TDF 2018, Stage 5: Lorient > Quimper 11/07/2018 - 204,5 km *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
edited July 2018 in Pro race
Lorient > Quimper 11/07/2018 - Stage 5 - 204,5 km

At 204.5 kilometres, the 5th stage of the Tour de France runs from Lorient to Quimper. The route in the southern part of Brittany is teeming with hills, while the last kilometre climbs at almost 5%.

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Lorient hosted the Tour de France many times. The last arrival was in 2006, with Sylvain Calzati taking the honours, while the last start was in 2011, when the stage ran to the Mûr-de-Bretagne and Cadel Evans won the race.

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After leaving the town and seaport of Lorient the riders race along the coast to the northwest. The route is all but flat and they ride from one hill to the next. The climbs are short and sharp and all the more grueling. The steepest slope is Côte de Kaliforn – 1.7 kilometre at 7.1% -, while the Côte de Menez Quelerc’h is the longest climb of the day: 3 kilometres an averaging 6.2%.

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The last KOM is Côte de la Montagne de Locronan – 2.2 kilometres at 5.9% – with its top 23 kilometres before the line. But the riders are not done climbing, as the route still holds a number of demanding sections up its sleeve. Not least of which is where they have placed the bonus second sprint. Could get tasty if it's all together by then.

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Approaching arrival town Quimper the riders stumble upon a trying finale. With 12.7 kilometres remaining a 800 metres stretch climbs at 6.5% before the slope continues for 1 kilometre at a lesser gradient. Then the route enters its next uphill stretch 7.8 kilometres before the line. For 1.3 kilometres the riders face a 5% gradient, which turns into a rolling section and ultimately a 2 kilometres drop. A 400 metres uphill at 3% ends with 1.4 kilometres to go before a short drop runs to the deciding fase of the race. The final kilometre run-in to the line climbs at 4.8%.

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The last time the Tour de France finished in Quimper was in 2004 when Thor Hushovd powered to the win, outsprinting the pack by bike lengths on the uphill arrival.

The 5th stage of the 2018 Tour de France starts at 12:40 and the finish is expected around 17:32cet.

Team hotels for this stage.

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Lorient
11 previous stages

Prefecture of Morbihan (56)

59,300 inhabitants (Lorientais)

207,000 inhabitants in Lorient Agglomeration (25 communes)

The coastal city has an inspiring name for voyagers. It is indeed based on the identity of the first vessel built and put to sea by the Compagnie des Indes Orientales based in Port-Louis since 1666, and named Soleil d’Orient. 340 years later, on the day of the football World Cup final, Sylvain Calzati made the best of a breakaway to capture the win the last time the Tour had a stage finish there.
In August, the festival will celebrate the 48th anniversary of its installation in Lorient, where it became one of the highlights of the summer festival season in France. The annual meeting of musicians of the Celtic world, which took over from several bagpipe festivals organised in Quimper or Brest, settled at its homeport in 1971, attracting more public and more nations every year. Acadia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Galicia, Asturias and Brittany are now sending artists to Lorient for an event attracting some 750,000 spectators. Founded by Polig Monjarret, developed by Jean-Pierre Pichard, the FIL is now led by Asturian Lisardo Lombardia. Over the years, the festival has created classic events like the Grand Parade of Nations, which brings together some 3,500 artists from all the delegations. It is undoubtedly the highlight of the festival. The 2018 edition, from August 3 to 12, is dedicated to Wales.

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Specialities: Prawns (1st port in France) and seafood in general.

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Quimper
Five previous stages

Prefecture of Finistère (29)

63,500 inhabitants (Quimpérois)

100,000 inhabitantsfor the Greater Quimper Community of West Brittany

The “préfecture” of Finistère was, for the first time, on the map of the Tour sixty years ago for the start of a stage won, in Saint-Nazaire by André Darrigade. But the first winner in Quimper was Phil Anderson, ten years after becoming a sensation as the first Australian rider to wear the yellow jersey in 1981. Thor Hushovd also keeps a fond memory of the capital of French Cornwall, where he had triumphed in 2004.
From April 13 to July 29, 2018, wolves are in the heart of Quimper. A monumental pack of 95 bronze wolves, showing the teeth around a warrior, were installed by Chinese artist Liu Ruo Wang on the François-Mitterrand esplanade, between the media library, the Cornouaille theater and the art school of Brittany. This installation, called "Wolves arrive at the end of the world" symbolizes the struggle of men against tyranny. It allows the Breton public to discover the power and creativity of Chinese contemporary art. The media coverage of the exhibition in France and China is likely to put a spotlight on tourism in Quimper. Quimper also wishes to seize the opportunity to develop its bilateral relations with China, in addition to the actions carried out in the framework of the twinning between Quimper and Yantai.

