2019 Tour de France, stage 12: Toulouse>Bagnères-de-Bigorre

[yaco]

My three are Kangert, Caruso and Geschke.

 

[spalco]

It looks like a breakaway stage obviously, but somehow my gut feeling is that i'm not so sure. If the break stays close-ish ineos' opponents might be interested in testing their legs and try to grab some time.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

With the TT tomorrow and Tourmalet the day after, I do not expect GC action today.
Especially with an easy 30 k decent after the last climb.
Baring someone crashing or having a major crisis ofcourse

Saturday and Sunday is where the GC guys want to make a difference..

 

[Orbit501]

Pollit has been very lively trying to get in breaks. If he can still be in touch after the final climb then he's a big favourite I think.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Pollit has been very lively trying to get in breaks. If he can still be in touch after the final climb then he's a big favourite I think.

There are 30 favorites today dude

I think the break will be a fairly big group

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Bot procession and breakaway takes it imo.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

The one thing that can upset the apple cart, is if Alaphilippe hits the break today, that would force the GC teams to keep him close, and allow for a lot of attacks from the peloton on the climbs.

But, I think he will take it easy today, the 3 following days are more important.

 

[search]

Re:

The one thing that can upset the apple cart, is if Alaphilippe hits the break today, that would force the GC teams to keep him close, and allow for a lot of attacks from the peloton on the climbs.

But, I think he will take it easy today, the 3 following days are more important.

probably, but I think Wanty could try to get Meurisse in the break to take yellow. He is no real dangerman for GC of course, but if he manages to get up the road Quickstep wants to keep the jersey, it could become interesting

 

[tobydawq]

Dennis and Sagan seem to be best buds. They are chatting all the time. Even though Dennis was mean to Sagan a few days ago before the start!

https://sporza.be/nl/2019/07/14/rohan-dennis-knijpt-eens-flink-in-de-bil-van-peter-sagan-voor-de/

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

The one thing that can upset the apple cart, is if Alaphilippe hits the break today, that would force the GC teams to keep him close, and allow for a lot of attacks from the peloton on the climbs.

But, I think he will take it easy today, the 3 following days are more important.

probably, but I think Wanty could try to get Meurisse in the break to take yellow. He is no real dangerman for GC of course, but if he manages to get up the road Quickstep wants to keep the jersey, it could become interesting

He is nearly 4 minutes behind, and the first 130 k is easy for DQ to control...... I don't see it.

 

[vladimir]

Re:

The one thing that can upset the apple cart, is if Alaphilippe hits the break today, that would force the GC teams to keep him close, and allow for a lot of attacks from the peloton on the climbs.

But, I think he will take it easy today, the 3 following days are more important.

Mørkøv said on Danish television that they would try to defend the yellow jersey today. So their plan is to try to limit the size of the breakaway and hunt it down if there are soome guys high on GC present. Obviously implying that Ala would be in the bunch. Another point; who in the world would be willing to do some work in a breakaway group if Ala was there?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

The one thing that can upset the apple cart, is if Alaphilippe hits the break today, that would force the GC teams to keep him close, and allow for a lot of attacks from the peloton on the climbs.

But, I think he will take it easy today, the 3 following days are more important.

Mørkøv said on Danish television that they would try to defend the yellow jersey today. So their plan is to try to limit the size of the breakaway and hunt it down if there are soome guys high on GC present. Obviously implying that Ala would be in the bunch. Another point; who in the world would be willing to do some work in a breakaway group if Ala was there?

Yeah, you are right..... I was just stating an outside chance of something entertaining

 

[search]

Re: Re:

The one thing that can upset the apple cart, is if Alaphilippe hits the break today, that would force the GC teams to keep him close, and allow for a lot of attacks from the peloton on the climbs.

But, I think he will take it easy today, the 3 following days are more important.

probably, but I think Wanty could try to get Meurisse in the break to take yellow. He is no real dangerman for GC of course, but if he manages to get up the road Quickstep wants to keep the jersey, it could become interesting

He is nearly 4 minutes behind, and the first 130 k is easy for DQ to control...... I don't see it.

yeah, but that's what I mean. If they keep it this close, teams like Astana will go for the stage win from the peloton

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Oooohh..... Valgren on the Kraghens wheel, 3rd row in the neutral zone....... cross your fingers danes

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Oooohh..... Valgren on the Kraghens wheel, 3rd row in the neutral zone....... cross your fingers danes

Wouldn't it be wiser for Kragh to keep his powder dry for tomorrow?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Cya De Gendt

 

[tobydawq]

Lol, Cummings has duly positioned himself at the back of the peloton already. Nice selection of him for the Tour squad!

 

[Anderis]

Re:

Pollit has been very lively trying to get in breaks. If he can still be in touch after the final climb then he's a big favourite I think.

People seem to underestimate the stages all the time. Many were seeing Ewan as a favourite for stage 3. A couple of years ago someone argued that Sagan was a favourite for a stage with decent mountain near the end just because it was ending on downhill. And now someone suggests Politt for a stage with two cat 1. climbs in the last 70k.

This just isn't going to happen unless an extraordinarily weak breakaway forms.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

This may take a while, seems nobody wants to go too soon, with 130 flat to the climbs.

 

[tobydawq]

Dennis attacking the day before the ITT? Wut!?

And his buddy Sagan is with him.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Rohan Dennis in the break, the day before the TT???

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Dangerous roads right now, lots of traffic islands in that town, while everyone is riding full gas.

 

[Salvarani]

Sagan, that jump right before the roundabout

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Sagan, that jump right before the roundabout

He is such a gift to cycling

 

[glassmoon]

Re:

Rohan Dennis in the break, the day before the TT???

maybe he wants to take it super easy over the hills at the 2nd half of the stage?
or attack at the last climb and try to win this stage solo?