71st Tour de Romandie - April 25th-30th

[The Barb]

Thanks for posting that profile - so much easier than I thought. Colbrelli could totally take this stage.

 

[Velolover2]

Thanks for posting that profile - so much easier than I thought. Colbrelli could totally take this stage.

Orica and Trek will ride hard to get rid off him. He is the fastest on paper since Viviani is very unlikely to survive.

Let's see if he can hang on. I also expect some attacks.

 

[search]

the finish is actually downhill/flat though. Same as in the 2013 Dauphiné, just without those two corners in the end. It finishes on the main road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LCRhMYXmJI

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

the finish is actually downhill/flat though. Same as in the 2013 Dauphiné, just without those two corners in the end. It finishes on the main road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LCRhMYXmJI

Albasini ftw if it's downhill and technical. The last corner looks a bit dangerous if it's going to be a mass sprint.

 

[search]

as I mentioned, they are not doing those corners they did in the Dauphine, so it's not technical at all. The stage finishes on the main road, right there (or maybe a ~100m further down the road) where they went right 4 years ago.

Morabito lives nearby and he said he expects a group of ~30 or so at the finish. Could be about right I guess

 

[Robert5091]

I expect a USPS train style ride by Sky as training for TdF up the final ascent. Orica could pull off a surprise.

 

[Wallenquist]

Not exactly sure why people expect a bunch sprint here. Yes, it may end with reduced group sprinting on the last kilometer but it's not for Colbrelli for sure and I seriously doubt Albasini can survive it. After all, it's almost 15km of climbing and apart from Saturday's stage it's the only one where you can make a difference. I expect many GC guys to attack but it may not stick so Pantano or even Felline may win but it could also end with Froome/Porte/Zakarin/Spilak sprint.

 

[Ejostil]

What abour De la Cruz? He is very good on around 5% climbs.

 

[Ricco']

Re:

Hello! Please, has someone some good profile of the final climb Champery ? I would really like to look into it more properly. Thank you very much !

 

[dacooley]

porte, froome. zaka will be having a really hard time trying to distance roglic, felline and izaguirre on these junior climbs. sunday's time trial will be crucial. I don't think this type of course allows to create the gaps on so-called mountain stages.

 

[silvergrenade]

Just no gradient to make this hard.
Reduced bunch sprint most likely

 

[Poursuivant]

Felline ftw

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

What abour De la Cruz? He is very good on around 5% climbs.

I forgot about De la Cruz. This one is a great stage for him as well.

So many power climbers in the group.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I actually like these type of climbs, they are very open. I know its harder today, but last year's stage in the Dauphine won by Herrada was great fun, a lot of riders can do well.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

I actually like these type of climbs, they are very open. I know its harder today, but last year's stage in the Dauphine won by Herrada was great fun, a lot of riders can do well.

Yeah. Softer climbs are often more fun to watch.

It's more open with a large list of potential winners depending on the situation. If it was a hard climb, we would know about the outcome before the stage was raced.

 

[HelloDolly]

Yes this is also my kind of stage as so open....could be anyone really

An attack on 2nd last climb

A late attack on last climb

One riders surge in last 2 kilometers

A bunch sprint

or a redued sprint of climber type riders with no sprinters

 

[HelloDolly]

But having said all the above the break look to be in prime position

 

[Anderis]

I think people underestimate today's climb a bit. There are longish parts where gradient is not that low. If the best climbers will do their best to drop others, they will be able to IMO.

For example we have 3kms with 7.8% average near the bottom of the climb.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I think people underestimate today's climb a bit. There are longish parts where gradient is not that low. If the best climbers will do their best to drop others, they will be able to IMO.

Problem is that the hardest gradients are in the bottom. Then it's followed by some false flat in the mid section where you can recover and the final 3k are like 4-5%. It's really hard (if not impossible) to drop most riders on those gradients from pacing but you can attack and stay away.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

I think people underestimate today's climb a bit. There are longish parts where gradient is not that low. If the best climbers will do their best to drop others, they will be able to IMO.

For example we have 3kms with 7.8% average near the bottom of the climb.

That is the reason why people are suggesting power climbers that can sprint as opposed to sprinters!

 

[silvergrenade]

Froomey at the back of the peloton chilling with his mates.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

Froomey at the back of the peloton chilling with his mates.

Weird disregard of the marginal gain of staying out of trouble up front

perhaps CF is on a practice ride

 

[HelloDolly]

Uran ? or De La Cruz or Kelderman ?

 

[ferryman]

Looks like they are riding into some weather!

 

[sir fly]

And like they'll be riding for a couple of days more in it.