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Le Tour de France 2015 | Stage 11, Pau - Cauterets
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 14-07-2015 17:42
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Almost a complete replica of the first mountain stage in 2013 finishing on Plateau de Bonascre, Froome and Porte went 1-2 on La Pierre-Saint-Martin with numerous of the contender showing huge signs of weakness. This time around though, it more was notable: Nibali lost 4.25, Uran and Rodriguez 6 minutes, while the french heroes from 201 were robbed of a repeat by Movistar and Sky who turned on the jets on the lower and middle slopes of Saint-Martin. Contador lost nearly 3 minutes which more or less means no Giro-Tour double. Quintana now seems like the only threat for Froome and the rest of the incredible strong Sky domestiques, Porte, Thomas and Poels. Rest day, heat and the first mountain-stage once again proved to be a deadly combo.
Starting in Pau, it will be a much more mountainous day tomorrow heading over Tour-legends like Aspin and Tourmalet. The finish, though, at Cauterets is no where near as tough as Saint-Martin, so don't expect big gaps, if any, between the riders in top of the GC. What you can expect is those who lost significant time today or lost valuable time in the first week who can climb well - Rodriguez, Pinot, Bardet, Martin, Ten Dam, Kruijswijk, Rolland, Fuglsang etc. - will bridge across on the Aspin to the possible escapees and seek revanche like a stage win, valuable time for a shot at top-10 or even the polkadot jersey (if there is enough points?). I would be very surprised to see the favorites going at it again since the slopes of Cauterets is much alike Aprica and although Tourmalet is hard, its no Mortirolo. A break should be in prime position tomorrow.
Froome destroying the field could prove a blessing in disguise. Some of the best climbers in the world, who got hopelessly distanced today, will most likely go at it tomorrow which potentially could make for a heck of a race. Maybe even Nibali will try tomorrow? I doubt it tho, he seems demoralized. Voeckler will certainly be up there tomorrow after gaining confidence today with a more than decent ride. Vuillermoz, Costa, Ferri, Sepulveda, Frank and Peraud could also try their luck, but I doubt riders from the upper top-10 will have the audacity to join the break since Sky most likely will wheel them in. But lets not forget that Sky after a similar performance in 2013 at Ax-3-Domaines collapsed, so it wouldn't be completely out of the cards that we will see the Contador/Majka-combo or even Quintana or Valverde. |
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| deek12345 |
Posted on 14-07-2015 17:44
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1st froome
2nd little richie
3rd sir dave brailsford
4th thomas
5th rest of sky in a line across finish  |
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| Roextro |
Posted on 14-07-2015 17:46
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Just hoping that this is not a repeat of today's stage, that is all I am asking for.
Also hoping it is a break away victory since their hasn't been one this year. |
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 14-07-2015 17:47
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fun will be if they start racing at Tourmalet |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 00:21
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| depeche92 |
Posted on 14-07-2015 19:05
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Not really interested in the gc anymore, I'll just be happy if Gesink and Rolland keep doing well. I hope finally a good breakway can fight for the win |
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| fidjim2013 |
Posted on 14-07-2015 19:46
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Froome has pretty much win this tour and there won't be any Giro-Tour double for Contador |
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| cyclelaps |
Posted on 14-07-2015 21:11
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[url=https://youtu.be/LO1GN6k_TlQ]Here's the climb of the Col du Tourmalet in time lapse :
 [/url] |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 14-07-2015 22:07
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Rodriguez is the sleeper pick now, not for tomorrow, but for the overall. I doubt he will be wasting energy trying to get into breaks, but he simply said today that he bonked after not eating properly. Seems legit since he faded super hard by the end. His form obviously improved under the Dauphine and you dont win on Huy like that without being in shape, so I still maintain he somehow will jump into the top-5.
Hoping he will get a stage win and a good rest of the Tour. Probably his last, I could imagine him focusing on ardennes, Giro and Vuelta from now on. He knows he can't keep up with the best like in 2013, Quintana and Froome, already this year and it will probably be worse next. |
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| cactus-jack |
Posted on 14-07-2015 22:20
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Hopefully todays stage doesn't mean that Sky will just control everything from now on and 'til we reach Paris. If they do, this is just another year were the Tour is the by far least exciting GT.
