Which Radioshacker....

[johngoat]

...will finish shortest in stage 1?

And off course also in stage 4 and 8 then. But especially in stage 1, because after TTT stage 2, he can obtain de yellow jersey.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Klöden or Horner.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

HTC will win the TTT, and from the names announced so far that means Peter Velits will probably wear the jersey, unless Mont des Alouettes is even less selective than expected.

 

[johngoat]

No problem. I think the shackers will winn TTT.

 

[Mellow Velo]

...will finish shortest in stage 1?

Has to be Levi, surely?

HTC win have number 1 train at Le Tour station.

 

[Midnightfright]

I've just decided on not even sure what there whole squad is. That being said Chris Horner no doubt

 

[riobonito92]

Will the stage one position determine yellow - as opposed to who out of the team is first over the line in the TTT? Is this normal practice?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Will the stage one position determine yellow - as opposed to who out of the team is first over the line in the TTT? Is this normal practice?

Normal practice is that it goes on your GC position - it's only who is first over the line in the event of the TTT being first stage.

We are expecting there to be some smallish time gaps on Mont des Alouettes, and therefore the first rider from the TTT-winning team on stage 1 will be the one that picks up the jersey after stage 2.

 

[auscyclefan94]

HTC will win the TTT, and from the names announced so far that means Peter Velits will probably wear the jersey, unless Mont des Alouettes is even less selective than expected.

Having had a look at the gradient and the finale on google maps, it isn't overly hard. Goss will take yellow on this stage. NOt hard enough for Gilbert imo though he will try.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Having had a look at the gradient and the finale on google maps, it isn't overly hard. Goss will take yellow on this stage. NOt hard enough for Gilbert imo though he will try.

Damn it. I had hope for stage 1.

Looks like we only have a TTT and about 4km (2 in stage 4 and 2 in stage 8) worth watching until the end of week 2. Looking forward to HTC taking us to 11 consecutive sprints, just that a couple of them are uphill.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I could be wrong but it just doesn't look that hard. I could ride up the finish at relative ease.

Link of Stage 1 finish - Google Maps

 

[greenedge]

If Goss wins it i will be happy. Which GC favourites might be able to cause splits or latch onto Gilbert though??? I think the stage will cause some echelons to form as well. It's a pity the Passage is in the nuetral zone as well. Attacks from the start, maybe Oss, Boom etc. Maybe Popo might try get in the early break for the Shack. Near the end i expect all of the Shack GC riders to be there, either for the sprint or 20 seconds behind Gilbert.

 

[Frosty]

I could be wrong but it just doesn't look that hard. I could ride up the finish at relative ease.

Link of Stage 1 finish - Google Maps

2.2km at 4.x % will cause some time gaps and problems for the sprinters who cant climb. People have compared it to being intermediate in hardness between the first stage in 2008 and the 6th stage (barcelona) in 2009. This year's climb does seem to have a more constant gradient than those two though. I dont think time gaps will be that big, its even possible that there wont be any at all between the main contenders bar the odd one who got poorly positioned at the start.

 

[riobonito92]

Normal practice is that it goes on your GC position - it's only who is first over the line in the event of the TTT being first stage.

We are expecting there to be some smallish time gaps on Mont des Alouettes, and therefore the first rider from the TTT-winning team on stage 1 will be the one that picks up the jersey after stage 2.

I was assuming that apart from the winning few riders, there would be a large group all on the same time in stage 1. So unless one of the first few riders from stage 1 is on the winning TTT team, then the yellow after stage 2 will surely go to the lead rider over the line in the winning TTT team.

I can't see a scenario in which, for example, Horner and Kloden have different times after stage 1.

 

[jens_attacks]

horner will be at the front so he will get yellow after the ttt,although i would like klodi,he's not that punchy.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I was assuming that apart from the winning few riders, there would be a large group all on the same time in stage 1. So unless one of the first few riders from stage 1 is on the winning TTT team, then the yellow after stage 2 will surely go to the lead rider over the line in the winning TTT team.

I can't see a scenario in which, for example, Horner and Kloden have different times after stage 1.

Well then it goes to countback based on your positions. If Horner was 5th across the line in the TTT and Klöden was 1st, then Horner would still get yellow if he was, say, 16th across the line in stage 1 and Klöden was 25th, because 16+5 is less than 25+1.

That's how Klöden and J-Rod were trading the jersey in the first few days of País Vasco despite being on the same time, and it's why Stefano Garzelli won the 2010 Tirreno-Adriatico and not Michele Scarponi.

 

[riobonito92]

Well then it goes to countback based on your positions. If Horner was 5th across the line in the TTT and Klöden was 1st, then Horner would still get yellow if he was, say, 16th across the line in stage 1 and Klöden was 25th, because 16+5 is less than 25+1.

That is clear now. Thanks

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Normal practice is that it goes on your GC position - it's only who is first over the line in the event of the TTT being first stage.

We are expecting there to be some smallish time gaps on Mont des Alouettes, and therefore the first rider from the TTT-winning team on stage 1 will be the one that picks up the jersey after stage 2.

Unless it is a sprinter who gets dropped in the TTT?

 

[Jan the Man]

The first stage climb isn't that difficult but I would be surprised if anyone other than Gilbert wins it.

While Goss has a shot if it is still together with 250m to go I think that the pace and accelarations will already have created enough for puncheurs like Vockeler and Gilbert etc to have the sprint between them. I do not expect any major gaps in the peleton however a large groupn is likely to finsih at the same time (unless Gilbert gets a gap!)

As for Radioshack- it is impossible to call who will do the best.

I am surprised Horner hasn't raced since Cali which means either he will face difficulty at the beginning or be fresh at the end. Has had very good form this year. Prediction top 15.

Brajkovic rode ok in the Dauphine and is due a GT breakthrough. He strikes me as quite a brittle rider and one who's form is only at a peak for a short period of time. Additionally I am unconvinced he has can avoid a jour sans. Predicition top 20.

Leipheimer was very good at Suisse. It is difficult to know whether he was close to peak or has another level to reach between the tour. His days of podiuming are over imo but prediction 5-10 is likely.

Klöden did a good TT in Suisse and was clearly not going 100% in the mountains. His history is that he tends to do a decent tour when he's had an ok and not good Suisse. I think he like Leipheimer doesn't have the explosivness in the mountains but is one of the best riders at riding in his limit and is one of the more graceful riders on a bike. Prediction 5 - 10 (top 3 final TT which will suit him better than the other Radio Shackers)

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

it's 4%! it will be a massprint