Le Tour 2019 stage 15: Limoux - Foix Prat d'Albis 185 km

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Allez Kruijswijk, Pinot, Landa!

 

[Koronin]

FDJ and Jumbo have to put the hammer down tomorrow. As for Movistar I'd love to see them put 2-4 riders in the break and at some point let Landa bridge to them to go for a stage win. Not sure they have much else left. They may be asking Valverde to hang on for as long as he can for a top 10 in GC to salvage something there.

 

[YavorD]

Considering what happened today, do you see Ineos trying a 1-2 attaks over the penultimate climb? I mean..they can't afford doing "Sky"with just a high tempo and 2 km attack. But do they have the balls to make something different? My biggest hope is on them because we may very likely end up with a likeable winner (Alaphilippe) but a procession to Paris. Mostly becaus the other strong contenders Pinot/Bouchmann/Landa (to some extend) are so far back and Kruijswijk should be happy with a podium (I don't blame him for that actually TdF podium is something to remember and at 32 he wont get many more chances).

P.s. My other hope is Movistar, they seem to have the depth (and yo need depth, Jumbo wont put De Plus to lead 70 km. to go) to put the hammer early...but probably not gonna do it (understandable... their best rider is Valverd 9th.

 

[JesusManzano]

Anything can happen from now on. Ineos is showing weakness, but the problem is to many riders is to satisfied with podium or even top 5. Even when Thomas was dropped today riders were looking at each other. Pinot was the strongest today and he could have attacked before and still have won.
Anyway, tomorrow it will be interesting to see who gets in the breakaway. will Moviestar go crazy and send half the team up the road? Barguille? Astana? Who will controll the race? Quick-step can`t controll the race come the climbs..

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Ineos might have to work positively for once. Should be a good stage

 

[sir fly]

Important stage after today's denouement.
With the rest day ahead and another two days before the Alps, represents survival point for some of the contenders.

 

[Savant12]

Re:

Ineos might have to work positively for once. Should be a good stage

If Thomas doesn't have his mountain legs then I can just see Ineos bluffing and ride on the front as if to set up Thomas or Bernal. But, I suspect they just ride a strong tempo to prevent attacks.

 

[Scarponi]

Going to tune in only the last 500m like a sprint stage, no one in this years Tour likes to attack.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

I like this stage and I like the last climb, its a great climb for a MTF since its steepest in the bottom.

This. Plus the fact that the penultimate climb is steepest at the top, should give us some great racing. I think it's one of the most unpredictable second major mountain stages ever. Historically Pinot can have bad days, and nobody will be surprised if JA loses five minutes. Will Thomas lose more time, or will he break even (and hold his advantage) with Bernal? Moviestar have some cards, but are now horribly placed on GC. Hopefully we see plenty of interesting riders in the breakaway.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

I like this stage and I like the last climb, its a great climb for a MTF since its steepest in the bottom.

This. Plus the fact that the penultimate climb is steepest at the top, should give us some great racing. I think it's one of the most unpredictable second major mountain stages ever. Historically Pinot can have bad days, and nobody will be surprised if JA loses five minutes. Will Thomas lose more time, or will he break even (and hold his advantage) with Bernal? Moviestar have some cards, but are now horribly placed on GC. Hopefully we see plenty of interesting riders in the breakaway.

I don't think that this Pinot will have a bad day tomorrow. On the contrary: now he knows that he arguably is the best climber, that he has a chance to hurt Thomas before the rest day, and dropping Jalaphilippe is a must. Strike the iron when it's hot. This is a unique opportunity, he almost squandered it, but like he said "in the Tourmalet, there are no roundabouts". And there are none on the Prat either. The question is Thomas, if he can bounce back or limit his losses before the rest day. And Jalaphilippe...Kruijswijk and Buchmann? They looked great today. So did Bernal. After tomorrow, Ineos may have a choice to make.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

I like this stage and I like the last climb, its a great climb for a MTF since its steepest in the bottom.

This. Plus the fact that the penultimate climb is steepest at the top, should give us some great racing. I think it's one of the most unpredictable second major mountain stages ever. Historically Pinot can have bad days, and nobody will be surprised if JA loses five minutes. Will Thomas lose more time, or will he break even (and hold his advantage) with Bernal? Moviestar have some cards, but are now horribly placed on GC. Hopefully we see plenty of interesting riders in the breakaway.

