Tour de France Stage 5: Carhaix - Cap Fréhel 164.5 km

[PedalCastro]

I'm going for Rojas tomorrow! he's on great form

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Finishes on a 4th category hill, with loads of hills along the way. Maybe a Hushovd in today's shape can do something there, but nobody else.

J.J. Rojas was 2nd on this. Behind his teammate. The two of them dusted everyone on the hills.

Considering he got to the end of stage 9 in 2009 (which Hushovd didn't), and the Spanish nationals course he just won, I think Rojas can make it to the end alright.

 

[Archibald]

Thank goodness we have you here to state the obvious

note to self: look away when taking a drink!


as for the stage, Goss, Rojas, Swift, Feillu in no particular order for mine

 

[Anonymous]

Please dont confuse me by posting profiles of stage 9 im confused enough as it is.

 

[JPM London]

This is going to be a ripper of a stage imo. I said since the route was unveiled that this could split the race apart.

So a mass sprint it is, then...


My prediction: Andy's handlebar tape comes a bit loose within the first three to four K and Canc gets everybody to go at 15 kph for the rest of the day. Only Thor doesn't get it and goes on a 170K solo to take both the intermediate sprint and beat himself in the final to take the green jersey only to lose it again when he's relegated by a commissaire who fell asleep...

... either that or Vino breaks away from the bunch with 20 to go to inhale the remaining 3 riders of a 5 man group and then leave them behind to take the win on his own.

 

[Mambo95]

J.J. Rojas was 2nd on this. Behind his teammate. The two of them dusted everyone on the hills.

Considering he got to the end of stage 9 in 2009 (which Hushovd didn't), and the Spanish nationals course he just won, I think Rojas can make it to the end alright.

Stage 9 is the one that every decent breakaway artist and low level KOM wannabe has had circled since October. No-one's going to chase them too hard either. And Rojas will be watched too closely to be allowed to go himself.

 

[Lanark]

J.J. Rojas was 2nd on this. Behind his teammate. The two of them dusted everyone on the hills.

Considering he got to the end of stage 9 in 2009 (which Hushovd didn't), and the Spanish nationals course he just won, I think Rojas can make it to the end alright.

Yeah, I should have mentioned Rojas, but Hushovd made more of an impression on me last saturday and certainly today. Rojas is a better climber than Hushovd, but when it comes to a sprint on false flat or uphill, I would put my money on Hushovd (although I would be quite surprised if any team wants/can keep the peloton together in that stage, that's the first stage where a breakaway has a really good chance to succeed).

 

[c&cfan]

Yeah, I should have mentioned Rojas, but Hushovd made more of an impression on me last saturday and certainly today. Rojas is a better climber than Hushovd, but when it comes to a sprint on false flat or uphill, I would put my money on Hushovd (although I would be quite surprised if any team wants/can keep the peloton together in that stage, that's the first stage where a breakaway has a really good chance to succeed).

contador to attack?why not?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I had a look at what I assumed to be the finish of this stage on GoogleEarth a couple of weeks ago and it looked very technical and a bit up and down - real rollercoaster stuff. Anyone got a finish plan to confirm ?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yeah, I should have mentioned Rojas, but Hushovd made more of an impression on me last saturday and certainly today. Rojas is a better climber than Hushovd, but when it comes to a sprint on false flat or uphill, I would put my money on Hushovd (although I would be quite surprised if any team wants/can keep the peloton together in that stage, that's the first stage where a breakaway has a really good chance to succeed).

If both of them are in the group together, then certainly I'd back Hushovd to win a sprint on a false flat or slightly uphill.

But today excepted, I would normally expect Rojas to stay with the group longer than Hushovd if it's raced really hard.

 

[Anonymous]

I had a look at what I assumed to be the finish of this stage on GoogleEarth a couple of weeks ago and it looked very technical and a bit up and down - real rollercoaster stuff. Anyone got a finish plan to confirm ?

is about as good as you will get without plotting it yourself.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Thanks

Not for the squeamish if it's wet and windy

 

[Mambo95]

is about as good as you will get without plotting it yourself.

That's a nasty turn with about 200m to go. You need to be right up front for that.

This will go to the team with the best planning and lead out and the rider with the best acceleration. It's got Cav written all over it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

For people who dont understand Knots (Cos i dont)

Groan...that means it will be a tailwind by the looks of it.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Boonen's day to shine

 

[benpounder]

For people who dont understand Knots (Cos i dont)

Basically, a knot is speed measured in nautical miles. A nautical mile is a bit longer than an imperial mile. If this were a site focused on nautical issues, I'd tell you the difference. But then if this were a site focused on oceanic wayfaring instead of cycling, you would already know the difference.

 

[just some guy]

Forecast is still the same as yesterday

 

[Pezrider]

Vino, Voekler or Gerrans to go out in a break soon enough is today a chance?

 

[Ferminal]

is about as good as you will get without plotting it yourself.

Thanks, that's what I was looking for.

Where do you get these from?

 

[biker jk]

Rabobank seem to have hinted at trying to possibly form some echelons. If they can ensure Bobby G is in that front group and put Boom, Ten Dam and Tjallingi on the front for 10KM's of hard riding in some crosswinds splits could be on the menu.

However I cannot get over the cynic in me knowing this will end in a bucnh sprint.

Kiwi Dean to lead Farrar to another stage win...Whiny Cav and his Aussie Leadout to fail again...

You sound like another sour Kiwi.

 

[Kwibus]

Looks like they will get a tailwind when they ride on the coastal road. Too bad, but not that surprising since they are riding toward the east and the wind pretty much always comes from the west along the coast.

I'm not expecting any echelons today unfortunately.

The last few KM look crazy with a lot of turns. The last km is even worse... I hope there won't be any crashes.
I expect an 1-2 for HTC. This is one of those stages where Renshaw and Cav come roaring through the last turn with a gap of 5 mtr on the next rider.
Besides that Cav lost his usual first bunch sprint and people are allready talking about him. Got dq'd at an supersprint so everyone ****ed him off enough to start dominating the next bunchsprints.

 

[just some guy]

If you remember yesterday we were discussing that Cadel maybe not a lean at the start of the tour as others ( which maybe a smart thing) - ACF got all ...

Blew out the skinsuit

 

[Sasquatch]

Looks like they will get a tailwind when they ride on the coastal road. Too bad, but not that surprising since they are riding toward the east and the wind pretty much always comes from the west along the coast.

I'm not expecting any echelons today unfortunately.

The last few KM look crazy with a lot of turns. The last km is even worse... I hope there won't be any crashes.
I expect an 1-2 for HTC. This is one of those stages where Renshaw and Cav come roaring through the last turn with a gap of 5 mtr on the next rider.
Besides that Cav lost his usual first bunch sprint and people are allready talking about him. Got dq'd at an supersprint so everyone ****ed him off enough to start dominating the next bunchsprints.

Makes it perfect for a vino or voeckler to attack on that last bump. The corners will help them stay away

 

[badboyberty]

For the sake of an interesting TdF I want Rabo, OPL and BMC to combine forces and generate a split leaving AC and AS behind. A minute and a half gap today and we can have a race between the five riders instead of the two way battle of 2010.

 

[Random Direction]

That's a nasty turn with about 200m to go. You need to be right up front for that.

This will go to the team with the best planning and lead out and the rider with the best acceleration. It's got Cav written all over it.

From looking at Google Earth (no streetview in France?), it is a sweeping 120 degree corner, moving from a likely strong tailwind with 300 m to go to a crosswind. Positioning the fast man on the outside would be essential (as will be avoiding the pileup if there is a gust).