Le Tour 2018 stage 16:Carcassonne - Bagnères-de-Luchon 218km

[Lequack]

Tom Dumoulin: 'Froome could pull off another long-range Giro style attack at the Tour de France':
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tom-dumoulin-froome-pull-another-long-range-giro-style-attack-tour-de-france-387808

 

[The Barb]

Re: Re:

Froome to do a Froome and gain 3 minutes.

LOL. You know it's coming, sooner or later, this week.

It usually comes on the first mountain stages, though, and he’s usually hanging onto Poels’ wheel for dear life in week 3. Only his Giro win hasn’t followed this pattern. And we don’t know how deep he’s had to go to get to this point.

If we go by the pattern then In fairness by week 3 Poels is usually one of the top 3 climbers in the race, and in his last 3 GT’s Froome has been one of the best on the final mountain stages.

I expect him to try something here. Others attacking could help him as well.

I agree. Unfortunately for the sake of the race, Sky have played this really well. Poels has had a cruisy time to this point and I expect will now fall into his role of relentless unstoppable mountain domestique.

I'm hoping Quintana will find some form, even though his GC hopes have long since disappeared. I'm really confused by him. Last year I put down to him trying to do the Giro/Tour double and figured this year with his sole focus being the Tour we would see him return to his best. After the Tour De Suisse I was even more sure. I really don't know what's happened other than, perhaps, he's riding at the same level but Sky and Dumoulin gone even higher than before. That seems absurd but I think it might be right.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Bardet says he's ready to roll the dice.

He always tries at some point but has trouble keeping a gap on riders like Froome and then there is the TT...........

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Froome to do a Froome and gain 3 minutes.

LOL. You know it's coming, sooner or later, this week.

It usually comes on the first mountain stages, though, and he’s usually hanging onto Poels’ wheel for dear life in week 3. Only his Giro win hasn’t followed this pattern. And we don’t know how deep he’s had to go to get to this point.

If we go by the pattern then In fairness by week 3 Poels is usually one of the top 3 climbers in the race, and in his last 3 GT’s Froome has been one of the best on the final mountain stages.

I expect him to try something here. Others attacking could help him as well.

Either they have been holding him back for the third week or he had some struggles early in the race. Maybe some illness, who knows.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Froome to do a Froome and gain 3 minutes.

LOL. You know it's coming, sooner or later, this week.

It usually comes on the first mountain stages, though, and he’s usually hanging onto Poels’ wheel for dear life in week 3. Only his Giro win hasn’t followed this pattern. And we don’t know how deep he’s had to go to get to this point.

If we go by the pattern then In fairness by week 3 Poels is usually one of the top 3 climbers in the race, and in his last 3 GT’s Froome has been one of the best on the final mountain stages.

I expect him to try something here. Others attacking could help him as well.

I agree. Unfortunately for the sake of the race, Sky have played this really well. Poels has had a cruisy time to this point and I expect will now fall into his role of relentless unstoppable mountain domestique.

I'm hoping Quintana will find some form, even though his GC hopes have long since disappeared. I'm really confused by him. Last year I put down to him trying to do the Giro/Tour double and figured this year with his sole focus being the Tour we would see him return to his best. After the Tour De Suisse I was even more sure. I really don't know what's happened other than, perhaps, he's riding at the same level but Sky and Dumoulin gone even higher than before. That seems absurd but I think it might be right.

I don't think Quintana is at the same level he was in 2015. I think he's below that. Of the Movistar riders, hope Landa's back is better is he is the one who looks like he actually could do something if he were healthy.

 

[Lequack]

Some pics from previous ascents of the final climb.

Big Photos from 2012 - Voeckler solos — sirotti/reuters/flockton
http://www.steephill.tv/2012/tour-de-france/photos/stage-16/

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) turning himself inside out again as he solos over Col de Peyresourde, the final climb. Notice that he has no computer whatsoever on his handlebars

 

[Lequack]

Big Photos from 2014 - Rogers solos (almost the exact same route) — sirotti/reuters/flockton
http://www.steephill.tv/2014/tour-de-france/photos/stage-16/

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Some pics from previous ascents of the final climb.

Big Photos from 2012 - Voeckler solos — sirotti/reuters/flockton
http://www.steephill.tv/2012/tour-de-france/photos/stage-16/

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) turning himself inside out again as he solos over Col de Peyresourde, the final climb. Notice that he has no computer whatsoever on his handlebars

Ehm, your pic shows a computer mounted on his handlebars....

.....that Voeckler probably never used it, is another matter

 

[Lequack]

Re: Re:

Some pics from previous ascents of the final climb.