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Quimper was a regular stage of Circuit du Morbihan and Tour de l’Ouest in the 1930 and 1950s and saw Briton Tom Simpson clinch his first professional victories in 1959.
Among the riders from Quimper, must bementioned Laurent Pichon, winner of the 2017 Coupe de France and who participated last year in his first Tour de France. Before the war, the leading figure of cycling in Quimper was Pierre Cloarec, winner of two stages in 1939 and whose shop rue Madec, the aptly named "Au Tour de France", was immortalized by famous American photographer Robert Capa.

Specialties: Quimper earthenware, hand-painted for over three centuries. Galettes, pancakes, far Breton, cider, torchettes (almond pancakes).

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"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,651
    I love the fact that stage 4 was so boring you used the time constructively to put the stage 5 spoiler up.
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  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    edited July 2018
    The Grubers have recce'd the run in to the finale. Its only 1 car width, pretty much. Cant remember distance from the finish where the road narrows.

    Edit - cant find it on their instagram, maybe it wasn't them.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    Hopefully the hills will make things interesting but oh for a southerly blow off the Atlantic.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    I love the fact that stage 4 was so boring you used the time constructively to put the stage 5 spoiler up.

    You noticed. :D
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    That plate of prawns is making me feel very hungry indeed
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Handy for Stage 4 and 5 are the ancient standing stones of Carnac.

    Menhirs_carnac.jpg

    Somewhere amongst these stones is Nairo Qunitana's face. Can you spot it?

    Meanwhile this part of the world, has perhaps the loveliest horses in all the world, the Breton. They're so round and chubby.

    Here's Carlos

    b763378a2e3bcf512a62f03755a5258d.jpg

    And his friend, Jan

    Cheval-Breton_articleimage.jpg
    Correlation is not causation.
  • 6wheels
    6wheels Posts: 411
    Carlos is a four legged version of Sagan.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,651
    Cheap headline of the day: Stage 5 ends not in a bang, but a Quimper
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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,651
    Handy for Stage 4 and 5 are the ancient standing stones of Carnac.

    Menhirs_carnac.jpg

    Somewhere amongst these stones is Nairo Qunitana's face. Can you spot it?

    Meanwhile this part of the world, has perhaps the loveliest horses in all the world, the Breton. They're so round and chubby.

    Here's Carlos

    b763378a2e3bcf512a62f03755a5258d.jpg

    And his friend, Jan

    Cheval-Breton_articleimage.jpg

    Thicc.
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  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    This GT has been a bit short of scenic shots and seeing as tomorrow's stage skips through the top end of Pont Aven.....

    bretagne-pont-aven.jpg

    P11306750.jpg?v=1q79l06cr5h6wxv

    fotos-breta%C3%B1a-pont-aven-001.jpg

    252d17fc028a225c50c73f37f0f3e9db.jpg
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,332
    Handy for Stage 4 and 5 are the ancient standing stones of Carnac.

    Menhirs_carnac.jpg

    Somewhere amongst these stones is Nairo Qunitana's face. Can you spot it?

    Meanwhile this part of the world, has perhaps the loveliest horses in all the world, the Breton. They're so round and chubby.

    Here's Carlos

    b763378a2e3bcf512a62f03755a5258d.jpg

    And his friend, Jan

    Cheval-Breton_articleimage.jpg

    Thicc.

    Absolute units.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    A tight fit half way up the last characterised climb (from @inrng)

    DhxcrcuX4AcVlzq.jpg
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,332
    RichN95 wrote:
    A tight fit half way up the last characterised climb (from @inrng)

    DhxcrcuX4AcVlzq.jpg

    That's a break with tradition. Normally that sort of thing would be placed in the last 2km of a sprint stage.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    Can't see any problems getting the riders and cars through that!
  • If you are roadside in Bretagne tomorrow don't drink that cider AFTER calvados on an empty stomach on an excitable and hot day :oops:
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    edited July 2018
    Even after the child-torture of being dragged round plate shop after plate shop by ma & pa raver as a youth (Brittany being an easy holiday destination for a young family based close to the Ferry port in the early 90's - represent da Quiberon yo!)) I can't help but really like Quimper...

