TDF 2017: 13 July - Stage 12: Pau - Peyragudes 214.5kms *Spoilers*

davesnothere

RichN95 wrote:

Apparently the finish is where they filmed a James Bond film. After two dull days hope for a lot of action tomorrow never dies. Froome will want his team to beat the living daylights out of his opponents with a view to kill them off before the weekend. The spectre of Aru looms though ready to take yellow should Sky fall. With good weather, no rain or thunder, ball to the wall descending from Bardet could take him from bronze position to gold. Finger and wrist problems for Fuglsang after his crash - we await the update from the team doctor. No such problems for Uran and Martin will want a win as having the best sprinter in the world is not enough for Quick Step. Contador will want a good performance to provide a quantum of solace to his dejected fans. Or maybe the break will live and let Di Data's Cummings have a chance

Bra-vo!

kleinstroker

bobmcstuff wrote:

And it would be on the one day I'm out of the office this week!!

Me too! Had the last two days great stages off though so feeling fulfilled!

rick_chasey

Have done the final 4 climbs once upon a time.

Part of me is disappointed Mente is only a 1st catagory because it's a real brute. More so than the Peyrsourde.

kleinstroker

Rick Chasey wrote:

Have done the final 4 climbs once upon a time.

Part of me is disappointed Mente is only a 1st catagory because it's a real brute. More so than the Peyrsourde.

Impressive Mr Chasey, you mean all in the same day?

rick_chasey

kleinstroker wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Have done the final 4 climbs once upon a time.

Part of me is disappointed Mente is only a 1st catagory because it's a real brute. More so than the Peyrsourde.

Impressive Mr Chasey, you mean all in the same day?

No.

But I did do the circle of death (albeit the other way around, so Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde) one of those days. 8)

kingstongraham

If I remember rightly, those cows at the top of Port de Bales really enjoy licking the sweat off riders.

kingstongraham

So they finish up that runway! That could look pretty amazing.

ugo.santalucia

Best case scenario: Bardet to attack on the Port de Bales, descend like a mad man, get two minutes at the bottom of the descent and maintains enough to snatch the jersey. Froome shouting at everyone sucking his wheel.

Acceptable case scenario: Aru attacks on the Peyresourde and wins the stage with 20 seconds, enough to snatch the jersey

Realistic scenario: Nothing happens until the final km, where Froome spins the cranks faster and gains 5 seconds on Aru and 10 on Bardet. Some other guy wins the stage

blazing_saddles

Wet at the roll out, glorious sunshine up at James Bond airport.
Eurosport have grabbed a spot about 20 metres from the finish line for their pre stage chat.
Hope nobody tries to land!

imatfaal

And it is nice to hear someone on ITV who actually knows about the mountains and looked forward to them - got great respect for all of ITV's experts but now, in Pippa, they have a rider who positively revelled in the HC mountains. Would love to hear Sean Kelly and Pippa York reminiscing but that won't happen

blazing_saddles

Fuglsang sporting what looks like a lightweight cast on his wrist.

We are off and it's CHARGE!

kingstongraham

This is a day when it is worth having full day coverage. It's going to be a hard day today.

No_Ta_Doctor

No break yet, lots trying.

blazing_saddles

Barguil definitely not playing it cool.
Far too much effort too soon.

Yesterday's crash victim, Gogl already in danger of getting dropped.

kingstongraham

Stevo!

No_Ta_Doctor

Break seems to have formed. Mathews got in it, so Kidl followed him :-D

fleshtuxedo

Steve in break of 10

imatfaal

Strong group
Gautier, Erviti, De Kort, Küng, Ulissi, Cummings, Kittel, Bauer, Politt, De Gendt, Matthews, Simon

No_Ta_Doctor

The 12 in the break have 12"


C. Gautier
16
ALM
+ 51' 01''
D. Ulissi
69
UAD
+ 54' 26''
M. Matthews
141
SUN
+ 01h 01' 13''
K. De Kort
32
TFS
+ 01h 01' 31''
N. Politt
128
KAT
+ 01h 02' 23''
I. Erviti
26
MOV
+ 01h 04' 50''
S. Kueng
44
BMC
+ 01h 07' 22''
T. De Gendt
134
LTS
+ 01h 11' 21''
J. Simon
159
COF
+ 01h 14' 58''
J. Bauer
102
QST
+ 01h 15' 23''
M. Kittel
101
QST
+ 01h 25' 49''
S. Cummings
93
DDD
+ 01h 35' 03''

No_Ta_Doctor

Incidentally, last Tour I flew to England while Stevo was wining a stage - got the result when I landed.

Anyone want to guess what I'm doing this afternoon? :-D

blazing_saddles

Well, that is a pretty meh group that have now gone. Just over the minute lead.
Wouldn't expect it to last the day.

above_the_cows

KingstonGraham wrote:

Stevo!

blazing_saddles

So that's that for a fair while.
I know what I can do. :idea:

No_Ta_Doctor

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Well, that is a pretty meh group that have now gone. Just over the minute lead.
Wouldn't expect it to last the day.

Meh? It's got Stevo, Ulissi and de Gendt in.

kingstongraham

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Well, that is a pretty meh group that have now gone. Just over the minute lead.
Wouldn't expect it to last the day.

It's strong for the first 94km.

No_Ta_Doctor

Contador has an issue, mech I think, having trouble getting a new bike.

above_the_cows

What? Kidl's in the break. Bummer for Bling.

larkim

Has the tdf website been changed since yesterday? It's reverted to the look and feel (for the live tracking) that they had last year. Or is it me being dumb?

kleinstroker

Cav's PTP for today is Steve Cummings

above_the_cows

They really like roundabout sculpture in France don't they.