Tour de France 2019 stage 8 Mâcon - Saint-Étienne 200 km

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

I'll try it again, Kreuziger solo from break.

I'm with you on this one.

 

[JosephK]

Not enough hills!

 

[Tonton]

Not enough hills!

In my never published designs and research, there is so much that the Forez has to offer. That one was lazy, but still interesting...I hope.

 

[ClassicomanoLuigi]

Re:

Finish of stage 8 - not straight forward - virage trés serré en descente

Yes, good call on those details, or even an understatement... Screaming descent into the final kilometer, including tight hard-right, then ninety-degree hard right, and then sharp left bend turns. Those corners alone are good reason not to contest a leadout/ bunch sprint there. People who are predicting a stage win from a breakaway may be right, or if the peloton makes a capture in the final kms, a reduced battle between puncheur types who get over the last hill first

 

[Pantani_lives]

Predestined for a breakaway, except if DQSt wants to take 8 seconds with Alaf. I don't think the other teams will allow him to join the break.

I predicted Valgren for today. What was I thinking? He has certainly been hiding himself well.

Possible riders in the break: Wellens, De Gendt, De Marchi, Van Avermaet, Stuyven, Van Aert, Costa, Boasson Hagen, Valgren, Kelderman, Roche, Herrada, Berhane, Clarke, S. Yates, Frank, Naesen, Gallopin...

 

[Jagartrott]

I'm guessing the start will be quite hectic, and it could take a while for the break to form. However, I expect that break to be quality with riders like the ones mentioned above.

 

[The Barb]

Re:

Predestined for a breakaway, except if DQSt wants to take 8 seconds with Alaf. I don't think the other teams will allow him to join the break.

I predicted Valgren for today. What was I thinking? He has certainly been hiding himself well.

Possible riders in the break: Wellens, De Gendt, De Marchi, Van Avermaet, Stuyven, Van Aert, Costa, Boasson Hagen, Valgren, Kelderman, Roche, Herrada, Berhane, Clarke, S. Yates, Frank, Naesen, Gallopin...

That looks a pretty good shortlist to me, although:

1. I'd be amazed if Simon Yates were in the break. It seems pretty clear to me that he is soft pedalling until they get to the mountains.

2. There will be an Astana rider or two in there - I'd say Fraile.

 

[Pantani_lives]

You're probably right. LL Sanchez is also possible for Astana.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Would also have been good for Lutsenko, but guess he's too far up in the GC.

 

[rick james]

Re:

Nice stage for a Tuesday, garbage for a Saturday.

should have been yesterdays stage

 

[movingtarget]

The break gets to play especially with the stages to follow.

 

[Robert5091]

The Col de la Croix de Part climb is worth looking at on Google maps - it's a very narrow road - postioning, positioning, positioning!

 

[sprints n stones]

Sagan 'said' next two days would be too much for Bora to control so would be concentrating their efforts on Sunday's stage. He doesn't normally try and play mind games so seems a likely scenario. I'm with Tonton and hoping for Alaphillippe.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Schachmann will win today.

 

[glassmoon]

Re:

Fun stage if raced aggressively.

but this is the TdF and everyone is scared af.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Nice stage for a Tuesday, garbage for a Saturday.

I think this stage is going to be really interesting, many teams will want men in the break, and they will want a strong men there, plus there will be a battle for yellow between Trek and DQ. If some big names like Valverde, Lutsenko or even Nibali joins the break it will be carnage.

 

[Salvarani]

Would be fun if someone tries to go in the break today out of the GC guys. Maybe someone that lost a little bit of time. Like Bardet for example. Stage has potential to be super hard if it is raced that way.

 

[Lequack]

Some pics from yesterday.
29 Big Photos from Stage 7 (descriptions to come) — corvos/flockton/bettini/aso
http://www.steephill.tv/2019/tour-de-france/photos/stage-07/

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Rolf Soerensen having ridden the last 20 this morning, just said on danish TV, that the final climb is harder than it looks on the map, and reminds him of La Redoute.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Würtz saying Katusha have told Zakarin, himself, Politt and Goncalves to try and hit the break today.

 

[DanielSong39]

I will be shocked if anyone of consequence is allowed to go in the break, and that includes any GC riders within 5 minutes and good puncheurs (e.g. Van Avermaet, Van Aert, Sagan) who figure to be favorites for the stage win.

Of course it's the attempts that will be more interesting, to see how successful they are in wearing the peloton down.

If they give someone like Barguil, Lutsenko, or Aru 5 free minutes I will be really shocked.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Moerkoev saying DQ do not have specific plans today. - They believe a break will go without Ala and stick to the end - and Trek try and control the pace.

They view the day as a "rest day".

Personally I believe he is wrong, but he is the pro, not I

 

[DanielSong39]

Well this could be the usual case of pre-race bluffing but what he says does seem to be a likely scenario.

This is not a stage you can get away with a mishap though, I expect 1-2 riders in the top 30 to be caught out.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Well this could be the usual case of pre-race bluffing but what he says does seem to be a likely scenario.

This is not a stage you can get away with a mishap though, I expect 1-2 riders in the top 30 to be caught out.

Don't think they would bluff danish media just prior to the stage. Before the news get out, they are already on the road

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Not too hot and almost no wind:

https://www.metcheck.com/SEASONAL/tour_de_france_weather.asp

The weather is not a factor today.