Official Thread: Stage 20: Montélimar - Mt. Ventoux 167km

[Anonymous]

heading to montematre to the cemetary then off to the pub to see how it develops... Just hoping brad has been in discussion with the shlecks to work together...guarantee 2nd for baby and get brad into 3rd at the expense of astana..

gale force winds in ventoux apparently.. all the lorries had to go back down the hill..

 

[stefank]

"Lorries". Now, there's a quaint English word that I haven't heard anyone use for a long time,

 

[rhubroma]

The Giant of Provence. You know it was the first mountain to have been officially scaled, and written about, when Francesco Petrarch and his brother just walked the hell up it to have a view in the 14th century.

The mountain holds a special place in my heart, as it's the only major Tour climb I have ridden, from the Bedouin (?) side up to the top. 24 kilometers haul, the last 10-12 or so, very, very, tough indeed. At the top you feel as if you're on Everest, even though it's just a molehill in comparison. It is about life and death (from Tommy Simpson to Eros Poli, from Pantani to Armstrong), le Ventoux...a mystical mountain to quote the latter, who, for once, got it right.

In any event, le Ventoux rewards the true champion or a courageous rider. So I'm betting on either AC or an outsider who has tried an early escape that worked.

 

[badboyberty]

He can make up 5 minutes if just wakes up.

Wow, this is even dumber than your usual random bull****.

Have you been watching the same race as the rest of us? Lance Armstrong's the guy with the white face, inverted cheeks and buckets of sweat, Contador is the relaxed looking one and Andy Schleck is the skinny guy that tends to smile too much. I don't think the sun shines out of Lance's **** but the one thing I'd give him is that he's been working pretty damn hard.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I hope Lance tries a little harder on this final competitive stage. I get the distinct feeling that he has been half hearted throughout the race. He can make up 5 minutes if just wakes up. He will disappoint a lot of people if he does not pull up his socks and act like a Champion.

Nah....he's waiting for Paris, to attack on the final laps and take 10 minutes on the flat.
Hollywood already have it in their script.





Just watched a piece on tv, where club riders have been trying to climb the Ventoux, 3 times in a day.
On the final ascent, the wind was so strong, riders so fatigued, that one guy was blown backwards, down the hill!

I have a feeling the wind (forecast gale force) will temper the attacking.

 

[Velo Dude]

You gotta love ESPN's coverage of the Tour. Tonight they said, "tomorrow's stage is a daunting 104 mile climb."

Indeed, that should separate the men from the boys.

 

[The Colnago Kid]

The beast

The stage we’ve all been waiting for since the 2009 Tour route was announced late last year - a 167 km odyssey to the top of the mythical Mt Ventoux, the giant of Provence.

The first 130 km are really just a warm-up before the ascent of the beast begins. Three category 3 climbs and one category 4 climb will be swatted like flies by the big guns. But as the kilometres tick by and the Ventoux draws inexorably closer, mouths will go dry and guts begin to tighten as thoughts turn to the pain that awaits.

Ironically, the two most attacking climbers of the Tour are the two who will ride most defensively tonight. Contador and Andy Schleck just need to be patient, follow the right wheels and their 1st and 2nd places on GC are all but guaranteed. Armstrong, Wiggins, Kloden and Frank Schleck are the riders who must attack if they want to find their way onto the podium. There has been some conjecture as to whether Contador will help Armstrong today. The most likely answer is no - because he doesn’t need to. Though, should the opportunity present for Contador to gift Armstrong the stage win, that just might happen. Why? Because that’s some powerful mojo - the young bull gifting his older, weaker rival one last moment in the sun.

I anticipate Frank Schleck will be the most aggressive today. He has much to gain and 3rd place on GC is not out of reach. Unlike Contador, brother Andy is likely to lend a hand to Frank if possible but not at the expense of his own 2nd place. Surprisingly, I think it will be Cadel Evans who may prove to be Schleck the elder’s most likely ally. Evans rode well in the ITT with an 85 per cent effort and was an animator in the failed breakaway yesterday. He is motivated to stamp himself on a stage and has won on the Ventoux before.

Wiggins may surprise everyone and is a definite chance to grab 3rd place from Armstrong. The finishing climb on Ventoux presents him with an opportunity to measure his effort and without the usual attacks and accelerations coming from Contador and Andy Schleck there is some chance he may be able to wind up his big engine and power away from his rivals. Kloden looks tired and is most likely going to be cast in the role of Armstrong’s donkey - carrying him to the top of Ventoux and 3rd overall.

Reports in from our man in Provence @beltramed indicate that the wind is really blowing. This may make it even more difficult for individual riders to attack and ride away. Meaning that there may be a GC group finish of sorts without large amounts of time lost and much change on the overall. Well know in a matter of hours.

