TdF stage 5

[Christian]

"Christian Prudhomme revealed the route of stage 5 of the Tour de France today, which features the Mur de Bretagne, also called "The Alpe d'Huez of Bretagne".

The ascension is 2 km long with an average 6,9%, but includes segments of more than 15%.

After the start in Lorient, the peloton will go north-east before tackling this Mur. After 172 km only the best punchers will be able to break away from the peloton".

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-tdf_le_mur_de_bretagne_est_l_alpe_d_huez_bretonne-13114.html

This sounds pretty interesting! I wonder if any of the GC candidates get trapped ... any predictions? I'm pretty sure we'll have a new maillot jaune after that stage.

Does anyone know this climb? How does this compare to the Mur de Huy?

We have seen Andy (2nd) Cadel (1st, 2nd) and Contador (4th I think) all do pretty well on the Mur de Huy

 

[theyoungest]

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-tdf_le_mur_de_bretagne_est_l_alpe_d_huez_bretonne-13114.html

This sounds pretty interesting! I wonder if any of the GC candidates get trapped ... any predictions? I'm pretty sure we'll have a new maillot jaune after that stage.

Does anyone know this climb? How does this compare to the Mur de Huy?

We have seen Andy (2nd) Cadel (1st, 2nd) and Contador (4th I think) all do pretty well on the Mur de Huy

I think the Mur de Huy has a maximum gradient of 25%, and it's shorter. If someone like Bradley Wiggins grabs yellow on stage 2, I'm not so sure it will change hands after this stage.

 

[The Sheep]

Gilbert won't ride the tour will he?

 

[Havetts]

Explosive riders will be better on that short climb, so maybe Basso will have troubles.

Gilbert won't ride the tour will he?

Yes he will if I remember correctly.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Gilbert won't ride the tour will he?

He will and he will be motivated because of this climb. He said he wants to try to go for yellow there.

/edit: profile

 

[jens_attacks]

another vino-gillbert battle.

now i will go out to call the climb close to where i live "the alpe d'huez of jens_attacks street".

 

[Frosty]

Its stage 4 rather than stage 5, although it is on 5th July

Gilbert is planning to ride the tour. I think he has his sights on stage 1 as well, which is an uphill finish and the winner of that will get a yellow jersey.

The less explosive riders could well lose a few seconds, ie Basso. As far as the yellow jersey goes - unless breakaways take stage 1 or 3 then the yellow jersey wearer will be from a very strong team and have finished the best on that team at the uphill finish on stage 1. The finishes on stage 1 and 4 are both uphill but i think stage 4 is significantly harder so the yellow jersey should be up there at the finish although its quite possible that it will pass to someone else, maybe even a team mate.

As far as Gilbert taking yellow here, he could take it on the first stage but is then very likely to lose it in the TTT. Lotto should do quite a lot better than the 2009 debacle but will still lose significant time bearing in mind any time gaps between the leaders on stages 1 and 4 will probably be a few seconds and so he should not be able to retake it on stage 4 even if he does get a clear gap.

Does anyone know exactly what the profile for the Mur is? I have found this

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Mur de bretagne&qryMountainID=11035

which should be a decent guide.

 

[theyoungest]

He will and he will be motivated because of this climb. He said he wants to try to go for yellow there.

Thank you for giving us the profile of Paris-Nice stage 5.

 

[Cobblestoned]

I think its a little bit hyped.
There won't happen anything there regarding GC.

There will be topspeed in final kms and they'll just role up that "wall", lol.
Stagewinner will be someone with good punch and good climbing.

Even possible that some good climbing uphillsprinters like Ciolek, Greipel (yes, I am German ) could win it.
But if I had to bet with my own money, I would bet on Gilbert.

 

[Christian]

Its stage 4 rather than stage 5, although it is on 5th July

Thanks, can maybe a mod change the title then?

My favourites: Rodriguez, Valverde, Kirchen ...

 

[El Pistolero]

2011 parcours is the best one since 2007 I think

Who ever wins on Plateau-de-Beille wins the Tour. I tell you that

Gilbert will win stage 1 and 4.

