good teammate. I just think he is out of shape. Even in a breakaway with other B climbers that are in better shape can see him loosing.

 

[damian13ster]

Agreed, but if he can be withing 40 seconds on top of Tourmalet, then he can catch them on descent, and still get 20-30s headstart on last climb just to outsprint them in the end

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

 

[damian13ster]

Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

Doubt it. Not unless they get a gap over him and all other Sky riders before the summit. Contador won't drop him on the descent. Nibali possibly, but not by much

 

[WillemS]

Wout Poels was fantasizing about getting freedom in the Alps if Froome was way ahead of his competition. It almost looks like Froome heard that and is doing just that, getting himself way ahead of his competition, so he can start giving stages to his domestiques in the Alpes. Most probably Porte will take those spoils, though.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Re: Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

Doubt it. Not unless they get a gap over him and all other Sky riders before the summit. Contador won't drop him on the descent. Nibali possibly, but not by much

Nibali if he's there will definitely get sizable gap and Contador won't be far off....Contador is a fantastic descender too

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

Wout Poels was fantasizing about getting freedom in the Alps if Froome was way ahead of his competition. It almost looks like Froome heard that and is doing just that, getting himself way ahead of his competition, so he can start giving stages to his domestiques in the Alpes. Most probably Porte will take those spoils, though.

What about Thomas? That guy deserves to win a stage.

 

[damian13ster]

Re: Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

Doubt it. Not unless they get a gap over him and all other Sky riders before the summit. Contador won't drop him on the descent. Nibali possibly, but not by much

Nibali if he's there will definitely get sizable gap and Contador won't be far off....Contador is a fantastic descender too

Why are you asking a question and then negating the answer? The descent is not that hard. They won't drop Froome if he is close enough to the top to just follow wheels

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

It's only slightly technical in the first part of the descent, so probably not.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

The most logical answer would be No. because:

1-Tourmalet descent has comparatively large roads and it has only 4 U-turns. The rest is straight roads with smooth curves rolling down the valley into Luz Saint-Suveur.
2-The part from Luz Saint Suveur to Pierrefitte Nestalas (the base to climb up to Cauterets) is 12. 4 km of false flat(2.2% gradient). If Froome has Thomas and Porte with him any attempt can easily be neutralized in this section
3-If there is action in Tourmalet ascent Nibali and Contador will probably get dropped before the descent begins

* Anyway hoping this analysis provides to be wrong tomorrow

 

[manafana]

got a few outsiders in my mind for this as sky take the day off to chill with a few brews

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

Oh here we go.. The good old "Froome can't descend" myth.

 

[warmfuzzies]

Re: Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

Doubt it. Not unless they get a gap over him and all other Sky riders before the summit. Contador won't drop him on the descent. Nibali possibly, but not by much

Nibali if he's there will definitely get sizable gap and Contador won't be far off....Contador is a fantastic descender too

Riiight. Contador is such an awesome descender that in 2014, on the descent of the Col du Platzerwasel, he crashed out of the Tour.

 

[PremierAndrew]

The whole Sky team to attack Aspin so that when they finish 5 mins ahead of all the climbers, they can do their team photo across the line a la tdf 2013 early

 

[The Barb]

Re: Re:

Will the Tourmalet descent be significant for the likes of Nibali and Contador and other accomplished descenders over King Bambi legs?

Doubt it. Not unless they get a gap over him and all other Sky riders before the summit. Contador won't drop him on the descent. Nibali possibly, but not by much

Nibali if he's there will definitely get sizable gap and Contador won't be far off....Contador is a fantastic descender too

Riiight. Contador is such an awesome descender that in 2014, on the descent of the Col du Platzerwasel, he crashed out of the Tour.

One crash does not a bad descender make. Contador is superb going downhill for a comparatively light rider.

 

[Taxus4a]

Interesting stage for tactics.

The situation this year is similar than 2 years ago, in fact, last Tour, becouse it was a hot Tour and with similar people.

Seconds stage in the Pyrinees gave several surprises. First was similar, Froome fwon at Porte second, quite far.

But in the second one lot of attacks form the begining, Kenaugh crashed and Porte couldnt managed the situation and crack. tomorrow is expected something similar.

froome could managed everything, bit was a risky moment with Valverde and quintana attacking. SKy is strong but it is possible a remake.

 

[del1962]

Current Sky squad better suited than 2013 when G was riding injured

 

[Poursuivant]

And if I remember rightly that stage started immediately with a massive climb that killed sky but this one doesnt

Breakaway ftw for sure

I say Rolland

 

[zapata]

I won't be watching this, or any other stage where froome is likely to figure. I might watch the hillier stages and the final one.

 

[King Boonen]

I'm hoping to see action lower down the GC ranks. Barguil and Gesink to take some time on those above them.

 

[The Barb]

Rolland is obviously in strong form but if he has thoughts of the KOTM them he would be much better to try for the breakaway tomorrow.