Tour de Suisse - Stage 5

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So today we have an interesting stage from Wettingen to Frutigen, including some nice hills towards the finish line and it looks like an uphill finish as well

Most DS' expect a sprint of a group of climbers / hilly specialists... This stage is very similar to that of two days ago, when Frank Schleck won.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Do you know the gradient of the final rise? Looks tough. From gilberts form yesterday I may go with him. Or even Mollema may surprise as he has seriously impressed me so far in the tds. A young rider mixing it with the big boys in some of the finishes has really been impressive on his behalf.

 

[Sasquatch]

Kirchen or Gilbert. Maybe F Schleck again? Cancellara.

I agree that it will be a rider like that. Maybe Andy could give it a go? Kolobnev etc.

I don't think Lulu will attack this time around as I think he's leaving that for tomorrow. Maybe Uran could make amends. Albasini, Gerrans etc.

At the moment I would say Kirchen!

 

[Roland Rat]

Gilbert, he clearly wants it and seems to be coming into form for the Belg champs.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Do you know the gradient of the final rise? Looks tough. From gilberts form yesterday I may go with him. Or even Mollema may surprise as he has seriously impressed me so far in the tds. A young rider mixing it with the big boys in some of the finishes has really been impressive on his behalf.

The stage as a whole looks slightly harder than yesterday but not as hard as Sunday. The gradient of the final 7k run-in after the final hill isn't too taxing. Looks like there is one kilometre @ 4% in the middle but overall it's 7k at approx 1.5%. Could be a bit of a headwind as well which would make a winning late attack less likely. A good stage for a power sprinter. The question is what sort of shape some of the sprinters are in after yesterday's pile-up

 

[Alpechraxler]

Do you know the gradient of the final rise? Looks tough. From gilberts form yesterday I may go with him. Or even Mollema may surprise as he has seriously impressed me so far in the tds. A young rider mixing it with the big boys in some of the finishes has really been impressive on his behalf.

From Spiez to the class 3 mountain it is 5 km with +- 240 m altitude max 5 to 6 %, then they descent and to the finisch in Frutigen it's about 120 - 130 m on 7 km and there is no steeper part so nothing worth switching to the small chainring

They should finish in Adelboden or Kandersteg, would be much more selective to the gc

 

[raddone]

After the 3rd category climb, from the bottom of the climb to the finish the distance is 5 km with a level difference of about 95 meters. So the gradient would be 1.9% (let’s say 2%).
I think Cancellara will wait for the ITT in the last stage to win another stage, and possibly the tour. So that leaves everybody else.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gilbert was dissapointing in the finish 2 days ago, I think he doesn't have it at the moment

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

By the way, if you look at the "Marschtabelle" on the TDS site, you can see how many meters are won each km.

The final climb is steeper than 1,9%, or at least, in the final km's there are steeper parts then that

 

[Faserr]

Perhaps a group can make it to the finish.
In a sprint Freire, Ciolek and Marcato will be there. It alle depends on who attacks at the last thrid category climb. Perhaps other sprinters can make it over the climb, too.

//edit
blick.ch is talking about a protest against cavendish and that's why the start can be delayed
http://www.blick.ch/sport/rad/protestieren-rad-stars-gegen-cavendish-149166

 

[thehog]

//edit
blick.ch is talking about a protest against cavendish and that's why the start can be delayed
http://www.blick.ch/sport/rad/protestieren-rad-stars-gegen-cavendish-149166

Serious? Doesn't surprise me.

 

[Faserr]

Hmm, I think blick.ch isn't the most credible swiss newspaper. Don't know if that really happend. But there seem to a be a lot of angry riders.

Group of the day:
Daniel Oss, Marcus Burghardt, Angelo Furlan, Javier Aramendia und Martijn Maaskant

 

[The Hitch]

Freire looked good in the stage barbie won, when many sprinters didnt get there. id say he could win today.

 

[Jamsque]

The finish doesn't look steep enough for Schleck the Elder, I'm going to go with Friere or Gilbert. It's a real shame Haussler retired because he would have been in with a chance today too.

CN ticker is confirming that there was a protest this morning, they have not yet said whether it was specifically about Cav or just the finish of the stage in general.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

sportwereld.be says Klier and Hunt organised a small protest against Cavendish, delaying the start "for a few minutes".

Susan

 

[The Hitch]

I dont like Cav and he was obviously at fault for the crash. But a protest by his co riders specificaly against him could totaly destroy his confidence and hurt his career no?

 

[Jamsque]

I don't think it's a big deal, really.

They are annoyed that Cav didn't apologise, but can you really blame his DS for keeping him away from microphones, given his reputation for dealing with the media?

 

[Mellow Velo]

What's the weather like? BBC are saying 300mm of rain fell in the S of France/Alp region.

Baby Giro up Monte Grappa, yesterday, was awful.....

 

[Boardslide]

I don't think it's a big deal, really.

They are annoyed that Cav didn't apologise, but can you really blame his DS for keeping him away from microphones, given his reputation for dealing with the media?

+1 Also doubt there was much time after getting x-rays etc & seeing race jury last night and getting checked over by doctor this morning before being allowed to start. Is this just Cervelo's Andreas Klier and Jeremy Hunt getting their panties in a twist.

 

[The Hitch]

+1 Also doubt there was much time after getting x-rays etc & seeing race jury last night and getting checked over by doctor this morning before being allowed to start. Is this just Cervelo's Andreas Klier and Jeremy Hunt getting their panties in a twist.

Well they were working for barbie so they do have a grievance against Cav.

 

[Cerberus]

I dont like Cav and he was obviously at fault for the crash. But a protest by his co riders specificaly against him could totaly destroy his confidence and hurt his career no?

They're organizing a protest, not working him over with a baseball bat. his career will be just fine, and if his confidence takes a hit (which I doubt) so much the better.

 

[Rocksteady]

Anyone have an idea of who HTC seems to be riding for now? The break is not a GC threat for Tony Martin... Is it?

 

[kurtinsc]

+1 Also doubt there was much time after getting x-rays etc & seeing race jury last night and getting checked over by doctor this morning before being allowed to start. Is this just Cervelo's Andreas Klier and Jeremy Hunt getting their panties in a twist.

Cervelo riders upset that a Cervelo rider was crashed out of the race by Cav, perhaps costing him a win.

Not a clean sprint by Cav, and may have cost Haussler a victory... but nobody intentionally crashes himself in a bunch sprint.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

AG2R and Caisse were also involved in the protest as well so it was not just Cervelo.

 

[search]

Anyone have an idea of who HTC seems to be riding for now? The break is not a GC threat for Tony Martin... Is it?

I think it's a finish neither suited for Cavendish nor Renshaw - possibly Albasini wants to try something