Stage 18 SPOILER

LeicesterLad

Needed to start this early, as frankly, this could be one of the best stages of any TdF ever. The anticipation is killing me.

takethehighroad

I've booked some time off to move house, which coincides with the last four stages of the Tour funny that.

I'm looking forward to the Izoard, I've not seen that in a race for ages. Is the last time the Giro in 2007?

ridgerider

By some quirk of fate, I am working from home today...well this morning anyway.

shinyhelmut

LeicesterLad wrote:

Needed to start this early, as frankly, this could be one of the best stages of any TdF ever. The anticipation is killing me.

Which almost inevitably means it'll be a damp squib, almost all the best tour stages ever are the ones you're not expecting to be good. Except for last year's Strada Bianci which were much-hyped in advance but still one of the most exciting day's of racing I can remember.

LeicesterLad

Yeah, Col D'izoard was in the '07 Giro, Evil is the only way to describe it.

Contador says the race all hangs on today, and that the Galibier is tougher, and more important than Alpe D'Huez. There will be no lack of attacking, put it that way.

LeicesterLad

ShinyHelmut wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Needed to start this early, as frankly, this could be one of the best stages of any TdF ever. The anticipation is killing me.

Which almost inevitably means it'll be a damp squib, almost all the best tour stages ever are the ones you're not expecting to be good. Except for last year's Strada Bianci which were much-hyped in advance but still one of the most exciting day's of racing I can remember.

Dont P*ss on my bonfire!

stokepa31

LeicesterLad wrote:

Needed to start this early, as frankly, this could be one of the best stages of any TdF ever. The anticipation is killing me.

I agree it could be a cracker. I just someone has got the legs to keep it going and take some real time. expect Bertie to be active again. Today we will see if he has the legs to win this tour. Cadel to just keep on keeping on and pace himself back if dropped. Schlecks to try something but i dont think they have the legs.

bring it on

blazing_saddles

There's a lot of ground between the Izoard and the Galibier proper.
I hope I'm wrong, but in terms of the GC, I can't see what they can do before the final 8kms.

LeicesterLad

Blazing Saddles wrote:

There's a lot of ground between the Izoard and the Galibier proper.
I hope I'm wrong, but in terms of the GC, I can't see what they can do before the final 8kms.

+1 think it will all come down to the last 8km, but what an 8km it could be!

I wouldn't put money on it, but for some reason, i have a niggle saying that Cadel will get dropped today, I can't explain why. Think the schlecks have no choice but to go all out today, its going to be very hard work for Bertie if he wants to drop them, to say the least.

rick_chasey

Blazing Saddles wrote:

There's a lot of ground between the Izoard and the Galibier proper.
I hope I'm wrong, but in terms of the GC, I can't see what they can do before the final 8kms.

Get tired.

stage 16 was exciting because the racing was tough enough that a selection could be made.

We're hoping that 2 HCs before the Galibier should soften them up enough to create a good selection on the final climb.

stokepa31

I see it kicking off 14km out from the finish at the first real ramp.

stokepa31

of course i meant 14km in not out. which is about 8km from the end so hey its early lol

luckao

Can people stop going on about how good this stage will be. I'm due in work just before the live coverage gets under way. You can at least pretend it'll be a nothing stage.

squired

As others have said, it is unlikely that much will happen until 8km to go. Having said that, I could see a couple of teams driving hard to split the peloton and test the legs of the other GC contenders.

If only they could cut out the lower slopes of the final climb. I think they will stop anyone high on GC trying to go earlier.

rick_chasey

I do think that if Basso can't do anything today he never will this year.

These climbs should really suit him.

shinyhelmut

Luckao wrote:

Can people stop going on about how good this stage will be. I'm due in work just before the live coverage gets under way. You can at least pretend it'll be a nothing stage.

You're not alone. We're having an extension built at the moment and as a result don't have a TV that works.

stokepa31

I work from home so life is good

inkyfingers

Today is one of those days when being your own boss is great. All I have to do is get my work done this morning and all will be good...

pat1cp

Rick Chasey wrote:

I do think that if Basso can't do anything today he never will this year.

These climbs should really suit him.

I agree. But he needs his team to isolate the other GC contenders and then Sly "BA" Schmidt to dish out the pain with a steady (high) tempo. Eh Iain ?

rick_chasey

The way it'll play out depends on the wind.

I don't know how much the road twists and turns.

Here's hoping for predominantly cross winds...

peterst6906

I don't really care where it kicks off, it promises to be the best stage of the tour so far; and with Alpe d'Huez tomorrow as well.

I'm off out of work at lunch so I can watch the stage in front of the box at home.

One eye on the television and the other on bikeradar. I predict this thread will hit 25 pages today.

takethehighroad

I'd expect to see Jens et al drilling it all day really, then Maxine the Strong and Lindy Gerdy setting it up for the Chuckle brothers to get done over by everyone else.

Contador in yellow tonight is my prediction

BarryBonds

Rick Chasey wrote:

The way it'll play out depends on the wind.

I don't know how much the road twists and turns.

Here's hoping for predominantly cross winds...

strong crosswinds

Snorebens

I've two days off to 'write up my Masters thesis' - honest.

I think today will also be a cracker due to a few subplots - Movistar trying to drill it early and drop Cav, white jersey contenders flying off the front... also, look out for top 20 GC going in an earlybreak....

Don't think Leopard will have any semblance of control today - it's there for Alberto (Sadly for my PTP gamble)

verylonglegs

Tricky today, got to keep an eye on the first test at Lords too. I wonder if TMS and cycling coverage are compatible....

pottssteve

I have a dental appointment this afternoon, so I may suffer with them.

Will be getting home asap to watch....

BarryBonds

Rick Chasey wrote:

The way it'll play out depends on the wind.

I don't know how much the road twists and turns.

Here's hoping for predominantly cross winds...

strong crosswinds

andyjr

I expect a full on charge principly by HTC so that Cav picks up the sprint points if a large breakaway doesn't go. Then leopard to come to the front & pick the pace up & try and blow up the others an dfailing. Someone to attack on Iozard, probably not any of the main contenders. Descent off the iozard to be quick with saxo bank then hitting the front & the main attacks to start about 10km out from the end.

milton50

Rick Chasey wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

There's a lot of ground between the Izoard and the Galibier proper.
I hope I'm wrong, but in terms of the GC, I can't see what they can do before the final 8kms.

Get tired.

stage 16 was exciting because the racing was tough enough that a selection could be made.

We're hoping that 2 HCs before the Galibier should soften them up enough to create a good selection on the final climb.

+1

When no one managed to get a gap on the Plateau de Beille stage Basso said something like:

"It's not enough to arrive halfway up the last climb with a group still 20 strong and expect an attack to work, you have to set a high pace much earlier."

And like you say that's exactly what happened on stage 16. Because of constant breakaway attempts the speed through the first 100km was ridiculously high, so by the time they got to the Cat 2 some people's legs were too tired to respond.

So if the top teams want to see decisive splits today then they need to set a tempo from the foot of the Agnel and constantly ramp it up through the day. Here's hoping.

camerone

at the risk of being pessimistic i predict a load of schleck owl necking, contador powder dry to last 4km, big break of no hopers getting caught on last climb, general apathy from GC contenders scared to attack each other. oh and voeckler's elastic finally snapping 3km from end of final climb.

I hope to be proved wrong.

verylonglegs

LeicesterLad wrote:

Needed to start this early, as frankly, this could be one of the best stages of any TdF ever.The anticipation is killing me.

I think Sky Sports has a presenters job for you