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

[Jamsque]

French tv reported on a "chute" for Bradders and Geraint T.

I think that was quite a while ago and they have since chased back on.

 

[CatsNK]

Good feed at:

http://www.fromsport.com/v-0/0/148/v-14923.html

 

[Publicus]

Why does Lampre have a man at the front with Saxo?

 

[CatsNK]

IMO Astana is trying to work Saxo Bank by placing Vino in the break. I think the big boy are going to come out and play today for sure.

I'm sure you are right - the announcers on Eurosport confirm what you are saying. And we can see it - Saxo Bank is going to burn up on such a hard route - they will be pressed.

Good stuff after 2 really boring days!

 

[HL2037]

Why does Lampre have a man at the front with Saxo?

Don't want Hushovd to take green jersey from Petacci (sp)

 

[kanari]

Why does Lampre have a man at the front with Saxo?

I think they want to catch up with the escapees to prevent more points for Thor. Bole is not exactly taking pulls in the escape either...

 

[Carl0880]

Agreed, there is a reason it is for the most consistent rider rather than the best sprinter. If you want a pure sprinter, not one capable of going into a break to win it then don't have intermediate sprint points.

On the other side, would love to see Cav in a break trying to get points for the Green Jersey.

Thats why I can't wait till we have a year where a non-sprinter chases and tries to win the point jersey. I thought we had a chance of this a couple of years ago with Kirchen (2007 I think) when he was in yellow and participated in a couple of bunch sprints. It would be nice if a GC rider would also go after either the KOM or the Points Jersey.

Cavendish said yesterday in his interview after the stage that he just dont have the characteristics like Thor to chase those breaks. "He can't do the things that Thor can do" were his exact words.

 

[khodder]

Interesting to see the Kloden doing next to no work in the break, my guess he is going to try and get away before the final climb, then hold up to get the Shack a stage win.

Right now Hesjedal and Vinokouriv doing all the work, both forcing Saxo to pull long periods at high speed.

 

[Delicato]

Thats why I can't wait till we have a year where a non-sprinter chases and tries to win the point jersey. I thought we had a chance of this a couple of years ago with Kirchen (2007 I think) when he was in yellow and participated in a couple of bunch sprints. It would be nice if a GC rider would also go after either the KOM or the Points Jersey.

That was in 2008. And in 2007 Rasmussen was going for both jerseys(KOM,yellow)...you know the outcome.

 

[sublimit]

with Vino going like a train, Saxo must be hating this.

 

[ingsve]

This is bit of a gamble by Hesjedal. It's very unlikely that a break with this many semi dangerous riders will stay away on a stage like this so it might end with Hesjedal using up all his energy and actually losing more time when the peloton finally catches them and they head into the climb.

 

[Connor Pass]

I think it definitely does give the green jersey another dimension which is only good for it.

I think this year Hushovd is really up against it though - he's simply not sprinting well enough in the bunch sprints and will lose too much to Petacchi on the 3 remaining sprint stages. I'm a bit surprised JJ Rojas hasn't made more of an effort on these type of stages.

 

[Delicato]

This is bit of a gamble by Hesjedal. It's very unlikely that a break with this many semi dangerous riders will stay away on a stage like this so it might end with Hesjedal using up all his energy and actually losing more time when the peloton finally catches them and they head into the climb.

Anyway, he is not really under any pressure. He wasn't a designated team leader before the Tour, and was merely just a domestique for VdV. He is surely aiming for Top-10 in GC now, but if he fails(for example, losing too much energy today even before the Pyrenees), noone will blame him for mediocre performance.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Kudos to Hushovd for going all out again, but I don't like this. Same with winning the KOM only by being in break aways. Intermediate sprints should only count in groups of more than 30 people.

Yeah, flame me

I have no problem with the current system, but I had a different alternative in mind if you "don't want riff-raff to spoil the point allocation".

Every team nominates one rider (or two?) from their team to be considered for these jerseys, and points are awarded according to the difference between these riders only.

Maybe a different point scale and a small bonus or penalty for coming in in a different group would still incite attacking riding.

 

[Jamsque]

This is bit of a gamble by Hesjedal. It's very unlikely that a break with this many semi dangerous riders will stay away on a stage like this so it might end with Hesjedal using up all his energy and actually losing more time when the peloton finally catches them and they head into the climb.

I think he's after the stage, not the time. He knows (or at least, he should know) that he is going to lose gobs and gobs of time on the Tourmalet stages. Getting a minute and a half on AC/AS today isn't going to make any difference to where he ends up in Paris.

 

[Anonymous]

with Vino going like a train, Saxo must be hating this.

This will be one of those stages that takes a toll later on.

Saxo will burn some matches today. Having Vino up the road is really good for Bertie.

 

[CatsNK]

Check it out we're up to 2:22!

 

[Mellow Velo]

This will be one of those stages that takes a toll later on.

Saxo will burn some matches today. Having Vino up the road is really good for Bertie.

Yes, the Saxo guys looked strained on that last climb. Astana getting it easy.

 

[Carl0880]

Check it out we're up to 2:22!

If it creeps moving up you are going to see Lampre possible cease working since they will decide that they can't catch it to prevent Hushovd getting points.

soon Rabo and Euskaltel will begin to think about sending a rider or 2 to help. Saxo domestiques have already worked a ton in this tour, and with the exception heat we have seen this year, fatigue will become a major factor.

 

[ttrider]

Saxos visibly tiring now, they have to keep a few fresh to put andy in the correct position for the final climb, can see astana really lighting the blue touch paper 5k before mende

 

[kanari]

Sky can't be happy not having a single rider in the escape. If the group is caught could Lovkvist be a contender for the stage win?

 

[Jamsque]

Sky can't be happy not having a single rider in the escape. If the group is caught could Lovkvist be a contender for the stage win?

He hasn't seemed to be in very good form so far this Tour, so I doubt it. Sky has missed the boat today for sure, especially since they said they were going to chase stages now.

 

[Cerberus]

Sky can't be happy not having a single rider in the escape. If the group is caught could Lovkvist be a contender for the stage win?

I doubt it, certainly not if Andy or Contador decided to have a go.

 

[sublimit]

Nice to see Kiryenka up there and looking in decent form, wouldn't mind seeing him get the stage.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Sky can't be happy not having a single rider in the escape. If the group is caught could Lovkvist be a contender for the stage win?

If lovkist attack about 10km out and everybody rides slowly up mende Lovkist will win. So he has no chance.
Good to see Cadel right up the front with some of the BMC boys. Maybe he is feeling better today. It is a Cadel finish.