Le Tour '18 stage 12: Bourg-Saint-Maurice > Alpe d'Huez 175k

[Valv.Piti]

I think one of Landa or Valverde will attack before Alpe d Huez. How, when and what not I don't know, at least thats what I am hoping for which make Sky go at a high pace so should they catch them, the stage is still up for grabs and Quintana has a chance despite today. Movistar doesnt have the riders to control it

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Froome loves the mythical climbs. Finestre, Zoncolan, Ventoux. Tomorrow he wants the Alpe. So they won't let win the break.

1. Froome
2. G
3. Nairito

Unfortunately

Agree - Dawg has this stage down on his "things to do list" - one "bloc" of it's own, "fuelling", extra Sky staff on the route etc etc. G will be sacrificed - which might produce some interesting photos - and then it's plain sailing to the ITT and Paris. Only some drunken fan behaviour stands in his way, it seems.

 

[Lequack]

Froome is not that shortsighted, he's already looking at Vuelta.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

I can't read the tone of what people write about Movistar, but the expectation that they can do anything is wrong and misguided. The Tour for Quintana wasn't lost yesterday or today (or tomorrow on Alpe) because of tactics, but in all his training and prep that wasn't enough.

He just isn't strong enough. A lot of vitriol being directed at Movistar, but they are riding at their limit. Their limit just isn't what people thought it would be.

Exactly.

As for tomorrow, I don’t fancy the breaks chances much.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Froome is not that shortsighted, he's already looking at Vuelta.

Next giro too!

 

[LargusMeans]

Who's anticipating? We already know what happened. Sky freight train tempo, at Alpe 15 riders left, 6 of them Sky. Kwit pulls for 5km leaving 6. Then Thomas goes taking Froome, then full alien and Froome wins and gets yellow. Duh.

 

[rick james]

Re:

I really hope they #freeLanda on this one, now that he’s not slaving for CF and team Sky we will finally see what he can do!

Landa is free

 

[Escarabajo]

I am surprised some people picking Nairo. I don't think he can win in this condition. Maybe next week. But Tomorrow, watch for Froome and only Froome!!

Unless the breakaway takes it. Which is not likely with that profile.

 

[Escarabajo]

Froome is so desperate to win in Alpe that he will go from 100 kilometers away and win solo. In the process he will win all the respect from everyone in France and in this forum!

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Can we get a poll regarding how many doms SKY will have left when they start the last climb ?

I count 7. What happened to the last one?

 

[thehog]

Re:

Can we get a poll regarding how many doms SKY will have left when they start the last climb ?

14?

 

[Savant12]

Re:

Can we get a poll regarding how many doms SKY will have left when they start the last climb ?

The bigger question: How many kms into the stage will Luke Rowe still be leading the peleton?

 

[JosephK]

Re:

Froome is not that shortsighted, he's already looking at Vuelta.

Agreed -- Vuelta 2019, after Vuelta 2018 win, World 2018 ITT title, Giro 2019 win, and TDF 2019 win.

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

Froome is not that shortsighted, he's already looking at Vuelta.

Agreed -- Vuelta 2019, after Vuelta 2018 win, World 2018 ITT title, Giro 2019 win, and TDF 2019 win.

That’s just greedy, he will skip the worlds

 

[movingtarget]

Sky will try to choke the race like yesterday. Whether Quintana or Nibali has a better day remains to be seen. Martin will attack of course and maybe drag Froome or Thomas with him. Two more MTFs after this one and one is a short stage. If the non Sky team leaders are going to do anything it has to happen soon. Dumoulin tried yesterday but might pay for that effort. It's really up to Nibali and Quintana now whether anyone is going to mount a challenge or try to. Dumoulin can afford to be a bit more selective with his efforts but still looks good.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Sky will try to choke the race like yesterday. Whether Quintana or Nibali has a better day remains to be seen. Martin will attack of course and maybe drag Froome or Thomas with him. Two more MTFs after this one and one is a short stage. If the non Sky team leaders are going to do anything it has to happen soon. Dumoulin tried yesterday but might pay for that effort. It's really up to Nibali and Quintana now whether anyone is going to mount a challenge or try to. Dumoulin can afford to be a bit more selective with his efforts but still looks good.

After today with Valverde sacrificing himself for no good reason, I'd expect to see him try to go in some breaks and go stage hunting.

 

[Moviefan1203]

Re: Re:

Sky will try to choke the race like yesterday. Whether Quintana or Nibali has a better day remains to be seen. Martin will attack of course and maybe drag Froome or Thomas with him. Two more MTFs after this one and one is a short stage. If the non Sky team leaders are going to do anything it has to happen soon. Dumoulin tried yesterday but might pay for that effort. It's really up to Nibali and Quintana now whether anyone is going to mount a challenge or try to. Dumoulin can afford to be a bit more selective with his efforts but still looks good.

After today with Valverde sacrificing himself for no good reason, I'd expect to see him try to go in some breaks and go stage hunting.

Movistars tactics were bold for sure, but Sky was expecting it.

 

[hammerthaim]

UAE should do what they can to control the break with Sky. Dan should follow the Kenya till the final turn (if he can) and come around him. Easy.

 

[quiqui]

Re: Re:

This stage will have 2 things that matter

1. What will Tom Dumoulin do
2. The alcohol-blood content of Dutch cycling fans on the Alpe

3. How Dumoulin's performance will affect the alcohol-blood content of Dutch cycling fans on the Alpe.

4. Vice versa

I don't think Dumoulin is gonna let how much the Dutch fans on the Alpe drink affect how he rides.

No, no, it's how the Dutch fans' performance will affect the alcohol blood content of Dumoulin.

 

[hfer07]

Re: Re:

Froome is not that shortsighted, he's already looking at Vuelta.

Agreed -- Vuelta 2019, after Vuelta 2018 win, World 2018 ITT title, Giro 2019 win, and TDF 2019 win.

That’s just greedy, he will skip the world's

Indeed. He's going to target Lombardia instead

 

[SafeBet]

What time does the stage start?

 

[starlord]

Re:

What time does the stage start?

12:25

 

[spalco]

Re:

What time does the stage start?

12:10, and coverage from start to finish.

 

[dacooley]

Froome doesn't want to leave any illusions concerning the tour winner and is going to try to attack PSM-style. though, him having now better conditions post-giro than last year without having ridden the giro is absolutely unbelievable. all other teams are looking like schoolboys compared to Sky.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Sky will try to choke the race like yesterday. Whether Quintana or Nibali has a better day remains to be seen. Martin will attack of course and maybe drag Froome or Thomas with him. Two more MTFs after this one and one is a short stage. If the non Sky team leaders are going to do anything it has to happen soon. Dumoulin tried yesterday but might pay for that effort. It's really up to Nibali and Quintana now whether anyone is going to mount a challenge or try to. Dumoulin can afford to be a bit more selective with his efforts but still looks good.

After today with Valverde sacrificing himself for no good reason, I'd expect to see him try to go in some breaks and go stage hunting.

I actually expect him to go right from the bottom of Alpe d'Huez. He has nothing to loose, he may be used as a springboard for Quintana/Landa if they have legs (questionable), and he usually responds very well after a bad day.