TDF 2013 Stage 18 L'Alpe d'Huez *Spoilers*

Macaloon

It's not about the Watts. It's the spectacle. Elite athletic performance, potentially dramatic competition, bikes, in a stunning, unique environment.

If the weather grounds the helicopters tomorrow, I'm going over to the Dark Side.

alihisgreat

Mechanism wrote:

I can't get my head around the logic of climbing the same mountain twice when there are, or so I'm led to believe, a number of other mountains nearby in the Alps.

But Alpe D'Huez is the big name climb isn't it? You know -> Lemond & Hinualt, Dutch corner and all that.

If you want something special and different for the 100th Tour, then why not do the big one twice?!

Yellow Peril

disgruntledgoat wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

If the weather is bad tomorrow I might cry, especially if they decide the descent is too dangerous

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

The Descent (I wouldn't fancy it in the wet)

http://vimeo.com/70139351

Thanks for posting that!

If the sarenne is too hard couldn't they put a cone at the top for the riders to ride around and descend down the alpe? Im sure that would be a first also.

I think I've done that race...

Gather round pro-racers and old grandpa goat will tell you a tale.

Consultation of my old Polar Pro Trainer diary reveals that indeed I did ride something similar. Bourg D'Oisans up Alpe D'Huez, back down the service road and then off the Villard Reculas road and the along the valley and a finish up Vaujany.

My notes tell me it hammered it down the whole time, that some Dutch guys wheelsucked me up the Alpe, that my leader left me at the top when I stopped to put on a gilet, that there were many crashes on the descent, my leader punctured and had to get a lift to the finish from the scribe sent by the Dauphine Liberere after no other club would give him a wheel. History doesn't record my finishing position.

Great tale Goat. what bike were you on and what gearing?

disgruntledgoat

Yellow Peril wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

If the weather is bad tomorrow I might cry, especially if they decide the descent is too dangerous

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

The Descent (I wouldn't fancy it in the wet)

http://vimeo.com/70139351

Thanks for posting that!

If the sarenne is too hard couldn't they put a cone at the top for the riders to ride around and descend down the alpe? Im sure that would be a first also.

I think I've done that race...

Gather round pro-racers and old grandpa goat will tell you a tale.

Consultation of my old Polar Pro Trainer diary reveals that indeed I did ride something similar. Bourg D'Oisans up Alpe D'Huez, back down the service road and then off the Villard Reculas road and the along the valley and a finish up Vaujany.

My notes tell me it hammered it down the whole time, that some Dutch guys wheelsucked me up the Alpe, that my leader left me at the top when I stopped to put on a gilet, that there were many crashes on the descent, my leader punctured and had to get a lift to the finish from the scribe sent by the Dauphine Liberere after no other club would give him a wheel. History doesn't record my finishing position.

Great tale Goat. what bike were you on and what gearing?

The photo i've just dug out of the memory box tells me I had my shocking green team kit on and was riding a Cervelo Soloist (aluminium) with a 39x25 as my bottom gear. I cannot describe the misery of having to climb and descend Alpe D'Huez in an amateur race (and all the variable descending and climbing talent that entails) in driving rain.

I'd forgotten I rode the first 3 weeks of that trip with stitches in my elbow after I broke it too.

above_the_cows

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

Mechanism wrote:

I can't get my head around the logic of climbing the same mountain twice when there are, or so I'm led to believe, a number of other mountains nearby in the Alps.

But Alpe D'Huez is the big name climb isn't it? You know -> Lemond & Hinualt, Dutch corner and all that.

If you want something special and different for the 100th Tour, then why not do the big one twice?!

^This.

durhamwasp

Schatje mag ik je foto!

I think the Spaniards will all work together tomorrow, and I am sure there will be several attacks on the first ascent. The most worrying aspect for Froome is that descent, as I think even if he is 2min down at the start of the 2nd climb, he can claw some back (I don't see that happening tho).

Its gonna be very interesting, and it could be vitally important that Porte is still with Froome on the 2nd ascent.

above_the_cows

durhamwasp wrote:

Schatje mag ik je foto!

That's the spirit!

