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TdF'13 Stage 12 - Fougères to Tours (July 11)
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| Malkael |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:33
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Sprinter
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Stage 12 - Fougères to Tours
With the first individual time trial completed, the Tour de France continues its transition to the French city of Lyon, and a Sunday showdown on the infamous Mont Ventoux. To help accomplish the goal of reaching Lyon by road in three days, Stage 12 travels 218km from the town of Fougères to the city of Tours. Similar to Stage 10, the journey could be quite dull until the race approaches the finish, where the sprint trains wills start to form.
Intermediate Sprint
The Intermediate Sprint is the only event of note, arriving 166km in to the stage's route, or 52km from the finish if you prefer. With the terrain almost perfectly level approaching the line the sprint will arguably be won by the breakaway follow by Andre Greipel, of Lotto-Belisol. While the German still has a massive 83 point deficit to recoup on Peter Sagan, of Cannondale, the contest cannot be declared entirely over until Sagan finishes on the Champs-Élysées.
Final Kilometers
A technical finish awaits the sprinters in Tours, as the stage ends with two 90-degree turns within the final 1500 metres. Positioning and cornering will be everything heading in to the finishing straight in Tours, as the lead out trains for Greipel, Cavendish, Kittel, and Goss battle for position at the head of the bunch. With the second 90-degree right hand turn roughly 400-500m from the finishing line the advantage will lie with whichever team manages to first swing around the corner, hopefully with their lead out still intact.
The 2013 Tour de France has not quite matched the expectations of Mark Cavendish and Omega Pharma-Quickstep so far. While Cavendish is a world class sprinter able to compete with or without a lead out, we have seen Lotto-Belisol and Argos-Shimano grab a stage victory each when they have swamped Cavendish. The one victory Cavendish has taken so far in the 2013 Tour de France came when his team mates, particularly Gert Steegmans, positioned him ahead of his two German rivals.
Meanwhile, after their narrow defeat in Stage 10, Greipel and Lotto-Belisol will be keen to make amends and claim a second stage victory to match Argos-Shimano. The strength of the Lotto-Belisol's lead out for Greipel has been readily apparent, with the German only defeated once when ahead of his rivals. The organisation and experience of the Lotto Belisol sprint train could be the crucial decider between who takes the stage victory, with Greipel the favourite should he be positioned ahead of the his rivals.
After pipping Greipel to the line in thrilling fashion and collecting their second stage victory, Marcel Kittel and Argos-Shimano will be feeling confident headed in to the bunch sprint. Argos-Shimano arguably have as equally a strong lead out for Kittel as Lotto-Belisol do for Greipel. However, the Argos-Shimano express just are not quite consistent enough to successfully compete with Lotto-Belisol each stage. Should Kittel be near to the wheel of Greipel, we could witness another exhilarating tight sprint to the line.
Almost certain for a finish somewhere within the top five for the stage is Peter Sagan, of Cannondale. He arguably lacks the top end speed required to defeat Cavendish, Greipel and Kittel. However, he compensates through his excellent positioning and ability to usually follow the right wheel. Due to the nature of Stage 12's approach in to the finish Sagan's ability to position himself could very well see him in the opportune position to snatch an unexpected victory should the other favourites falter.
Outsiders for the stage victory include Matthew Goss for Orica-GreenEDGE, Danny van Poppel for Vacansoleil-DCM, and Alexander Kristoff for Team Katusha. According to Sporting Director Matt White, Orica-GreenEDGE will be focusing on the sprint stages littering the second week of the Tour de France. With Goss' form supposedly on the improve and the full dedication of the team towards protecting and leading him out in the sprint, he may be able to achieve some top 5 finishes.
So after the drama of Stage 10 and the individual time trial we are back to the sprints again. Who will you be backing for Stage 12 from Fougères to Tours? Will Cavendish redeem himself? Will Greipel get a second stage win? Can Kittel make it a third victory for Argos-Shimano? |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:36
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''The Veelers tripper'' get's 3rd again. Greipel wins. Going to pray all night that Froome crashes hard tomorrow. |
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:37
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Miguel98 wrote:
''The Veelers tripper'' get's 3rd again. Greipel wins. Going to pray all night that Froome crashes hard tomorrow.
you won't be alone
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| Selwink |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:38
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Grand Tour Champion
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This preview is the only thing thats fun about the stage. Greipel will win, Cavendish will finish somewhere in the pack, just 1 place behind Veelers
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:40
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World Champion
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SSJ2Luigi wrote:
Miguel98 wrote:
''The Veelers tripper'' get's 3rd again. Greipel wins. Going to pray all night that Froome crashes hard tomorrow.
you won't be alone
I dislike him a lot as well, but wishing that he crashes might a bit too much. Not a thing I hope happens to any rider, no matter how much I dislike the person.