I don't think that this Pinot will have a bad day tomorrow. On the contrary: now he knows that he arguably is the best climber, that he has a chance to hurt Thomas before the rest day, and dropping Jalaphilippe is a must. Strike the iron when it's hot. This is a unique opportunity, he almost squandered it, but like he said "in the Tourmalet, there are no roundabouts". And there are none on the Prat either. The question is Thomas, if he can bounce back or limit his losses before the rest day. And Jalaphilippe...Kruijswijk and Buchmann? They looked great today. So did Bernal. After tomorrow, Ineos may have a choice to make.

Steven K should be able to continue on as he's doing. Remember the 2016 Giro, as long as he doesn't crash he has a very good chance at a podium finish. He's not going to climb with Pinot, but he shouldn't crack either. Alaphilippe SHOULD crack at some point.

 

[Panda Claws]

Re:

I like this stage and I like the last climb, its a great climb for a MTF since its steepest in the bottom.

Why do you think that makes it great for a MTF?
Genuine question as I am curious.

 

[movingtarget]

More of a test for Alaphillipe. Time gaps to open up even more. Hard to see the break surviving with so much climbing and as the stronger teams force the pace on the last two climbs. Good stage for Landa if he has the legs. Pinot will want to consolidate. Can Thomas make a comeback or lose further time ? I think Porte is right, some riders will pay for yesterday's efforts.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Re: Re:

I like this stage and I like the last climb, its a great climb for a MTF since its steepest in the bottom.

Why do you think that makes it great for a MTF?
Genuine question as I am curious.

Valv.Piti said because it's steepest in the bottom makes it a great MTF.

 

[rghysens]

Re:

Going to tune in only the last 500m like a sprint stage, no one in this years Tour likes to attack.

I've seen the yellow jersey attacking a couple of times, in hilly stages. Last time I saw that was Big Mig in 1995.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

More of a test for Alaphillipe. Time gaps to open up even more. Hard to see the break surviving with so much climbing and as the stronger teams force the pace on the last two climbs. Good stage for Landa if he has the legs. Pinot will want to consolidate. Can Thomas make a comeback or lose further time ? I think Porte is right, some riders will pay for yesterday's efforts.

Wonder what Movistar may try for tomorrow. I do wonder if they can put half their team in the break if the break could survive or not. Otherwise still put half the team in the break and use that as a launch pad for an attack by Landa for the stage win. (At least if I were their DS my strategy after the Tourmalet would be to get 4 riders into the break and see what happens.)

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re: Re:

I like this stage and I like the last climb, its a great climb for a MTF since its steepest in the bottom.

Why do you think that makes it great for a MTF?
Genuine question as I am curious.

Because it should inspire riders to attack early on the climb rather than wait for the unsteep final km.

The day before the rest day they should ride more agressively than yesterday, especially now that it's much more open than other years. I wonder what Bernal can do if he becomes the leader.

I expected Alaf to crack yesterday, so I don't know what to expect anymore. In theory these middle mountains of today should suit him better than yesterday's stage. If he cracks it will probably be in the Alps, but the way he looked yesterday he could simply stay in yellow until Paris.

Important day for the KOM too, but for once there are more important things at stake.

 

[yaco]

I suspect this will be a breakaway day with GC action on the last climb.

 

[SafeBet]

I haven't been so thrilled before a mountain Tour stage in a long time. I probably need to go back to 2011.

 

[hfer07]

all eyes will be on Alaphilippe's ability to defend the YJ
I also foresee an aggressive race from Ineos with G & Bernal leading the charge. Landa in the mix. Pinot might be on the ropes because of yesterday's effort, but he'll manage.

interesting stage

 

[rick james]

Unleash The Bernal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lequack]

Some pics from yesterday
70 Big Photos from Stage 14 (descriptions to come) — flockton/aso/bettini/corvos
http://www.steephill.tv/2019/tour-de-france/photos/stage-14/

 

[sprints n stones]

Really looking forward to this. No idea who'll win, no idea who'll be in yellow but Sagan to go in breakaway for more intermediate sprint points. He seems raring to go at the moment !

 

[Laplaz]

Emu to unleash hell.

 

[Cinemaniak]

Jumbo-Visma have seen they are the strongest this TdF. I really expect Kruijswijk to make it as hard as possible and normally he's better suited for the longer climbs. Movistar will be helping, but take their responsibility in the first part of the race/final