Tour de France stage 2 York-Sheffield *Spoiler*

FJS
FJS Posts: 4,820
edited July 2014 in Pro race
The hardest opening weekend stage since 1992. Can't wait.
PROFIL.png
The profile doesn't do it justice. Up and down all day, and lots of it pretty steep. Jenkin Rd is crazy steep, Jawbone Hill at 19 km from the finish is 2 km @ 10%, and there's loads of uncategorised hills that would be 4th or 3rd category normally (but I guess they don't want the polka dot competition completely settled for the first week). Still people keep underestimating it (e.g. Boardman in his Cyclingnews preview talks about Jenkin Rd going normally 'unnoticed by riders of this caliber' and that it might 'break up the rythm of the sprinters teams'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrXN0uw ... wq&index=3. He's clearly been anywhere near the route. Lazy).
The route is eerily similar to LBL, but 50km shorther and with different tactics than a one day race. Group of 20 or so of the GC favourites, something for say Valverde/Kwiatkoski/Spilak?
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Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    FJS wrote:
    The hardest opening weekend stage since 1992. Can't wait.
    PROFIL.png
    The profile doesn't do it justice. Up and down all day, and lots of it pretty steep. Jenkin Rd is crazy steep, Jawbone Hill at 19 km from the finish is 2 km @ 10%, and there's loads of uncategorised hills that would be 4th or 3rd category normally (but I guess they don't want the polka dot competition completely settled for the first week). Still people keep underestimating it (e.g. Boardman in his Cyclingnews preview talks about Jenkin Rd going normally 'unnoticed by riders of this caliber' and that it might 'break up the rythm of the sprinters teams'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrXN0uw ... wq&index=3. He's clearly been anywhere near the route. Lazy).
    The route is eerily similar to LBL, but 50km shorther and with different tactics than a one day race. Group of 20 or so of the GC favourites, something for say Valverde/Kwiatkoski/Spilak?

    I think you are underselling how well sprinters can climb, it's under 1km and average 11%, you only have to look at Bohanni yesterday or Cav (or Ciolek) getting over the Poggio to win. I'd hardly call him lazy, he knows how fit these guys are and two days into a race this isn't going to be that big a problem.

    What will is a small group attacking on it and getting away (gerrans, Martin et al),
  • dsoutar
    dsoutar Posts: 1,746
    I remember watching the ToB go up Highgate West Hill a few years back (1km @ 8.5%) and I couldn't believe how quick the entire group raced up it. I'm not sure Jenkin Road will be as much of a test as people are making out.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    My Aunty lives just off Jenkin Road, and every time we go up in the car I think about how steep it is.

    She lives below the steepest bit as well, and it's only 5 k from the top to the finish.

    Cav and the like will not be anywhere near the finish at the end of this stage, it will be the GC boys and there helpers, and the likes of Spillak/Kwia/Sagan etc
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    dsoutar wrote:
    I remember watching the ToB go up Highgate West Hill a few years back (1km @ 8.5%) and I couldn't believe how quick the entire group raced up it. I'm not sure Jenkin Road will be as much of a test as people are making out.
    Jenkin Rd really is incredibly steep. It is nothing like Highgate (I've lived in North London).

    Perhaps Southerners underestimate how much climbing some parts of the country have ;-). Anyway, it's not Jenkin Rd, which is just a short sharp climb at the end, but the repetition of climbs throughout the stage, especially the last 30 kms.
    Giant-Shimano said it was harder than Amstel Gold, perhas similar to Liege Bastogne Liege, Belkin something similar. I'm really surprised how hard they've made this stage.
    sjmclean wrote:
    I think you are underselling how well sprinters can climb, it's under 1km and average 11%, you only have to look at Bohanni yesterday or Cav (or Ciolek) getting over the Poggio to win. I'd hardly call him lazy, he knows how fit these guys are and two days into a race this isn't going to be that big a problem.
    The Poggio is a very easy climb, it wouldn't even be categorised in this stage. And I'd put Bouhanni in the 'sprinters who can climb' category, with yesterday's Route du Sud stage having nowhere near as much climbing as the Sheffield stage
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,104
    I agree that this one isn't going to be a bunch sprint - the real question is whether the GC men get involved or just try and stay out of trouble and not lose time to the other contenders. I am assuming the climbs will be have barriers for most of their length otherwise the crowds might encroach and effectively narrow the roads making splits more likely.

