Stage 20 TdF 2015 - Modane Valfréjus/Alpe d'Huez**SPOILERS**

imatfaal
imatfaal Posts: 2,716
edited July 2015 in Pro race
All good things have to come to an end...
PROFIL.png

Croix de Fer in the other direction
PROFILCOLSCOTES_1.jpg

And the sanctified hill of Alpe d'Huez
PROFILCOLSCOTES_2.jpg

ITV Coverage starts at the same time as the race today at 1200

Lacets_AlpedHuez.jpg
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Comments

  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    As usual, that well known fountain of misinformation is busy today:

    Rumour: https://twitter.com/petercossins/status/624873514001108992

    Probable reality: https://twitter.com/SimoneWarner/status/624846965118009344
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • robnewcastle
    robnewcastle Posts: 241
    You'd like to imagine Sky will keep hold of a few more riders to the foot of the Alpe than yesterday, loll. Will be a few riders determined to win the stage, Nibali to make a point to Froome, Froome already stated he'd like to win today, Quintana will probably go from foot of climb. Should be a cracking shoot out.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,652
    Just a taster of the Alpe from previous years, hopefully this is the atmosphere, not the toxicity we've seen toward Sky.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkUJa4ZzEpQ

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_OA2imdqE
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  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    edited July 2015
    Looking forward to a Great British rider win the tour today with clean style and class.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,652
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663887#p19663887]FocusZing[/url] wrote:
    Looking forward to a clean Great British rider win the tour today with style and class.


    That's a huge ask for Geraint. He's miles back in the GC.
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  • imatfaal
    imatfaal Posts: 2,716
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663881#p19663881]RobNewcastle[/url] wrote:
    You'd like to imagine Sky will keep hold of a few more riders to the foot of the Alpe than yesterday, loll. Will be a few riders determined to win the stage, Nibali to make a point to Froome, Froome already stated he'd like to win today, Quintana will probably go from foot of climb. Should be a cracking shoot out.

    I think if Froome can get to foot of Alpe d'Huez with team mate(s) then he will have had enough of a pleasant ride over Croix de Fer that he will contemplate winning on the MTF - then we could see Nano Q and Froomey go head to head from fairly low down. Froome is not as cold and dispassionate as he might appear - I think he wants to make a serious point as well as win; and that he will take risks to do so.

    However, If Froome is isolated on CdF then I think it will be team sky calculations that hold sway and Froome's ride up Ad'H will be measured and he will not take the risk.
  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663889#p19663889]No tA Doctor[/url] wrote:
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663887#p19663887]FocusZing[/url] wrote:
    Looking forward to a clean Great British rider win the tour today with style and class.


    That's a huge ask for Geraint. He's miles back in the GC.

    Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
    Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

    When Britain first, at heaven's command,
    Arose from out the azure main,
    This was the charter of the land,
    And Guardian Angels sang this strain:

    (Chorus)

    The nations not so blest as thee
    Must, in their turn, to tyrants fall,
    While thou shalt flourish great and free:
    The dread and envy of them all.

    (Chorus)

    Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
    More dreadful from each foreign stroke,
    As the loud blast that tears the skies
    Serves but to root thy native oak.

    (Chorus)

    Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame;
    All their attempts to bend thee down
    Will but arouse thy generous flame,
    But work their woe and thy renown.

    (Chorus)

    To thee belongs the rural reign;
    Thy cities shall with commerce shine;
    All thine shall be the subject main,
    And every shore it circles, thine.

    (Chorus)

    The Muses, still with freedom found,
    Shall to thy happy coasts repair.
    Blest isle! with matchless beauty crowned,
    And manly hearts to guard the fair.

    (Chorus)
    Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
    Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    If you're that desperate for a barney, just look in the mirror and say "FrenchFighter" 3 times.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQHk2cvLKRky5jA-mvnXbQIk84vjYd_JdLU3Uwl5y9DMeo2Lo90
  • Crozza
    Crozza Posts: 991
    I don't care who wins, as long as he's English speaking
  • JackPozzi
    JackPozzi Posts: 1,191
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663895#p19663895]disgruntledgoat[/url] wrote:
    If you're that desperate for a barney, just look in the mirror and say "FrenchFighter" 3 times.
    Did someone call?

    51DhC9ucmqL.jpg
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,652
    Just to clarify, it was the word style in association with Froome that I took objection to.

    An octopus in a spin-dryer was the description I liked most from 2013.
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  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663889#p19663889]No tA Doctor[/url] wrote:
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663887#p19663887]FocusZing[/url] wrote:
    Looking forward to a clean Great British rider win the tour today with style and class.


    That's a huge ask for Geraint. He's miles back in the GC.


    :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    The stage is short, i fear if its not real aggressive from the gun, the gc teams will be en masse at the foot of Alpe dHuez. Id like to see it smashed apart so the main players are isolated on the descent of croix de fer. Its not a difficult descent but its very fast so full speed ahead into the bottom of the alpe.

