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

RichN95.

afx237vi wrote:

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?

Depends who's in it. Rolland, Hesjedal, Danielson, De Clercq, Nieve, Anton, Bardet, De Gendt - those sort of guys would fancy their chances against him.

afx237vi

RichN95 wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

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?

Depends who's in it. Rolland, Hesjedal, Danielson, De Clercq, Nieve, Anton, Bardet - those sort of guys would fancy their chances against him.

You might be right. I guess Schleck will at least try to get away, too.

goonz

I dont think Sky will let the breakaway win this, think Froome will want the stage so they may chase back any attempts.

afx237vi

goonz wrote:

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.

If you have a couple of hours any time soon, watch this stage and you might change your opinion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uBNQ4BFfSo

goonz

2010 Giro? This is Evans 3 years on, I stand by what I say but Ill watch it anyway

afx237vi

goonz wrote:

2010 Giro? This is Evans 3 years on, I stand by what I say but Ill watch it anyway

I'm not saying he's in the same form as he was then, just that it was a great stage with him being the opposite of a wheelsucker 8)

alihisgreat

goonz wrote:

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.

He is a GC contender dropping off from his peak.. what do you expect him to do? Basically his job is to hang on for dear life and get a good GC placing in the end. Eg. his 3rd at the Giro this year.

He was never going to be exciting in the attacking sense at this stage of his career - go back and look at his earlier career to get an idea of the kind of cyclist he is. 2011 TdF Stage 18 is a good place to start if you want an idea of the kind of rider Evans is.

rick_chasey

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Somebody convince me that a sickie is a really good idea for the next couple of days... I have 4 hours of legal training in a room with no windows on friday afternoon also.

Do it. Do it now.

rick_chasey

I envy you all so much.

I've got back to back client meetings all morning here in nyc and the Internet can't even load this website without a 10 minute effort.

You token Dutchies better step to the plate.

Enjoy it guys. Hope it's as good as 2011.

oldwelshman

welshmessenger wrote:

Today's result throws up the possibility of an AC/RK tag team effort.

Anyone think it's likely?

which would be coverred by Sky Movistar, Katusha and Belkin.

Walter White

goonz wrote:

I dont think Sky will let the breakaway win this, think Froome will want the stage so they may chase back any attempts.

Sky will have their work cut out as it is keeping check on the GC contenders, hammering away after breakaways for the sake of a stage win won't be their priority, leave that to other teams.

Saying that though i still think Froome will win the stage, he catch the stragglers half/3/4 the way up the last ascent.

Yellow Peril

Well morning has broken and the big stage is here. Will a rider get taken out by an over exuberant spectator? It has to be a major risk today.

I certainly think that Evans may have been holding back for today. He's not the sort of bloke just to cruise around a TT stage. He knows his contractual obligations.

This stage is such the icing on the cake I think that more riders than we think will have a serious go for it.

IanLD

Any update on the weather? Finishing work early today and tomorrow to get back for as much stage time as possible.

inseine

Another interesting blog by Millar
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert ... -the-chase
He's saying to look out for J-Rod, though also that the teams need to sort themselves out if they want to beat SKY.

slim_boy_fat

inseine wrote:

Another interesting blog by Millar
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert ... -the-chase
He's saying to look out for J-Rod, though also that the teams need to sort themselves out if they want to beat SKY.

Another good piece. After this tour is finished some of the teams will sit down with their head in their hands. They really have got it wrong so many times.

LeicesterLad

ITS DOUBLE D'HUEZ DAY! FFFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKK!




(on, so it's probably going to be a massive let down, but still. FARK.)

moray_gub

LeicesterLad wrote:

ITS DOUBLE D'HUEZ DAY! FFFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKK!




(on, so it's probably going to be a massive let down, but still. FARK.)

Given that in your own words you bored as f*ck do you really care ?

LeicesterLad

Moray Gub wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

ITS DOUBLE D'HUEZ DAY! FFFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKK!




(on, so it's probably going to be a massive let down, but still. FARK.)

Given that in your own words you bored as f*ck do you really care ?

I also said the only thing that was keeping me going was the d'Huez stage... (don't pick on me Moray - I'm a far bigger smiths fan than you will ever be. )

No_Ta_Doctor

I'm feeling decidedly peaky today.

above_the_cows

No tA Doctor wrote:

I'm feeling decidedly peaky today.

Ummm if you're not feeling well, you should really take it easy and stay at home. You wouldn't want to infect your colleagues or make yourself worse. And you know what is guaranteed to make you feel better? Watching a double ascent of Alpe d'Huez! It is known.

bazbadger

Never thought I'd be saying this, but would love to see Contador take a whole chunk of time out of Froome, just to spice (Sensations) it up.

Hopefully today will be epic, rather than normal service.

goonz

No tA Doctor wrote:

I'm feeling decidedly peaky today.

It was good the first time....

milton50

Got the day off today. Would love to see Andy Schleck or J-Rod win today's stage but I don't think they quite have the form.

Would Froome really gift a win on Alpe D'Huez in the 100th Tour?

goonz

Milton50 wrote:

Would Froome really gift a win on Alpe D'Huez in the 100th Tour?

Hell no!

Also everyone saying riders have saved themselves for today, what happened on Mont Ventoux? Is that not a big enough stage to win?

nevman

Now more excited than a kid on Christmas day with a bike shaped parcel on top of mums wardrobe.Live coverage from 1200 .Got to be a great days racing with thrills and spills but ,please,nothing serious.Col d'Ornonne descent as an appetiser ,mains on AdH and dessert on the Sarenne.Anyone not taking the day off gets my sympathy.Doesn't get any better than this does it?JRod for the win.

milton50

goonz wrote:

Milton50 wrote:

Would Froome really gift a win on Alpe D'Huez in the 100th Tour?

Hell no!

Well that's what I would have thought but people like inrng seem to think it's a possibility.

goonz

Milton50 wrote:

goonz wrote:

Milton50 wrote:

Would Froome really gift a win on Alpe D'Huez in the 100th Tour?

Hell no!

Well that's what I would have thought but people like inrng seem to think it's a possibility.

Guess anythings possible, especially if a big enough breakaway gets free but I think Froome may want to win this just as much as anyone else.

All I know is I think it will be a great day of racing!

disgruntledgoat

goonz wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

I'm feeling decidedly peaky today.

It was good the first time....

I thank yow.

Anoyingly my wife was actually ill this morning.I thought that if we both called in, the day after her birthday when she's been on leave since last Friday, that might not look great.

Also, I needed the over/under session on the ride in. Biggest ride of life looming and all that.

durhamwasp

The Tour is won on The Alpe!

Gonna be a cracker! Would be something else to see a British name on one of those hairpin turns the next time I do it!

disgruntledgoat

durhamwasp wrote:

The Tour is won on The Alpe!
Gonna be a cracker! Would be something else to see a British name on one of those hairpin turns the next time I do it!

That's one of those annoying cycling myths. It's rarely decisive.