    If it's wet I can see Nibali and Contador trying to put Froome in trouble - well I can see them trying it anyway but if it's wet I can see it working.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Kittel has recce'd it and says it's not one for him.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Joelsim wrote:
    Kittel has recce'd it and says it's not one for him.

    There's a video of the it somewhere.


    It's going to be a mess of a stage. Anyone know how well the roads are being resurfaced (if at all?)? I studied around there and the roads quality is diabolical there.
    _
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    I rode up to cambridge last weekend and there was a few rather nice bits of tarmac around three - almost French in standard!

    Didnt last long though :(
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • curium
    curium Posts: 815
    I was in Sheffield for a meeting on Friday and it's really nice. I suddenly gave a lot of thought to coming up to see the arrival but all the trains are booked. Apparently I'd have to get a train to Doncaster first and then back down to Sheffield so will just have to wait for them to roll into London.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,599
    Doncaster can't be more than 20minutes from Sheffield id guess?
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    The train to Doncaster route is not that much longer, done it a couple of times coming back from London for Sheff Utd night matches
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    I'd be surprised if the likes of Greipel and Kittel are even with the front group when the race gets to the bottom of the final climb. It's possible Cav will be there depending on how high the pace has been for the previous three climbs.

    But if the one day specialists like Gerrans, Sagan, Van Avermaet etc. start attacking (which they will) the pure sprinters have no chance.
    I remember watching the ToB go up Highgate West Hill a few years back (1km @ 8.5%) and I couldn't believe how quick the entire group raced up it. I'm not sure Jenkin Road will be as much of a test as people are making out.

    If I remember correctly they started on the finishing circuit (which contained that climb) after only around 40km. So they were very fresh. In the Tour they will be reaching the final climb with the best part of 200km and a dozen other climbs in their legs.

    In addition the standard of cyclist in the Tour is so much higher than in the ToB that the pace in the peloton will be seriously high over all the preceding climbs.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    That Jenkin Road climb had plenty of the GS squad struggling on their recce. It reminds me of Constitution Hill in Swansea but without the cobbles and a bit longer. That hill has had pro riders off and walking as others mess up a gear change. I don't know the area but from I've seen it's a Sagan stage or maybe a day for a breakaway group.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Joelsim wrote:
    Kittel has recce'd it and says it's not one for him.

    There's a video of the it somewhere.


    It's going to be a mess of a stage. Anyone know how well the roads are being resurfaced (if at all?)? I studied around there and the roads quality is diabolical there.
    It was horrible in Sheffield, still is in many places, but all sheffield roads are being resurfaced, not just the Tour ones. The Tour de France ones are prioritised though, so the last 30 km or so will have mostly silky smooth surface
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    It's still unbelievable that the roads I rode on growing up are going to be in the Tour de France.

    Literally a dream come true
  • Give me more
    Give me more Posts: 487
    Cannondale surely target this stage right? Could see Sagan in yellow for a week off the back of it.
  • alanp23
    alanp23 Posts: 696
    I am living in the Yorkshire bubble I know, but I agreed with all the sentiments of the OP.

    Just to add to it though. There are six climbs at the end, 4 are categorised but there are another two hidden in there that are short and steep. (You can see them in that profile)

    I've never ridden any of the climbs in LBL but all six are at least the equivalent of the Cauberg, with Jawbone being significantly longer.

    To add to that the roads over the first few hills are narrow and twisty.

    I think the pack will be racing down from Langsett to get to the front before that right turn at Midhopestones.

