stage 11 ** spoilers**(my privilege)

specialgueststar

I am the 'regional' so I am allowed to 'go up the road' and host this stage. The stage goes very close to my adopted French village and through the next one down the river - Cessenon-Sur-Orb. If you ever chance up there have a beer/muscat and ice cream in Le Helder ( don't be in a rush!) and a cracking lunch at L'Orb restaurant ( try the duck confit or rabbit and mustard - superbe ! ) and a glass/bottle /litre of St Chinian- Roquebrun with a dollop of Roquefort and figs

David Millar would win this stage if he was still riding

Lanterne_Rogue

Hat.

pottssteve

That last photo resembles Froome's testicles after the descent into Bagneres de Luchon.

milton50

Some talk that this could be the fastest Tour stage ever.

specialgueststar

wind direction - up to 50 mph gusts !

kleinstroker

A bit jealous, if I moved to France this would be where I would want to go.
Also you might want to edit thread title for search purposes

cheers

blazing_saddles

Spent a lovely few weeks in just up the road, Murviel, some summers ago.
St Chinian is one of my favourite reds of the region, so for me, having the cave coop on the doorstep was a bit like a child living next to a sweet shop!.

Noticing that today's start time coincides with France 3's normal coverage start time. So, if they don't spend too much time chatting to the local colour, we may get some of the breakaway action.
Some talk of this possibly becoming the fastest every Tour stage.
I certainly don't expect it to be the rapid procession to the bunch sprint that many are predicting.
More likely to be the most definitive GC stage so far, imo..........not that that is saying much.

lostboysaint

Blazing Saddles wrote:

More likely to be the most definitive GC stage so far, imo..........not that that is saying much.

How? Flat and with a monster tail wind. How difficult is that going to be to defend?

bobmcstuff

lostboysaint wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

More likely to be the most definitive GC stage so far, imo..........not that that is saying much.

How? Flat and with a monster tail wind. How difficult is that going to be to defend?

Think people are expecting/hoping for splits if it's more of a crosswind.

tailwindhome

Mark Cavendish

12 mins ·
..
When you're in this part of France & you're woken by the wind banging the shutters of your bedroom window, it's not likely to be a calm day on the bike

DeVlaeminck

Bit of a breeze then

above_the_cows

It's always windy in this part of the world. The copious numbers of turbines are a giveaway.

And OK we're not quite in the Camargue but this is a lovely horse:



I'm in meetings early afternoon. Can someone else man the Echelons!!!!!!!!!!! klaxon? Ta.

onyourright

This is going to be fun.

RichN95.

Not only are high winds expected today, but there's talk of Ventoux being considerably shortened tomorrow

TheBigBean

RichN95 wrote:

Not only are high winds expected today, but there's talk of Ventoux being considerably shortened tomorrow

Dangerous or too much like hard work?

RichN95.

TheBigBean wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Not only are high winds expected today, but there's talk of Ventoux being considerably shortened tomorrow

Dangerous or too much like hard work?

Dangerous. 100kph winds up there at the moment.

Crozza

TheBigBean wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Not only are high winds expected today, but there's talk of Ventoux being considerably shortened tomorrow

Dangerous or too much like hard work?

or shortened timewise because the tailwind is so strong, it will be like riding an ebike up there?

salsiccia1

RichN95 wrote:

Not only are high winds expected today, but there's talk of Ventoux being considerably shortened tomorrow

How do you shorten a mountain? Blow the top of it up?

adr82

Salsiccia1 wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Not only are high winds expected today, but there's talk of Ventoux being considerably shortened tomorrow

How do you shorten a mountain? Blow the top of it up?

Presumably they'll finish partway up, putting the top back if they blow it off might take a while :P

pottssteve

They're off. Cross-tail winds pushing them along as riders try to get off the front

TheBigBean

Are there any teams left that will want to exploit echelons?

pottssteve

TheBigBean wrote:

Are there any teams left that will want to exploit echelons?

All of them, for different reasons, I guess. GC rider's teams to distance other GC riders, guys who can't sprint as well to get home first, guys who can sprint well not being left behind......

ugo.santalucia

kleinstroker wrote:

A bit jealous, if I moved to France this would be where I would want to go.
Also you might want to edit thread title for search purposes

cheers

It's nice but horrendously hot... I went to Montpellier in 2010 in July... 38 degrees going down to 27 at night... unbearable... it was nice on the beach

pottssteve

ugo.santalucia wrote:

kleinstroker wrote:

A bit jealous, if I moved to France this would be where I would want to go.
Also you might want to edit thread title for search purposes

cheers

It's nice but horrendously hot... I went to Montpellier in 2010 in July... 38 degrees going down to 27 at night... unbearable... it was nice on the beach

It's 27 degrees in my living room right now!

blazing_saddles

Large crash!

blazing_saddles

George Bennett worst off. Fell into a 6 foot deep ditch.
Pinot also involved but is up and running.

TheBigBean

pottssteve wrote:

TheBigBean wrote:

Are there any teams left that will want to exploit echelons?

All of them, for different reasons, I guess. GC rider's teams to distance other GC riders, guys who can't sprint as well to get home first, guys who can sprint well not being left behind......

But it is extremely hard work and you need a quick team, so most will look at it and not bother.

pottssteve

Pinot and Bennett involved in crash

EDIT - both back up on their bikes

blazing_saddles

Almost another crash at a roundabout.
"Very stressful" Jaja.
Jurgen VDB wheel change.

pottssteve

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Almost another crash at a roundabout.
"Very stressful" Jaja.
Jurgen VDB wheel change.

LL Sanchez also on the tarmac

pottssteve

And another. Craddock (Cannondale), Grmay (Lampre) and Theuns (Trek) are involved.