    We also can't go to Brittany with out mentioning the work of photographer Jean Guichard who is responsible for many of "those" lighthouse photos, including the famous sequence

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    Check out the others - http://www.jean-guichard.com/

    (there's another sequence of the lighthouse and that keeper. The guy is exactly as cool as you would imagine a french lighthouse keeper at the stormy end of a continent would be)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    Double
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Curious dynamic with four star stage favourite in yellow.

    We assuming it’ll be a reduced bunch sprint up the final hill?

    Maybe a few speculative moves on the hills before.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    RichN95 wrote:
    A tight fit half way up the last characterised climb (from @inrng)

    DhxcrcuX4AcVlzq.jpg

    If you squint really hard you can see Ross Poldark scurrying along at the end of that street.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,332
    RichN95 wrote:
    A tight fit half way up the last characterised climb (from @inrng)

    DhxcrcuX4AcVlzq.jpg

    If you squint really hard you can see Ross Poldark scurrying along at the end of that street.

    Dunno about that, but I've just seen where the buried treasure is.
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    ah well if the racing is pants the scenery will make up for it.

    I think its going to be a bit better today.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Spent a fair few family holidays around here back in t'day.

    I see a lot of PTP'ers assuming Valverde will place highly. INRNG undecided on whether Sagan can make it or will get ejected. However at the bookies, Sagan is clear favourite at just under 2/1 followed by Matthews at between 4 and 5/1, Colbrelli at 7-9/1 and GVA/Alaphillippe/Valverde/Gaviria at 9-12/1. Hard to tell what this means though as it probably just shows that more gamblers have heard of Sagan :lol:

    UK bookies star rating, based on my own entirely subjective grouping of the odds:

    threerings.jpg Sagan
    tworings.jpg Matthews, Colbrelli
    onering.jpg GVA, Alaphillipe, Valverde, Gaviria, Demare, Gilbert

    Best of the rest: Magnus Cort, Impey, Stuyven, Kwiato, Vichot, Degenkolb, Martin

    Interestingly INRNG mentions Thomas but he has odds of 100/1 or worse.

    (amusingly, I noticed Betway are offering odds on Adam Yates) :lol:
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,651
    It possibly a day for Froome to try and claw a few seconds back. Not sure he'll risk it, there's muur coming up tomorrow and while he's grabbed seconds early in the race in past years I'm guessing he's on a bit of a conservative ride this year, with 3 GTs in a row in his legs already.

    The narrow road up the last categorised climb might have been decisive, but it's 25km from the finish. Could still easily cause splits. There's a definite possibility of some GC action, and odds on for major chaos if anyone wants to make the stage hard.

    Oh - and if anyone is putting money on Gaviria, can I take your bet please? *free money*
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  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    Sagan looks to have bulked up a bit which is helping him on the bunch sprint stages but could hinder him today. It may be my imagination but he certainly blew big time on the hill in the TTT.
  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,436
    Tiejs Benoot abandons - dislocated shoulder from crash yesterday
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,332
    r0bh wrote:
    Tiejs Benoot abandons - dislocated shoulder from crash yesterday

    Shame. Had the look of a man who probably shouldn't have been allowed back on a bike yesterday.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    It possibly a day for Froome to try and claw a few seconds back. Not sure he'll risk it, there's muur coming up tomorrow and while he's grabbed seconds early in the race in past years I'm guessing he's on a bit of a conservative ride this year, with 3 GTs in a row in his legs already.
    I think the narrow roads will result in some GC riders losing quite a bit of time today. Much more so than tomorrow.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,651
    I think they might be in for a nasty surprise today, and I'm putting my money on Froome.

    Dh0KzOsX0AIiUei.jpg:large
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  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Big name abandon: Michael Matthews - sick
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,436
    RichN95 wrote:
    Big name abandon: Michael Matthews - sick

    Bit of a surprise, he was going well in the TTT on Monday