Tour de France Stage 11 *Spoiler*

bigmat
bigmat Posts: 5,134
edited July 2012 in Pro race
Nobody started this yet?! Its the queen stage for goodness sake, surely more interesting than whether Wiggo gave Nibbles a dirty look or what have you.

Albertville – La Toussuire-Les Sybelles

Distance: 148km
Highest point: 2,067m
Category: High mountains

I anticipate more Sky dominance, another Froome win perhaps? He might have to work a bit harder than the last MTF so maybe another climber will have the legs at the end, Rolland perhaps as he seems to have overcome his crash damage (amazing powers of recuperation at Europcar!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
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Comments

  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    2012_tour_de_france_stage10_thomas_voeckler_europcar_attack3a.jpg

    2012_tour_de_france_stage10_cadel_evans_bmc_peloton3a.jpg

    2012_tour_de_france_stage11_profile.gif
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    Surely Nibs "The Disrespected" will attack off the Mollard? Sky will then reel him back in on La Toussuire and Wiggins will shake his head as they go by. Followed by more fist pumping at the top
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    Tour+de+France+2006+Stage+Sixteen+U-Nwc_prPHrl.jpg
  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    Short, but lots of climbing.
    Can't see a stand off, the competition have to go for something today.
    exercise.png
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Millar's only had bad times on the col de madeleine.
    _
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    This is a tough stage. Some riders will end up toast today.
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    TheStone wrote:
    Short, but lots of climbing.
    Can't see a stand off, the competition have to go for something today.

    This - I really hope! Otherwise it's going to be a (ever so slightly) hollow victory for Sky as they ve beated a bunch of people who have all just led down!! Not that they'll care a hoot but....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Crozza
    Crozza Posts: 991
    Wiggins, desperate to impress FF, will wear white socks and attack from the bottom of the Croix de Fer, soloing to victory
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    should be a good stage and I think Nibs and Evans have to attack so at least this one should be more interesting.

    Would be nice to see Wiggo try and attack and make even more time rather than just get Sky to set a high tempo
  • outcastjack
    outcastjack Posts: 237
    Time for Frank Schleck to justify his existence and try to win something today? Or am I just dreaming?
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    ddraver wrote:
    TheStone wrote:
    Short, but lots of climbing.
    Can't see a stand off, the competition have to go for something today.

    This - I really hope! Otherwise it's going to be a (ever so slightly) hollow victory for Sky as they ve beated a bunch of people who have all just led down!! Not that they'll care a hoot but....

    Good point. A favourable TT parcours and a lack of top drawer climbing opposition has been a gift to them so far. It's times like this I wish Contador had been a Vegetarian.
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    Yellow Peril wrote:
    ddraver wrote:
    TheStone wrote:
    Short, but lots of climbing.
    Can't see a stand off, the competition have to go for something today.

    This - I really hope! Otherwise it's going to be a (ever so slightly) hollow victory for Sky as they ve beated a bunch of people who have all just led down!! Not that they'll care a hoot but....

    Good point. A favourable TT parcours and a lack of top drawer climbing opposition has been a gift to them so far. It's times like this I wish Contador had been a Vegetarian.

    This. I'm already putting this one in a drawer called 'dull' and packing my mental suitcase of courage for a Brad v Bertie v Alpecin 2013 showdown on a Centenary parcours that includes the Alpe, Ventoux, Puy-Dome, Tourmalet, 100K of TTT, 150K of ITT, Roubaix cobbles and Breton wind, all done on 50Ib flip-hub dinglespeeds.

    Oh, and Corsican separatists and pirates staging sit ins, bombings and ransom kidnaps of Mr Nibbles masterminded by le Comte de Monte Cristo.


    Am I expecting too much for the centenary?
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,434
    outcastjack wrote:
    Time for Frank Schleck to justify his existence and try to win something today? Or am I just dreaming?


    More than Frank needs to justifiy themselves.

    Are there any 'climbers' in this tour?
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    TailWindHome wrote:
    outcastjack wrote:
    Time for Frank Schleck to justify his existence and try to win something today? Or am I just dreaming?


    More than Frank needs to justifiy themselves.

    Are there any 'climbers' in this tour?

    Yeah. They're just 2nd or 3rd rate.