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| juszta |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:41
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Another one for the Gorilla I think.
Also, wishing for somebody to crash has no place in sport.  Sure, he is doped and he will easily win the Tour, and most people don't like him, but hoping for someone to hurt himself is just evil... 
edit: Zabel'd
Edited by juszta on 10-07-2013 16:41
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:42
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World Champion
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
SSJ2Luigi wrote:
Miguel98 wrote:
''The Veelers tripper'' get's 3rd again. Greipel wins. Going to pray all night that Froome crashes hard tomorrow.
you won't be alone
I dislike him a lot as well, but wishing that he crashes might a bit too much. Not a thing I hope happens to any rider, no matter how much I dislike the person.
I know, probably exagerating there.  |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:42
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So when was the last time three consecutive stages went to Germans? 
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| CountArach |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:45
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Grand Tour Champion
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
SSJ2Luigi wrote:
Miguel98 wrote:
''The Veelers tripper'' get's 3rd again. Greipel wins. Going to pray all night that Froome crashes hard tomorrow.
you won't be alone
I dislike him a lot as well, but wishing that he crashes might a bit too much. Not a thing I hope happens to any rider, no matter how much I dislike the person.
This.
I think cavendish will get his revenge here, but it should be much more interesting than the farce that the GC has become.
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| jph27 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:52
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cio93 wrote:
So when was the last time three consecutive stages went to Germans?
1997?
Hopefully Cav wins and does one of his entertaining salutes. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 11:25
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| Malkael |
Posted on 10-07-2013 16:55
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Sprinter
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Selwink wrote:
This preview is the only thing thats fun about the stage. Greipel will win, Cavendish will finish somewhere in the pack, just 1 place behind Veelers
Haha, you are spot on there about the probable entertainment value of the stage outside of the sprint. I looked at the stage profile and basically went: "Well that is sure going to be fun to write about... Time to stack up on favourites and outsiders." |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 17:11
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Got a feeling a break is going to be successful tomorrow  |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 17:14
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sutty68 wrote:
Got a feeling a break is going to be successful tomorrow
No way in hell.
Cavendish desperately wants this after yesterday's miss (or hit, depending on whether you're talking about the stage win or Veelers ). Lotto, Argos and Cannondale will likely join them at the front of the peloton as well.
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 17:15
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Cavendish is literally pissed after todays. So I'm going with him |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 17:16
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Tour de France Champion
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
sutty68 wrote:
Got a feeling a break is going to be successful tomorrow
No way in hell.
Cavendish desperately wants this after yesterday's miss (or hit, depending on whether you're talking about the stage win or Veelers ). Lotto, Argos and Cannondale will likely join them at the front of the peloton as well.
Yeah i suppose your right, but i really don't want Cav to win tomorrow  |
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 10-07-2013 17:16
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World Champion
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
sutty68 wrote:
Got a feeling a break is going to be successful tomorrow
No way in hell.
Cavendish desperately wants this after yesterday's miss (or hit, depending on whether you're talking about the stage win or Veelers ). Lotto, Argos and Cannondale will likely join them at the front of the peloton as well.
unsure about Cannondale. unless Sagan still thinks he can win. any points that are won by the break are less points to lose against the competition.
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 10-07-2013 17:20
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World Champion
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SSJ2Luigi wrote:
unsure about Cannondale. unless Sagan still thinks he can win. any points that are won by the break are less points to lose against the competition.
Another thing to consider is that Sagan is the only rider in the team capable of scoring them big points for the WT ranking. Any points he can get from finishing top 5 in the mass sprints are useful to them.
But yeah, they might play it cool and sit back.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 11-07-2013 00:21
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Tour de France Champion
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Pellizotti2 wrote:
SSJ2Luigi wrote:
Miguel98 wrote:
''The Veelers tripper'' get's 3rd again. Greipel wins. Going to pray all night that Froome crashes hard tomorrow.
you won't be alone
I dislike him a lot as well, but wishing that he crashes might a bit too much. Not a thing I hope happens to any rider, no matter how much I dislike the person.
I hope every bike the team has for him get's a major mechanical.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 11-07-2013 02:10
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World Champion
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Important bit of information:
90° corners with roundabout 600 and 400 metres to go...dunno why ASO thought that'd be a good idea.
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 11-07-2013 02:11
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Team Leader
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So, Kittel again?
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