2015 Tour de France: Stage 2: Utrecht › Neeltje Jans (166k)

[armchairclimber]

Weather info....my info is showers forecast between 1 and 4 pm (about 60% chance). Wind is from the North West, strengthening from 8 mph to 13 mph. There may be more wind on the exposed coastal sections, but not sure if it will be enough to cause the carnage that some seem to be hoping for. I'd like to see someone in a punchy breakaway group get the win.

Just checked yr.no for additional info. Between 12:00 and 18:00 they are predicting 17 to 26 mm of rain

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

There's only one true favourite on a finish like this... but since he's not starting I'm gonna go with Cavendish.

Watch when Kristoff starts his sprint , cav dies after 100 meters ..

1.Kristoff
2.Degenkolb
3.Sagan


15.Cavendish

Im never wrong.

I was glad when you won your big Dennis bet, really I was, but could you tone the arrogance down a notch please, Concord Nostradamus?

Pretty obvious that he's just a troll. No chance he even makes those bets.

 

[Vroome.exe]

Re: Re:

There's only one true favourite on a finish like this... but since he's not starting I'm gonna go with Cavendish.

Watch when Kristoff starts his sprint , cav dies after 100 meters ..

1.Kristoff
2.Degenkolb
3.Sagan


15.Cavendish

Im never wrong.

I was glad when you won your big Dennis bet, really I was, but could you tone the arrogance down a notch please, Concord Nostradamus?

Pretty obvious that he's just a troll. No chance he even makes those bets.

I think so too. He looks like a kid who thinks hes smart. But he isnt.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

There is actually a storm warning for the afternoon and evening with gusts of wind up till 90km/h. So depending on when it starts we cpuld have an epuc stage. But if it starts too late we will have a mass sprint

 

[DBotero]

Re: 2015 Tour de France: Stage 2: Utrecht › Neeltje Jans (16

Kristoff ftw!

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Re: Re:

There will be echelons, and lots of them. It will be hell on earth with thunderstorms and tornado's. Be prepared.

Then Kristoff should be the favorite. Strongest guy in heavy crosswind.

But he won't have the support that Cav will have. Theoretically Cav should come to the end of this stage with a full lead out train. Cav has shown himself very strong in the wind. (2013 Tdf, 2014 Tour California.)

I agree that Cav is underrated as a wind rider. He is much more versatile than a rider like Kittel. But he is up against powerhorses like Kristoff and Sagan who both are large strong men and much better on their own than Cav. An unguarded moment and he is no longer in the leading group. The Steppers need to step up.

Yeah, as we saw in 2013, Kittel is one sided to sprints. He will wait around with one teammate in mid bunch and only move up later on. What it means, is that he is in the wrong position when the wind blows. I dont know about Degenkolb but Cav can adapt to the situation. He rides with a belgian team, who like him, can read the road and know when the wind blows and when to be up front.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

I just hope we have over 190 riders starting stage 3

just this.

 

[Eclipse]

Re: 2015 Tour de France: Stage 2: Utrecht › Neeltje Jans (16

Getting excited about the weather possibilities is just going to end in disappointment

that said... I hope it gets smashed to bits!

 

[Dutchsmurf]

And for everyone wanting to follow the weather and aren't able to look outside the window, this site might help: http://buienradar.nl/inzoom?lat=51.92&lon=4.5.

 

[danielovichdk2]

Re: Re:

There will be echelons, and lots of them. It will be hell on earth with thunderstorms and tornado's. Be prepared.

Two bridges in the last 3k. Given Froome's weight and possible strong winds he must be careful not be blown off into the sea.

ROFL!

Good thing he has used a swim coach then

 

[markene2]

Hope to experience some winds in todays stage. Maybe get a stage like the 3rd stage in the 2010 Giro. Would be fun, and i would not doubt Astana to force the splits and race agresivly today, Kristoff to win the stage, and Nibali to gain time on Froome

 

[Jagartrott]

Wet roads + side wind + wind gusts + nervous peloton = carnage

 

[Netserk]

Will be interesting to see how many are riding with deep wheels like in GW.

 

[Ramon Koran]

Hope none of the favorites are caught up in any carnage, the Tour should be won in the mountains of the Pyrenees and the alps not on falt roads in holland.

 

[Mongolian Mayhem]

Re:

Hope none of the favorites are caught up in any carnage, the Tour should be won in the mountains of the Pyrenees and the alps not on falt roads in holland.

The Tour should be won by someone who is the most strongest and skilled all around, not just by some hill climbing robot who stares at his handlebars...

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

There will be echelons, and lots of them. It will be hell on earth with thunderstorms and tornado's. Be prepared.

Two bridges in the last 3k. Given Froome's weight and possible strong winds he must be careful not be blown off into the sea.

ROFL!

Good thing he has used a swim coach then

Just put him next to the brick wall that is Stannard and he's going nowhere

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Agreed! I hope a lot of riders lose alot of time today.

 

[Ramon Koran]

Re: Re:

Hope none of the favorites are caught up in any carnage, the Tour should be won in the mountains of the Pyrenees and the alps not on falt roads in holland.

The Tour should be won by someone who is the most strongest and skilled all around, not just by some hill climbing robot who stares at his handlebars...

Agree with that, however I still think the mountains should decide, an ideal winner would be someone who uses the mountain stages to his advantage and doesn't depend on his team to win. The problem with these flat stages is that they are a huge disadvantage to the likes of pinot because his team is so weak, all these stages do is make sure the contenders in big budget teams get an advantage over the ones in weaker teams.

 

[VanBsr]

Re: 2015 Tour de France: Stage 2: Utrecht › Neeltje Jans (16

Jens Voigt ‏@thejensie 7min.
TdF 2015. took that pic at the 1km to go sign. Anybody see that little red/white band top/right?! Means crosswind!!

 

[Miburo]

Re: 2015 Tour de France: Stage 2: Utrecht › Neeltje Jans (16

Jens Voigt ‏@thejensie 7min.
TdF 2015. took that pic at the 1km to go sign. Anybody see that little red/white band top/right?! Means crosswind!!

Ok.

 

[Inquitus]

Its not very windy in Holland today, the Hype can be put away

 

[Andro]

Danish TV2 just had a live interview with a reporter at the finish line. It didn't look that windy. Hopefully it picks up a bit.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Re:

Danish TV2 just had a live interview with a reporter at the finish line. It didn't look that windy. Hopefully it picks up a bit.

Looking at live pics from finishing line. Seems quite windy if you ask me

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

Danish TV2 just had a live interview with a reporter at the finish line. It didn't look that windy. Hopefully it picks up a bit.

Looking at live pics from finishing line. Seems quite windy if you ask me

yea and jens voigt said that it's gonne be a battle. I'm entitled to believe an ex pro who is at the scene.

 

[Eclipse]

Re: Re:

Danish TV2 just had a live interview with a reporter at the finish line. It didn't look that windy. Hopefully it picks up a bit.

Looking at live pics from finishing line. Seems quite windy if you ask me

yea and jens voigt said that it's gonne be a battle. I'm entitled to believe an ex pro who is at the scene.

Jens also said Sagan was going to win yesterday's TT so...