Stage 10 - bunch sprint?

MaxwellBygraves

Another question for the experts out there, how likely is it to finish in a bunch sprint, or will stage 10 be another day for the breakaway specialists like the previous two days?

Do you think Cav will target another stage win or take it easy in the autobus?

iainf72

I vote protest stage.

StefanP

Breakaway i think tbh

RichN95.

I have it down as a bunch sprint.

HTC will be hungry for stages and Europcar will be willing chasers on the front.
There's a cat 4 climb 15-20km from the end but that shouldn't be a problem for Cav unless Omega want to hammer it on the front, which I doubt as they're down to six riders.

TMR

Is there any chance that Cav would be allowed to go in a break? If he could take the Intermediate stage on the mountain stages (depending upon how close they were to the start obviously) then that'd help him reduce the advantage that Gilbert has.

dougzz

The Mad Rapper wrote:

Is there any chance that Cav would be allowed to go in a break? If he could take the Intermediate stage on the mountain stages (depending upon how close they were to the start obviously) then that'd help him reduce the advantage that Gilbert has.

Not unless they let the entire HTC team go to ride in front of him

takethehighroad

The sprint is at 35 km from the start so I'd imagine HTC will keep things together until then, then rest for the next 60km or so while a break go clear and Europcar bring it back

LangerDan

The Mad Rapper wrote:

Is there any chance that Cav would be allowed to go in a break? If he could take the Intermediate stage on the mountain stages (depending upon how close they were to the start obviously) then that'd help him reduce the advantage that Gilbert has.

It would be a nice change of scenery for Cav too - all he's seen of the French countryside since 2008 has been Mark Renshaws arse.


I think a protest may be on the cards - they've gone on strike for less in the past. Plus several riders would benefit from a second "rest" day - especially poor Johnny H.

rick_chasey

iainf72 wrote:

I vote protest stage.

Rascal.

Bronzie

The Mad Rapper wrote:

Is there any chance that Cav would be allowed to go in a break?

No one in their right mind would allow Cav to remain in a break right to the finish - the other riders in the break would be looking to ditch him with 20km to go.

Mind you, Greipel got in a break at De Panne this year and managed to take the win with the bunch breathing down their necks.

rick_chasey

Unless you see the first kilometres of a stage, it's difficult to explain how difficult it is to get into the break of the day.

Suffice to say, you have to assume that anyone in the break has been collectively allowed to get into the break by the peloton.

smithy21

iainf72 wrote:

I vote protest stage.

Protest stage with Jonny H and Flecha leading them over the line?

avoidingmyphd

Rick Chasey wrote:

Unless you see the first kilometres of a stage, it's difficult to explain how difficult it is to get into the break of the day.

Suffice to say, you have to assume that anyone in the break has been collectively allowed to get into the break by the peloton.

And they really wanted to be there, and their DS said it was OK.
Cav scores 0/3 every day.

TMR

Poor Cav