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

[hoolaparara]

Maybe it's me but this is looking like turning into another fizzer. with little of significance happening!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

How's today's thread count? Are we going to beat some records? It seems slow at the moment...

gonna say no.

Stage 12 wont be beaten, I assume the lack of mountains for 11 days resulted in a ridiculous amount of interest and excitement.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

You're suggesting the race organisers will create a large grupetto in order to keep Cavendish in? I'm not sure they have quite that much control.

In the race, it's nice to see Leopark Trek trying the same tactic again. Still, no-one else was going to do anything in the bunch yet.

I expect his teammates would aim to get him to a grupetto large enough. The race organisers don't want to throw people out, especially if they're wearing leader's jerseys, so they'll do everything in their power not to - it's up to Cavendish and his teammates to satisfy their requirements, or at least come somewhere close. With the 2010 Giro they called grupetto and rode at a slow pace. Yes, they'd be outside the time limit, but they'd be let in because there was enough of them. Farrar was a bit upset because he said Garmin had tried to make the time limit but been asked to slow down by other teams.

HTC could easily pace the gruppetto however they want once it's big enough. It certainly looks like it'll be plenty big enough at the top of this climb.

 

[Jeanne]

Go JENSI!!!!!

 

[sultanofhyd]

How's today's thread count? Are we going to beat some records? It seems slow at the moment...

We had 50+ pages for Luz Ardiden before the stage started.

 

[Tuarts]

Voigt doing a great job of narshalling, as I said, one LT rider will drop back and one will stay with the break. Voigt will probably rejoin the Schlecks on Plateau De Beille.

 

[rides like a girl]

How's today's thread count? Are we going to beat some records? It seems slow at the moment...

i guess like the race..we are all waiting for the Beille to do something...don't want to burn ourselves out.

 

[meat puppet]

impressive as it is, the leopard train brings about the wrong association: US postal... not matching its ludicrous speed of course, but nonetheless

 

[Potomac]

i guess like the race..we are all waiting for the Beille to do something...don't want to burn ourselves out.

Indeed, I'm just following the thread.

 

[mr. tibbs]

i guess like the race..we are all waiting for the Beille to do something...don't want to burn ourselves out.

Haha great!

Anyone have a good feed? I'm watching with Kelly on Eurosport, but the quality is terrible.

 

[sultanofhyd]

gonna say no.

Stage 12 wont be beaten, I assume the lack of mountains for 11 days resulted in a ridiculous amount of interest and excitement.

And Contador's bad form doesn't help either, I was not even remotely excited about this stage this morning.

 

[El Pistolero]

And Contador's bad form doesn't help either, I was not even remotely excited about this stage this morning.

Yeah, I'll put my hopes on Vanendert to do well Top 10 would be amazing.

 

[salixcycling]

I expect his teammates would aim to get him to a grupetto large enough. The race organisers don't want to throw people out, especially if they're wearing leader's jerseys, so they'll do everything in their power not to - it's up to Cavendish and his teammates to satisfy their requirements, or at least come somewhere close. With the 2010 Giro they called grupetto and rode at a slow pace. Yes, they'd be outside the time limit, but they'd be let in because there was enough of them. Farrar was a bit upset because he said Garmin had tried to make the time limit but been asked to slow down by other teams.

HTC could easily pace the gruppetto however they want once it's big enough. It certainly looks like it'll be plenty big enough at the top of this climb.

OK, didn't remember that. I'd still say that is the riders forming the grupetto though, not the organisers convincing them to. I can't believe the other teams would do it just for Cav though

 

[sultanofhyd]

Gerdemann is making it back as well, so much for dropping back.

 

[Potomac]

And Contador's bad form doesn't help either, I was not even remotely excited about this stage this morning.

I think Contador looking vulnerable only adds interest. If he was up to his normal level the rest of field would look hopelessly at 1st place and settle for 2nd

 

[Libertine Seguros]

OK, didn't remember that. I'd still say that is the riders forming the grupetto though, not the organisers convincing them to. I can't believe the other teams would do it just for Cav though

No, but if you have enough people suffering, it needn't be the whole 20% needed for the bus to be allowed to remain in the race, just enough to make enough teams happy to do the go-slow.

 

[Jeanne]

Gerdemann and Mimo back with the leading group

 

[roundabout]

Why do I often think of a dying swan when watching Gerdemann?

 

[Bala Verde]

How much support does Conti still have?

*I am aggressively trying to get ahead in post count on this thread. I want to have enough of a buffer to win this stage before the contenders start ripping it up.*

 

[Trofinios]

Fuglsang looks a bit tired. Will he fail again to do some important assist work for the brothers?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

And Contador's bad form doesn't help either, I was not even remotely excited about this stage this morning.

I'd say a number of fans have lost their man. So many big names gone...
dutch, UK, US, AC fans, Belgium etc

 

[taiwan]

Sandy Casar's top 20 Giros and Tours say hi.

Actually Casar does look better on paper having checked. Top tens in the Pais Vasco as well, which I hadn't noticed before.

 

[sublimit]

Kelly was surprised to see Millar drop off so not just Phil, a great tester but cant climb for toffee.

Robert Millar Yes David Millar no.

 

[Publicus]

Linus will be worthless when the peloton arrives.

 

[Publicus]

I'd say a number of fans have lost their man. So many big names gone...
dutch, UK, US, AC fans, Belgium etc

Indeed. Just have to root for an exciting race at this point.