TDF Stage 17:St Gaudens-St Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet *spoilers*

blazing_saddles

Is it too short a stage to be called the Queen?
Stage 17, Wednesday, July 23rd: Saint-Gaudens / Saint-Lary Pla d'Adet - 124.5km
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The_Boy

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Is it too short a stage to be called the Queen?

Possibly, but that string of mountains has the potential to cause car-naj.

type:epyt

This, to me, would be the stage Contador would have tried something on. I'm guessing this will be another of those stages where it's just a bit too hard for actual racing amongst the GC guys, but some will crack so there should be gaps of some description.

blazing_saddles

Today's weather. Looks like they get a tailwind as far as the Spanish border.

ugo.santalucia

The_Boy wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Is it too short a stage to be called the Queen?

Possibly, but that string of mountains has the potential to cause car-naj.

Not sure... they are not the kind of mountains that do big selection in the peloton... I expect 2-3 Astana to be still with Nibali at the bottom of the last climb

Paulie W

Well I'm expecting Valverde to go pop today and lose 90 seconds plus to Pinot and Peraud.

TimB34

Expecting or hoping?

Péraud has looked more on the limit than Valverde (although that might just be because Valv has a better poker face)

Crozza

I'm hoping that J-Rod was saving himself yesterday for today's KOM points galore

Paulie W

TimB34 wrote:

Expecting or hoping?

Péraud has looked more on the limit than Valverde (although that might just be because Valv has a better poker face)

Expecting!

The_Boy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

The_Boy wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Is it too short a stage to be called the Queen?

Possibly, but that string of mountains has the potential to cause car-naj.

Not sure... they are not the kind of mountains that do big selection in the peloton... I expect 2-3 Astana to be still with Nibali at the bottom of the last climb

One after the other on the seventeenth stage of a very though tour? I'd say the potential is definitely there.

dish_dash

Majka and Purito both were quiet yesterday so hope to see both gunning for KOM points.

Wondering what shorts Majka goes for. The polka dot jersey clashes badly with Tinkoff fluro shorts so maybe polka dot shorts a better option? Of he could just go with black but I doubt it...

ugo.santalucia

The_Boy wrote:

One after the other on the seventeenth stage of a very though tour? I'd say the potential is definitely there.

You need a very aggressive ride from Movistar... but is it in their interest to ride aggressively? Valverde ATM is behind Nibali and Pinot in the mountains, so he should defend rather than attack, unless he spots an opportunity, but it has to come from an opponent bad day rather than his own attack, as it might backfire

cesco

Looks like it's going to be a dual-screen set up at work again, I love the Pla d'Adet!

cesco

Mark van Bommel and Bert van Marwijk visiting:

specialgueststar

Refreshments for today's stage

cesco

Doesn't necessarily have to be a climber today:

Pokerface

I stayed in Soulan-St. Lary a few years ago and rode the Plat d'Adet several times. It's not *that* tough a climb. I expect tomoro's climbs will be much tougher.

calvjones

If Bardet or TJVG have recovered a bit, this could be fun. If not, it won't.

RichN95.

Simon Gerrans DNS

That's eight designated team leaders out of the Tour, which I think may be a record.

alihisgreat

Bad news for Bertie: https://twitter.com/albertocontador/status/491854508004474880

"Bad day,the wound healing gets complicated,I've no date to take the bike.Goodbye to the Vuelta."

Anonymous

What time does the stage start and when does coverage start?

Thanks

Mad_Malx

I just put itv4 'live' stream on and was shocked to find Roger's 10 min up again, and the stage nearly over.

above_the_cows

This cow is not from the Pyrenees, she is just wanting to say that she will not be watching the Vuelta now that Bertie will not be there, she has styled her hair accordingly so that she is not tempted to sneak a peek...



Meanwhile these cows are comforting each other over the news of Bertie's Vuelta absence.

The_Boy

coriordan wrote:

What time does the stage start and when does coverage start?

Thanks

Stefano is rocking orange trousers as we speak. Stage starts in fifteen iirc.

nevman

Mad_Malx wrote:

I just put itv4 'live' stream on and was shocked to find Roger's 10 min up again, and the stage nearly over.

Amazing recovery that.

above_the_cows

The Peanut is all in white today.

above_the_cows

And from the wave of the flag Jens Voigt is trying to get in the break.

The_Boy

Fdj look keen to get men in the break

mechanism

Above The Cows wrote:

This cow is not from the Pyrenees, she is just wanting to say that she will not be watching the Vuelta now that Bertie will not be there, she has styled her hair accordingly so that she is not tempted to sneak a peek...



Meanwhile these cows are comforting each other over the news of Bertie's Vuelta absence.

Could any self-respecting cow support Contador after he accused them of being tainted?

adr82

Mechanism wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

This cow is not from the Pyrenees, she is just wanting to say that she will not be watching the Vuelta now that Bertie will not be there, she has styled her hair accordingly so that she is not tempted to sneak a peek...



Meanwhile these cows are comforting each other over the news of Bertie's Vuelta absence.

Could any self-respecting cow support Contador after he accused them of being tainted?

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

The_Boy

Jesus Christ @ hollenstein's injury.