Pyreneese vs the Alps

[theviciousfishes]

So this comes from Phil and Paul so I know I should take it with a grain of salt, but they claim that the Mountain ranges affect riders differently. Some can do well up the Alps but struggle in the Pyreneese and vice versa. Is there any tangible reason that you guys have seen that they may be correct in this assertion?

I recall in previous years (08 specifically) that Andy and Valverde lost time enough in the Basque country to lose contender status but later in the Alps were amongst the elite and in some cases stronger than many of the main guys.

 

[red_flanders]

Sure, there are significant differences. The roads in the Pyrenees tend (if they've not been blacktopped for the Tour) to be a lot rougher. The climbs tend to be steeper, and they are at a much lower altitude than in the Alps, this year in particular.

 

[red_flanders]

The fans are pretty different as well. In the Pyrenees it's all Basques and Spaniards. Much more northern types in the Alpes. They root for different riders so it probably makes a bit of a difference to the Spaniards to be racing on and often over their border.

 

[theviciousfishes]

Alright, the steepness certainly accounts for a riders style (Basso vs Pantani) and I see how a difficult road might lend itself to a more explosive rider, but shouldn't the high altitude of the Alps make them noticably more difficult? Or does the more gradual steepness of the climbs lend itself to smaller time gaps for riders on form and not having a particularly bad day?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

adding to what red_flanders said about rougher and steeper, the roads in the Pyrenees also tend to be narrower and more twisty, hence more dangerous on descents than the Alps.

 

[red_flanders]

This year's course on stage 17 is abnormally high. Imagine that the Izoard is the smallest obstacle of the day!

They're not usually that much higher, but they are loooong climbs typically. The Madeline, Glandon, Galibier, Izoard, etc.

They may slightly favor one kind of rider over another, but on this day it's going to be academic. It's going to be a slaughter.

 

[theviciousfishes]

A beautiful sight! For one who will never ride it of course. I keep wishing someday a major contender will roll the dice on the first climb on a stage like that one. If he gets away it will completely ruin the feed zone for everyone else. Alas, that is not the era of cycling I've come to follow

 

[luckyboy]

Don't worry, Vanendert will solo away on the Agnel to meet up with Gilbert and they will cross the line hand in hand 9 minutes ahead of anyone else.

 

[theviciousfishes]

3 minutes too slow though. Makes wonder how Floyd did it.

Edit....I know how he did it. What I mean is how huge was his pool of determination he drew from on that day? Disgraceful, and still awe-inspiringly amazing to this day.

 

[Jan the Man]

Stage 18 is going to be seriously difficult due to the altitude and length of the climbs.

What makes it even more difficult is that the final kilometers of these climbs at the highest altitude are the highest.

If someone has the fortitude of the GC contentders to attack on Angel it could be carnage. The Col Angel gets up to 2770m. The final 10km of the climb are at 9% average which will cause lots of difficulty.

The final 10km of the Col d'Izoard is hard at over 8% and the Galibier's hardest part is its final 5km. All of this will mean that this stage will see the biggest gaps of the whole Tour.