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

[Anonymous]

now weve got chavenel, cunego and one other on the attack. Wonder if that breakaway make-up is approved by mr armstrong

 

[Connor Pass]

Still only 10" - so perhaps not. At this stage if Petacchi is out the back Cervelo might not let the break escape so Hushovd can take 6 points in the sprint after the next Cat 3 climb.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

All together again

 

[Mellow Velo]

55kms in.
50kph for the first hour.
They are done, resting.

 

[roundabout]

49.3 km/h first hour average

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

lol, and that includes a cat 3 climb

 

[Connor Pass]

18 riders off the front - one of them being Vino.

Edit - Charteau, Kern, Kiryienka and Verdugo got the mountain points so obviously also there!

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

No mercy - while Pineau receives medical treatment after his crash, Charteau sprints in for 4 points, and is now polka-dot jersey leader.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No mercy - while Pineau receives medical treatment after his crash, Charteau sprints in for 4 points, and is now polka-dot jersey leader.

The Tour waits for nobody.
Except Saxo-Bank riders that is.

 

[roundabout]

Oooh, good group

Vino, Klöden, Hesjedal among others

 

[Mellow Velo]

Hushovd is in there, too, for the points. If this break sticks..........

 

[JesusManzano]

ouch! this will be a long and hard day for Saxo-bank. And again Hushovd is up there for the sprint

 

[rolfrae]

Lampre put Bole in there to shadow Hushovd and steal the points?

 

[roundabout]

Lol, Hushovd beaten by Bole in the sprint

 

[Connor Pass]

Lol, Hushovd beaten by Bole in the sprint

Brilliant work by Bole! Petacchi will keep the jersey now if Hushovd doesn't reach the next sprint point with the group!

Level on points but Petacchi has more stage wins.

 

[Cerberus]

ouch! this will be a long and hard day for Saxo-bank. And again Hushovd is up there for the sprint

It's not that big a deal I would think, they can afford to let Vino have 5 minutes easily, .

 

[rolfrae]

Lampre put Bole in there to shadow Hushovd and steal the points?

Yes Rolf, you were right.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Also he actually said he's going to take a shot.

That flatter incline near the end would seem to favor Andy so I wonder if AC will try to attack him on the steep portion before that so as to wear him down before he gets to an area where AS is stronger.

That shallower gradient finish is really ticking me off.

 

[oevkride]

And Sivtsov is there for Cav?

 

[koolkinks]

Charteau in the break but not Pineau. The KOM for this stage will be sewn up unless the break is caught.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Gap going out. with 18 riders and with Ryder and Vino up there, Saxo will need help from other teams, or we could have another L'Aquila.

If they stay away, the Shack look to have possibly another stage win, since Kloden should out-climb the rest, including the Kazakh.

 

[ttrider]

Is:
A) Vino working for himself
B) Tiring out Saxobank for Contador

Everyones second favorite Kazakh living up to his reputation

 

[gorgos]

Man, you have to give som credit to Hushovd. He's doing everything on his own. Intermediate sprints, breakaways, finishes, climbs. Not a teammate in sight.

 

[Punter]

Hushovd has such guts - Pet and co would have known he would be try to be in the move but could not stop him.

If this break makes the final climb together can Hushovd possibly top 6?

 

[Cerberus]

Gap going out. with 18 riders and with Ryder and Vino up there, Saxo will need help from other teams, or we could have another L'Aquila.

If they stay away, the Shack look to have possibly another stage win, since Kloden should out-climb the rest, including the Kazakh.

L'aquila had 50 some riders in the break with many actual domestiques willing to go all out to lengthen the gap, in this break I think only Klöden, Vino and Hesjedal cares about anything but the stage win and I don't think any of them have team mates in the break. While the situation is hardly optimal for Saxo I think you're overstating the problem.