Tour de France 2017 Stage 12: Pau > Peyragudes 214.5km

[The Barb]

If Calmejane's form has held up I could totally see him trying again.

 

[Leinster]

Re:

Yep, I wish Cummings would hit the pointy side of things so my velogames team isn't quite so deep in the toilet. So much rain, so little mischief on his part.

Tomorrow's too jaggedly for him. He'll go for the break on Friday, assess halfway if he has the legs to beat the guys he's with, and decide to either go all-in to Foix, or sit up and try and battle GVA on the road to Rodez on Saturday.

 

[lenric]

Bardet to try something in Port de Balés, so that he can distance his rivals on the descent. Or, at least, that's what I hope.

 

[pitchnduel]

Probably Froome. Maybe Pinot.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Benoot FTW. Don't expect much GC action.

 

[Tank Engine]

Barguil and Roglic to battle for mountain points. I hope Pinot is in better form today, but after 3 rest days, that's unlikely

I'm hoping the real action will start in the second half of the Port de Bales (there's a nice steep pitch about 4km from the top). It will probably start on the Peyresourde.

Allez Romain. Unfortunately, I'm busy today.

 

[Red Rick]

Noone to do anything on the Bales.

Noone to do anything ont he Peyresourde

 

[starlord]

Re:

Is it true Bardet also crashed on stage 11?

Yep, 2 times.

 

[klintE]

It could be stage for a huge ambush. But Sky is fresh, strong and have Kwiato
Froome vs Bardet vs Uran

 

[dacooley]

froome to launch a moderate attack from 1.5km to go and make about 10-15 sec. on martin, aru, bardet and uran.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

I dont think Froome will attack tomorrow given Friday is Sky's D-day, the day they need to be fresh

Why is Friday Sky D-day? The Queen pays a visit?

Supposed to replicate Formigal. They'll be more than ready for it this time, but nonetheless they know they need to be fresh for it

 

[Orbit501]

Re:

Baring further freak crashes (heck, by this rate, Brice Feillu can end up on the podium in Paris ), I think the race is pretty much set after tomorrow:

Froome, Bardet, Aru and Uran are the clear podium candidates.
Fuglsang is injured
Martin is injured
Yates, Quintana, Contador, Meintjes and Chavez don't have the form
Porte, Thomas, Valverde, Majka and Izaguirre all crashed out.

And we and not even half way..... accident prone tour this year

- Oh, and btw...... I think Cannondale will surprise us all tomorrow.

They actually have a pretty strong mountain team, and we might even see them send a couple of intermediate guys out early, to be able to back up Uran later in the stage (on the last double-mountain), while Talansky and Roland stick with him until the favorites attack.

- We have gotten so used to them sucking, the last couple of years... that we forget the team actually does have skill, when it is directed at a common goal

For the early break: Roche, Avermaet, Cummings, Pauwels, Bakelants, Latour, Valgren, Mollema, Betancur, Brown, Roglic, Feillu, Wellens, De Gendt, McCarthy, Brambilla,G. Martin, Matthews, Geschke, Ten Dam, Edet, Voeckler, Chavanel, Atapuma, Grmay, Pinot.... Am I forgetting anyone?

You are indeed forgetting someone... Rudy Molard.

I've been saying for several seasons now that he'll win a GT stage from a break one of these days. Well, now the stars have all aligned for it!

Half the team out, pride to salvage, Pinot Giro tired. There's a reason Rudy was testing his legs out yesterday off the front for a bit

 

[Popchu]

Re: Re:

X

You are indeed forgetting someone... Rudy Molard.

I've been saying for several seasons now that he'll win a GT stage from a break one of these days. Well, now the stars have all aligned for it!

Half the team out, pride to salvage, Pinot Giro tired. There's a reason Rudy was testing his legs out yesterday off the front for a bit

There will always be some riders in the break who are stronger / the better climber than Molard in a mountain stage like today.

 

[Orbit501]

Re: Re:

X

You are indeed forgetting someone... Rudy Molard.

I've been saying for several seasons now that he'll win a GT stage from a break one of these days. Well, now the stars have all aligned for it!

Half the team out, pride to salvage, Pinot Giro tired. There's a reason Rudy was testing his legs out yesterday off the front for a bit

There will always be some riders in the break who are stronger / the better climber than Molard in a mountain stage like today.

You know that, I know that, but what's the harm in dreaming once in a while

 

[Robert5091]

Just hope everyone comes home in one piece. It's a marathon not a sprint today, so whoever has the strength left on the last climb can do some real damage.

 

[Pricey_sky]

That finish on the runway of Peyragudes is brilliant, it looks seriously steep.

 

[ontheroad]

Looking forward to a day with some action after the yawnfest of the last 2 days.

Gone for Rolland 50/1 and Chaves 50/1 in the hope that both/either get into a breakaway that stays away given that both are well down on GC.

 

[Matteo.]

In the latest 3kms Froome will attack, that's for sure

 

[spalco]

Weather forecast:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/tour-de-france-2017-thunderstorm-threat-as-racers-climb-into-the-pyrenees-on-thursday/70002141

Stage 12 will take the riders from the low elevation of Pau to Peyragudes in the Pyrenees. Stage 13 on Friday will again take riders into the Pyrenees.
The large differences in elevation throughout the routes will result in temperatures ranging from 15-24 C (59-75 F) and also bring the potential for dramatic changes in weather.
High pressure building over the Atlantic Ocean to the west of France will block any significant weather systems from impacting southern France this week; however, there could be just enough moisture in the air to help spark an isolated shower or thunderstorm in the Pyrenees both Thursday and Friday.
Another concern is that riders may have to contend with localized pockets of clouds and fog significantly reducing visibility near the mountain passes.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Camera man showing Contador some love.

 

[capuldemetal]

if only some wind right now

 

[glassmoon]

no breakaway allowed so far...

 

[Vasilis]

Kittel in the break
That's like his third attack ever

 

[Sylvester]

Not a good break for those hoping for plenty of action. Most of them aren't good climbers at all.

 

[Eclipse]

I am hopeful for a surprise but I can't say I really expect one =(