TDF 2013 Stage 12 ***Spoilers*** Fougeres - Tours

goonz

hammerite wrote:

There's not a lot to talk about for the race today - at least until the race gets going and there's an incident. Who will win the sprint? How long will the break be allowed to gain? Will a team attempt to split the field (if anyone goes for it I think it will be Belkin)? That's about it isn't it?

Will Roland be head to road in spots again...

Does he have polka dotted sunnies too?

fleshtuxedo

Meanwhile....114/7

calvjones

Above The Cows wrote:

ATC's Guide to the Loire Terroir

So as our resident geologist has informed us this is chalk country and this means a different terroir to that found further south. We are now in the land of the well known wines of Muscadet, Sancerre, Chenin Blanc and Pouilly-Fumé (interestingly vineyards producing these varieties are also springing up in the chalk regions of southern England but I digress).

[OT] Can never remember, is it Pouilly-Fumé or Pouilly-Fuisse that Frasier drinks? [/OT]

TheBigBean

The Mad Rapper wrote:

ThomThom wrote:

But I think Menchov is really the only GC contender to be stupid enough to be caught in echelons.

*Cough* Contador *Cough*

He's got a team this year.

fleshtuxedo

calvjones wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

ATC's Guide to the Loire Terroir

So as our resident geologist has informed us this is chalk country and this means a different terroir to that found further south. We are now in the land of the well known wines of Muscadet, Sancerre, Chenin Blanc and Pouilly-Fumé (interestingly vineyards producing these varieties are also springing up in the chalk regions of southern England but I digress).

[OT] Can never remember, is it Pouilly-Fumé or Pouilly-Fuisse that Frasier drinks? [/OT]

(Puligny) Montrachet. Him ad Niles once joked that I was "Monrachet time", a pun on "Miller time"

TMR

I'd like to see Flecha win a stage. Quite a step down from SKY to Vacan-Soleil.

ridgerider

FoldingJoe wrote:

What time are the fellow forumers descending on peloton in Spittalfields?

20k to go?

TimB34

Now out to 5 minutes.

No locals in the break today, although Anthony Delaplace does come from Valognes up in Normandy, not that far away from the start.

Now the racing has started, I will refrain from posting about the local goats cheese (apart from this one picture

fleshtuxedo

Goats cheese smoking a fag?

TimB34

As you asked, it has a piece of straw through the middle, traditionally marked with the producers reference.

Break out to 6m45 now.

No_Ta_Doctor

FleshTuxedo wrote:

Goats cheese smoking a fag?

Goat cheese popsicle.

No_Ta_Doctor

The Tour de France has always been a showcase for French food, wine and countryside. I can't see any reason why that should happen on the stage thread as well.

PuttyKnees

Wasn't Valverde caught out by Sky forming echelons at the Vuelta last year? So I think he should go in the stupid pile with Menchov.

Cleat Eastwood

Its actually mori who's the highest placed in the breakaway - not that it matters. I reckon they'll get caught at 212k - place your bets now.

ddraver

FleshTuxedo wrote:

calvjones wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

ATC's Guide to the Loire Terroir

So as our resident geologist has informed us this is chalk country and this means a different terroir to that found further south. We are now in the land of the well known wines of Muscadet, Sancerre, Chenin Blanc and Pouilly-Fumé (interestingly vineyards producing these varieties are also springing up in the chalk regions of southern England but I digress).

[OT] Can never remember, is it Pouilly-Fumé or Pouilly-Fuisse that Frasier drinks? [/OT]

(Puligny) Montrachet. Him ad Niles once joked that I was "Monrachet time", a pun on "Miller time"

Puligny Montrachet is in Burgundy though (Beaune). It's a really nice little village in a nice area with good cycling again! Cycling is a good way to see the areas actually! You also begin to appreciate why the premier bottles are so massively expensive when you cycle past the one field that those grapes come from in about 30 seconds

knedlicky

hammerite wrote:

I quite like the transport, food/drink and geological posts. Keep them up guys. It's a bit like having David Duffield on the thread.

above_the_cows

TimB34 wrote:

[OT] OMG! That's my lunch sorted then. I'm off out for a goat's cheese, walnut and apple jam broodje. I am starving! [/OT]

inkyfingers

Any rider not in the front 20 is at risk of getting caught out in echelons. All it takes is for a couple of riders in front of you to lose the wheel and for there to be a couple of strong teams in the front group.

It's unlikely to happen though, tends to happen more often at the beginning of the season when many in the peloton aren't at 100%

Macaloon

goonz wrote:

Will Roland be head to road in spots again...

Does he have polka dotted sunnies too?

At this point in the tour he could ride in transparent shorts to pull off the full disease-vector look.

goonz

Breakaway about 9 mins ahead.

goonz

The breakaway just covered 30 miles in the first hr of racing! :shock:

hammerite

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

Its actually mori who's the highest placed in the breakaway - not that it matters. I reckon they'll get caught at 212k - place your bets now.

I was just copying from Cyclingnews!

dang100

Hi,
when people say "get caught in the echelons" - what does this mean?

ddraver

Given there's naff all happening in France...

Bit of wag in this Aussie Tail...

dang - an echelon is a diagonal line over the road. However only a certain number of riders can fit in that line before running out of road width. The rider behind that man can either move to the windward side of the road and start a new one or (more commonly) panics and looses the wheel of the echelon and drops back(bear in mind that this only happens when the riders are going flat out!).

Eitehr way a gap can open and anything can happen

Macaloon

dang100 wrote:

Hi,
when people say "get caught in the echelons" - what does this mean?

With a side-wind, there's only as much shelter as the road is wide. Once wheels are dropped, a strong group can open a significant gap. Being "caught" in the rear echelon can lead to large time gaps.


Edit: Beaten to it by rock boy. Have a pic.

disgruntledgoat

ddraver wrote:

Given there's naff all happening in France...

Bit of wag in this Aussie Tail...

dang - an echelon is a diagonal line over the road. However only a certain number of riders can fit in that line before running out of road width. The rider behind that man can either move to the windward side of the road and start a new one or (more commonly) panics and looses the wheel of the echelon and drops back(bear in mind that this only happens when the riders are going flat out!).

Eitehr way a gap can open and anything can happen

This Agar kid looks great with the bat. No way he's an 11

dang100

Thanks ddraver. Clear now. Every day's a school day!

RichN95.

ddraver wrote:

dang - an echelon is a diagonal line over the road. However only a certain number of riders can fit in that line before running out of road width. The rider behind that man can either move to the windward side of the road and start a new one or (more commonly) panics and looses the wheel of the echelon and drops back(bear in mind that this only happens when the riders are going flat out!).

Eitehr way a gap can open and anything can happen

Pictures always help:

dang100

Thanks Macaloon + Rich. Helpful.

above_the_cows

dang100 wrote:

Hi,
when people say "get caught in the echelons" - what does this mean?

When there is a crosswind it requires a bit more effort (drafting effects are reduced because the wind is coming from the side) and people can form a small gap by not quite keeping up with the person in front. This gap then gets hard to close because of the crosswind and the gap grows into a bigger gap until distinct groups are formed. The groups form 'echelons' to offset the effects of the cross winds. So riders get 'caught' in these echelons. If you are in the front one that is good for you, those caught in the one(s) further behind are less fortunate.

Here's a picture from the usual echelon-tastic Tour of Qatar:



Oh poop beaten too it. Well I spent time on that, so I'm not wasting it. Have another explanation.