• The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Tour de France 2015 Stage 15: Mende-Valence 183km

Place your bets!

  • Cavendish

    Votes: 22 23.2%
  • Greipel

    Votes: 11 11.6%
  • Degenkolb

    Votes: 6 6.3%
  • Sagan

    Votes: 26 27.4%
  • Démare

    Votes: 1 1.1%
  • Coquard

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Kristoff

    Votes: 7 7.4%
  • Another sprinter

    Votes: 1 1.1%
  • I still believe in the breakaway

    Votes: 11 11.6%
  • Vino

    Votes: 10 10.5%

  • Total voters
    95
  • Poll closed .
Jun 24, 2015
30
0
0
Visit site
So, it's Sunday, we're going from Mende to Valence, so we're coming through the chains of Cévennes and Vivarais in the Massif Central. There's some beautiful mountains and climbs to tackle in the area, so that's definitely a perfect day for a great battle for the general classificat-

4337f.jpg


Oh.

A transition stage. In this magnificent mountainous area. On a Sunday. Thanks, ASO.

Well borefest, it's going to be for a sprinter. Hell, even Cavendish climbed Escrinet in 2009 to win the stage in Aubenas. Also we need to say there will be headwind for the last 100 km, and considering it's the sprinters' last chance until Paris, well, rest assured they'll catch up the breakaway quite quickly.

Etape15.png


Probably the biggest missed opportunity of having a great stage this year, especially when Gap uses the col de Manse AGAIN on the next day. Seriously, just look at all the mountains around. What about the col de la Mûre? What about the Val d'Enfer? What about pretty much any meaningful climb in Ardèche?

Well, my money on Degenkolb.
 
And the ASO continues their glorious tradition of putting the most important stages on a weekday and the worst stage of the final third of the race on a Sunday. Seriously, stage 15 has been for the sprinters in 2011, 2012, 2014 and now 2015. 2008 and 2009 had a flat stage on the penultimate Saturday as well. 2010 (Ax-3-Domaines and Luchon) and 2013 (the hilly stage to Lyon and Mont Ventoux) are the only recent Tours where we've seen GC-relevant stages on both days of the penultimate weekend.
 
Re: Re:

LaFlorecita said:
Red Rick said:
Think Tinkoff will push it on the cat 2 climb
Tinkoff will put Michael Valgren in the break FWIW or try to anyway

From where do you have this information? Because although I would very much like it to be the case, it goes against everything he and the team have said previously about his role this TdF.
 
Mar 14, 2011
186
0
0
Visit site
Re:

Red Rick said:
Think Tinkoff will push it on the cat 2 climb

What does they benefit of it if they don't pull rest of the stage and it would be race against Etixx almost 60 km. I'm not sure if they are willing to do that? Ok, maybe Giant do want to work for them again (as on stage 13) then it's a whole new ball game.
 
Re:

Libertine Seguros said:
And the ASO continues their glorious tradition of putting the most important stages on a weekday and the worst stage of the final third of the race on a Sunday. Seriously, stage 15 has been for the sprinters in 2011, 2012, 2014 and now 2015. 2008 and 2009 had a flat stage on the penultimate Saturday as well. 2010 (Ax-3-Domaines and Luchon) and 2013 (the hilly stage to Lyon and Mont Ventoux) are the only recent Tours where we've seen GC-relevant stages on both days of the penultimate weekend.

Yeah it doesn't make much sense. Maybe they reason that they will draw bigger crowds among passingly interested cycling followers when the race comes to them in a big town (or conversely hills becoming too crowded during weekends) but this is one area where even I with my limited understanding of marketing can spot a big area of improvement.
 
Re: Re:

Museeuw said:
Red Rick said:
Think Tinkoff will push it on the cat 2 climb

What does they benefit of it if they don't pull rest of the stage and it would be race against Etixx almost 60 km. I'm not sure if they are willing to do that? Ok, maybe Giant do want to work for them again (as on stage 13) then it's a whole new ball game.

I bank on Giant doing most of the work tomorrow. If they can unship both Greipel and Cav then a fairly fresh Degenkolb gets to race against Sagan after the latter has been out in a break the whole previous stage. Probably their best remaining chance at a sprint win (perhaps at a stage win in general).
 
I like this stage on paper although it would have been a lot better if the green jersey wasn't done and dusted now. At least it's something a bit different - this race has more repeats than UK Gold. Could be a good chase after the Cat 2 between the break, the Degenkolb / Sagan group and the Cavendish / Greipel group and maybe other groups in between
 
Re: Re:

The Blues said:
LaFlorecita said:
Red Rick said:
Think Tinkoff will push it on the cat 2 climb
Tinkoff will put Michael Valgren in the break FWIW or try to anyway

From where do you have this information? Because although I would very much like it to be the case, it goes against everything he and the team have said previously about his role this TdF.
I think some TS DS actually tweeted about it, one can wonder why they would do that?
 

TRENDING THREADS