No_Ta_Doctor

Macaloon wrote:

It's not about the Watts. It's the spectacle. Elite athletic performance, potentially dramatic competition, bikes, in a stunning, unique environment.

If the weather grounds the helicopters tomorrow, I'm going over to the Dark Side.

I just had an image of the future, with the helicopters grounded, following the race on live broadcast power data and GPS positions.

To be fair, it would be better than watching football on teletext.

No_Ta_Doctor

durhamwasp wrote:

Schatje mag ik je foto!

I think the Spaniards will all work together tomorrow, and I am sure there will be several attacks on the first ascent. The most worrying aspect for Froome is that descent, as I think even if he is 2min down at the start of the 2nd climb, he can claw some back (I don't see that happening tho).

Its gonna be very interesting, and it could be vitally important that Porte is still with Froome on the 2nd ascent.

I doubt the Spaniards will work together. Can't see anything in it for them.

above_the_cows

No tA Doctor wrote:

durhamwasp wrote:

Schatje mag ik je foto!

I think the Spaniards will all work together tomorrow, and I am sure there will be several attacks on the first ascent. The most worrying aspect for Froome is that descent, as I think even if he is 2min down at the start of the 2nd climb, he can claw some back (I don't see that happening tho).

Its gonna be very interesting, and it could be vitally important that Porte is still with Froome on the 2nd ascent.

I doubt the Spaniards will work together. Can't see anything in it for them.

Especially as Valverde was very quick and happy it seems to congratulate Froome after the stage today...

RichN95.

durhamwasp wrote:

I think the Spaniards will all work together tomorrow, and I am sure there will be several attacks on the first ascent. The most worrying aspect for Froome is that descent, as I think even if he is 2min down at the start of the 2nd climb, he can claw some back (I don't see that happening tho).

The Spaniards won't work together. Movistar want to get Quintana on the podium at the expense of Saxo and Rodriguez wants a stage win. There's more reason for them to work with Froome.

afx237vi

The crowds are going to be absolutely mental tomorrow, aren't they? They were bad enough on the Ventoux.

No_Ta_Doctor

afx237vi wrote:

The crowds are going to be absolutely mental tomorrow, aren't they? They were bad enough on the Ventoux.

If the weather is good they should call off the climb and just do the dodgy descent, far less dangerous.

Yes, it's going to be utterly mad, especially second time around.

above_the_cows

This is going to be such a BIG as in 'big spectacle' of a stage tomorrow that I keep thinking it is stage 19 or 20, but it is in fact only stage 18.

above_the_cows

In other news the vintners of Carcassone have kicked off again, I'm sure I mentioned this in a previous thread, planting bombs in the Socialist Party offices. Not sure whey they want to blame Cav though.

Daz555

durhamwasp wrote:

I think the Spaniards will all work together tomorrow, and I am sure there will be several attacks on the first ascent. The most worrying aspect for Froome is that descent, as I think even if he is 2min down at the start of the 2nd climb, he can claw some back (I don't see that happening tho).

Its gonna be very interesting, and it could be vitally important that Porte is still with Froome on the 2nd ascent.

Unless Froome falls of a cliff performance wise it seems clear that no-one has the legs to trouble Froome.

Walter White

BigMat wrote:

I have a feeling Contador is going to blow it tomorrow. He'll attack on the first ascent, pile it on down the Sarenne then blow up on the second ascent. Quintana will sit in the wheels for once and take the stage. Kreuziger will overtake Contador in GC. Rodriguez will become the 4th man challenging for the podium

Have the same feeling but i think he might well blow it on the decent by going to hard and crashing out of the race.

Walter White

RichN95 wrote:

durhamwasp wrote:

I think the Spaniards will all work together tomorrow, and I am sure there will be several attacks on the first ascent. The most worrying aspect for Froome is that descent, as I think even if he is 2min down at the start of the 2nd climb, he can claw some back (I don't see that happening tho).

The Spaniards won't work together. Movistar want to get Quintana on the podium at the expense of Saxo and Rodriguez wants a stage win. There's more reason for them to work with Froome.

He says hes after a podium to, not impossible by any means, only 2.30 odd back from RK and 30 odd back from Quintana.

