TdF - Breakaway Stage

[cycladianpirate]

OK folks! Place your bets (I don't mean that literally, or this thread is going to be moved) BUT, if you had (theoretically) to place your money on one of the stages in the Tour going to the break, which one would it be?

For my (hypothetical) money, the favourite has to be Stage 16. Long into the tour, descent finish, ITT the next day....

Hang it all! I'm going breakaway AND francais.

 

[Netserk]

Stage 9.

Voeckler will win it

 

[Steady]

Stage 9

Veilleux/Voeckler will win it. 2nd will be Nieve

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think we will go very deep into the race.

Stage 16. Bardet, Cunego or Albasini

 

[xanadu]

Stage 9
lets round up the usual suspects, Voekler, Louis leon Sanchez, casar amd Chavanel. Ill go with Louis Leon Sanchez

 

[Steady]

Stage 9
lets round up the usual suspects, Voekler, Louis leon Sanchez, casar amd Chavanel. Ill go with Louis Leon Sanchez

Hmm, I really can't see how Luis Leon Sanchez could be a part of that stage, I don't think he'll win any stages in this years TdF. No pun intended

 

[Linkinito]

Stages 9 - 15 - 16.

 

[Netserk]

Stages 9 - 15 - 16.

Ventoux, really?

I think it's 50/50

 

[Rajna31]

Stage 14. It is hilly all day, great terrain, deep in the race, tough GC day coming up, Cav and other pure sprinters might have a hard time so their trains won't pull as hard, Cannondale won't be strong enough alone. And it's right before Bastille Day, I doubt that a Frenchman can take that one, so they'll have to focus on the one before and after.

 

[Linkinito]

Ventoux, really?

I think it's 50/50

Ventoux nearly always been a breakaway stage. 1970 with Merckx, 1994 with Poli, 2002 with Virenque, 2009 with Garate. The Ventoux is too far from the Champs-Élysées to see a big GC fight. They'll let a breakaway go through, and I'm pretty sure a french guy will try to win it. Bastille Day, Ventoux, all that stuff, I really see a Voeckler or Chavanel going for it.

 

[Netserk]

Ventoux nearly always been a breakaway stage. 1970 with Merckx, 1994 with Poli, 2002 with Virenque, 2009 with Garate. The Ventoux is too far from the Champs-Élysées to see a big GC fight. They'll let a breakaway go through, and I'm pretty sure a french guy will try to win it. Bastille Day, Ventoux, all that stuff, I really see a Voeckler or Chavanel going for it.

You are probably right, but somehow I think the MTFs will be contested by the GC riders.

 

[Afrank]

9, 18, 19.
16 (if they take it too easy in the first half).
5 (if an especially strong group goes, and the teams screw up/don't chase hard enough).

 

[Miburo]

You are probably right, but somehow I think the MTFs will be contested by the GC riders.

we always think that

Bring back boni's: 12-8-4.

 

[cycladianpirate]

we always think that

Bring back boni's: 12-8-4.

Oh! I am so with you there!! Talk about double standards - "pure stage racing" and you include TTTs???

But that's another thread.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Stages 7,9,14 and 16 look like breakways will have the best chance.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I'll risk and go with stage 2.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Stage 14. It is hilly all day, great terrain, deep in the race, tough GC day coming up, Cav and other pure sprinters might have a hard time so their trains won't pull as hard, Cannondale won't be strong enough alone. And it's right before Bastille Day, I doubt that a Frenchman can take that one, so they'll have to focus on the one before and after.

Stage 14 is the last sprint before Paris, and the 2nd half really isn't that difficult.

 

[Wigwan]

Stage 21... the breakaway will lap the field

 

[Sasquatch]

Stage 3

Those narrow undulating roads suits the break. Sagan will let people go up the road that lost time on the first two days so his yellow jersey isn't threatened. I don't think any other team will do a high pace on that stage to bring it back.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Stages 9 - 15 - 16.

Having looked at it again I cant see Ventoux being a breakaway stage, especially if Cav/Greipel need the intermediate sprint points which come after 200km's of flat just before the start of the climb. If it's tight for the green jersey expect OPQS to reel in the break.

 

[ILovecycling]

I'll risk and go with stage 2.

I think Cannondale wants to control this stage.They have to drop Cav and Kittel,maybe Greipel and then Sagan has a chance for a MJ,thats why I dont think breakway won't succeed.

Or maybe you think Sagan will be in the break

 

[DenisMenchov]

I'll risk and go with stage 2.

Almost forgot about this one. Too bad no real money can be gained here

 

[Ruby United]

Stage 9.

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