TDF 2023: Stage 8:- Libourne to Limoges, 201km ***Spoilers***
blazing_saddles
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Stage 8:- Libourne to Limoges, 201km
Saturday, July 8
Start Time 11-30amBST.
The route from Libourne to Limoges is 200.7 kilometres long - flat in the first part, lumpy in the second. The altitude gain of 1,800 metres is moderate, rather than testing, but the final sprint is not flat, which makes it an even more open prospect.
It’s the fourteenth time that a Tour de France stage goes to Limoges.
The stage heads in a North Easterly direction, into the heart of Central France, where the terrain gets ever more hilly and rolling. So, after 125kms of flat, here, there is hardly a metre flat anymore, although the three classified climbs are not hard in themselves.
Final Kms.
Limoges could produce some surprises as the day’s finish will certainly suit the most explosive sprinters, those capable of powering up a short but difficult climb to claim victory.
What to expect.
The pure sprinters will be hoping that the likes of Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pidcock and Girmay don't have any ideas about winning this stage. If they don't, then it may and in a typical tour bunch sprint. If they do, then anything could happen in the final 70Kms. I suspect that these explosive guys will seek to put the pure fast men out the back door, in order to punch up the finishing ramp to take the win.
Libourne
Stage town for the 5th time
Population: 24,430 (Libournais, Libournaises), and 92,000 in the Communauté d'agglomération du Libournais.
Libourne is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.
It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
LIBOURNE AND CYCLING
After a hiatus of thirty years, Libourne hosted the Tour de France for the fifth time in 2021 and saw the victory of the "third Slovenian", Matej Mohoric, who played off his breakaway companions in the final to sign his second stage victory in this edition, after having won in Le Creusot. The next day, the wine harbour was the starting point of an individual time trial in the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, won with class by Wout van Aert, whereas Tadej Pogacar strenghtened his Yellow Jersey on the eve of Paris. In 1957, for the first visit of the Grande Boucle in town, it was also in a 66 km time trial to Bordeaux (which already passed through Saint-Émilion), that Jacques Anquetil outclassed his opponents and secured his first victory in the Tour de France.
Gastronomy.
Confit de porc libournais
Pork confit is one of the great specialities of the Libourne area. It is similar to enchaud or enchaux, which are common in the Landes. Some believe it is even tastier than goose confit.
lamprey à la Bordelaise
The French name lamproie, like lamprey in English, covers all members of the lamprey family and there are quite a number of members. However, in France, one of the two noted above will be on your menu. The lamprey is a strange and jawless animal, neither a true fish nor an eel. Lampreys are a unique and separate family of freshwater and seawater animals. The lamprey is cooked with leeks, ham, onions, a red Bordeaux wine, and some of the lamprey’s own blood. Lampreys were and are considered a delicacy and depending on the area where this dish is served Cognac or Armagnac will be added for flavour.
Limoges
15 times stage town
Population: 130,500, 207,000 inhabitants in Limoges Métropole.
Limoges is a city and commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region. Situated on the first western foothills of the Massif Central, Limoges is crossed by the river Vienne. The second most populated town in the New Aquitaine region after Bordeaux, a university town, an administrative centre and intermediate services with all the facilities of a regional metropolis. The inhabitants of the city are called the Limougeauds.
LIMOGES AND CYCLING
Lance Armstrong was not always the black sheep of world cycling. In 1995, he was not yet a possible winner of the Tour de France, not yet a cancer survivor. Not yet a doping survivor either. Only a gifted American who had won the world title to everyone's surprise in 1993 and a stage of the Tour in Verdun the same year. Detached in the final of this 18th stage in Limoges, the Texan crossed the line, zipped up his jersey and extended a finger towards the sky, then two. A final tribute to his team-mate Fabio Casartelli, who died a few days earlier in the descent of Portet d'Aspet. Since then, the city of porcelain has hosted more starts than finishes. However, in 2016, it was Marcel Kittel who won a stage from Saumur, to the great displeasure of Bryan Coquard, second, who missed his best opportunity to win on the roads of the Tour by a few inches. It was the ninth of the fourteen stage victories of the German sprinter.
Gastronomy.
Pâté aux pommes de terre.
Pâté aux pommes de terre is a savory potato pie originating from the French region of Limousin. It consists of sliced potatoes that are layered with onions, cream, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper in a flaky puff pastry. Before the 18th century, when potatoes were first brought to France, Limousin pie was made with a combination of crème fraîche and regular bread dough.
Clafoutis
Clafoutis (pronounced kla-foo-TEE) is a simple French dessert of fruit, typically cherries, baked in a sweet, custard-like batter. While cherries are traditional, clafoutis is often made with other fruits, such as berries, plums, apricots, or apples.