Big Photos from 2012 - Voeckler solos — sirotti/reuters/flockton
http://www.steephill.tv/2012/tour-de-france/photos/stage-16/

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) turning himself inside out again as he solos over Col de Peyresourde, the final climb. Notice that he has no computer whatsoever on his handlebars

Ehm, your pic shows a computer mounted on his handlebars....

.....that Voeckler probably never used it, is another matter

Yeah I just copied the comment, but now that you mention it there probably is a computer. He doesn't seem to have a heart rate strap though.

 

[damian13ster]

Re: Le Tour 2018 stage 16:Carcassonne - Bagnères-de-Luchon 2

Vockler didn't need a heart rate monitor.
His level of exhaustion was directly proportional to the length of his tongue sticking out

 

[valentius borealis]

When was the last time they've come into Bagnères-de-Luchon from the Col du Portillon? 2005?

 

[Moviefan1203]

I want a fun stage tomorrow, but I fear they are saving their matches for Wednesday.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

I want a fun stage tomorrow, but I fear they are saving their matches for Wednesday.

It could do with an extra 15-20 kms, but overall this is a pretty good stage.

Considering how short stage 17 is, and that stage 18 is a rest day for GC, this should be raced hard.

At least those outside the top 4 have no reason to hold back here IMO. If the breakaway wins by a large margin I would be pretty disappointed.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

I want a fun stage tomorrow, but I fear they are saving their matches for Wednesday.

It could do with an extra 15-20 kms, but overall this is a pretty good stage.

Considering how short stage 17 is, and that stage 18 is a rest day for GC, this should be raced hard.

At least those outside the top 4 have no reason to hold back here IMO. If the breakaway wins by a large margin I would be pretty disappointed.

For Landa I think it will depend on how his back is feeling as to if he tries something or not.

 

[search]

Re:

When was the last time they've come into Bagnères-de-Luchon from the Col du Portillon? 2005?

2014, during stage 17. Last stage finish was in 1979 though

 

[claude cat]

Re:

Before knowing any possible DNSs for this stage, riders by team:

8: Bora, Cofidis, FDJ, Fortuneo, Mitchelton, UAE, Wanty
7: Bahrain, Direct Energie, EF Education, LottoNL, Movistar, Sky, Sunweb, Quick Step, Trek
6: Astana, BMC, Dimension Data
5: AG2R
4: Katusha, Lotto-Soudal

Howson a DNS today for Mitchelton Scott

https://twitter.com/MitcheltonSCOTT/status/1021646904604741632

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Le Tour 2018 stage 16:Carcassonne - Bagnères-de-Luchon 2

@Lequack
The pictures you posted are from stage finishes in bagneres de luchon but actually none of them are from the portillon, today's final climb.

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

I just hope that stages is an utter failure cause I don't want more of that garbage.

It's the stain on Contador's legacy, giving the ASO the idea that EHRMAGHERD SHORTA IS BETTA

It's an interesting experiment, let's see what happens first before we judge. Trying different things is generally a good idea.

 

[Lequack]

Re: Le Tour 2018 stage 16:Carcassonne - Bagnères-de-Luchon 2

@Lequack
The pictures you posted are from stage finishes in bagneres de luchon but actually none of them are from the portillon, today's final climb.

Yes you are correct, I guess they chose a different route this year.

 

[del1962]

Re: Re:

I just hope that stages is an utter failure cause I don't want more of that garbage.

It's the stain on Contador's legacy, giving the ASO the idea that EHRMAGHERD SHORTA IS BETTA

It's an interesting experiment, let's see what happens first before we judge. Trying different things is generally a good idea.

Yes no problem trying something different, they have done this throughout history of tour

 

[Robert5091]

Thunderstorms predicted for today and tomorrow in the Pyrenees. Ooo!

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Looking likely to be stormy / wet for the finale

 

[Leinster]

Re:

Thunderstorms predicted for today and tomorrow in the Pyrenees. Ooo!

And a million Nibali fans just cried out in anguish.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Before knowing any possible DNSs for this stage, riders by team:

8: Bora, Cofidis, FDJ, Fortuneo, Mitchelton, UAE, Wanty
7: Bahrain, Direct Energie, EF Education, LottoNL, Movistar, Sky, Sunweb, Quick Step, Trek
6: Astana, BMC, Dimension Data
5: AG2R
4: Katusha, Lotto-Soudal

Howson a DNS today for Mitchelton Scott

https://twitter.com/MitcheltonSCOTT/status/1021646904604741632

Such a silly crash at the end of stage 15 - It's put out Howson and Pauwels - So far it's been a poor TDF for Mitchelton Scott.

 

[Robert5091]

So far it's been a poor TDF for Mitchelton Scott.

Poor?! Considering how it went in the Giro, they must be pulling their hair out.