Le Tour de France 2011 STAGE 8 - Aigurande-Super-Besse Sancy 189 km

[Spaniard]

If Andy loses time here we no hes in trouble

This time would be a bad sign for sure, a pure climber who has been preparing just for this weeks can't afford loosing a single second in such stage.

 

[Shardi]

theres almost 5 kilometers of climbing in the end with a short downhill/flat. If Andy looses time here, it should be a better indicator than mur de bretagne.

 

[The Hitch]

Why would Andy be in trouble?

Even if he loses 20 seconds he still has lots of time left from his head-start on Contador.

The mountains are still a while away.

Leopards entire season has gone into Andys peak for this race and I dont see any reason why he wont be in tip top form.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Vino for the win!

 

[Anonymous]

Vino for the win!

Vino will be super excited for this stage.

 

[icefire]

Expect to see these 3 riders battling it out!

No way Gilbert gets over that climb with the top dogs, so I guess you mean Evans, Contador and Urán Urán

 

[auscyclefan94]

Given that Evans really suffered that day in the pink ACF or whoever it was that made the bet should have specfied a 2010 pink jersey.

But anyway, I expect BMC to play it cleverly. They have done very well this week so far but they should aim for the overall instead of being satisfied with a few days in the lead.

Edit: stage 9 is very tough for the middle 120k. Probably 3000 vertical meters or so. Will be hard work for the leader's team if raced aggressively even with the needless detour on the way to Saint-Flour.

I think Evans' bonk on the Passo Coe was one of the most epic in world cycling. He lost 17 minutes on the final climb

Back on topic, I think Evans could take the stage and yellow. The next stage is perfect to give it away. I might remind people that if Evans takes yellow tommorow, the last 4 grand tours he has contested he has taken the leaders jersey in and 6 leaders jerseys in total. Pretty impressive.

 

[SiAp1984]

This stage might see the arrival of a small group of outsiders including the stage winner - and a group of favorites, which will also include guys like Tony Martin etc. AC surely will attack, but I predict that the Schlecks and Evans will follow him easily. Basso and Vino, too, maybe. So this group will get together again shortly before the finish line. Oh, yellow for Cadel of course, if he keeps avoiding punctures and crashes.

 

[Amused]

Guess Sky will start putting riders in the breakaway now? Maybe we will see EBH take another one that way. No longer a threat to the yellow/white after today.

 

[Finn84]

I think either this or stage 9 will be contested with a breakaway group of which someone will possibly take the yellow jersey and holds it until one of the top names take it in Luz-Ardiden.

 

[jobiwan]

I just hope no one crashes and Andy doesn't lose more time. If he did, I might go insane due to a repeat of the Stage 4 Thread.

And I pick....Andy. Yeah, I said it.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I wonder if EBH can do something, now that he doesn't have to work for Wiggins.

 

[dabaideschbi]

i hope gilbert will win it! i think he has a lot of chances

 

[Jamsque]

Hopefully we'll see a proper GC sort-out and an end to the nervous crashy madness of this first week.

 

[funnytanlines]

thor looks so knackered he might actually be glad to lose yellow here.

 

[Jamsque]

thor looks so knackered he might actually be glad to lose yellow here.

The whole of Garmin-Cervelo could probably use a break, they have had a stressful first week since their two stage wins.

 

[luckyboy]

AC will take some more time on Andy, and Evans will take yellow.

Gilbert will be up there, and I'd like him to win but I don't think he will.

 

[Archibald]

Uran and/or Thomas (G) to have a crack? If so, any chance they can make top 5 at the finish?

Voeckler any hope at all?

a chance for Samu to make an impact?

 

[luckyboy]

Uran did well on Mûr-de-Bretagne, so maybe he will do well unless he was hurt today (if he crashed).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

On the other hand the finish would be more tempting and interesting if it was on the 2nd category climb instead at SuperBesse...

Definitely. Much better finale.

 

[just some guy]

Uran did well on Mûr-de-Bretagne, so maybe he will do well unless he was hurt today (if he crashed).

Gerrans will be in the break - EBH and GT to work for Uran in the final for SKY thats my thoughts

 

[ferryman]

I just hope no one crashes and Andy doesn't lose more time. If he did, I might go insane due to a repeat of the Stage 4 Thread.

And I pick....Andy. Yeah, I said it.

I hope you are correct but my head tells me Bertie takes some more time. Andy can't hide tomorrow and if, as I fear, he is not going great, it will be all too obvious. Saving grace, there is a rest day before Luz Ardiden

 

[kurtinsc]

Well, after today's crash-fest, here's how the potential GC guys look (if I left your favorite out, I apologize).

Evans
Frank Schlect +3
Kloden +9
Andy Schleck +11
Velits/Martin +12
Gesink +19
Vino +31
JVDB + 38

Basso +1:02
Roche + 1:11
Cunego + 1:11
Contador + 1:41
VDV/Danielson + 1:56

Taarmae + 2:12
Sammy Sanchez +2:35

Coppel + 3:15

Uran +4:23
Hesjedal +4:27
Leipheimer +4:28
Mollema +4:40

 

[Winterfold]

one of Gerrans/Uran/EBH with the emphasis on the last two - gutted as I am about Wiggins Sky could still have a great tour

G should lose a ton of time over the next few days and then get in a break, he will beast it, assuming anyone lets him get in a break - would be a difficult call as to whether you would want him.

EDIT
i am going to firm up a bit here: Uran for the stage, Cuddles in yellow.

 

[stetre76]

my guess for tomorrow - Evans will get the yellow jersey, even though he might not want it. but i think tomorrow's stage is just a bit too hard for Hushovd to keep it.

for the stage - Evans, Klöden, AC in the top 5 (except the let a brakaway go). Uran Uran could also be somewhere in the top 10. Van den Broeck and Fuglsang might surprise


even more interesting (for me) than the "fight" for yellow is the fight for the green jersey.

Rojas has it again after today's stage, Hushovd is 37pts down.
Gilbert is not going to make any points tomorrow (or less than Rojas and Hushovd), Rojas can do well even uphill, so can Hushovd.
Sunday is also a pretty interesing stage fconcerning the green jersey.