Tour Méditerranéen 2.1 (6th-10th February)

[uphillstruggle]

Oh the ITT is 24 km didnt see that, that seems a bit long for a 2.1 race. Good thing there are a lot of other good riders who dont really have a good time trial in the legs, so that could mean other stages might get more animated.

The TT finishes at Mont Saint Clair, Im guessing that's a climb.

http://www.letourmed.fr/2-parcours-2013-cap-d27agde-sete--prefecture.pdf

The itinerary says something about average 15% (Sorry my French is very limited.) That means it's not for the specialist.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

The TT finishes at Mont Saint Clair, Im guessing that's a climb.

http://www.letourmed.fr/2-parcours-2013-cap-d27agde-sete--prefecture.pdf

The itinerary says something about average 15% (Sorry my French is very limited.) That means it's not for the specialist.

Do not know what it says in French, I have no French.

However is this the climb
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Mont-Saint-Clair&qryMountainID=6988
If so then 2.5km at 6.9%

 

[will10]

It's a really interesting ITT as it will be very exposed along the coast there - that's where HTC + Armstrong stole a march in the '09 Tour. With a climb to the finish too, there could be some big gaps in that ITT.

 

[Ferminal]

It's more or less the reverse to the Tour stage last year...

 

[Pentacycle]

I don't know who came up with that name, but even Herbert Dijkstra used it back then. Keep in mind that TD was the prodigy of Dutch cycling, the guy who was gonna win the Tour.

Well, I wasn't even watching cycling that much back then, not even the Tour. I have never seen Dekker in his 'End Boss'-like form, only the turned down version of 2009 and later.

 

[Lupetto]

Very interesting course with wind. Up to 75 km/h.

There will be a lot of echelons this week.

 

[uphillstruggle]

Do not know what it says in French, I have no French.

However is this the climb
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Mont-Saint-Clair&qryMountainID=6988
If so then 2.5km at 6.9%

Cheers for that.

Also good work Lupetto with the TT profile. The parcours looks good this year. Hard to call a winner whcih is always good.

 

[gruppeto993]

The real question is, who will drop out first? Hushovd vs. Schleck, head-to-head.

lol nice one

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Greipel should snatch 2 stage wins.
GC between Talansky and Monfort.
My old car for live coverage please.

 

[Ruvu75]

Greipel should snatch 2 stage wins.
GC between Talansky and Monfort.
My old car for live coverage please.

I'm curious which will be the second stage win for Greipel.
In my opinion only stage one had a change for sprinters.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'm curious which will be the second stage win for Greipel.
In my opinion only stage one had a change for sprinters.

Thinking the last stage. Devil is in the details however, and we don't have many of those.

 

[Ruvu75]

Thinking the last stage. Devil is in the details however, and we don't have many of those.

I don't think any sprinter will survive the climb just before they enter Grasse.
Probably the peloton will be split way before that, passing Côte des Tuillières and Col du Tanneron...

GC contenders will have a nice opportunity to have a final attempt to improve their positions

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I don't think any sprinter will survive the climb just before they enter Grasse.
Probably the peloton will be split way before that, passing Côte des Tuillières and Col du Tanneron...

GC contenders will have a nice opportunity to have a final attempt to improve their positions

Could be. Looks 50/50 to me. Good stage design.

 

[Christian]

Stage 3 of this race is probably the most beautiful scenery we'll see (or won't see ) all year in a cycling race...

...imho

 

[RHRH19861986]

... (or won't see ) ...

So, no real live TV coverage from this race again, this year?

Would be sad - great startlist and parcours.

Glad that at least Haut Var will have coverage, at least I hope so, if France3 or so haven´t dropped it.

 

[Ruvu75]

Could be. Looks 50/50 to me. Good stage design.

Final 35k after Tanneron:

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Final 35k after Tanneron:

Holy ****, maybe I need to move the 50% down to 5% or so.
Whats the top called in the final 40kms?
(thanks)

 

[Ruvu75]

Holy ****, maybe I need to move the 50% down to 5% or so.
Whats the top called in the final 40kms?
(thanks)

I dont know if it has a specific name....
Halfway the ascent they cross the finishline in Grasse, then they keep on climbing for a while, and then it's down again to the finish

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Holy ****, maybe I need to move the 50% down to 5% or so.
Whats the top called in the final 40kms?
(thanks)

750 metres in 20 km. that is 3.75% average

 

[Dazed and Confused]

750 metres in 20 km. that is 3.75% average

yes, not hard, but enough to take out most sprinters.
The finish took me by surprise. Thought it was mostly flat after final KOM.

 

[theyoungest]

yes, not hard, but enough to take out most sprinters.
The finish took me by surprise. Thought it was mostly flat after final KOM.

Moreno Hofland FTW.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

more like dumoulin or cocquard if they ride

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well, I wasn't even watching cycling that much back then, not even the Tour. I have never seen Dekker in his 'End Boss'-like form, only the turned down version of 2009 and later.

you should've seen romandie, or classics 2008
but with the amound of 'help' he had it's worth nothing now. still sad

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Moreno Hofland FTW.

damn, another Moreno. What happened with the Van?

 

[Christian]

So, no real live TV coverage from this race again, this year?

Would be sad - great startlist and parcours.

Glad that at least Haut Var will have coverage, at least I hope so, if France3 or so haven´t dropped it.

At least I don't think so?! I just assumed, but it would surprise me if there was live coverage