HTC will win the TTT.

 

[Raceoftruth]

Maybe EBH?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Blimey, I agree with Cobblers.
This stage finish is over-hyped and I say this, even though I may well be there.
The Tour has been up the M d B many times, albeit at earlier points in the stage.
It's no Mende, for instance, though the 2 climbs are roughly the same length.

 

[El Pistolero]

Blimey, I agree with Cobblers.
This stage finish is over-hyped and I say this, even though I may well be there.
The Tour has been up the M d B many times, albeit at earlier points in the stage.
It's no Mende, for instance, though the 2 climbs are roughly the same length.

Meh, Mende is quite predictable, only a select few climbers are good on it. The likes of Contador and Joaquim Rodriguez.

 

[ingsve]

I think this is one of the stages that Hushovd thinks he has a shot at as well.

 

[Kvinto]

2km of such a hill is too long for Hushovd, it's like Cauberg in AGR but a bit longer and steeper. I think this comparison (with Cauberg) is more fair than with Mur de Huy

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-tdf_le_mur_de_bretagne_est_l_alpe_d_huez_bretonne-13114.html

This sounds pretty interesting! I wonder if any of the GC candidates get trapped ... any predictions? I'm pretty sure we'll have a new maillot jaune after that stage.

Does anyone know this climb? How does this compare to the Mur de Huy?

We have seen Andy (2nd) Cadel (1st, 2nd) and Contador (4th I think) all do pretty well on the Mur de Huy

And Gesink as well (4th in 2008, 9th in 2007, as neo pro, last year crap because of a cold) and ofcourse 2x winner on Emilia (another similar climb)

 

[Kvinto]

And Gesink as well (4th in 2008, 9th in 2007, as neo pro, last year crap because of a cold) and ofcourse 2x winner on Emilia (another similar climb)

It's a mistake. San Luca climb is 2km but 10%(max 18%) is more comparable to Mur de Huy

 

[Squire]

2km of such a hill is too long for Hushovd, it's like Cauberg in AGR but a bit longer and steeper. I think this comparison (with Cauberg) is more fair than with Mur de Huy

Well, when the TDF finished on the Cauberg in 2006, Bennati was 3rd and Boonen 4th. Surely a Hushovd anno 2011 is just as good a climber if not better on short hills than Bennati/Boonen were then?

With that said, I still believe Gilbert will win it. But I think Hushovd isn't wrong to reckon he has a chance.

 

[Havetts]

Who ever wins on Plateau-de-Beille wins the Tour. I tell you that

Lets see if the Legend will survive .

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It's a mistake. San Luca climb is 2km but 10%(max 18%) is more comparable to Mur de Huy

I was comparing it to Huy (look who I quoted)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well, when the TDF finished on the Cauberg in 2006, Bennati was 3rd and Boonen 4th. Surely a Hushovd anno 2011 is just as good a climber if not better on short hills than Bennati/Boonen were then?

With that said, I still believe Gilbert will win it. But I think Hushovd isn't wrong to reckon he has a chance.

They didn't finish on the Cauberg, they finished 3km after in the town of Vilt, on a totally flat finish.

Get your facts straight

 

[Frosty]

For what its worth this climb might be comparable to stage 1 in 2008.

http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/LIVE/us/100/etape_par_etape.html

(look for last km)

With the following results.

http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/LIVE/us/100/classement/index.html

From what i have seen, which isnt much, stage 4 this year has a harder finish than stage 1 in 2008, stage 1 this year is perhaps slightly less steep than 2008 - Hushovd would stand a better chance there IMO?

 

[Kvinto]

I was comparing it to Huy (look who I quoted)

Sorry, I misread your post

 

[maltiv]

I think this is one of the stages that Hushovd thinks he has a shot at as well.

Looks far too tough for him, don't think he had watched the profile closely before he said that. Think it's a little too hard for EBH to have a chance as well, although he will certainly end up in top 10, but I can't see him following Gilbert and co up here.