Tour de France - Stage 8, 195km - Castres / Ax 3 Domaines, July 6th

[willbick]

Surely will be big gaps, no? How can they all mark eachother on that last climb. I think its too difficult the stage to really see a 5 to 10 rider group, I think we will see big gaps on the first climb I think Froome will win, second will be Schleck followed by Contador and their will be a huge gap to the rest I predict these 3 will be the best 3. Schleck and Contador always been the best in the TDF now Froome as joined the club.

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

schleck will be straight out the back door the minute sky put the hammer down

 

[The Hitch]

Surely will be big gaps, no? How can they all mark eachother on that last climb. I think its too difficult the stage to really see a 5 to 10 rider group.

I hope there will be action but to say that a 8% hc followed by a 8% cat 1 with nothing before is guaranteed to produce big gaps and solo finishers. You must be really new to this cycling thing. Recent gt history is littered with harder stages that produced less.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I predict that little damage will be done on this stage. The first mountain stages are generally duds.

 

[phanatic]

I predict that little damage will be done on this stage. The first mountain stages are generally duds.

Froome has the advantage of a strong team and a strong time trial, but his late attack on prato di Tivo probably cost him that race. I think his attack at Criterium is more along the lines of what we should expect from him.

 

[willbick]

I predict that little damage will be done on this stage. The first mountain stages are generally duds.

plenty of damage done first MTF of 2012 tour

 

[Ferminal]

Jens, really love that video.

Hopefully HAIMAR has recovered

 

[auscyclefan94]

plenty of damage done first MTF of 2012 tour

Hence why I said "generally".

 

[airstream]

Not when you're a vino fan

I hope Froome goes full ***.

In your place I'd better not hope for it

 

[airstream]

I hope there will be action but to say that a 8% hc followed by a 8% cat 1 with nothing before is guaranteed to produce big gaps and solo finishers. You must be really new to this cycling thing. Recent gt history is littered with harder stages that produced less.

Yes, in general I can agree with you. Hardness of a stage doesn't guarantee anything. Manghen-Pampeago-Pampeago even discouraged me to see very difficult stages. But this time we have a very dangerously explosive. Froome is eager to show who's the main climber there. Sky should mark their claims for double / both in top-5. Rodriguez and Valverde should attack and test Froome, because wasting 1 of 4 MTF's is squander. Contador must attack something too, because he will in no way put 2 min into Froome in the Alps.

 

[TANK91]

I hope there will be action but to say that a 8% hc followed by a 8% cat 1 with nothing before is guaranteed to produce big gaps and solo finishers. You must be really new to this cycling thing. Recent gt history is littered with harder stages that produced less.

Yeah I think their will be gaps though if its raced hard on the HC climb and no im not new to Cycling.

 

[TANK91]

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

schleck will be straight out the back door the minute sky put the hammer down

Why you so sure? Schleck was Alberto's equal uphill in the past and I think Contador has peaked(wont win the TDF) Schleck could well be on the podium, please don't tell me you think Valverde has a better shot at the podium.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why you so sure? Schleck was Alberto's equal uphill in the past and I think Contador has peaked(wont win the TDF) Schleck could well be on the podium, please don't tell me you think Valverde has a better shot at the podium.

Schleck has been talked up a fair bit. His team privately have a lot of confidence in him but I don't think he will feature on the GC.

 

[Race Radio]

Schleck has been talked up a fair bit. His team privately have a lot of confidence in him but I don't think he will feature on the GC.

No they don't. The team thinks he is a mess

 

[auscyclefan94]

No they don't. The team thinks he is a mess

Maybe I phrased it badly but they seem to have confidence in him in the sense that they are riding up the front a lot with Andy and the fact he hasn't crashed yet.

 

[Red Rick]

Froome has the advantage of a strong team and a strong time trial, but his late attack on prato di Tivo probably cost him that race. I think his attack at Criterium is more along the lines of what we should expect from him.

Who did he attack then, Bauke Mollema, he's never pulled of a long solo uphill against a strong field

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Without a doubt, Sky and Froome wants to take the opportunity and annihilate the traditional 3rd week peak players on this stage.

However, unlike last year everybody will be better prepared for the slaughterhouse.

Wouldn't mind seeing some GC contenders losing 1-5 minutes. Lets have a handful of real contenders emerging. The rest can then plan how to get back into the race on the first rest day.

Looking forward to it.

 

[shades1]

something tells me this stage could be pretty hot , the contenders to sky have to take every possible opportunity they get and to find a little time early on cannot be a bad thing . its not going to be easy thats for sure .

downfall for me is that i am at a wedding all day and night and will have to watch it in a drunken mess when i get home

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Nothing will happen among the GC riders I reckon.

 

[jens_attacks]

what is the weather forecast by the way? it could be important

 

[Liquigas]

Nothing will happen among the GC riders I reckon.

Sky will set their robotic tempo trying to drop everyone like they did last year in Planche des Belles Filles.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Hopefully HAIMAR has recovered

That stage was pretty good back then.

 

[Ferminal]

what is the weather forecast by the way? it could be important

http://www.weather.com/weather/tomorrow/Rouze+FRMP1898:1:FR

Headwind Pailheres. Shouldn't be an issue on Bonascre though.

 

[ILovecycling]

Either Contador or Froome to attack about 5k to go...Second tier GC contender will win (and in yellow) tho,small gaps.Group of Froome,Alberto,Purito,Quintana,Pinot,Valverde will finish together.

 

[jens_attacks]

the wind..well we'll see tomorrow...it's not like yesterday we had the 50-60 kmph crosswinds predicted. 25 celsius is straight perfect

 

[LaFlorecita]

http://www.weather.com/weather/tomorrow/Rouze+FRMP1898:1:FR

Headwind Pailheres. Shouldn't be an issue on Bonascre though.

Good so the dawg can go full ***.