TdF Stage 12 - Fri 16th - Bourg-de-Péage - Mende 210.5km

[Delicato]

He seems to be an excellent tactician.

Really? P&P always told us that Bruyneel is master tactician.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Yeah, but Andy can get away from Vino on the climbs, Menchov and Basso might be stuck in a group with a rabid Kazakh.

Nobody is worrying, Tourmalet is about 8 minutes too much for Vino now.

 

[Anonymous]

I just saw a Sky rider. At the back.

 

[Moondance]

Dutch TV actually gives relevant information now??!

I know... The two 'koffiewijven' aren't as bad as I remember them

I'm currently at my parents who have Dutch TV but no VRT

 

[franciep10]

liquigas working to bring it back

 

[Cerberus]

Is Thor still hanging with the rest of the break (the guys dropped by the Vino quartet)? If they manage to stay away, Thor could sweep up a few more sprint points in the stage finish. If the peloton catches them, no chance of that.

Cervelo kind of two opposing goals here, with Sastre and Thor. I'm kind of surprised to see them helping chase the break.

Assuming Thor is still away and hasn't dropped back to the bunch.

Hushovd was dropped quite a while ago, or fell back actually I think.

 

[sometriguy]

They are saying there is a head wind on the climb....

Will this neutralize it a bit?

 

[ak-zaaf]

They are saying there is a head wind on the climb....

Will this neutralize it a bit?

On a 3km 10% climb?

Prolly not.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

certain people are making it a travesty...thats why I wish it!

anywhoo...

Having Vino in yellow now would be worse for Astana than Saxo as they would have to do the lions share of the work

In the 1st place, I wouldn't be so sure. But I don't really think the likelihood of that is very realistic.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Hushovd was dropped quite a while ago, or fell back actually I think.

Ah, thanks. That explains Cervelo then. Too bad, I was hoping Thor could hang in long enough to sweep up a couple of sprint points at the end. Didn't think he could win the stage, but thought he might be able to get some kind of points. I guess he's done though. Live to fight another day.

 

[Ferminal]

So... Are they staying away?

 

[Ripper]

Glad to see some interesting racing today. The finish should be fun.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hesjay suffering, looks like he's going to blow spectacularly on the final climb.

Meh, I wouldn't be so sure. He always looks like he is going to blow every minute. And then comes up with a suprise.

 

[Cerberus]

So... Are they staying away?

I think the official answer to that is: Maybe.

 

[Jamsque]

So... Are they staying away?

It's looking increasingly likely, but they've all been working very hard. The gap could come down very quickly on the climb if they are all out of gas.

 

[Anonymous]

So... Are they staying away?

I think so... Not by much tho.

 

[Ferminal]

It's looking increasingly likely, but they've all been working very hard. The gap could come down very quickly on the climb if they are all out of gas.

I think they should be OK with 30-40s on the bottom.

 

[CatsNK]

2:44. Liquigas is helping the peleton now.

 

[Moondance]

Even Lotto are working now.... Rabobus, mehhhh, not so much.

 

[Anonymous]

More teams are driving now.

 

[Francois the Postman]

It's one thing to push wooden cubes across a table with big sticks, back in the hotel, and figure out that getting Vino up the road by 4 minutes would be ace. But to get that happening up the road like this requires good fortune and maybe one or two other teams that help out. You don't plan an 18 rider breakaway.

In the olden days Riis and Bruyneel used to know how to find each other on the mobile if they saw opportunities and overlapping interest during a stage.

Is there something similar happening between Astana and Caisse in this Tour?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

It's one thing to push wooden cubes across a table with big sticks, back in the hotel, and figure out that getting Vino up the road by 4 minutes would be ace. But to get that happening up the road like this requires good fortune and maybe one or two other teams that help out. You don't plan an 18 rider breakaway.

In the olden days Riis and Bruyneel used to know how to find each other on the mobile if they saw opportunities and overlapping interest during a stage.

Is there something similar happening between Astana and Caisse in this Tour?

My sense is that several of the Caisse riders will be joining Contador at Astana. I would bet on Guttierez and perhaps Kirienka.

Farrar leaving the Tour?!?!

 

[Moondance]

Farrar is out of the Tour. Good news for Cav.

 

[Ferminal]

Sherwen saying Farrar has abandoned...

 

[The Sheep]

Farrar