Tour de France 2011 Stage 7: Le Mans - Châteauroux 218 km

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think I won't bother watching this. Highlights for me.

Yep. +1. I don't like pancake stages at all.

 

[craig1985]

Yep. +1. I don't like pancake stages at all.

TBH I think they can cut off 50-60km and the result will still be the same. I liked the idea so far, with two uphill finishes, a lumpy stage with an uphill sprint, a TTT, and a stage that had the potential for crosswinds if the wind had played a part, and even then the final km wasn't easy as well. A lot of variety and this lame duck of a stage.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

TBH I think they can cut off 50-60km and the result will still be the same. I liked the idea so far, with two uphill finishes, a lumpy stage with an uphill sprint, a TTT, and a stage that had the potential for crosswinds if the wind had played a part, and even then the final km wasn't easy as well. A lot of variety and this lame duck of a stage.

This is the first panflat stage. How does that reduce variety exactly? Or by variety do you just mean as many stages with 1.5km climbs in the last 5km as possible?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

cav and might give this a miss

 

[BYOP88]

It may not be fun watching a panflat stage but you never know what will happen all sorts of action could go off. Just chuck out one of those stages that has a small climb before a sprint finish and replace it with a 50-60km ITT.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This is the first panflat stage. How does that reduce variety exactly? Or by variety do you just mean as many stages with 1.5km climbs in the last 5km as possible?

Stages 3 and 5 were also pan-flat, but 5 had the benefit of wind and a technical run-in.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It may not be fun watching a panflat stage but you never know what will happen

but the problem is, this second part of the statement is often false, which is part of why it isn't fun to watch.

Either lop off 60km and save us all the effort, or throw in an extra 60km so that even the tiniest of obstacles can break things apart. The Poggio di Sanremo wouldn't drop Andrea Guardini after 150km, but after 290km it can really break a race to pieces.

 

[taiwan]

Maybe this is the stage where Galimzyanov shows up for a podium. Then again it's his first Tour so maybe he's shattered.

 

[riobonito92]

I think a station like Versus should record the first half hour or so then show that at the beginning of the transmission unedited - in other words the part when breaks are trying to form and get distance. Then they could (if they feel they have to) do the studio stuff before going back to live action with 80 km to go.

It is the bit from 120-80 km to go - with a break established and the bunch idling along and that they always seem to show - which is likely to be the least exciting.

Having said that, I still intend to watch the whole transmission.

 

[greenedge]

Cav vs Farrar will be interesting. Both have won a stage and both have not really gone head to head ( stage 3 Cav was too far down ) / ( stage 5 Farrar not there ). I think HTC will win. Their leadout now with Goss is very potent.
Cav
Farrar
Swift
Petacchi/ Ventoso
Feillu ( because he does not usually contest big bunch sprints with this calibre )

Also it's the last opportunity for Cav for a while.

 

[auscyclefan94]

This should really be a formality for Cav. The last 30km are basically straight roads on the map I have and unless HTC go way too early they shouldnt have any problem of getting the win.


Hopefully Lotto work for Greipel and give him a chance.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yep. +1. I don't like pancake stages at all.

cav and might give this a miss

We can eat pancakes instead. Much more fun.

 

[Tuarts]

Sprinter Rankings again!

*****
Cavendish, Farrar

****
Rojas, Felliu, Pettachi, Greipel

***
Swift, Hushovd, Galimzyanov

**
EBH, Ciolek, Goss, Hinault, Gilbert

*
Ventoso, Oss, Boonen, Bozic, SomebodyCofidis




Might do a GC-contender watch/wrap tomorrow

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Sprinter Rankings again!

*****
Cavendish, Farrar

etc

Might do a GC-contender watch/wrap tomorrow

*****
cav
****
farrar
***
Rojas, Felliu, Pettachi, Greipel, EBH
**
Ciolek, Goss, Hinault, Gilbert, Swift, Hushovd, Galimzyanov
*
Ventoso, Oss, Boonen, Bozic, SomebodyCofidis

 

[benpounder]

Should be the frist real borefest of the Tour. But hey, the first week has really been good so far.

While many of the finishing 10-20kms have been interesting, I've found everything preceeding so sleep inducing formulaic.

 

[Ferminal]

I think I won't bother watching this. Highlights for me.

Yeh, chance to have an early night.

Hoping for the Russian.

 

[BYOP88]

but the problem is, this second part of the statement is often false, which is part of why it isn't fun to watch.

Either lop off 60km and save us all the effort, or throw in an extra 60km so that even the tiniest of obstacles can break things apart. The Poggio di Sanremo wouldn't drop Andrea Guardini after 150km, but after 290km it can really break a race to pieces.

I was b/s abit with the last part of my post. I'd much rather there was another ITT, but then people would moan about that, probably.

 

[luckyboy]

cavendish ftw

 

[Dedelou]

cavendish ftw

probably Cav for the win .. in my dreams i wish for a surprise instead.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

eagles v geelong is a much better prospect

 

[auscyclefan94]

eagles v geelong is a much better prospect

Eagles have a good chance. WCE could run all over Geelong.

 

[metya77]

I think Cav won’t win today.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Eagles have a good chance. WCE could run all over Geelong.

I hope so.
Good that it's at subi.

Went to hawks vs your boys, that was dissapointing.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I hope so.
Good that it's at subi.

Went to hawks vs your boys, that was dissapointing.

Eagles are a lot more quicker team. we should of beat Hawks by 12 goals, we let them get a few goals in 'junk time'.

_____________________________

It will be a matter of HTC timing the leadout right today. Completely flat and straight finish which Cav can't be beaten if timing is right.

 

[Tuarts]

*****
cav
****
farrar
***
Rojas, Felliu, Pettachi, Greipel, EBH
**
Ciolek, Goss, Hinault, Gilbert, Swift, Hushovd, Galimzyanov
*
Ventoso, Oss, Boonen, Bozic, SomebodyCofidis

Yeah, fair enough as well. Although I had Swift and EBH swapped solely because I think they will try and work for Swift today, its his best chance other than CE I think. Forgot Engoulvent too (* star), he might be greedy and get another top 10.

eagles v geelong is a much better prospect

Eagles have a good chance. WCE could run all over Geelong.

Geez, I expected that sort of crazy talk from the daily The Worst rag over here, not from two Melbournites.

Geelong will run them into the ground. Although I don't mind West Coast winning. After last year, they need to rebuild their list and this purple patch of a season is ****ing up their draft choices and future in the next 2-5 years. Awesome