TDF Stage 5 Spoilers

No_Ta_Doctor
No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,653
edited July 2011 in Pro race
Lumpy enough to annoy the sprinters? Not lumpy enough for a proper breakaway?
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Comments

  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    I think the best we can hope for on this one is wind.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • avoidingmyphd
    avoidingmyphd Posts: 1,154
    innerring reckons 30kph sidewinds until the last 50km (and also that 30kph winds are not strong enough for splits!)
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    It's an interesting one; yes, the wind might play a role, but it is also lumpy - no big or classified hills, but that part of Brittany is up and down all the time. At the very least a very tiring day for the domestiques, but it's the combination of wind and hills that could cause some splits today
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Yes, fingers crossed for wind based fun and games. Looking at the forecast it may be more of a tailwind than a crosswind, though depends on how the sea breeze develops.

    Contador must be praying that it all stays together as his team is going to be next to useless for that kind of racing.

    Unfortunately I still think we'll have a bunch sprint with no serious time gaps in GC.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Yes, fingers crossed for wind based fun and games. Looking at the forecast it may be more of a tailwind than a crosswind, though depends on how the sea breeze develops.

    Contador must be praying that it all stays together as his team is going to be next to useless for that kind of racing.

    Unfortunately I still think we'll have a bunch sprint with no serious time gaps in GC.

    Crashes aside, we won't have any big GC time gaps for the next 8 days.
    _
  • Dave-M
    Dave-M Posts: 206
    I know the finish pretty well....and to a novice like me there are a few hills invloved, even though the profile map doesn't really show it. Will be interesting to see how the pros treat them!
    2010 Specialized Allez Elite
    2009 Specialized Rockhopper
    2009 Quintana Roo Seduza
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Yes, fingers crossed for wind based fun and games. Looking at the forecast it may be more of a tailwind than a crosswind, though depends on how the sea breeze develops.

    Contador must be praying that it all stays together as his team is going to be next to useless for that kind of racing.

    Unfortunately I still think we'll have a bunch sprint with no serious time gaps in GC.

    Crashes aside, we won't have any big GC time gaps for the next 8 days.

    I suppose it depends on what you mean by "big". It was two years ago today when LA was able to pull back 40 seconds on Cadel, both Schlecks, Wiggo, Bertie etc. on windy, flattish stage. It made the difference between him finishing on the podium or in 5th.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    LangerDan wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Yes, fingers crossed for wind based fun and games. Looking at the forecast it may be more of a tailwind than a crosswind, though depends on how the sea breeze develops.

    Contador must be praying that it all stays together as his team is going to be next to useless for that kind of racing.

    Unfortunately I still think we'll have a bunch sprint with no serious time gaps in GC.

    Crashes aside, we won't have any big GC time gaps for the next 8 days.

    I suppose it depends on what you mean by "big". It was two years ago today when LA was able to pull back 40 seconds on Cadel, both Schlecks, Wiggo, Bertie etc. on windy, flattish stage. It made the difference between him finishing on the podium or in 5th.

    Exactly, but you need the right weather conditions and a team(s) who are prepared to get on the front and try and make it happen. Sky, Leopard, BMC and obviously HTC are all fairly well equipped for that kind of racing if it comes to it, Saxo Bank much less so.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • Doobz
    Doobz Posts: 2,800
    from graham watson
    Should see some great racing today, and maybe an earlier dinner, seeing as there's a gale-force wind to blow them along the Brittany coast..
    cartoon.jpg
  • sonny73
    sonny73 Posts: 2,203
    Doobz wrote:
    from graham watson
    Should see some great racing today, and maybe an earlier dinner, seeing as there's a gale-force wind to blow them along the Brittany coast..
    Interesting, certainly agree that windy conditions is the best bet for a good days racing.
  • Cumulonimbus
    Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
    I think gale force is exaggerating but it certainly will be quite a blowy one today. Tomorrow looks like being quite blustery too with a tail/cross wind and with climbs along the way it could break up a bit. Friday's flat stage is currently project to have a crosswind of 15mph. GC guys and teams will have to be extra-vigilant over the next few days.
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    Sonny73 wrote:
    Doobz wrote:
    from graham watson
    Should see some great racing today, and maybe an earlier dinner, seeing as there's a gale-force wind to blow them along the Brittany coast..
    Interesting, certainly agree that windy conditions is the best bet for a good days racing.
    Only probelm is that with the exception of the section between Pludual and Saint Brieuc, the wind seems to be mainly up their chuff for the day
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    On the SRM telemetry siteyou can see the riders all heading from the bus park to the ceremonial start.

    Edit - I think someone nicked the bikes - they've all headed away from the start at 30mph and no power. They must be in a van
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • camerone
    camerone Posts: 1,232
    sean kelly just said 'to be sure to be sure!'
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    Sean Kelly just said "To be sure, to be sure"
  • camerone
    camerone Posts: 1,232
    commentary really emphasising technical nature of finish, combine nervous first week peloton and there could be problems..
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Wiggins and Chavanel involved in minor crash. Look to be fine.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Wiggins just caught behind it, I think. Moncoutié not looking where he was going!
  • Cumulonimbus
    Cumulonimbus Posts: 1,730
    afx237vi wrote:
    Wiggins just caught behind it, I think. Moncoutié not looking where he was going!

    Did he cause it? He is normally cycling along at the back.
  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    iainf72 wrote:
    I think the best we can hope for on this one is wind.
    I have wind. It's not all that
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Cumulonimbus wrote:
    afx237vi wrote:
    Wiggins just caught behind it, I think. Moncoutié not looking where he was going!

    Did he cause it? He is normally cycling along at the back.

    He didn't cause it, but he was at the back and ended up ploughing into the back of another rider who was just standing there.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Cav moaning at Rojas for changing line... maybe justifiably so.
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    cav squeezed out again. boonen you git.
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Bad crash for Brajkovic.
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    ooh brakjovic down.
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Gesink and Brajkovic look in real trouble.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    Gesink involved, quite bad that one
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Phew, he's getting up. That was worrying. He looks OK.
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Cav moaning again? :roll:
  • sonny73
    sonny73 Posts: 2,203
    That looks nasty!! Hope he's able to continue.

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