Critérium du Dauphiné 2012 187km Stage 1 Seyssins → Saint-Vallier

[dlwssonic]

Critérium du Dauphiné 2012 187km Stage 1 Seyssins → Saint-Vallier

Interesting parcours with quite a few hills. And a climb in the last 10km.
A smaller bunch sprint?
EBH is the real favourite for this one if sky decide to ride for him.
Degenkolb has a good shot too. So does Feillu.
The rabo duo of matthews and LLS have a good chance of winning.

 

[Gloin22]

Late Break v Degenkolb v EBH V MAtthews

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

rabo to pull hard for an epic 9th place by matthews

 

[classicomano]

Bling, if he finally manages to position himself properly.

 

[jens_attacks]

obvious stage win for vino is obvious
3 km@6% is enough to destroy the sprinter's legs.
let's see if phil gets back the stamina slowly...

 

[maltiv]

Degenkolb or Matthews for the win.

As for EBH he seemed like he had no intentions of going for any stage wins at this race. He actually said that "I'm here with no personal ambitions, my goal is only to help Wiggins and there are no sprint stages anyway" (which makes no sense whatsoever as this stage is virtually perfect for him). Either way I don't think his form is particularly good at the moment, else I guess he would've been more confident...

 

[dlwssonic]

obvious stage win for vino is obvious
3 km@6% is enough to destroy the sprinter's legs.
let's see if phil gets back the stamina slowly...

Phil is looking ok, but I'm just afraid the hill is too far away from the finish for him.
Maybe he will be able to contest the sprint.

 

[Panda Claws]

Gilbert to top-20, you heard it here first

 

[dlwssonic]

Gilbert to top-20, you heard it here first

top 20??
its either a top 10 for him or somewhere in the middle of the peloton.

 

[Panda Claws]

top 20??
its either a top 10 for him or somewhere in the middle of the peloton.

Top-10 is still top-20 but that would kill the joke a bit.

 

[dlwssonic]

Top-10 is still top-20 but that would kill the joke a bit.

I think he has a better shot for stage 2, if he can hang in there in the mountains.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Julien Simon and Daniele Ratto will both get a nice placing aswell I think.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Machado to attack on the climb

 

[will10]

Machado to attack on the climb

It's getting boring now.

 

[Parrulo]

It's getting boring now.

it has already been boring for a while

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

vino. please!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

vino. please!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Vino! Vino! Vino!!!!

 

[El Pistolero]

obvious stage win for vino is obvious
3 km@6% is enough to destroy the sprinter's legs.
let's see if phil gets back the stamina slowly...

Nah, his prologue was pretty bad. Also was looking weak at the Tour of Belgium. In 2011 he nearly beat Westra in the prologue of the Tour of Belgium.

 

[Froome19]

Cant see anyone preventing a Degenkolb v EBH battle here.

 

[Leonardus]

EBH, Degenkolb or Matthews if he can get a decent position this time. Nice first stage for a wave of attacks in the final, could be entertaining.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

We can see it in the horizon. Lightning flashes in the sky. Floods are destroying whole continents. Andy Schleck is crying. Vino has woken up!!

 

[Another_Dutch_Guy]

Haha, Yeah it would be awesome if Vino could win!

Vino 4 ever!

 

[jens_attacks]

 

[taiwan]

I predict Philbert will be back at 50% and will therefore be able to smoke everyone.