    Jenkin Rd wont split the pack, it will be well split by then, but it will decide the winner and the loser of the stage.
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • Give me more
    Give me more Posts: 487
    GCN stage 2 preview

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De5hf1DugDw

    genuinely cannot wait.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Give me more wrote:
    GCN stage 2 preview

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De5hf1DugDw

    genuinely cannot wait.
    Good preview, gives a decent impression of the route. The cobbled climb in Haworth, the steep ones before Holme Moss and the uncategorised ones in the last 30 km, but I guess that would make for a very long preview :) . There's a lot packed into this stage; would be a great route for a one day race...
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Another great preview of the finale: http://blog.veloviewer.com/strines-the- ... 4-stage-2/
    He's done the recce together with Belkin's Merijn Zeeman, so should have some spot on insight
  • adr82
    adr82 Posts: 4,002
    FJS wrote:
    Another great preview of the finale: http://blog.veloviewer.com/strines-the- ... 4-stage-2/
    He's done the recce together with Belkin's Merijn Zeeman, so should have some spot on insight
    That is good, cheers! That Ewden Beck descent sounds really nasty for a big nervous bunch to come down, very steep and a couple of tight corners plus potential damp patches.
  • Le Commentateur
    Le Commentateur Posts: 4,099
    So many steep little climbs that it's a stage to watch unfold on live TV rather than marooned at one spot by the roadside.

    I reckon some non-contenders for the GC will get away, possibly on Ripponden Bank and consolidate it on the next climb immediately after. By Holme Moss the peloton will have settled down and let them go and whoever wins the stage will hold yellow for a few days of that first week.

    p.s. the surfaces of the main roads around there seem as bad as London.
    Un uomo solo al commando
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    Great previews. It's classic Classics terrain. Probably too early in the race for anything to be pre-planned, but a moment's inattention could easily see Rogers and Kreuziger try to smuggle Contador away with a Kwiatkowski,a Sagan a GVA...

    Eisel's going to be busy.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Or Gerrans, Albasini, Valverde even!
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Or Vanmarcke, Slagter, Spilak, Paolini, Cancellara, Kristoff.....

    This stage could be the most entertaining stage of the whole race. It's so open in my opinion.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Milton50 wrote:
    Or Vanmarcke, Slagter, Spilak, Paolini, Cancellara, Kristoff.....

    This stage could be the most entertaining stage of the whole race. It's so open in my opinion.

    Or Degenkolb, Rojas, Bennati, Roche, S Dumoulin, Purito...

    Or if the sprint teams play it right it could even be Modolo or Demare or Coquard!
  • ducknumber1
    ducknumber1 Posts: 1,172
    adr82 wrote:
    FJS wrote:
    Another great preview of the finale: http://blog.veloviewer.com/strines-the- ... 4-stage-2/
    He's done the recce together with Belkin's Merijn Zeeman, so should have some spot on insight
    That is good, cheers! That Ewden Beck descent sounds really nasty for a big nervous bunch to come down, very steep and a couple of tight corners plus potential damp patches.

    I have to agree with this, I rode the route as a bit of a recce myself a few weeks ago, and found a fence topped with barbed wire here as I came off on the hairpin mentioned.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    adr82 wrote:
    FJS wrote:
    Another great preview of the finale: http://blog.veloviewer.com/strines-the- ... 4-stage-2/
    He's done the recce together with Belkin's Merijn Zeeman, so should have some spot on insight
    That is good, cheers! That Ewden Beck descent sounds really nasty for a big nervous bunch to come down, very steep and a couple of tight corners plus potential damp patches.
    Yes, it's a notorious road around here. It's been resurfaced and is now even faster than before. There are a couple of other nasty unexpected turns. Good chance some will already be going home after this stage...
  • ducknumber1
    ducknumber1 Posts: 1,172
    Some scamp has painted "Where's Wiggo?" on the road at the top of Holme Moss, I had a good laugh riding over that this morning.
  • The_Special_One
    The_Special_One Posts: 108
    ducknumber1 wrote:
    Some scamp has painted "Where's Wiggo?" on the road at the top of Holme Moss, I had a good laugh riding over that this morning.

    Something similar has been painted on the road just after the route turns off the strains towards bradfield.

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