TdF 2012

thegibdog

Is it just me who can't access velopeleton? Has it been pulled?

velo.2010

thegibdog wrote:

Is it just me who can't access velopeleton? Has it been pulled?

I'd imagine the traffic to his site went up a hundred fold and crashed. Velopeloton is an Irish guy who runs a chalet/Tours in the Pyrennes. He is a regular on the boards.ie cycling forum. He said he was playing around with the URL's on the TDF website and typed in 2012 on the 2011 webpage and bang there was the route. He got a screen grab before it was sussed.

VeloPeloton

velo.2010 wrote:

thegibdog wrote:

Is it just me who can't access velopeleton? Has it been pulled?

I'd imagine the traffic to his site went up a hundred fold and crashed. Velopeloton is an Irish guy who runs a chalet/Tours in the Pyrennes. He is a regular on the boards.ie cycling forum. He said he was playing around with the URL's on the TDF website and typed in 2012 on the 2011 webpage and bang there was the route. He got a screen grab before it was sussed.

My webhost sucks. They promise it will be back soon.

Tusher

This was designed for Tommy V to win.

mroli

I think it could be quite an interesting route. The organisers are still trying to find the right mix of mountains, rolling stages and sprints for the modern rider. Last year had its fair share of high stages and wasn't the MOST exciting TdF ever. This route means riders like Wiggins/Menchov/Evans are all going to be there or thereabouts, but it also means that the true climbers are really going to have to pull the stops out on the mountain stages, but it also means the intermediate stages are going to see attacks and people trying to get time. This hopefully will mean that the "big" teams aren't able to totally control stages. Am interested to see how it plans out - initial reaction was pshaw, but know I've thought about it, could be good!

Tusher

No team time trial though, which is a shame.

Yup, definitely a tour designed for Europcar rather than Sky.
Although after Sky's dubious effort at the Vuelta TTT, maybe not.

inkyfingers

Tusher wrote:

This was designed for Tommy V to win.

Are you sure, there's nearly 90 KM of ITT, Voeckler will lose at least 4-5 minutes to the TT specialists in that and he won't be allowed in any big breaks whilst anywhere near the top of the GC this year.

iainf72

Voeckler only does well in GT's when he's lucked out. He doesn't have the talent to win one under normal circumstances.

rick_chasey

iainf72 wrote:

Voeckler only does well in GT's when he's lucked out. He doesn't have the talent to win one under normal circumstances.

Voeckler won't make top 10 in the 2012 Tour...

edhornby

Tusher wrote:

No team time trial though, which is a shame.

I disagree - the TTT just favours the teams with the deepest wallets

what odds of a rider like pierre rolland? bit too much of a pure climber but ifvockler has a thou to one then an upcoming rider would be well worth the each way

zippypablo

iainf72 wrote:

If he's in form, Menchov will win this.

No he won't.
At 66/1 the bookies seem to agree.
If Evans is in similar shape to this year then he will be a favourite.
Menchov will be lucky to podium I think.

greasedscotsman

Tusher wrote:

No team time trial though, which is a shame.

Yes, that was the stage I'd fancied going to see. Have to think of something else now.

Pross

Why do people always assume that more mountains = better race? Many mountain stages are snooze fests but by limiting the number of them it should force people to attack more when they do get a chance. Riders like the Schlecks are going to have to try to pull 5 or 6 minutes out of the likes of Bertie, Evans or Wiggins on the hillier days. The biggest problem will be that riders like Voeckler will be closely marked so could make the transition stages more boring.

rick_chasey

Pross wrote:

Why do people always assume that more mountains = better race? Many mountain stages are snooze fests but by limiting the number of them it should force people to attack more when they do get a chance. Riders like the Schlecks are going to have to try to pull 5 or 6 minutes out of the likes of Bertie, Evans or Wiggins on the hillier days. The biggest problem will be that riders like Voeckler will be closely marked so could make the transition stages more boring.

Mountain stages are more dramatic either way.

Even the anticipation of them is sometimes better than a bore blast through some sunflower fields in 30 degrees.

Tom Butcher

A lot of the excitement comes from the way the race develops rather than the terrain anyway. This year was very exciting but if Contador had been on top form and Voeckler not got lucky with that break the amount of climbing could have turned it into a procession. I'm not particularly a fan of hard mountain top finishes because it reduces cycling to power to weight ratio. Reduce the number of those type of finishes and the 15-20 seconds you might pick up attacking on a medium mountains day becomes more important.

Agree Voeckler and Menchov will not win - think Voeckler could top 10 though if he targets that though - anyone not dropped by the front group in the mountains should be able to top 10.

Tom Butcher

A lot of the excitement comes from the way the race develops rather than the terrain anyway. This year was very exciting but if Contador had been on top form and Voeckler not got lucky with that break the amount of climbing could have turned it into a procession. I'm not particularly a fan of hard mountain top finishes because it reduces cycling to power to weight ratio. Reduce the number of those type of finishes and the 15-20 seconds you might pick up attacking on a medium mountains day becomes more important.

Agree Voeckler and Menchov will not win - think Voeckler could top 10 though if he targets that - anyone not dropped by the front group in the mountains should be able to top 10.

thegibdog

No medium mountain stages? I'm hoping quite a few of the flat stages will have hard finishes.

Actually, reading the summary does it say 4 hilly stages with one finish at altitude and 5 mountain stages with 2 finishes at altitude? Doesn't seem to match the stage listing.

dave milne

Wait and see - lumpy stages should make for good racing.

I think not too many summit finished is a good thing, I reckong stages with just a descnt after the last climb can be just as good

Pross

Tusher wrote:

This was designed for Tommy V to win.

With all those TT miles? I doubt it!

squired

Have they possibly designed a route that isn't too hard as a means of not putting off cyclists who want to be in the best possible shape for the Olympics? Also, the time trials allow anyone competing in the Olympic time trial to get some action too.