    If anyone gets away from froome at the bottom they'll have to be real strong to stay away once the worse is over. If froome has any team members with him i can't see anyone getting any time back.

    There you go internet punditry!!!! i predict a quick race and I'm available to work at Europsort immediately
  • LeePaton
    LeePaton Posts: 353
    I am so desperate for a mental banzai attack from the bottom of climb.

    Don't care who, even Froome, just someone really light it up.
    It's not so much about winning, I just hate losing.
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    What's that sound?
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    What the heck is that? Can't you hear it?!
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    Aahhh, it's just Lars bossing about in the break..
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Cav's trying to get in the break! :shock:
    Correlation is not causation.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,652
    oedft.jpg
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  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    9Fa8Fun.gif
  • the article don
    the article don Posts: 578
    Estimated finish time today GMT please anyone?
    Giant Trance X 2010
    Specialized Tricross Sport
    My Dad's old racer
    Trek Marlin 29er 2012
  • coopster_the_1st
    coopster_the_1st Posts: 5,158
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663938#p19663938]the article don[/url] wrote:
    Estimated finish time today GMT please anyone?

    15:30

    I'm guessing it is slightly earlier than normal due to the long transfer to Paris
  • imatfaal
    imatfaal Posts: 2,716
    Just seeing Cav trying to get into break made me think of cut off times - and then ITV did an idiots guide to it. So... today is a Coefficient 5 day and is 110.5 km long.

    A fast time would be (34.9kph) 3 hours 10 minutes - this would give a cut-off time of 3 hours 40 mins and 24 s
    A slow time would be (31.6kph)3 hours 30 minutes - this would give a cut-off time of 3 hours 57 mins and 18 s

    Crack on the Croix de Fer and 30 mins on a fast ascent of the Alpe could be tightish.

    43km of the 110 are climbing today
  • the article don
    the article don Posts: 578
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663941#p19663941]Coopster the 1st[/url] wrote:
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663938#p19663938]the article don[/url] wrote:
    Estimated finish time today GMT please anyone?

    15:30

    I'm guessing it is slightly earlier than normal due to the long transfer to Paris

    Thanks
    Giant Trance X 2010
    Specialized Tricross Sport
    My Dad's old racer
    Trek Marlin 29er 2012
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    Hearing the klaxon, Lars gives the fans a nod.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,652
    edited July 2015
    The big race today is the KOM.

    If the four riders in the break stay away and crest tile Croix de Fer then there are 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 points left to gain

    Current standings:

    1. FRABARDET Romain 12 AG2R LA MONDIALE 90 pts
    2. GBRFROOME Christopher 31 TEAM SKY 87 pts
    3. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joachim 91 TEAM KATUSHA 78 pts
    4. DENFUGLSANG Jakob 3 ASTANA PRO TEAM 64 pts
    5. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 51 MOVISTAR TEAM 56 pts
    6. BELPAUWELS Serge 218 MTN-QHUBEKA 55 pts
    7. FRAROLLAND Pierre 121 TEAM EUROPCAR 54 pts
    8. ITANIBALI Vincenzo 1 ASTANA PRO TEAM 47 pts
    9. POLMAJKA Rafal 45 TINKOFF-SAXO 40 pts
    10. AUSPORTE Richie 35 TEAM SKY 40 pts

    So probably a little sprint between Bardet, Pauwels, Rolland and J-Rod, if they haven't been dropped.
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  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663950#p19663950]No tA Doctor[/url] wrote:
    The big race today is the KOM.

    If the four riders in the break stay away and crest tile Croix de Fer then there are 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 points left to gain

    Current standings:

    1. FRABARDET Romain 12 AG2R LA MONDIALE 90 pts
    2. GBRFROOME Christopher 31 TEAM SKY 87 pts
    3. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joachim 91 TEAM KATUSHA 78 pts
    4. DENFUGLSANG Jakob 3 ASTANA PRO TEAM 64 pts
    5. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 51 MOVISTAR TEAM 56 pts
    6. BELPAUWELS Serge 218 MTN-QHUBEKA 55 pts
    7. FRAROLLAND Pierre 121 TEAM EUROPCAR 54 pts
    8. ITANIBALI Vincenzo 1 ASTANA PRO TEAM 47 pts
    9. POLMAJKA Rafal 45 TINKOFF-SAXO 40 pts
    10. AUSPORTE Richie 35 TEAM SKY 40 pts

    So probably a little sprint between Gadret, Pauwels, Rolland and J-Rod, if they haven't been dropped.

    *Raises eyebrow*
    Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy
  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    Anyway, looks like Quintana happy with stage win and second?
    Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    edited July 2015
    My Man No tA Doctor with a little Van Halen brown M&M action.

    Great story: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/van-halens-legendary-mms-rider
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.

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