Saturday, July 8
Start Time 11-30amBST.
The route from Libourne to Limoges is 200.7 kilometres long - flat in the first part, lumpy in the second. The altitude gain of 1,800 metres is moderate, rather than testing, but the final sprint is not flat, which makes it an even more open prospect.
It’s the fourteenth time that a Tour de France stage goes to Limoges.
The stage heads in a North Easterly direction, into the heart of Central France, where the terrain gets ever more hilly and rolling. So, after 125kms of flat, here, there is hardly a metre flat anymore, although the three classified climbs are not hard in themselves.
Final Kms.
Limoges could produce some surprises as the day’s finish will certainly suit the most explosive sprinters, those capable of powering up a short but difficult climb to claim victory.
What to expect.
The pure sprinters will be hoping that the likes of Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pidcock and Girmay don't have any ideas about winning this stage. If they don't, then it may and in a typical tour bunch sprint. If they do, then anything could happen in the final 70Kms. I suspect that these explosive guys will seek to put the pure fast men out the back door, in order to punch up the finishing ramp to take the win.
Libourne
Stage town for the 5th time
Population: 24,430 (Libournais, Libournaises), and 92,000 in the Communauté d'agglomération du Libournais.
Libourne is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.
It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
LIBOURNE AND CYCLING
After a hiatus of thirty years, Libourne hosted the Tour de France for the fifth time in 2021 and saw the victory of the "third Slovenian", Matej Mohoric, who played off his breakaway companions in the final to sign his second stage victory in this edition, after having won in Le Creusot. The next day, the wine harbour was the starting point of an individual time trial in the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, won with class by Wout van Aert, whereas Tadej Pogacar strenghtened his Yellow Jersey on the eve of Paris. In 1957, for the first visit of the Grande Boucle in town, it was also in a 66 km time trial to Bordeaux (which already passed through Saint-Émilion), that Jacques Anquetil outclassed his opponents and secured his first victory in the Tour de France.
Gastronomy.
Confit de porc libournais
Pork confit is one of the great specialities of the Libourne area. It is similar to enchaud or enchaux, which are common in the Landes. Some believe it is even tastier than goose confit.
lamprey à la Bordelaise
The French name lamproie, like lamprey in English, covers all members of the lamprey family and there are quite a number of members. However, in France, one of the two noted above will be on your menu. The lamprey is a strange and jawless animal, neither a true fish nor an eel. Lampreys are a unique and separate family of freshwater and seawater animals. The lamprey is cooked with leeks, ham, onions, a red Bordeaux wine, and some of the lamprey’s own blood. Lampreys were and are considered a delicacy and depending on the area where this dish is served Cognac or Armagnac will be added for flavour.
Limoges
15 times stage town
Population: 130,500, 207,000 inhabitants in Limoges Métropole.
Limoges is a city and commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region. Situated on the first western foothills of the Massif Central, Limoges is crossed by the river Vienne. The second most populated town in the New Aquitaine region after Bordeaux, a university town, an administrative centre and intermediate services with all the facilities of a regional metropolis. The inhabitants of the city are called the Limougeauds.
LIMOGES AND CYCLING
Lance Armstrong was not always the black sheep of world cycling. In 1995, he was not yet a possible winner of the Tour de France, not yet a cancer survivor. Not yet a doping survivor either. Only a gifted American who had won the world title to everyone's surprise in 1993 and a stage of the Tour in Verdun the same year. Detached in the final of this 18th stage in Limoges, the Texan crossed the line, zipped up his jersey and extended a finger towards the sky, then two. A final tribute to his team-mate Fabio Casartelli, who died a few days earlier in the descent of Portet d'Aspet. Since then, the city of porcelain has hosted more starts than finishes. However, in 2016, it was Marcel Kittel who won a stage from Saumur, to the great displeasure of Bryan Coquard, second, who missed his best opportunity to win on the roads of the Tour by a few inches. It was the ninth of the fourteen stage victories of the German sprinter.
Gastronomy.
Pâté aux pommes de terre.
Pâté aux pommes de terre is a savory potato pie originating from the French region of Limousin. It consists of sliced potatoes that are layered with onions, cream, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper in a flaky puff pastry. Before the 18th century, when potatoes were first brought to France, Limousin pie was made with a combination of crème fraîche and regular bread dough.