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
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| fidjim2013 |
Posted on 14-07-2015 22:24
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cactus-jack wrote:
Hopefully todays stage doesn't mean that Sky will just control everything from now on and 'til we reach Paris. If they do, this is just another year were the Tour is the by far least exciting GT.
That's probably what might happen |
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| canojuancho |
Posted on 14-07-2015 22:36
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I think tomorrow is for Rolland. |
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| wogsrus |
Posted on 15-07-2015 00:42
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https://www.theroa...1-preview/
My preview of the stage. Also think a breakaway win is likely. |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 15-07-2015 01:01
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cyclelaps wrote:
[url=https://youtu.be/LO1GN6k_TlQ]Here's the climb of the Col du Tourmalet in time lapse :
[/url]
Wonder if the French finished resurfacing in time - went down the side they are climbing a few weeks ago, was like a patch work quilt. There was also a 10cm high metal lip in the road that could make things interesting not to mention roaming donkeys (they might still find a way through the crowds, donkeys are tricky blighters) 
Edited by ianrussell on 15-07-2015 01:06
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| wogsrus |
Posted on 15-07-2015 01:04
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ianrussell wrote:
Wonder if the French finished resurfacing in time - went down the side they are climbing a few weeks ago, was like a patch work quilt. There was also a 10cm high metal lip in the road that could make things interesting not to mention roaming donkeys (they might still find a way through the crowds, donkeys are tricky blighters) What climb are you referring to? |
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 15-07-2015 01:12
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What climb are you referring to?
Oops corrected the post to reply to the video, sorry. I was referring to the Tourmalet though they were also busy re-surfacing practically the entire length of what will be for them the descent of the Aspin too.
Lots of money invested by the Tour in the roads of the mountains it seems (and probably everywhere else). |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 15-07-2015 02:36
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Not expecting much with that finish. Even if people drop on the Tourmalet they may be able to come back in, particularly given that this seems the best way to make up time on Froome.
I am calling a mid stage break today from some guys who lost time yesterday. Martin or someone like that. Probably a good last climb for him.
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 15-07-2015 02:46
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I hope Europcar try the crazy like they normally do on mountain stages. Imagine if they sent Gauthier on the attack on the col d'aspin, then allowed Rolland to go for it on the Tourmalet to link up with his teammate ready for the final climb.
That or Gauthier will be in the morning break, with Voeckler going on the col d'aspin before Rolland goes on the tourmalet, with Rolland catching and using one of them half way up the tourmalet and doing the same with the other one either on the descent or at the foot of the final climb.
you know, the kind of crazy that they often try in the mountains that is normally allowed to happen because it's too crazy to work.
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| Movistar |
Posted on 15-07-2015 03:13
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Domestique
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sammyt93 wrote:
I hope Europcar try the crazy like they normally do on mountain stages. Imagine if they sent Gauthier on the attack on the col d'aspin, then allowed Rolland to go for it on the Tourmalet to link up with his teammate ready for the final climb.
That or Gauthier will be in the morning break, with Voeckler going on the col d'aspin before Rolland goes on the tourmalet, with Rolland catching and using one of them half way up the tourmalet and doing the same with the other one either on the descent or at the foot of the final climb.
you know, the kind of crazy that they often try in the mountains that is normally allowed to happen because it's too crazy to work.
There isnt really a final climb though. |
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 15-07-2015 03:19
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Oh, I was basing that off the stage profile where it looks a lot tougher then it does on the picture of the last 10K.
They could still send Gauthier away on the col d'aspin so Rolland can attack on the lower slopes of the Tourmalet and have someone to catch and who can then help him on the higher slopes or to keep away on the descent.
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| Movistar |
Posted on 15-07-2015 03:51
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Domestique
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sammyt93 wrote:
Oh, I was basing that off the stage profile where it looks a lot tougher then it does on the picture of the last 10K.
They could still send Gauthier away on the col d'aspin so Rolland can attack on the lower slopes of the Tourmalet and have someone to catch and who can then help him on the higher slopes or to keep away on the descent.
Sagan has a better chance of winning tomorrow than anything you just came up with. |
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