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Le Tour de France 2014 - Stage 16 - Carcassonne - Bagnères-De-Luchon
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 18:45
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Kirchen once again let me down ( ), so I feel like I have to do the hard work now. Tomorrow's stage should almost surely be a stage for the breakaway if Europcar, Katusha and Netapp will alllow it. It hasnt paid off yet so my bet would be a stage similar to that in 2010 which was won by Voeckler and where Andy Schleck infamously lost his chain.
A very typical first Pyrénéen stage with the first of the stage being almost entirely flat. With that in mind, it wont be easy for the pure climbers to get away early compared to a stage going uphill from the start - that should suit types such as Izaguirre and Voeckler who I am pretty confident in making the break. However, they will reach the Pyrénées halfway through on the Aspet and then the Ares before the last Hórs Catégorie, Port de Balés. The climbs before Balés are not THAT difficult, so I expect no fireworks before the last climb with a relatively big peloton intact.
This climb is hard as fuck. I rode it in the 2010 in my Euskaltel - Euskadi outfit (when Antón and Sanchez were beasts) and was cheered up all the way, partly because of that I suppose. I felt like Mayo, but thats another story. I have never ridden a more inconsistent mountain than Balés, but I feel the tough part of it is that is actually is 20 kilometres long. The last 5 kilometers are the toughest and this is where I expect the frenchies to try and distance Valverde and Tejay and the best rider from the break (presumeably) will break free and get into Bagneres-de-Luchon. Something the riders also should keep in mind is this stage is the longest at 237,5 km's, it comes right after a rest day AND the day before the queen stage of this year's Tour.
This should be interesting, allthough it wont create too big gaps, propably similar to 2010 (again). I love the Pyrénées and like them much more than the Alps. I dont know exactly why, maybe the difference in the climbs, maybe it being close to Spain. Something to look at while being bored going into into Ares should be the transition from the flat to the wild, green landscapes. I admire it every year.
Edited by Jesleyh on 21-07-2014 18:48
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 18:50
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BREAK, BREAK, BREAK |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 19:01
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*Logs in to create Stage 16 topic finds out some impatient guy made the thread already*
Kwiatkowski from the break. #BELIEVE
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 19:14
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You know its getting way more fun to point it out when you are reacting like that, lol
But yeah, finally he gave up on that GC and hopefully chasing stage. Only stage he can win I feel like is tomorrow's. |
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| Iguwell |
Posted on 21-07-2014 19:21
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Domestique
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
*Logs in to create Stage 16 topic finds out some impatient guy made the thread already*
Kwiatkowski from the break. #BELIEVE
Even if he makes the break he won't even beat a guy like Adam Hansen on the HC climb. |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 19:29
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Iguwell wrote:
Kirchen_75 wrote:
*Logs in to create Stage 16 topic finds out some impatient guy made the thread already*
Kwiatkowski from the break. #BELIEVE
Even if he makes the break he won't even beat a guy like Adam Hansen on the HC climb.
He'll get up as usual on his own pace, and catch everyone on descend. Kwiatkowski is one of the best descenders in the world so 21 kilometres is plenty for him and he can sprint from small group. He should go all out because this is his last chance for a stage win because Tony will crush the TT. |
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 21-07-2014 19:58
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Nibbles to attack on the climb and then extend his lead on the descent, gaining an extra 30 seconds on everyone else just cause he feels like it
Seriously though, break to make it because GC guys will be looking apprehensively towards Wednesday and Thursday, although I wouldn't bet against a BardetEnergyWastingAttack (Sorry for stealing your phrase Kirchen, I didn't use the â„¢ ) or something similar.
And on another note, I do love the Port de Bales, in general I prefer the Alps to the Pyrenees, especially scenery-wise, but this is both extremely tough and very beautiful in equal measure 
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 20:05
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Stromeon wrote:
Seriously though, break to make it because GC guys will be looking apprehensively towards Wednesday and Thursday, although I wouldn't bet against a BardetEnergyWastingAttack (Sorry for stealing your phrase Kirchen, I didn't use the â„¢ ) or something similar.
You're welcome  and yeah its a legitimate should with BardetEnergyWastingAttackâ„¢ on descent. Now everyone knows Pinots weakness is descending he'll try to exploit it again |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-07-2014 20:13
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Stromeon wrote:
BardetEnergyWastingAttack (Sorry for stealing your phrase Kirchen, I didn't use the â„¢ ) or something similar.
Hehe, you copycats, there exists only one true energy wasting attacking style by the master himself and its called Rolland Energy Wasting Attackâ„¢ (by the way, the phrase is from inrng.com) 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 21-07-2014 20:14
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Mollema looked good in the last descent, so I expect him to not lose time in the descent.
Good preview by the way.
Will be a nice stage I think, probably not a breakaway win, because every single race there is a team that wants to ride. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 06:35
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 21-07-2014 20:20
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didn't let Riis down  not even close to my deadline though
Nibali for the win and totally not because I have 17 PCM$ on it
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 20:32
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Visconti.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 20:42
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TimoCycling wrote:
Mollema looked good in the last descent, so I expect him to not lose time in the descent.
Good preview by the way.
Will be a nice stage I think, probably not a breakaway win, because every single race there is a team that wants to ride.
I agree. It'll be the climb where he loses time |
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| ruben |
Posted on 21-07-2014 20:50
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Depends yeah, if they ride full on he will be 1/2 minutes behind at the top again.
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 21-07-2014 21:07
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jph27 wrote:
TimoCycling wrote:
Mollema looked good in the last descent, so I expect him to not lose time in the descent.
Good preview by the way.
Will be a nice stage I think, probably not a breakaway win, because every single race there is a team that wants to ride.
I agree. It'll be the climb where he loses time
Most likely, yeah . |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 22:23
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Break to go clear at the top of the last climb and to be about ten strong and include Sagan who will finally get his stage win |
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| b3n3v3nt3 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 22:27
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It's a really long stage. I guess the break could get tired and be caught on the climb to Port Balès. Depends who's on it too |
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| samdiatmh |
Posted on 21-07-2014 23:30
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two hundred and ?!
seriously, you could start this stage at the sprint point and it'd be a LOT more interesting
and yeah, my first thought when I saw the stage was "isn't this chaingate?" |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 21-07-2014 23:36
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I like some variation. You are right that the shorter, more compact stages generally are alot more fun, but afterall its the world hardest bike race and riding over 200 kms before Balés do something to your body. Especially if its really hot (the forecats says around 25 though, so not a big impact).
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| Nin1388 |
Posted on 22-07-2014 08:37
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
Stromeon wrote:
Seriously though, break to make it because GC guys will be looking apprehensively towards Wednesday and Thursday, although I wouldn't bet against a BardetEnergyWastingAttack (Sorry for stealing your phrase Kirchen, I didn't use the â„¢ ) or something similar.
You're welcome and yeah its a legitimate should with BardetEnergyWastingAttackâ„¢ on descent. Now everyone knows Pinots weakness is descending he'll try to exploit it again
So Pinot can just attack him on climb and build 30-45s lead so when Bardet comes, he is there.
BTW if you did not see Pinot descend last time around, he was not that bad. He has improved considerably. Means better than Wiggins in Giro last year. |
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