Clafoutis
Clafoutis (pronounced kla-foo-TEE) is a simple French dessert of fruit, typically cherries, baked in a sweet, custard-like batter. While cherries are traditional, clafoutis is often made with other fruits, such as berries, plums, apricots, or apples.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
7
Comments
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Could we get an MvdP vs WvA sprint battle for the win here?================
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blazing_saddles said:
The pure sprinters will be hoping that the likes of Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pidcock and Girmay don't have any ideas about winning this stage. If they don't, then it may and in a typical tour bunch sprint. If they do, then anything could happen in the final 70Kms. I suspect that these explosive guys will seek to put the pure fast men out the back door, in order to punch up the finishing ramp to take the win.
I'd guess the whole stage is going to be simply van Aert against van der Poel, not just the sprint at the finish, if the duel gets that far.N0bodyOfTheGoat said:Could we get an MvdP vs WvA sprint battle for the win here?
Yes there will be some background players who also form part of a successful break - possibly Alaphilippe and/or Asgreen and van Gils.
Plus any of another two dozen riders, like maybe Trentin, Mohoric, Strong, Haller, Aranburu and Bettiol.
Maybe van Baarle too, as Jumbo probably want two irons in the fire, so their chances of a stage win (at last!) are higher.
But basically it should be just vA versus VdP.
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blazing_saddles said:
lamprey à la Bordelaise
The French name lamproie, like lamprey in English, covers all members of the lamprey family and there are quite a number of members. ...... The lamprey is cooked with leeks, ham, onions, a red Bordeaux wine, and some of the lamprey’s own blood.
I doubt one can get Lamproie à la Bordelaise easily nowadays as lampreys are on the Red List of Threatened Species. In Europe, only in Scandinavia and the Baltic countries are they still abundant.
King Henry I of England died after eating a 'surfeit' of lampreys, or a gone-off lamprey purposely put on his plate by one of his opponents to poison him, depending which story you believe.
The legend of the Lambton Worm in County Durham is supposed to be about a lamprey which, after being mistreated, out of revenge grew enormous and behaved like an evil dragon.0 -
Caught the end of the itv coverage today and they have this down for a break with the likes of WvA and MVDP in it.
[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
Will Pedersen make it?"Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago0
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I'd love to see JA give WvA and MvdP a run for their money today, but from what little I've seen, he hasn't got that top tier puncheur attack fitness back yet that he had a few years ago (before that horrendous crash).================
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The Cringe bus is on again...."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.1
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The finish is nowhere near steep enough for JA. Even MvdP is saying it's for Philipsen if they get there in a bunch.N0bodyOfTheGoat said:I'd love to see JA give WvA and MvdP a run for their money today, but from what little I've seen, he hasn't got that top tier puncheur attack fitness back yet that he had a few years ago (before that horrendous crash).
It's currently looking like everyone wants to get in the break - uncluding Quickstep
Mads P just tried to launchWarning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
Anything happened?"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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How frisky has the start been?"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Kirby and JHB quite rightly slamming the rip off that is Chateau Petrus. (Gordon Ramsey charging £75 for a thimble full "taster")
The frightening thing is that it isn't the most expensive Pomerol out there."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Accelerated through the houses"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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I was thinking more along the lines of of that trio attacking from ~16Km out, up the first of the two cat4s, rather than leaving it to the uphill sprint.No_Ta_Doctor said:
The finish is nowhere near steep enough for JA. Even MvdP is saying it's for Philipsen if they get there in a bunch.N0bodyOfTheGoat said:I'd love to see JA give WvA and MvdP a run for their money today, but from what little I've seen, he hasn't got that top tier puncheur attack fitness back yet that he had a few years ago (before that horrendous crash).
It's currently looking like everyone wants to get in the break - uncluding Quickstep
Mads P just tried to launch
No idea how Mads would be expected to do compared to the trio such an attack.================
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Going to be long and arduous battle for the breakaway.
I reckon at least an hour - probably longer."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
You don't want to lose the wheels at this speed ...."If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Crash"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Great cav interview"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Tim bowling along"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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3 away"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Fred Wright said he's targeting this stage0
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I'd buy the Astana one. Assuming you can get one with all the ads removed. Just the colour schemeRichN95. said:As an early defender of the Lidl jersey, from before it was released into the wild, I'm now sure that it's the best jersey in the peloton. I like the new Astana too, but not for visibility.
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That's definitely not the break anyone was expecting. I reckon we'll see some attacks on the final climbsWarning No formatter is installed for the format0
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A different race could start on the cat 3 ...that said TdC could go a Looooooonnnnnmggggvv way"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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I like the trek tooRichN95. said:As an early defender of the Lidl jersey, from before it was released into the wild, I'm now sure that it's the best jersey in the peloton. I like the new Astana too, but not for visibility.
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Geology stuff is a good addition by itv"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Pog has become invisible for the last 2 days"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Hello"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
