TDF Stage 16 *SPOILER*

rick_chasey

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Already 30C in Pau, according to France 2.
I worry that the forecast heat may effect Wiggins.
They are off!

He got asked about that.

Guess what is response was?

inkyfingers

kanto wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

The only question is whether these people soft-tap again or ride like champions.

I think we can only count on Nibali and JVB. Hopefully EBH, Rogers and Porte have defaillance before the Aspin.

Sadly Nibali and JVB are too far down. The only hope is that Froome grows some balls and rips Wiggins apart, like we know he could. Otherwise, we will have had the worst TDF which has most likely been raced.

I'd love to see whether Froome could really destroy Wiggins in the mountains given the opportunity. No doubt he could jump away, but can he stay away or would Wiggins just diesel his way back up to him like he seems to do when anybody else attacks?

If you go back to the Angliru last year Wiggins only finished 30 odd seconds behind him and that's a much tougher climb than anything in the Tour and a climb that in theory would suit Froome far better.

inkyfingers

Rick Chasey wrote:

Would be quite funny if after all this Wiggins goes and bosses the mountains.


Can't see it happening mind.

It's unlikely, but I could actually imagine Wiggins finding himself alone at the finish tomorrow, if Evans, Nibali etc attack but fail and then get dropped by the diesel monster, Froome will probably be there to nick the stage win though.

kanto

inkyfingers wrote:

kanto wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

The only question is whether these people soft-tap again or ride like champions.

I think we can only count on Nibali and JVB. Hopefully EBH, Rogers and Porte have defaillance before the Aspin.


Sadly Nibali and JVB are too far down. The only hope is that Froome grows some balls and rips Wiggins apart, like we know he could. Otherwise, we will have had the worst TDF which has most likely been raced.

I'd love to see whether Froome could really destroy Wiggins in the mountains given the opportunity. No doubt he could jump away, but can he stay away or would Wiggins just diesel his way back up to him like he seems to do when anybody else attacks?

If you go back to the Angliru last year Wiggins only finished 30 odd seconds behind him and that's a much tougher climb than anything in the Tour and a climb that in theory would suit Froome far better.

It has got to the point where realistically, it is almost between Wiggins and Froome, so Sky should let them battle it out. Leaving it until the TT, where the race is already over would be a big mistake. Surely Wiggins doesn't want to win the TDF knowing he maybe wasn't even the strongest rider in the tour, and had been partially gifted the tour, because Froome wasn't allowed to attack. A true winner should want a battle

calvjones

kanto wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

kanto wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

The only question is whether these people soft-tap again or ride like champions.

I think we can only count on Nibali and JVB. Hopefully EBH, Rogers and Porte have defaillance before the Aspin.


Sadly Nibali and JVB are too far down. The only hope is that Froome grows some balls and rips Wiggins apart, like we know he could. Otherwise, we will have had the worst TDF which has most likely been raced.

I'd love to see whether Froome could really destroy Wiggins in the mountains given the opportunity. No doubt he could jump away, but can he stay away or would Wiggins just diesel his way back up to him like he seems to do when anybody else attacks?

If you go back to the Angliru last year Wiggins only finished 30 odd seconds behind him and that's a much tougher climb than anything in the Tour and a climb that in theory would suit Froome far better.

It has got to the point where realistically, it is almost between Wiggins and Froome, so Sky should let them battle it out. Leaving it until the TT, where the race is already over would be a big mistake. Surely Wiggins doesn't want to win the TDF knowing he maybe wasn't even the strongest rider in the tour, and had been partially gifted the tour, because Froome wasn't allowed to attack. A true winner should want a battle

You are Frenchfighter and I claim my £5.

Wiggo wants to win. Period.

Anonymous

As Jay-Z would* say, "This is the 99th Tour and a Brit ain't won."

lostboysaint

Can't imagine Wiggo being that bothered about the temperature as he's been stomping up and down Mt Teide in Tenerife in similar.

knedlicky

inkyfingers wrote:

I am hoping that Evans, Nibali and Vdb will all have a go, don't think the overall will change much though, unless Wiggins has "un jour sans".

Van Den Broeck has called for an alliance against Wiggins, saying ”At least two riders are needed to attack Sky, We three (he means Evans, Nibali and himself) must work together and not ride against each other if we want to still fight for Yellow“.

Maybe the heat will play a role - they'll have the afternoon sun on their backs the last 5-6 km going up the Peyresourde, where it's hardest, and there is no shade there.

rick_chasey

Can't see Jonny in the break.

