TdF 2015 Stage 10 Tarbes to Pierre-Saint-Martin **SPOILERS**
woohoo - proper mountain top finish

It seems the road-sign guys think that some sections are pretty steep


Last time the col was climbed in the TdF it was the other route (from the south) en route to the Col D'Aubisque and the points at the summit were claimed by a Colombian Mauricio Soler - perhaps Nairo Quintana will look to keep this col in the Colombian climbing fraternity

It seems the road-sign guys think that some sections are pretty steep


Last time the col was climbed in the TdF it was the other route (from the south) en route to the Col D'Aubisque and the points at the summit were claimed by a Colombian Mauricio Soler - perhaps Nairo Quintana will look to keep this col in the Colombian climbing fraternity
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e: Blue sections more FDJ than MOV:
The heat is going to be stifling today apparently. 30C with essentially no breeze.
There's always someone prominent who suffers on a day like this - first mountain stage and day after a rest day.
Apart from the GC riders, be interesting to see how their climbing support goes too. Movistar always have a strong climbing contingent and Sky seem particularly well stocked this year with Poels, Porte, Konig, Thomas and some extra support from Roche and Kennaugh lower down. How's TVG's mountain support?
Don't know what you're worrying about - at least it's downhill...
Normally it's all still very close on the first mountain stage, but now there's some good climbers significantly back in GC already. But today or tomorrow teams won't yet start to defend their leader's 3rd/5th/10th/20th GC position, so lots of room to play for the likes of Meintjes, Kudus, Riblon, Wellens, Serpa, Kelderman, Kruiswijk (all more than 30 minutes down), Zubeldia, the Yates's maybe. Can't see Sky being bothered with giving a group like that 15, 20 minutes, and any other team keen to give Sky a helping hand in doing the work on the front. Golden opportunity for someone like Wellens or Kelderman to revive their top 10 hopes.
Only spanner in the works could be 14 July and the likes of Bardet, Rolland, Pinot, Barguil, etc seeing it as their national duty to get in a break - they won't be given as much room.
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I doubt it will be Wilko. He is debating whether to abandon because of his back problems.
There are a few going for polka too but that should be tomorrow. Arredondo, De Gendt, Teklehaimenot at least.
I thank you.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdTJEKLf3Lc
Looks good.
De Gendt is working on a broken rib, so I don't reckon he'll be up to much
@gietvangent
@gietvangent
Botox.
He really does struggle after 7 days of racing doesn't he?
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I'm not a doctor, but can someone explain how does him having the flu now relates to the low-cortisol result?
@gietvangent
Long day in the saddle.
Constant pressure on the pedals for the flat stuff (no descent to recover on), and then an HC finish.
I'm going to stick my neck out and say that Pierrick won't win the stage today
Shouldn't be a super fast stage, given the size, gap and such.
You can guarantee that Sky will whittle the peloton down very quickly on the climb though (probably to see how Nibali responds)
"The Riders are currently taking a break - and so are we.
Please come back when the race is back on."
I wish I could think of doing 45km in an hour over bumpy terrain by myself was taking a break
“The first week has been a long one for me”, the Frenchman said. “I'm looking forward to reach the Pyrenees, do my best and see how my legs respond. I want to evaluate my level in the first climb of the Tour. A new Tour starts for many of us. It's the Tour of the climbers and the attackers. It's going to be fun now. I've patiently waited for the Pyrenees. I hope to be up there."
Leaders are now reaching the first of the three cat4 climbs before La Pierre-Saint-Martin.
@gietvangent