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

[Pantani_lives]

Probably a breakaway with Voeckler. Contador will wait until the final K to try to gain some seconds.

 

[Cycling the Alps]

Explore all the 4 climbs

Check out 3D flyover. (Google Earth needed)
Streetview Tour.
Profile.
and game. (Google Earth needed)
of all 4 climbs tomorrow.
http://sites.cyclingthealps.com/worldtour/tour-de-france-2011

 

[b.broadhurst]

Probably a breakaway with Voeckler. Contador will wait until the final K to try to gain some seconds.

I fancy a sky rider in the breakaway after losing there leader today!!

 

[Peccio89]

the 2008 was much tougher. Look at last page, reply #69 for a profile comparison

That's disappointing, in 2008 it was an exciting finish with Piepoli making the pace on the climb.
Probably Gilbert will be able to hold on till the finish line.

 

[BYOP88]

Evans in yellow and Contador will take a few more seconds on Andrew.

Maybe Leopard will try to put pressure on SBS by attacking with fx. Fuglsang before the last climb.

I don't think SBS or anyone else will worry if any Leotard rider goes up the road unless it's a Schleck. Their plan is to have Andy and Frank finish 1-2 in Paris

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Gerrans to win from the break, Andy to drop a chain, me to laugh.

 

[as1234]

Look out for Edvald tomorrow!

 

[b.broadhurst]

Look out for Edvald tomorrow!

He isn't far enough behind for the peloton to let him go!! He will b there for the finish if they decide to chase the breakaway down!!

 

[VeloCity]

Contador attacks, Evans follows and overtakes in the final km to win the stage and take yellow, and both he and Contador will gain a few seconds on Andy.

Which means that Contador crashes out, Evans cracks, and Andy wins the stage

 

[as1234]

He isn't far enough behind for the peloton to let him go!! He will b there for the finish if they decide to chase the breakaway down!!

I dont think he will be in a breakaway. He will be there at the end

 

[zapata]

I fancy a sky rider in the breakaway after losing there leader today!!

Flecha would be my guess.

 

[Wiggins_fan]

Johnny will go in the breakaway to keep his polka dot jersey

 

[hrotha]

I have vague memories of the 1996 stage that Sørensen won being pretty awesome, so I always have high expectations for Super-Besse. I'm going to tip De Gendt.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Flecha would be my guess.

I think flecha, Thomas, eddy boss and uran will still work as a team but they will allow either gerrans or knees to get in a break!!

 

[b.broadhurst]

Outside bet would be tejay van gedaran, his job is done for the first week and is out of gc contention now!!!

 

[mortand]

I have vague memories of the 1996 stage that Sørensen won being pretty awesome, so I always have high expectations for Super-Besse.

It was! Big breakaway with a bunch of capable riders got away, but the group diminished on the small climbs toward the finish. Virenque and LeBlanc attacked from the peloton, while Ullrich, Rominger, Berzin et al. cracked slightly. It was a pretty intense chase with Virenque and LeBlanc reaching the survivors of the breakaway (Sørensen, Orlando Rodrigues and a young Savoldelli) close to the finish and Sørensen hitting the final corner first and taking the sprint. Classic! The favorites' group was split, no huge time differences, but a wildly entertaining stage nevertheless.

Tomorrow, oh well...but it's a race after all.

By the way, the results if anyone should care:
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/archives/tour96/stage13.html

 

[Eric8-A]

Contador will attack to make up some time. Cadel will be in yellow.

As for Garmin, they won't do much here. Of course if Thor feels good, they might. But his days in yellow should end after tommorow. Maybe Ryder will get in a break.

With all but one Radioshack's GC hopes out, I think we'll see Klodi up there at the end of the stage.

 

[Dedelou]

I think If Contador has legs he should launch a long attack, dropping Andy in the second and third week will be harder.

I suspect that every contenders with a better GC time than contador will be looking to improve that time. Evans only needs a small gap over Thor to get the jersey so he may not have to push too hard.. Questions remains , strategy wise: does it hurt andy's chances to let his brother grab yellow? Can the Leopard team afford to defend it for so long? Now that some many contenders have been eliminated by crashes rather than by their competitors, can Evans' team do a better job at defending? As far as Contador, he will be marked like Gilbert was a few days ago. I am sure he will target getting some precious seconds, particularly if the stage is bagged by a break survivor

 

[mr. tibbs]

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

Yo sonic, this could be a good addition to the first page. Give everyone a quickly accessed cheat sheet for GC. (Thanks for posting, kurt!)

 

[Ferminal]

Gilbert survived this:

On a normal day he would be fine, but the first 7 days could have taken a bit out of him.

Phil or Bertie FTW.

 

[Gosta1]

Hoogie, Barredo, Kolobnev and Txurruka in the break please.

 

[Parrulo]

Gilbert survived this:

On a normal day he would be fine, but the first 7 days could have taken a bit out of him.

Phil or Bertie FTW.

he survived that fine enough to win

 

[El Pistolero]

I have vague memories of the 1996 stage that Sørensen won being pretty awesome, so I always have high expectations for Super-Besse. I'm going to tip De Gendt.

Nah, some idiot collided with him when he was standing still after a crash(Cofidis guy). He's having problems with his ties and shoulder.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Klodi to wheelsuck behind Levi - all the way to the stage victory and the yellow jersey

 

[rides like a girl]

Noticed that AC finished the last stage with Vino. I say they were planning an attack on this stage. AC and the entire Spanish armada will fire a blast onto the LeOpard Trek ship. Vino will work with the armada!

Vino will win the stage. Samu and AC will get time on Andy. Cadel will emerge with the yellow. Rojas, assisted by the armada, will still be in green.

Paul and Phil will be complaining how unfair it all is.

The people are my real choices, the other may just be a girls wishes, hopes and dreams.