Le Tour 2018 stage 14: Saint-Paul-3-Ch. > Mende 188 km

[rghysens]

The day after what turned out to be a rest day. It's a matter who replenished his batteries best after the alps. I think the sky duo will gain some extra time to Dumoulin.
Breakaway to take the stage.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nice that the OP keeps Nibali in the GC

 

[dgodave]

Re:

....Nibali to pull his voodoo magic and returnto the race in first.

Yes I hear he's on the Mende.

 

[postmanhat]

Gaudu was comparatively decent on Alpe D'Huez and might be hitting a bit of form. This stage would suit him well. Also Adam Yates, if he's made a recovery

 

[Punter]

Re: Re:

....Nibali to pull his voodoo magic and returnto the race in first.

Yes I hear he's on the Mende.

Very Good :lol: :lol:

 

[Rollthedice]

Something happens with "Plan G", Froome is dropped and Dumoulin ends up in yellow.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well that would certainly prove an interesting 3rd week. Sunweb have no team to defend anything in the Pyrenees

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Tomorrow will tell us if Astana still believes Fuglsang can reach the podium.

This stage is Fraile/Valgren territory, and both could potentially win it from the break.

If they are not there, Fuglsang will be planning an attack Sunday.

I could see Dan Martin do the same.

They both have a big enough gap, that SKY won't ride hard to catch them on Pic de Nore.

Fingers crossed

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Well that would certainly prove an interesting 3rd week. Sunweb have no team to defend anything in the Pyrenees

Geschke was a top 12 climber of the race yesterday.

 

[BullsFan22]

My hope is that guys like Quintana and Zakarin attack hard tomorrow. They've been a bit disappointing so far and tomorrow's nasty pitch up to Mende could be a nice opportunity for them. I think they are behind enough on GC where SKY may give them some leeway, certainly Zakarin is, at least, so we'll see...

I am not sure how Dumoulin will cope with a short but steep, explosive climb to the finish. He could be easily lose chunks if sky or one of the other teams try something.

It would have been a nice opportunity for Nibali....oh well.

What about the quiet man Roglic? 4th (after Nibali's withdrawal) and not too far behind the top 3, so he'll be marked for sure, but I hope he tries something. He may still be tentative as this is his foray into the Grand Tour, so he may be waiting patiently (too patiently) for his moment(s)...

Should be explosive. HOPE it's explosive!!!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If you think Dumoulin loses chunks of time on an explosive 4km climb I suggest you go watch the 2015 Vuelta, especially stage 9.
Then come back

 

[hazaran]

Yeah Dumoulin is rock solid on those explosive efforts:

https://youtu.be/tCZxe4p8gHQ?t=1h16m39s
https://youtu.be/-_3P7Scv1Gw?t=1m5s

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nice troll effort

 

[rick james]

I think Froome ships more time tomorrow and after tomorrow’s stage he starts working for G

 

[kiszol]

Re:

If you think Dumoulin loses chunks of time on an explosive 4km climb I suggest you go watch the 2015 Vuelta, especially stage 9.
Then come back

He certainly is good on short but steep climbs. The Osimo stage in the Giro was another example.

 

[Salvarani]

Re: Re:

Well that would certainly prove an interesting 3rd week. Sunweb have no team to defend anything in the Pyrenees

Geschke was a top 12 climber of the race yesterday.

I think they might have let him target that stage and to go all in to be there on that stage for Dumo.

He might be able to be there again on one of the stages at least. If he targets one and saves energy on the others. I doubt he can do what he did on the stage to Alpe on all of em unless he has found some incredible form.

 

[Lequack]

Photos from Mende finish in 2010 - Rodriguez beats Contador — reuters/sirotti
http://www.steephill.tv/2010/tour-de-france/photos/stage-12/

 

[Lequack]

Photos from Mende finish in 2015 - Cummings solos — reuters/sirotti/flockton
http://www.steephill.tv/2015/tour-de-france/photos/stage-14/

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

I think Froome ships more time tomorrow and after tomorrow’s stage he starts working for G

wrong planet rick

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

If anyone in a break works with Alaphilippe (or in the unlikely event that they are allowed go, Valverde or Martin) they are certifiably insane.

 

[JosephK]

Froome to begin his reclamation of the yellow jersey starting on the Col de la Croix, surging ahead of the break and soloing to the win and a 3-minute gap back to G and the rest of the GC mortals. Giro s. 19, v 2.0. :lol:

 

[Koronin]

Re:

If anyone in a break works with Alaphilippe (or in the unlikely event that they are allowed go, Valverde or Martin) they are certifiably insane.

I think if Valverde wants to go after the stage tomorrow it'd be hard for Movistar to deny him going into the break. The other GC teams won't chase Valverde as he's lost enough time. D Martin they will chase. So you could get Alaphilippe and Valverde in the break together like they were on the last Alpes stage.

 

[Asero831]

This is a preview of the Innsbruck Murito.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

If anyone in a break works with Alaphilippe (or in the unlikely event that they are allowed go, Valverde or Martin) they are certifiably insane.

I think if Valverde wants to go after the stage tomorrow it'd be hard for Movistar to deny him going into the break. The other GC teams won't chase Valverde as he's lost enough time. D Martin they will chase. So you could get Alaphilippe and Valverde in the break together like they were on the last Alpes stage.

Maybe, but what kind of idiot would you have to be to work in a break containing those two on a stage like this?

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

If anyone in a break works with Alaphilippe (or in the unlikely event that they are allowed go, Valverde or Martin) they are certifiably insane.

I think if Valverde wants to go after the stage tomorrow it'd be hard for Movistar to deny him going into the break. The other GC teams won't chase Valverde as he's lost enough time. D Martin they will chase. So you could get Alaphilippe and Valverde in the break together like they were on the last Alpes stage.

Maybe, but what kind of idiot would you have to be to work in a break containing those two on a stage like this?

Anyone who thinks Alaphilippe is burning himself out going after KOM points on every climb and those who think they have a shot at an completely off peak out off form Valverde?