On which stage will Contador place his do-or-die attack?

[gerundium]

As people always mention about Contador he cares about coming first and not about coming second. Snagging the Vuelta win last year with a daring attack on the way to Fuente De cementing those comments.

On the Cyclingnews article today we saw the following comments by him:

It's true that my aim was to win the race but it's also true that the leader is on a level above everyone else and in a face-to-face battle, it's impossible to beat him," Contador said. "But there's a hard and tactically complicated week of racing ahead of us. And yes, it is true that for me it's the same to finish second or 10th."

Repeating the past

Contador emerged victorious at last year's Vuelta a España even though for much of the three weeks he appeared to be the third strongest rider in the race behind Joaquim Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde. The Spaniard's inventiveness and his seemingly inexhaustible supply of willing allies in the peloton combined to see him dramatically turn the overall standings around with a surprise attack on the road to Fuente De in the final week, however, and he hinted that he had a similar move ear-marked for the finale of the Tour.

"It's true that there is a stage where I want to see what happens, it could be a day to try and look for an opportunity," he said enigmatically. "There is a very important stage and in a week's time, you'll know which one it is."

So we can be pretty much assured there will be some kind of long-range attack by him. Now the question remains where will this attack occur?

Stage 16 towards Gap? Attacking on the descent of the Col de Manse?

Going for glory on the double Alpe stage? He came up short here before, maybe he will want to take his revenge.

Or maybe he will go for the absolute epic option on the lower slopes of the Madeleine after sending some teammates up the road on Glandon?

Place your bets!

profiles for good measure:

stage 16:

stage 18:

stage 19:

stage 20:

 

[l.Harm]

Glandon would be sick.

 

[Afrank]

Alpe d'Huez with Schleck. Andy and Alberto united once again. One went on a long range Galibier attack, the other went on a long range Fuente de attack. Now they will combine forces and dominate the Alpe.

And if it doesn't work out just try it again the next day. It's not called a suicide move for nothing.

 

[BigMac]

Alpe d'Huez with Schleck. Andy and Alberto united once again. One went on a long range Galibier attack, the other went on a long range Fuente de attack. Now they will combine forces and dominate the Alpe.

And if it doesn't work out just try it again the next day. It's not called a suicide move for nothing.

Andy was also going to dominate the Mont Ventoux . Was.

 

[Netserk]

How can the ITT be an option?

And why no multiple-choice?

 

[Miburo]

Stage 19 has everything. He'll do it there, some flat parts aswell which can be very helpfull if he has some teammates.

His team should start a war on gladon by continous attacking and then go himself on the madeleine. He can't wait for the next climb, he needs to go on the madeleine.

I don't think he'll succeed but it'll be fun to watch

How can the ITT be an option?

And why no multiple-choice?

Can you edit the first post and put the profile pictures of the 4 road stages?

I think it'll be really helpful, not everybody knows how the profile looks like.

 

[Afrank]

Andy was also going to dominate the Mont Ventoux . Was.

Nah, never dominate. Hoped for a good performance. But a breakaway on the Alpe was always going to be more his thing IMO.

Now if only Contador and Andy could climb the Alpe like they did the Tourmalet. _O_

 

[gerundium]

Can you edit the first post and put the profile pictures of the 4 road stages?

I think it'll be really helpful, not everybody knows how the profile looks like.

Done.

chars.

 

[Eshnar]

Madeleine.

 

[Netserk]

He will try on the Madeleine stage, but since he won't succeed enough to get yellow, he will also attack on Mont Revard.

 

[Panda Claws]

I bet he'll do it in the ITT.

 

[jens_attacks]

full gas saxo on glandon and madeleine. the team will be ready, alberto...don't know yet

 

[Dazed and Confused]

full gas saxo on glandon and madeleine. the team will be ready, alberto...don't know yet

yea, this gotta be done with the team.

Probably the best team hes ever had and many are in top form.

Already stage 18 will be used. Later more.

 

[Netserk]

yea, this gotta be done with the team.

Probably the best team hes ever had and many are in top form.

Already stage 18 will be used. Later more.

Quite ironic then that he is the worst that he has ever been*

*post-'07

 

[jsem94]

So much potential for havoc in all of those stages. Also potential for a stage-long TTT from Team Sky in every single one.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

I went with the Grand Bornand stage as well. If Froome seems somewhat vulnerable as of now, it's on the downhill sections. Nobody appears to be able to touch him going up so far in the Tour.

 

[RiccoDinko]

He's toast, better off to attack on a descent, Froome will spank him going up.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

So much potential for havoc in all of those stages. Also potential for a stage-long TTT from Team Sky in every single one.

This year, it will be all the other teams who fails if they do not attack Sky.

Froome is a different matter, but the Sky team can be rattled for sure.

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

he will wheelsuck and explode, wheelsuck and explode due to his aforementioned pride not letting him ride tactically for second/third and thus effectively neutralize porte and himself from the podium.

it doesnt matter how far the the finish is from whatever peak or what gradient for how long the way things are balanced in sky's favor

 

[Pricey_sky]

Froome and Quintana will be too strong on the MTF stages so it leaves stage 19 or nothing. All out from the Madeleine!

 

[42x16ss]

Froome and Quintana will be too strong on the MTF stages so it leaves stage 19 or nothing. All out from the Madeleine!

That would be epic and the crazy thing is, Bjarne and Rogers may have the balls to try it. Those two have their faults but they can read a race as well as anyone out there.

 

[gustienordic]

Froome and Quintana will be too strong on the MTF stages so it leaves stage 19 or nothing. All out from the Madeleine!

If its raining it might have a much better chance - or is that only Wiggins who clams up if theres rain on a descent?

 

[karlboss]

Contador could go on almost anything that has a cat 2 or harder early on. Also he has to be willing to let other riders up the road. I'd ride hard every early hill and see what happens. Even if, infact ideally if, there arent any tough climbs afterwards. With the right tactics and luck in other teams tactics anyone within 10 minutes could win this tour. I'll not explain how to those who think there is only time to be gained on mountains.

 

[Angliru]

Nah, never dominate. Hoped for a good performance. But a breakaway on the Alpe was always going to be more his thing IMO.

Now if only Contador and Andy could climb the Alpe like they did the Tourmalet. _O_

Doesn't everyone think that Andy would be more of an anchor in his current form? Ultimately he would want to have some hope of success in this scenario and paired up with Contador it is inevitable that their gap in form will result in Andy getting dropped. Also any action by Contador is going to be marked very closely. If Andy has any form left (and most importantly, motivation) after his disappointing effort on Ventoux, he's better served getting in a break with riders that are of similar non-threatening level as himself.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I don't think he will do a suicide attack. Froome is far better than Contador this year. I just don't see it happening. If anything, Contador will lose massive amounts of time because of it.

I vote for Le Grand Bornand stage.