My tip: Frank Schleck. He has much to gain from riding attackingly - a stage win and 3rd overall are great motivators. Contador could - because Contador can. Evans may surprise too. And Carlos Sastre is the joker in the pack.

More here: http://tinyurl.com/l2jzgd including a blow-by-blow eyewitness account of climbing Ventoux.

 

[Zen Master]

I hope Lance tries a little harder on this final competitive stage. I get the distinct feeling that he has been half hearted throughout the race. He can make up 5 minutes if just wakes up. He will disappoint a lot of people if he does not pull up his socks and act like a Champion.

Wooooooooooooow you're my hero !??!

 

[Mellow Velo]

I wonder what will be said on this forum, if Kloden manages to jump Armstrong, for 3rd place?
Probably, that Berto should have done more attacking on the Colombieres!

 

[Blakeslee]

Frank Schleck is going to be in a really strong position today primarily due to his brother Andy. While Frank has been strong in the mountains, it has been Andy's accelerations that have but everyone with the exception of Contador into difficulty. The two brothers ability to counter attack off of each other is going to put the other contenders for the podium in a tough spot.

The only thing I see potentially working against Frank is the fact that Andy and Contador have already pretty much locked up their places on GC. The other contenders for third place will have no reason to chase Andy or Contador if they put in one of the kinds of accelerations that has blown up the race in the previous mountain stages. Frank is going to have to do most of the damage himself if he is going to move up to third.

Should be a great race, can't wait to watch!

 

[Wergeland]

Frank Schleck is going to be in a really strong position today primarily due to his brother Andy. While Frank has been strong in the mountains, it has been Andy's accelerations that have but everyone with the exception of Contador into difficulty. The two brothers ability to counter attack off of each other is going to put the other contenders for the podium in a tough spot.

The only thing I see potentially working against Frank is the fact that Andy and Contador have already pretty much locked up their places on GC. The other contenders for third place will have no reason to chase Andy or Contador if they put in one of the kinds of accelerations that has blown up the race in the previous mountain stages. Frank is going to have to do most of the damage himself if he is going to move up to third.

Should be a great race, can't wait to watch!

Hasn't Frank accelerated from Armstrong and Wiggins several times this tour? If he has a good day he can easily loose everyone except his brother and Alberto.

The strong wind worries me a bit. Will we see the GC guys attacking early in the climb while they are still in woods, partially protected from the wind?

 

[The Barb]

Didn't take long for a break to establish itself and no team really has any reason to chase. Wouldn't be surprised to see the gap get out to 15 minutes + pretty quickly and easily.

 

[horseman]

I'm an LA fan but in some ways I hope he either wins (which I think is not possible) or does enough to come in 4th or 5th in GC. Seeing Armstrong on the third step in Paris would somehow spoil his image!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RdBiker]

Didn't take long for a break to establish itself and no team really has any reason to chase. Wouldn't be surprised to see the gap get out to 15 minutes + pretty quickly and easily.

Winning on Ventoux is so rare that Saxo, Astana, Garmin and Liquigas atleast will most certainly chase them down before Bedoin or minimize the gap to 2-3mins.

 

[Amsterhammer]

A group of 13, including Tony Martin and two Rabos are now over 3 minutes ahead of the peloton after the first climb.

 

[RhodriM]

Any more news on the wind? Getting better or worse, head or tail?

 

[Amsterhammer]

Frightening, isn't it?

 

[Publicus]

Morning folks (yawn). Anything of note happen yet?

 

[frizzlefry]

I got 3 1/2 hours of sleep last night. Couldnt sleep.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Morning folks (yawn). Anything of note happen yet?

Leadng group of 18 (with Tony Martin as the only 'name') approaching 7'30 ahead after 50 kms. of racing. Both Wiggins and VdV have had bike trouble but are back with the bunch.

 

[Publicus]

I got 3 1/2 hours of sleep last night. Couldnt sleep.

That's the one thing I am looking forward to after today: sleeping in.

 

[Anonymous]

Any more news on the wind? Getting better or worse, head or tail?

According to Roll, it is blowing hard up there. Then again, he said Lance would win the Tour, so...

 

[frizzlefry]

That's the one thing I am looking forward to after today: sleeping in.

Yea my wife thinks I am stupid to get up so early to watch the race, when I could just watch the replay. It's not the same.

 

[Publicus]

According to Roll, it is blowing hard up there. Then again, he said Lance would win the Tour, so...

LOL. He's been a faithful in-studio lieutenant for Armstrong. Very faithful. I suspect he selects Lance to win the stage, yet again, today.

EDIT: Paul Sherwin just said that Alberto Contador is going to pace Lance Armstrong up the mountain. When was the last time the MJ served as domestique for his domestique?

 

[frizzlefry]

HaHa Paul stole it from Bob.