    Like Boonen was up against 3rd rate cobble specialists.
    _
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    I know they've had some bad look with crash outs but the carrots are disappointing these days. They're usually good for a bit of climbing unless they are saving it for a Pyrennean adventure. My generally thought though is that they should be sponsored by Stannah Stairlifts.
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    Alberto can't return soon enough. Can't wait for him to light up the Vuelta! ;)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Yellow Peril wrote:
    I know they've had some bad look with crash outs but the carrots are disappointing these days. They're usually good for a bit of climbing unless they are saving it for a Pyrennean adventure. My generally thought though is that they should be sponsored by Stannah Stairlifts.

    Euskatel too. ;)

    http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/070 ... crash.html
    _
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    The Mad Rapper wrote:
    Alberto can't return soon enough. Can't wait for him to light up the Vuelta! ;)

    Yes I love watching Alberto attack but even that is him just riding off on his own as he's so much better than everyone else.

    Really need Evans or Bibs to attack today or as I said above would love to see Wiggo have a dig and try to gain even more time
  • ellerslierd
    ellerslierd Posts: 266
    according to bbc twitter Fabian has pulled out:

    Fabian Cancellara pulls out of the Tour de France, returning to Switzerland to be with his pregnant wife
    @BBCSport 44 minutes ago
  • k-dog
    k-dog Posts: 1,652
    Why haven't RSNT been wearing the yellow helmets. They're the team comp leaders and had the yellow numbers. Have they scrapped that idea already?
    I'm left handed, if that matters.
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    ellerslierd wrote:
    according to bbc twitter Fabian has pulled out:

    Fabian Cancellara pulls out of the Tour de France, returning to Switzerland to be with his pregnant wife
    @BBCSport 44 minutes ago

    TBH good timing for Fab. He's nothing left to prove in this Tour, some time with the missus and a bit of form drilling should see him going well at the Olympics.

    Chapeau Fab, you showed some courage and panache in yellow this Tour.
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    sherer wrote:
    The Mad Rapper wrote:
    Alberto can't return soon enough. Can't wait for him to light up the Vuelta! ;)

    Yes I love watching Alberto attack but even that is him just riding off on his own as he's so much better prepared than everyone else.

    ;)
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    Breakaways are good and that's all it can be said about this Tour. As for the GC, it is the most boring I remember... maybe as a Brit, one can find it exciting, but being not British, I just find this Tour very tedious.
    Even Armstrong didn't have a team escorting him all the way to the finish line... he had to do some work alone.
    Domestiques used to be good for a few Km up a climb, now they easily pace a leader up three, even four climbs... that's what happens when there is no phenomenal rider in the race.
    Wiggins, Evans, Nibali, they are good riders, but you need a Contador to shake things up in the mountains, 'cause neither Evans nor Nibali can even drop Wiggins' domestiques, let alone the captain.
    left the forum March 2023
  • Crozza
    Crozza Posts: 991
    sherer wrote:
    Really need Evans or Bibs to attack today

    like the new nickname for the big crybaby :D
  • gsvbagpuss
    gsvbagpuss Posts: 272
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    'cause neither Evans nor Nibali can even drop Wiggins' domestiques, let alone the captain.

    Very good point, it's doesn't look for them if they have no weapons even against EBH and others. I do hope Wiggins solo's to a victory at some point; Evans rode very defensively last year, waited for the ITT and won but hardly excited anyone.
  • Squaggles
    Squaggles Posts: 875
    Interesting how many people want Contador back for a bit of excitement
    The UCI are Clowns and Fools
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    GSVBagpuss wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    'cause neither Evans nor Nibali can even drop Wiggins' domestiques, let alone the captain.

    Very good point, it's doesn't look for them if they have no weapons even against EBH and others. I do hope Wiggins solo's to a victory at some point; Evans rode very defensively last year, waited for the ITT and won but hardly excited anyone.

    As well as he's riding I don't see that in him. I think he is unstoppable in his rythmn but can't make the jump to ride everyone off his wheel.
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Looking forward to this.

    All this guff about a 6km climb - at least these are serious climbs.
    _
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    Squaggles wrote:
    Interesting how many people want Contador back for a bit of excitement

    Well, it's Tour with few mountains, lots of Km against the clock and no climbers in the peloton... can you think of a less explosive mixture?
    Without Andy Schleck and Contador the race drags itself towards Paris uneventfully
    left the forum March 2023
  • gsvbagpuss
    gsvbagpuss Posts: 272
    Yellow Peril wrote:
    As well as he's riding I don't see that in him. I think he is unstoppable in his rythmn but can't make the jump to ride everyone off his wheel.

    Agreed - I would like to see it for the sake of some fun, I don't think it'll happen though

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