The Quintana/Purito battle for 3rd (or even 2nd depending on Bertie) looks on for sure, Mollema will drop back and you would think RK will aswell.

Lanterne_Rogue

I reckon Quintana has to be a good shout to win the stage. He doesn't have to worry about Kwiatkowski gaining time in a TT any more, so can measure his effort a bit better instead of trying to go long to put in as much time as possible - it should all be about the stage win. He's also likely to have learnt a little bit more about GT racing, and has better climbing legs than anyone bar Froome.

Daz555

Only one sure thing tomorrow - Contador will lose a shed load of time to Froome and Quintana. I suspect also that Contador will finish behind Kreuziger.

goonz

inseine wrote:

So, has Evans blown or is he saving something for the next few days?

Not sure if this is serious, but over 10 mins down on GC, unless he has a jet fuelled bike for the remianing 3 stages, not sure what else he may be saving.

Its the change of guard. Out with the old and in with the new, Bertie included. These guys are all finished and are not likely genuine GC contenders any longer not with the likes of Quintana and Froome around imo.

thomthom

goonz wrote:

inseine wrote:

So, has Evans blown or is he saving something for the next few days?

Not sure if this is serious, but over 10 mins down on GC, unless he has a jet fuelled bike for the remianing 3 stages, not sure what else he may be saving.

Its the change of guard. Out with the old and in with the new, Bertie included. These guys are all finished and are not likely genuine GC contenders any longer not with the likes of Quintana and Froome around imo.

Pssst.. Stage win..

alihisgreat

goonz wrote:

inseine wrote:

So, has Evans blown or is he saving something for the next few days?

Not sure if this is serious, but over 10 mins down on GC, unless he has a jet fuelled bike for the remianing 3 stages, not sure what else he may be saving.

Its the change of guard. Out with the old and in with the new, Bertie included. These guys are all finished and are not likely genuine GC contenders any longer not with the likes of Quintana and Froome around imo.

Not sure if your comment is serious!

Evans could quite possibly be saving his legs for an assault on Alpe d'Huez for a stage win. Its not all about the stage win.. even more so when you're so far down on the GC.

goonz

You guys seriously think Evans has it in him judging by the last couple of weeks of racing?

afx237vi

goonz wrote:

You guys seriously think Evans has it in him judging by the last couple of weeks of racing?

I agree with you. Evans could have driven around the TT in the back of a taxi and still have nothing for tomorrow.

RichN95.

goonz wrote:

You guys seriously think Evans has it in him judging by the last couple of weeks of racing?

Yeah. Get in the right break with other riders a long way down, no-one willing to chase hard - it's got a good chance of going all the way and Evans is better than most of the riders likely to be involved.

alihisgreat

goonz wrote:

You guys seriously think Evans has it in him judging by the last couple of weeks of racing?

So you're saying he should just give up and go home?

Well that would be awfully boring. There's no harm in taking a few days easy and targeting a stage win.

afx237vi

RichN95 wrote:

goonz wrote:

You guys seriously think Evans has it in him judging by the last couple of weeks of racing?

Yeah. Get in the right break with other riders a long way down, no-one willing to chase hard - it's got a good chance of going all the way and Evans is better than most of the riders likely to be involved.

No-one in their right mind would work in a group with Evans in it, surely?

goonz

RichN95 wrote:

goonz wrote:

You guys seriously think Evans has it in him judging by the last couple of weeks of racing?

Yeah. Get in the right break with other riders a long way down, no-one willing to chase hard - it's got a good chance of going all the way and Evans is better than most of the riders likely to be involved.

You could be right, personally I have never seen any evidence to suggest he has a breakaway win in him. Every time I see him race he is stuck on someones wheel, admittedly I have only really been watching cycling properly since the last tour so you guys will have more experience than me.

goonz

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

goonz wrote:

You guys seriously think Evans has it in him judging by the last couple of weeks of racing?

So you're saying he should just give up and go home?

Well that would be awfully boring. There's no harm in taking a few days easy and targeting a stage win.

Never just go home, I just dont see it. IMO a very boring cyclist.