Stage 8 spoiler

Cumulonimbus

Another day in the Pyrenees. Any tired legs out there will receive a rude awakening in the morning as they head straight up a first cat climb. Its not that steep (5%) but it is long (23km). There is then a descent of 60kms before a second cat and first cat climb are reached. However, these again are not that steep in terms of Tour climbs. From the top of the first cat its about 45kms of downhill to the finish.

We could see quite a bit of attacking on the 2nd and 1st cat climbs but they arent that steep and anyone wanting to try that tactic may want to try it tomorrow over the more promising terrain of the Aspin and Tourmalet, although there is a longer run-in tomorrow. It being this early in the tour i imagine that a large group will reach the finish together. Will Nocentini be there? He must be tired after yesterday's stage. Ag2r will be all out in support of him to try and help him get back onto the favourites' group if/when he gets dropped. His chances will probably depend on how hard the favourites are racing.

mididoctors

agritubel have to cover the polka dot if they want to keep it and AG2r could pull a coup if they could get Roche into a break and flip the jersey

even if roche fails they don't have to work

takethehighroad

I can see a few fast finishers in the peloton at the end. Maybe not Cav and Boonen et al, but the likes of Freire, Hushovd, Pozzato could get back on by the end. I remember a similar stage in 2003 which Hamilton won and Erik Zabel won the sprint for second.

adeyboy

I'm not that experienced in following top class cycling, but am a little dissapointed that there are not more mountain top finishes. Am I wrong? I guess descending is as much a part of being a top rider, and top climber, but the suimmit finishes seem to produce the real moments of history.

Kléber

Ag2r's Riblon says he's going for the KoM jersey. I like his attitude, he's announced it direct and he's confident. Whether he can deliver is another matter but he's one of new generation of French riders who aren't out-psyched by the doping around them.

Very hard to pick someone for PTP today! I fancy someone like Federigo, Pauriol, Trofimov or Dessel but you never know, a bit of a lottery and the success of a break will depend who's in the move, whether the right teams are represented and what threat the escaped riders pose to the GC.

Anonymous

I reckon someone like Chavanel or even Millar could be in with a shout today

frenchfighter

Comparing 2009 to previous years... 2009 2008 2007 2006
Flat Stages 10 10 11 9
Medium Mountain Stages 1 4 1 4
Mountain Stages 7 5 6 5
# of Categorized Climbs (Cat 2, 1 and HC) 20 19 21 22
Mountaintop Finishes 3 4 3 3
Total Individual Time Trial Distance 55k 82k 117k 116k
Overall Distance 3435k 3554k 3547k 3657k

I am hoping for a GC contendor or few trying a long range attack but I doubt that will happen. Failing that I would like to see a LLS attack in the last 10-20k just like his hero Jalabert.

frenchfighter

Highlights of yesterday set to music - very well done:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgATLQxqORU&eurl=

frenchfighter

Start is at 11.30 and earliest live video should be about 12.30.



On the Barcelona stage, the commentators for rtbf read out a fairly long quote from Salvador Dali about cycling and specifically the Tour. If anyone knows it or has a link to the text of it could you post it, thanks.

Quite Frankly

Good lord, Duffers is back...

frenchfighter

Quite Frankly wrote:

Good lord, Duffers is back...

http://uk.messages.eurosport.yahoo.com/ ... rt=1&off=1

emadden

frenchfighter wrote:

Start is at 11.30 and earliest live video should be about 12.30.



On the Barcelona stage, the commentators for rtbf read out a fairly long quote from Salvador Dali about cycling and specifically the Tour. If anyone knows it or has a link to the text of it could you post it, thanks.

stage start on France 2 now :-)

Anonymous

And Eurosport HD...

emadden

do all you guys watch the stage with a laptop next to you? I started doing this - pretty cool way to share info and comments

emadden

lots of attacking from the start.... high speed on this initial climb.... I think a group will go clear for 3/4 of this stage

poor guys are going out the back already and the stage is only 5km old


3 euskatelis in the first 5 man break... wow.. ten dam trying to bridge

frenchfighter

Thanks emadden - now watching it on rtbf. I guess 12.30 is for feeds online...

Beppu is out the back already! I thought they had a lot of mountains in Japan : )

Rhods

Anyone got a decent feed? Thanks

SpaceJunk

emadden wrote:

do all you guys watch the stage with a laptop next to you? I started doing this - pretty cool way to share info and comments

I do. I took like sharing.

It's amazing how sometimes you might miss something that happens in a stage; or something throws a different light on developments.

It's a great way of following a cycling race.

And there are generally some really good comments made in these threads (as well as some bizarre rants too might I add).

frenchfighter

This first hour is superb!!

Now we have a group of nearly 50 riders 30 secs in front of the peloton.

It didn't include such big hitters until Kloden went with Cadel and Andy on his wheel.

AG2R on the front of the Peloton.

Rhods: http://www.fromsport.com/video-39937.html

Rhods

Thanks!

frenchfighter

Grupetto is already formed with Cav and Boonen.

chriskempton

Early in the stage of course, but Hushovd and Freire still in the reckoning for points?

top_bhoy

On what stages is the radio ban implemented?

frenchfighter

Now the Cadel haters really need to be quiet. He has now attacked the 2nd group and has four riders with him.

Peloton only 50m behind now.

Lead have 1.20 on yellow jersey. Astana on the front.

emadden

Go Cadel !! He is in a small group off the front trying to pick up the pace... the Astana bum-fest is on again...

Good to see Nocentini opted for yellow bibs

sportbilly1976

Is that Wiggo with Cadel?

obviously still plenty ion the tank early on after yesterday's fantastic performance...

Jez mon

How about Wiggins for today, by the sounds of it the current climbing speed is a bit fast, so I should think that even if some sprinters manage to stay up there, they are probably going to be knackered by the finish, even if they get there in the top group. Wiggo however, is climbing superbly atm, and if he still has some of the power left over from his pursuiting days, could make a break from a group in the last few kilometres.


What does everyone think about stages like today's? Personally I think I'd probably prefer it if the last climb came later giving the race less time to come back together.

frenchfighter

Velonews:

Casar is still on his own.

Five riders have eerged from that big chase group of 30 and are giving chase.

They include Cadel Evans, Dave Zabriski Vladimir Efimkin, Egoi Martinez and Christophe Kern

Jez mon

Zabriske is the Garmin rider

Kléber

What's Evans doing, going for the KoM now? This makes for a promising stage. Astana forced to chase behind.

emadden

Jez mon wrote:

How about Wiggins for today, by the sounds of it the current climbing speed is a bit fast, so I should think that even if some sprinters manage to stay up there, they are probably going to be knackered by the finish, even if they get there in the top group. Wiggo however, is climbing superbly atm, and if he still has some of the power left over from his pursuiting days, could make a break from a group in the last few kilometres.


What does everyone think about stages like today's? Personally I think I'd probably prefer it if the last climb came later giving the race less time to come back together.

I agree with you... These stages waste what the mountains have to offer... The stage is designed to minimise the time gaps so the whole race comes down to the final week... I'd prefer to see the mountain top finishes of years ago...