Race Thread: Stage 15, Foix - Loudenvielle (spoilers)

Moose11

To look at some riders and then think they have another two mountain stages to go makes you wonder how these guys get through this. It's been great and today it gets tougher.

Climbs:
Km 27.5: Col de Port: 11.4 km climb @ 5.3 % grade / 2nd Cat.
Km 98.5: Col de Portet d'Aspet: 5.7 km climb @ 6.9 % grade / 2nd Cat.
Km 114: Col de Menté: 7.0 km climb @ 8.1 % grade / 1st Cat.
Km 159.5: Port de Balès: 19.2 km climb @ 6.2 % grade / hors catégorie
Km 184.5: Col de Peyresourde: 9.7 km climb @ 7.8 % grade / 1st Cat.

Sprints:
Km 68: Saint-Girons
Km 127: Marignac

Stage Map:



Stage Profile:




Discuss...

jimmythecuckoo

I think he will finally show some signs of fatigue today and lose some time.

El Conejo Ingles

Yes I think he must loose some time some where. For a skinny fella he really is looking bones.

ricadus

He's too nervous to win the tour.

ajohn9

He didnt look as fresh as contador at the finish yesterday, i hope he loses time, im not a big fan of him

ContrelaMontre

Not expecting Ras to crack today, but doubt he'll produce the same level as yesterday or last Sunday.

I expect enough riders to be close enough to him to make the final TT decisive - well I expect Bertie to keep close at least, and I hope for PTP purposes that AK keeps in touch and maybe takes some time back before the final TT, but on present form I doubt it. Though he might get on the podium in Paris.

iainf72

Vino, Menchov and Pereiro are on the attack.

pat1cp

Boonen off the back on the first climb.

jimmythecuckoo

iainf72 wrote:

Vino, Menchov and Pereiro are on the attack.

Oscar is a good bet for the stage today.

ajohn9

I fancied millar to be in a break today, not looking likely

Moose11

Decided I couldn't stand missing the action today so have taken a half-day today and Wednesday so I'll be heading home to catch the action shortly!!!

Vino attacking today wil be allowed to go now because of the time defecit. I believe he knew his race was run yesterday and sat up saving energy for a big push today. A terrible GC for his standards would certainly be made up for a little by a couple of stage wins.

jimmythecuckoo

Moose11 wrote:

Decided I couldn't stand missing the action today so have taken a half-day today and Wednesday so I'll be heading home to catch the action shortly!!!

I will be in meetings all afternoon

ricadus

When I saw the profile months ago I thought the final climb (Peyresourde) was made for a Vino attack.

skut

I'm hoping Sastre will have enough in the tank to take back some time today. Yesterday he looked as if he couldn't understand why Rasmussen and Contador were blasting up the final climb when they've still go two days in the mountains left

afx237vi

:shock: @ Ivanov! Don't think I've ever seen a pro weaving across the road like that before. He has another HC climb to go yet...

ricadus

jimmythecuckoo wrote:

Moose11 wrote:

Decided I couldn't stand missing the action today so have taken a half-day today and Wednesday so I'll be heading home to catch the action shortly!!!

I will be in meetings all afternoon

Don't worry - just pop in here when you're done and we'll let you know what happened. :twisted:

red_tom

PTP points for Ridgerider?

afx237vi

Never mess with a pissed off Kazakh.

ricadus

afx237vi wrote:

Never mess with a pissed off Kazakh.

The crazy Kazakh might just do it. Who'd bet against him?

red_tom

Oops, spoke too soon...

afx237vi

Unlucky, Ridgerider, Kirchen looks knackered.

The GC race is a real damp squib so far. Even Moreau has managed to tag along.

afx237vi

Contador and Rasmussen start duking it out again! Rasmussen looks shaky

iainf72

And George was at the top of the climb.

See my PTP prediction....Pity he didn't get rid of the chicken!

afx237vi

He left it too late really. Nothing happened until the final km. Boogerd did a great job.

afx237vi

w00t, 5 pts for Ridgerider

iainf72

What a snoozefest

Moose11

I didnt quite find that the classic that some of the races have been. That group got away early and with none of them being a threat to GC it was pretty much a one day race for them. The GC only got interesting with 1k to go in the final climb. Why oh why Contador and Discovery left it so late to try make Ramussen hurt I dont know. That disapointed me. Oh well I guess Wedneday's final mountain stage will be last chance saloon for him and guys like Evans to pull back anytime before the TT.

iainf72

I think Discovery are taking a calculated risk and leaving the attack on Rasmussen to Wednesday. My reasoning behind this is that if you took a chunk off him today he would be backed into a corner and be more dangerous. It's better to leave it to him to defend the jersey and (hopefully) take it on Wednesday.

And I'd expect you'd have to get rid of him on the 2'nd last climb.

Gragi

Didn't see today's stage but yesterday's was a cracker. Rasmussen and Contador - chapeau. Great to see two climbers at the top of the leader board.

It's not over yet. I still think Kloeden and Cadel Evans (especially) have a very good chance. 4 minutes from Rasmussen over 55km of a flattish TT - very doable when you look at his performances in previous Tours. Makes tomorrow's stage huge. If Rasmussen takes another minute or two then I think it's game over. If they stay with him then what a stage the final TT will be...

iainf72

Gragi wrote:

It's not over yet. I still think Kloeden and Cadel Evans (especially) have a very good chance. 4 minutes from Rasmussen over 55km of a flattish TT - very doable when you look at his performances in previous Tours. Makes tomorrow's stage huge. If Rasmussen takes another minute or two then I think it's game over. If they stay with him then what a stage the final TT will be...

I think they'll be more worried about Contador. Rasmussen will probably take time off Evans / Klodi / Levi (although he's in support role) but I reckon Contador will put a bit of time into him on Wednesday. He said today Contador nearly had him.

Gragi

Assuming Contador takes time off Rasmussen but not enough to get the yellow jersey, who would you fancy in the TT between the two?

I think it's set up for a very interesting finale. In a way I hope Rasmussen/Contador don't take too much time of Kloeden and Evans tomorrow. Would be great to see four riders within a sniff of winning the race going into the Champs-Elysee (assuming Evans and Kloeden do make up most of the difference in the TT).[/quote]