Tour de Suisse: Stage 6, Meiringen - La Punt (213.3km)

[Sasquatch]

Luis Leon Sanchez to test his legs on this stage and potentially take the stage win. Uran is the other one. Whoever can get over the top with a slight advantage will hold them off to the finish. A classic Sanchez stage. Uran will definitely launch an attack tonight too.

 

[blaxland]

My picks for stage honours are;B.Mollema(Rabo)and S.Morabito(Bmc)both seem to be riding into some good form at the moment.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Might be a bit tough for Steve M. He could top 10, though there a quite a few good climbers at this race. LLS is my pick. Have a feeling LA may go well. I will laugh very hard if he wins this as the forum will go ballistic!

 

[search]

Kreuzinger said that it's very likely that the stage will be shortened because of the weather condition - does anyone know any details?

 

[Sophistic]

It's gonna be interesting what Saxo Bank does, Fränk Schleck could take enough from Martin and the other strong time trialists to win the whole Tour, on the other hand Cancellara could stay in contention for the overall victory.
I think we will see a lot of top riders testing their legs today: Radioshacks, Kreuziger, Gesink, Löfkvist...

 

[Lance Armstrong]

1. Kreuziger
2. Andy Schleck
3. Armstrong

 

[Barrus]

My picks for stage honours are;B.Mollema(Rabo)and S.Morabito(Bmc)both seem to be riding into some good form at the moment.

I don't think Mollema, seeing as Gesink set his sight on this stage win. Mollema is going for a top ten qualification in the overall

 

[battery89]

Gesink/F Schleck/LL Sanchez imo. How technical is the descent?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Not very. Fast and furious. Very similar stage to 2006. The final climb is almost like two, seperate climbs.
I remember "Chicken " blowing up so badly, he got passed by Simon Gerrans, who almost hung on to the top to take the stage........
2006 La Punt TDF Stage 6:
1 Koldo Gil Perez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 5.49.52 (36.391 km/h)
2 Jorg Jaksche (Ger) Würth 0.36
3 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.40
4 Jose Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.39
5 Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2R Prevoyance 1.47
6 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.09
7 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
8 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Würth
9 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Würth

Rogues gallery?

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Looking forward to the final climb. It will be interesting to see if Tony Martin can climb this year. He hasn't looked good so far this season, except for some heroics in California.

 

[The Sheep]

I don't think Mollema, seeing as Gesink set his sight on this stage win. Mollema is going for a top ten qualification in the overall

Mollema was also sick yesterday apparently

 

[ttrider]

gotta be frank shleck for today because hes clearly in excellent form
can see Cancllara losing 4 minutes
will be interesting to see what martin does

 

[Jamsque]

Frank Schleck does look on good form, I would expect him to go well today. Thomas Lofkvist is 3rd on GC, he might be in the mix too, but I suspect the climbs may be too long for him. I'm not really sure what kind of shape he is in either, but he did a good prologue and has finished in the front group every day since then so he must be going alright.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Tony Martin has said the first two climbs today may be cancelled, due to snow.

Susan

 

[Jamsque]

Well that's lame. I thought the Swiss were supposed to be a super organized people? And surely they must be used to dealing with snow on the high passes?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Tony Martin has said the first two climbs today may be cancelled, due to snow.

Susan

Is "Schnee" also a Schwyzertütsch dialect word meaning "chances of Cancellara losing time"?

 

[Alpechraxler]

I'd like to see Morabito or Zaugg on the Podium but it's getting tough.

And people calm down no snow at least till 1900 m

http://www.sustenpass.ch/de/Info/Webcam

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink/F Schleck/LL Sanchez imo. How technical is the descent?

Luis Leon Sanchez is the odd one out. The climb is too hard for him. I can see Gesink and Schleck finishing together, though. And Gesink dropping Schleck on the descent

 

[redtreviso]

gotta be frank shleck for today because hes clearly in excellent form
can see Cancllara losing 4 minutes
will be interesting to see what martin does

I don't know why Cancellara doesn't just use high cadence.. bwahaaa

 

[la.margna]

Well that's lame. I thought the Swiss were supposed to be a super organized people? And surely they must be used to dealing with snow on the high passes?

Of course snow that would be falling while they are riding these passes, in order to avoid Pharmstrong whining around... (think Gavia 88)

No currently, it doesn't look that bad, ugly weather but not extremely bad, so they will do all three it seems.

Frank Schleck will try it again, Oli Zaugg as well, but might not be strong enough. LA or a radioshagger? Martin should not lose too much if he's in normal form and aiming to win the TdS, maybe even getting close again in the descent.

 

[The Hitch]

.

How about Andy Schleck's own personal profile of tomorrow's stage?
http://tweetphoto.com/27536328

Apparently the stage will finish at the site of an enormous religious monument.

Turns out andy schlecks profile was quite accurate

 

[Frosty]

Current temperature at nearby Guetsch at 2289m is +4.3 with an overnight min of +3. Sounds like no snow then. Just cold rain.

 

[theyoungest]

The final climb.

 

[ErmOkk]

The final climb.

Looks pretty steep, but the 5km's before that seem pretty steep too. I hope things get more clear after today's stage .

 

[Jamsque]

That steep final KM ought to be good for Schleck the Elder if he is up there.