Stage 5 - Le Cap d'Agde > Perpignan SPOILER
Well if the Tour carries on like this, I'll have a heart attack soon. Yesterday's stage was a cracker. I'm almost hoping for a boring stage today so I can let the frayed nerves repair themselves before tomorrow's exciting uphill arrival into Barcelona and then the summit finish on Friday.
Today's stage goes from seaside Cap d'Agde (day time nudist resort, at night it becomes a seedy swingers resort) to the Catalan city of Perpignan. It passes along the coast past several renowned wind and kitesurfing spots, which means one thing: it can be windy. So it'll be interesting to see if we get more splits.
The route map sees the race actually head south beyond Perpignan before looping back up, so they wind will change direction for the race.
As Cyclingnews.com have picked up, Hushovd used to live in the area and knows the roads well but I'm not sure if this will count enough to topple Cavendish. I don't know why but I have the feeling Cav won't win today but it takes a brave man to bet against him.
Today's stage goes from seaside Cap d'Agde (day time nudist resort, at night it becomes a seedy swingers resort) to the Catalan city of Perpignan. It passes along the coast past several renowned wind and kitesurfing spots, which means one thing: it can be windy. So it'll be interesting to see if we get more splits.
The route map sees the race actually head south beyond Perpignan before looping back up, so they wind will change direction for the race.
As Cyclingnews.com have picked up, Hushovd used to live in the area and knows the roads well but I'm not sure if this will count enough to topple Cavendish. I don't know why but I have the feeling Cav won't win today but it takes a brave man to bet against him.
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If Cav wins at least I'll have time to iron my shirts tonight coz I won't have to watch the stage
Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
Depends on recovery from yesterday I suppose and who fancies trying a break and who fancies chasing one down. Will Columbia spend a lot of time and energy chasing the breaks? History says yes so that they can pretty much guarantee a stage win via Cav.
As you say wind will again be key. I agree that it's been an exciting start to the Tour and I'm sure the riders want a quiet day too not just us watching it! Secretly I'm hoping for an evil cross wind and a couple of splits and nailbiting riding to the line..........!!!0 -
looking at the GC....
gaps in GC aren't that massive yet
a gaggle of 6min+ frenchmen with the odd interloper is a possability."If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Belgian/Dutch echelon-specialist teams that lost valuable time yesterday (Lotto, Rabobank) + a coastal route + wind = a quiet day? 0
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The latest forecast I've seen suggests a 50km/h crosswind :twisted:
Expect the team directors to be ordering all their riders to the front after the two small climbs. Not everyone can be at the front of course so it will make for a manic finale.0 -
I'm here in Perpignan. It is v. windy.-- Dirk Hofman Motorhomes --0
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bloomin hell I was hoping to get some work done this afternoon........ this opening week is doing nothing for my cashflow!0
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The letour forecasters are going for a wind of 20-30km/h - from just north of west.
http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/LIVE/us/400/meteo.html
Certainly one for the favourites to be vigilant. Columbia must be a bit tired but they'll still want to bring it back for a sprint. They may well have a lot of help from the other sprinters' teams too as the sprinters only have today and tomorrow before the Pyrenees. How much will Saxobank try and hold onto the jersey?0 -
The amazing thing is, all the net forecast give light winds.
I spent a fortnight in Leucate (where the trouble could start) in August 2006.
It blew a gale for the whole time!
The stretch from Leucate down, is on a causeway, which is totally exposed and raised, between the lakes and the sea.
If Phil and Klebs are right, it could be mayhem at this point.
Further down, there is a bit more shelter from the concrete holiday flat jungle."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
I found this on google: http://www.lefigaro.fr/meteo/france/lan ... /index.php, this afternoon it's saying 25oC and 50km/h NW.
There must be a windsurfing website with one of those live weather stations so obsessives can monitor windspeed in real time?0 -
You can see the official windspeeds from Perpignan here. Only updates every hour though and places more exposed are likely to be windier.
http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/ ... __&SEITE=0
(not sure of the link will bring up wind straight away. If it doesnt then try clicking on the relevant buttons)0 -
FJS wrote:Belgian/Dutch echelon-specialist teams that lost valuable time yesterday (Lotto, Rabobank) + a coastal route + wind = a quiet day?
do you think they are strong enough... I guess they will give it a go or should do"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Cumulonimbus wrote:You can see the official windspeeds from Perpignan here. Only updates every hour though and places more exposed are likely to be windier.
http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/ ... __&SEITE=0
(not sure of the link will bring up wind straight away. If it doesnt then try clicking on the relevant buttons)
so 3/4 cross tail winds for 50km followed by 25km of head winds into the finish
the causeway is a long way from the finish"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Back when I was very young (5-12), we used to have our family holidays in Argeles-sur-Mer, the most southern point today. And I can vividly remember that there used to be quite strong winds occasionally which would cause huge sandstorms on and just off the beach, which they go very close to today. The Canet Plage (where the final bonus sprint is) area was particularly bad. So it could be interesting to see if that happens today.
