TDF Stage 14: Saint-Gaudens - Plateau de Beille 168km

[sportzchick]

Yes - Quinziato

Yes, Quinziato

edit: too slow

My mistake....thanks guys

 

[Jeanne]

or he dropped himself....

he needs to go back and help the schlecks

 

[Trofinios]

Good for Leopard-Trek, both Voigt and Gerdemann in the break, could be very useful on the last climb. Maybe they will try to isolate Contador before Plateau de Beille by letting Monfort and Fuglsang go hard on Col d'Agnes?

 

[salixcycling]

I have to say the NBC TdF All Access is pretty good (no commercial breaks).

Nice. ITV4 have done well to go from the start, but just missed the initial break due to adverts.

 

[Delicato]

No SBS in the break. Why? Should make Agnes descent somewhat interesting, if Schlecks attack.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Good for Leopard-Trek, both Voigt and Gerdemann in the break, could be very useful on the last climb. Maybe they will try to isolate Contador before Plateau de Beille by letting Monfort and Fuglsang go hard on Col d'Agnes?

Seeing the kind of shape Monfort and Fuglsang (and Cancellara) are in, they won't isolate Contador that way.

And Delicato, the Schlecks won't attack on Agnes.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Ah now it can be an official break, the last 3 years Gutierrez is required to be in the break to make it an official one.

Rubén Pérez is in that chase group too.

In 2009, nobody spent more km in breakaways than José Iván Gutiérrez, and nobody gained more time over the péloton in breakaways than Rubén Pérez.

Christophe Riblon has been one of the leaders for breakaway km in each of the last four GTs he's entered.

 

[The Hitch]

Jens Voigt going to do on the Beille what he did on Madeline last year.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

No SBS in the break. Why? Should make Agnes descent somewhat interesting, if Schlecks attack.

Schlecks attack on descent

 

[salixcycling]

The three FDJ riders are consistently on the front of the break.

 

[Ramira]

Schlecks attack on descent

Yiap they're going to attack right out of the back of the peleton .

The descent won't be interesting but if only a small group survives Port the Lers the valley might be interesting, if anything gets dropped and then Voigt joins the leaders his tour might well be over.

 

[ansimi]

Good morning/afternoon/evening all

Special shout out to my fellow Pacific timezoners.

I have high hopes for this stage. Lots of good riders in the break.

 

[sultanofhyd]

3 FDJs, 2 Rabobanks, 2 Leopards, 2 AG2Rs, lots of teammates there.

 

[The Hitch]

I woke up this morning and felt pretty convinced that Andrew was going to win today (and therefor the Tour).

Im also shockingly worrying that Samu will crack after the effort he put in on Thursday.

 

[labratty]

They are doing a better so far this tour but the only decent the Schlecks can do quickly is usually from the saddle to the road.

 

[Delicato]

And Delicato, the Schlecks won't attack on Agnes.

Yep, just a wishful thinking. Just hope to see some action before the Plateau. Having said that, they(Leopard) can pull something à la Tourmalet in 2008, when CSC dropped both Valverde and Cunego on the climb and then there was Cancellara from a break who pushed it hard on the descent.

 

[Jeanne]

Im also shockingly worrying that Samu will crack after the effort he put in on Thursday.

so I hope u will be wrong

 

[HL2037]

I can't believe they let two leopards get into the break. They are probably supposed to help the Schlecks on the descents later. Though Voight would be tired after stage 12.

 

[Carl0880]

The three FDJ riders are consistently on the front of the break.

Thats because they have the rider in best position on the GC, Sandy Casar, 7 minutes and some change off the lead.

This might be why Voigt was brought back, because Casar would only be 6 minutes behind Frank for the jersey.

Anohter team that I didn't see representive was Radioshack. Guess the going for stage wins strategy seemed to have been forgotten by the riders this morning.

 

[sportzchick]

Schlecks attack on descent

LOL

they are worse decenders then they are TT'ers

 

[Publicus]

I woke up this morning and felt pretty convinced that Andrew was going to win today (and therefor the Tour).

Im also shockingly worrying that Samu will crack after the effort he put in on Thursday.

It's Frank's day. Andy is going to blow up spectacularly.

I'm kidding. I have no idea what is going to happen except that someone in lycra is going to win the stage. (I really went out on a limb with that one, no?)

 

[Delicato]

Schlecks attack on descent

I mean attacking on the ascent and then having Voigt from breakaway who goes back and pulls them on the descent and flat before Plateau. 99% sure such scenario won't happen, of course.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Thats because they have the rider in best position on the GC, Sandy Casar, 7 minutes and some change off the lead.

This might be why Voigt was brought back, because Casar would only be 6 minutes behind Frank for the jersey.

Anohter team that I didn't see representive was Radioshack. Guess the going for stage wins strategy seemed to have been forgotten by the riders this morning.

I hope Casar stays back and doesnt do any work, his two teamies and other Frenchies in the break are enough, Casar will need his legs later on the Beille.

 

[HL2037]

The australians have lot of reason to be proud in this TdF. Not only is Cadel Evans well placed, but Arthur Vichot is in a break for the second time, and we all remember who first saw his talent:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vichots-australian-fanclub-to-carry-on

 

[Ramira]

This might be why Voigt was brought back, because Casar would only be 6 minutes behind Frank for the jersey.

Voigt is still in the lead group, he was just hanging at the back a bit.

Also Casar is no threat anyway, he would need a lead of at least 6 minutes or so that means he needs 12 minutes at the finish, for that he probably needs around 18 minutes at the bottom of Plateau de Beille, that simply won't happen no-one is worried about Casar. If anything FDJ is working to tire out the competition and get a big enough gap to the peleton so Casar has a chance to win the stage, but no way will he be a GC contender after today.