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2015 Tour starts with 13km TT

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MatParker117

Aug 28, 2012
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http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...de-france-opens-with-a-13-7km-time-trial.html

BaJaT0ECcAAKEmv.jpg


Similar start to 2009 then and I'm sure Tony Martin will enjoy his first Yellow Jersey.
 
M

MatParker117

Aug 28, 2012
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theyoungest said:
Similar in length to 2009, but the course of course is more like 2010. Flatter than flat.

I'm happy we'll get an ITT again to start a GT, although a real prologue seems to be out of fashion.
Click to expand...

If the Panzerwagen isn't in yellow after this stage it will be quite a surprise won;t it.
 
F

Ferminal

Jul 3, 2009
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Good to see a reasonable length to start with, no reason to have pointless <10km openings in a GT.

Whilst it's longer it's still technical like most prologues, so doesn't help Martin all that much.

If Cancellara and Martin showed up in Worlds form I say it would favour Cancellara slightly. Who knows where they will be in 18 months time though, and names such as Phinney/Kwiatkowski/Thomas who are more suited to short/technical TTs could potentially improve.
 
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barmaher

Oct 2, 2011
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A long trek down to the Pyrennees for the first weekend. Hopefully it is not all flat.

I like a chrono of between 7km and 15km to unsettle GC a bit at the start of a GT. Mix it up. A little, but not too much.
 
F

Ferminal

Jul 3, 2009
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barmaher said:
A long trek down to the Pyrennees for the first weekend. Hopefully it is not all flat.

I like a chrono of between 7km and 15km to unsettle GC a bit at the start of a GT. Mix it up. A little, but not too much.
Click to expand...

I'm confident that the Massif will feature heavily at the end of the first week. Haven't been there since 2011 and those two stages weren't the best they could do, expect something like the Vosges this year.

Then the Pyrenees end of the second week and only 2-3 days before the Alps.

To add, I think they can make a really nice route with this framework. I think I read that Zeeland will be the first road stage so hopefully some wind which could make it more exciting than a Limburg stage although hopefully not crashes... After that there is room for a Vlaanderen or Ardennes stage, avoiding the French side and cobbles which will feature in 2014. Next there could be some hills around the French Ardennes or Luxembourg before cutting SW for the mountains.
 
Afrank

Afrank

Aug 16, 2011
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Looks like a good start to the race. Not too long, could be a bit more technical, but not too bad the way it is. Still a ways down the line so hard to judge, but think Cance could probably win with very good time trial form. Lots other guys who could step up between now and 2015 though.
 
42x16ss

42x16ss

May 23, 2009
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BigMac said:
This is 2015.

Anyway, no way TM is getting yellow, this one is too short and tecnical at same time. I'd go for Cameron Meyer :cool:
Click to expand...
Hmm, wrong Aussie IMO. Likely contenders will include Durbridge, Phinney, Kwiatowski, Boom, Stybar, Thomas, De Ghendt, Dennis, Sagan and Froome.

Winner should still be either Cancellara or Martin, looking at the number of corners I'd go with Cance.
 
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theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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42x16ss said:
Hmm, wrong Aussie IMO. Likely contenders will include Durbridge, Phinney, Kwiatowski, Boom, Stybar, Thomas, De Ghendt, Dennis, Sagan and Froome.

Winner should still be either Cancellara or Martin, looking at the number of corners I'd go with Cance.
Click to expand...
Stybar? He's not exactly a great time trialist.

I'd say Kelderman deserves a mention, the prologue is in his back yard, and he will again have two more years of experience by then.
 
B

barmaher

Oct 2, 2011
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Ferminal said:
I'm confident that the Massif will feature heavily at the end of the first week. Haven't been there since 2011 and those two stages weren't the best they could do, expect something like the Vosges this year.

Then the Pyrenees end of the second week and only 2-3 days before the Alps.

To add, I think they can make a really nice route with this framework. I think I read that Zeeland will be the first road stage so hopefully some wind which could make it more exciting than a Limburg stage although hopefully not crashes... After that there is room for a Vlaanderen or Ardennes stage, avoiding the French side and cobbles which will feature in 2014. Next there could be some hills around the French Ardennes or Luxembourg before cutting SW for the mountains.
Click to expand...

That would be nice to see a nice Massif stage. Can anybody point me in the direction of a decent one? Either historical or hypothetical.
 
F

Ferminal

Jul 3, 2009
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There should be plenty hypotheticals in the race design thread, quick look here are two:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=722200&postcount=368

(Stages 10 and 11)

That most infamous day in 2011 was actually a very good middle sequence (in either direction) on paper:

PROFIL.gif


Finding someone to host a finish is probably the biggest barrier, so you tend to end up with Super Besse/Mende or a descent into Saint-Flour which may just be too long.
 
42x16ss

42x16ss

May 23, 2009
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theyoungest said:
Stybar? He's not exactly a great time trialist.

I'd say Kelderman deserves a mention, the prologue is in his back yard, and he will again have two more years of experience by then.
Click to expand...
Of course! Kelderman has always been very good at mid length TT's

I went with Stybar because there's a fair few corners and his cross background would make him fairly explosive similar to Boom.
 
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