I also want to see if they've still got the Mini-Karts racetrack - I used to love that.Twitter: @RichN950 -
Kléber wrote:The latest forecast I've seen suggests a 50km/h crosswind :twisted:
Expect the team directors to be ordering all their riders to the front after the two small climbs. Not everyone can be at the front of course so it will make for a manic finale.
I can imagine it looking like the point on the Tour of Flanders where everyone sprints to be at the front. BRILLIANT0 -
mididoctors wrote:FJS wrote:Belgian/Dutch echelon-specialist teams that lost valuable time yesterday (Lotto, Rabobank) + a coastal route + wind = a quiet day?
do you think they are strong enough... I guess they will give it a go or should do
Flecha, Posthuma and Clement are made for such work, while Gesink and Menchov as good TT-ers and Ten Dam and Niermann as allrounders should be able to do their bit.
At Lotto, Lang, Vansummeren and Van den Broeck should make a good train.
Their problem is more that everyone expects it now, and getting up front and working in some element of surprise is the challenge.
We'll see0 -
This was what happened two days ago. Everyone was vigilant and ready but in the end nothing happened, so lots of riders dropped their guard and the pace changed. Even Vaughters twittered something like "it's all staying together", only for the race to explode ten minutes later.FJS wrote:Their problem is more that everyone expects it now, and getting up front and working in some element of surprise is the challenge.
Still, if there is a 50km/h crosswind there is no need for surprise, an organised team can just drill it on a narrow road as there's only a fixed number of wheels to find a sheltering slipstream.0 -
Exactly, Rabobank and some other teams tried echelons when entering the Camargue. Columbia had the advantage later that they appeared just to be organised up front for a breakaway reel-in for Cav.Kléber wrote:
This was what happened two days ago. Everyone was vigilant and ready but in the end nothing happened, so lots of riders dropped their guard and the pace changed. Even Vaughters twittered something like "it's all staying together", only for the race to explode ten minutes later.FJS wrote:Their problem is more that everyone expects it now, and getting up front and working in some element of surprise is the challenge.
Yes, although it does depend on the direction of the wind. The problem is getting both your workhorses and team leaders you want to profit from splits up front. When entering the Camargue in stage two at first, no team was able to do both.Kléber wrote:Still, if there is a 50km/h crosswind there is no need for surprise, an organised team can just drill it on a narrow road as there's only a fixed number of wheels to find a sheltering slipstream.0 -
Break of three including Voeckler.0
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Yes, Voeckler, Sapa and Geslin in the lead. All solid riders. Bridging across are Ignatiev, Hutarovich and Skill's Timmer.0
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Chavanel is saying that Quick Step will do a lot of work today for Boonen. He also seems to think that there will be some big splits later on.0
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down to 178 riders today...
break of 3 with Voeckler, ahead by 25" of a chasing group with Ignatiev, who are 2'50" ahead of the main peloton0 -
Anyone know anywhere we can watch it....?
Trying to kill a few hours before doing some riding of my own."I hold it true, what'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost;
Than never to have loved at all."
Alfred Tennyson0 -
ITV4 red button from 13.30-16.300
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Aaaah interesting, thankyou.
Although it will make it all the more difficult to go training..."I hold it true, what'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost;
Than never to have loved at all."
Alfred Tennyson0 -
Kléber wrote:I found this on google: http://www.lefigaro.fr/meteo/france/lan ... /index.php, this afternoon it's saying 25oC and 50km/h NW.
There must be a windsurfing website with one of those live weather stations so obsessives can monitor windspeed in real time?
Leucate's etange are where the winsurfers hang out in droves. To say the area after that is exposed, is an understatement.
The lake is on one side, the Med on the other, bridged by an elevated, narrow causeway...
Let's hope for fireworks.
Had a look at Leucate. 25C and 55 km/h NW.
Gets a bit more sheltered later on."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Ignatiev group now with the Voeckler group, and they have opened up a 6'30" gap.
Ignatiev now in provisional yellow
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Even the electronic warning signs on the freeway are reminding drivers just how bad it is today, with signs flashing "Vent Violent - soyez prudent," a bit of advice some GC contenders may want to keep in mind today.
-VelonewsContador is the Greatest0 -
6 guys out front and the gap is 8:45. Not unusual for this stage of the race but 6 guys will be harder to pull back than 3 or 4 as long as they work together. How much will Saxobank try and defend the jersey today? They must be tired after recent days and may want to conserve energy for later in case it gets blown apart. The Schlecks could really suffer if it does blow apart.
EDIT: Although most of these guys will be quite a way down on overall so if they were to only finish a bit ahead then Cancellara will still be in yellow0 -
Anyone else see this - it was pretty disgusting? The police on mbikes that lead the riders should have sorted this indecent exposure out. You think they are from the US? Those guys in the TofCaliformia were pertty stupid.
Contador is the Greatest0