Crozza

lots of BMC in the break?

disgruntledgoat

Ten Dam in there Rick!

rick_chasey

Maybe Jonny is there....

DaveL

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Ten Dam in there Rick!

Yes

disgruntledgoat

Cycling News reckon the Hoog is in

rick_chasey

Yeah, I saw him in the big group.

He was very active early on but then disappeared.

Seems he made the big break ahead.

Question is, will he make the selection over the Aubisque and Tourmalet?

disgruntledgoat

Fredrik Kessiakoff Pro Team Astana
Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar
Chris Anker Sørensen Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
George Hincapie BMC Racing Team
Alexander Vinokourov Pro Team Astana
Jens Voigt RadioShack-Nissan
Rui Alberto Faria da Costa Movistar Team
Yukiya Arashiro Team Europcar
Vladimir Karpets Movistar Team
Rein Taaramae Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
Yaroslav Popovych RadioShack-Nissan
Steven Cummings BMC Racing Team
Steven Kruijswijk Rabobank Cycling Team
Vasili Kiryienka Movistar Team
Pierrick Fédrigo FDJ-Big Mat
Matthieu Sprick Argos-Shimano
Luca Paolini Katusha Team
Sandy Casar FDJ-Big Mat

rick_chasey

Cheers.

2 Dutchies

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Already 30C in Pau, according to France 2.
I worry that the forecast heat may effect Wiggins.
They are off!

He got asked about that.

Guess what is response was?

I assume it was "We've trained for this" - it's his stock answer for everything.

ddraver

Rick Chasey wrote:

Alan A wrote:

Looking forward to watching the descents off the Aubisque & Tourmalet. I've done them both and they're great fun. Did the Tourmalet in the dark 2 years ago after Etape du Tour. Most exciting ride of my life.

Watching Thor go down the Aubisque towards his victory last year was riveting. Let's hope the breakaway attack their way down both.

Hope they don't encounter a load of cows in the middle of the road like I did.

Hah, Yep, me too coming up to the Solour

disgruntledgoat

No Rolland

knedlicky

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Fredrik Kessiakoff Pro Team Astana
Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar
Chris Anker Sørensen Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
George Hincapie BMC Racing Team
Alexander Vinokourov Pro Team Astana
Jens Voigt RadioShack-Nissan
Rui Alberto Faria da Costa Movistar Team
Yukiya Arashiro Team Europcar
Vladimir Karpets Movistar Team
Rein Taaramae Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
Yaroslav Popovych RadioShack-Nissan
Steven Cummings BMC Racing Team
Steven Kruijswijk Rabobank Cycling Team
Vasili Kiryienka Movistar Team
Pierrick Fédrigo FDJ-Big Mat
Matthieu Sprick Argos-Shimano
Luca Paolini Katusha Team
Sandy Casar FDJ-Big Mat

Also:
Paulinho, Vorganov, Marzano, Valls, Martin, Azanza, Ladagnous, Levarlet, Ten Dam, Izaguirre.

ddraver

Looks like a few teams have sent riders up the road to act as motorbikes between the climbs...

andyjr

No liqigas in the break either. Surprised Nilabli hasn't put anyone up the road for later on

knedlicky

Martinez there too.

rick_chasey

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Already 30C in Pau, according to France 2.
I worry that the forecast heat may effect Wiggins.
They are off!

He got asked about that.

Guess what is response was?

I assume it was "We've trained for this" - it's his stock answer for everything.

Yup.

inkyfingers

I've always been a bit sceptical as to the tactical sense of putting team mates in the break. It worked well for Andy Schleck last year but it does also require the guys in the break to do more work during the stage so by the time the leader joins them on the road they often don't have much left to give.

Yellow Peril

COME ON JOHNNY!

Going to be a hot one, Nibs to show class and attack repeatedly. Full spaghetti western stand off in the heat. I'm luvvin it from Douglas Bay!

rick_chasey

inkyfingers wrote:

I've always been a bit sceptical as to the tactical sense of putting team mates in the break. It worked well for Andy Schleck last year but it does also require the guys in the break to do more work during the stage so by the time the leader joins them on the road they often don't have much left to give.

That's why you put two or three in.

One guy to do all the work

fungus_the_muffin_man

Chris Horner off his bike and down the slope??? Looked like he dived over on purpose as there was a small build up in front of him. Back on though and looks unhurt

rick_chasey

First bit of the Aubisque on this side is quite gentle.

Ramps up once they turn left through a little square.