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

[taiwan]

Is a Schleck going to try and bridge to Voight at some point? Tend to think that's the only reason he'd be in the move.

To help Andy on the descent maybe.

 

[sultanofhyd]

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.*

In terms of forum members, almost everyone except the Aussies, and the odd Schleck fan.

In terms of team, all his mountain goats are still there.

 

[roundabout]

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.*

Must be over 70 people still there so he should have 3 or 4 at least.

 

[Trofinios]

What the hell Nicki?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

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

I am hoping for a basso or samu surprise
If not.. I guess schleck gets the nod over evans for me.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gilbert finds his waterloo

 

[sublimit]

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

Rooting for Zandio, maybe a French win for the locals would be good also.

 

[spalco]

Gilbert has done a lot in this Tour, but he can't let himself get dropped at this point of a mountain stage if he ever wants to make it into the top 10.

 

[Wergeland]

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

He has some sort of blockage in his hip causing problems with his back.

 

[Tuarts]

Fascinating that the break has now come back together. This 11 should be good. Should stay together even on Port de Lers which should then be compact through to the last climb.

 

[Bala Verde]

Gilbert treating this as a prolonged redoute!

He is struggling unfortunately, but let's hope he can stay within a minute or so and he'll be back in the descent.

 

[Publicus]

I am hoping for a basso or samu surprise
If not.. I guess schleck gets the nod over evans for me.

I'll draft your wheel on both those counts.

 

[Wergeland]

How long has Stewie been at the front? Massive effort.

 

[superconfex]

Come on Phil dig deep son

 

[sultanofhyd]

I'll draft your wheel on both those counts.

I'd rather Evans win over Andy, atleast Frank.

 

[sublimit]

Gilbert is human after all, suffering like hell.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Gilbert gets dropped, and so we can finally say, after two whole weeks, that we've finally got to the point where the GC battle can start.

He's fought manfully to be up there (but in reality the parcours hasn't made it too hard for him) but those efforts are finally catching up with him.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gilbert has done a lot in this Tour, but he can't let himself get dropped at this point of a mountain stage if he ever wants to make it into the top 10.

hardly see how it matters.

This stage has no connection to future GTs other then a reason for people to speculate.

He is indeed tired, He isn't in the body shape he needs to be if he wants to contend for a top 10 (I assume if he was aiming for such he would mold his body more appropriately).

No relevance really.

And I don't even think he will ever ride a top 10, cause I don't think he is that stupid to waste a season on it.

 

[Parrulo]

I am hoping for a basso or samu surprise
If not.. I guess schleck gets the nod over evans for me.

ya same for me

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Cav at 1:32? Chortle.

 

[luckyboy]

Not too long until 30km of boredom.

 

[The Hitch]

While nothing is happening ... What is the route of the road race for the Olympics next yr like?

The worst one yet i think.

Flat flat flat flat. Theres a little hill to climb in there somewhere but not near the finish. Its not a circuit i dont think, they go out into the country to take on one or two climbs, then flat flat flat into the city and the finish.

Its one thing to have flat stages in stage races. But the biggest one day race, where everyone wants to win, there should be some challenges somwhere to provide excitement.

 

[Bala Verde]

http://data.srmlive.de/tdf/

nice. The lesser gods are putting out between 300-340 watts at 13km/hr...

 

[AussieGoddess]

Gilbert has done a lot in this Tour, but he can't let himself get dropped at this point of a mountain stage if he ever wants to make it into the top 10.

He will get back on going down

 

[Trofinios]

Damn, Col d'Agnes is tough.

O'Grady doing some really good work. Will it be the veterans, Voigt and O'Grady, who will be most important for the Brothers? So far, it seems like it.