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TdF'13 Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier (July 4)
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| Malkael |
Posted on 03-07-2013 16:34
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Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier
Stage Six of the the 100th edition of le Tour de France sees the Peleton depart from Aix-en-Provence and travel inland from the Mediterranean coast before arriving in the city of Montpellier. However, that will not stop the wind from wrecking havoc on the peleton should the weather choose to play a role during the course of the 176.5km stage.
The intermediate sprint comes just 63km in to the stage and once again the eyes of the world will be on the contenders for the Green Jersey. The solitary catagorised climb on the stage arrives a mere five kilometers after the intermediate sprint and will offer just a solitary point in the King of the Mountains classification.
The Catagory 4 Col de la Vayède is listed as just 700m in length at an average of 7% and also too far from the finish to arguably damage any of the sprinters chances at claiming a stage victory. Compared to Stage Five the route for Stage Six is largely flat, with terrain barely three metres above sea level at certain points on the stage profile.
Stage Profile
Final Kilometer
Despite the stage profile exaggerating the rise in to the stage finish in Montpellier it is likely that we will see many of the big name sprinters contest for the stage victory. Many would considering Mark Cavendish the favourite for the stage, assuming a freak breakaway does not steal the limelight, and after his victory in Stage Five he seems to be coming back to his best.
Meanwhile Andre Greipel has been on fine form at the Intermediate Sprints alongside the other contenders for the Green Jersey in the peleton. With the chances for the sprinters having been limited to an incident mired Stage One on Corsica and Stage Five surely Lotto-Belisol and Greipel will be keen to get one up on their rivals Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Cavendish.
Outsiders for the stage victory includes the likes of Argos-Shimano with the option of either Marcel Kittel or John Degenkolb, Peter Sagan for Cannondale, Matthew Goss for Orica-GreenEDGE, Nacer Bouhanni of FDJ.fr, and Alexander Kristoff for Team Katusha.
So the prediction games begin, who will you be backing for Stage Six from Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier?
Edited by Malkael on 03-07-2013 19:38
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 03-07-2013 16:36
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Nice preview! I love it!
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| CountArach |
Posted on 03-07-2013 16:42
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I'll probably just tune in for the last 10km or so. But Cavendish should take this comfortably.
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| fickman |
Posted on 03-07-2013 17:19
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Cool preview!!! Previews without profiles and some info are REALLY BORING
Edited by fickman on 03-07-2013 17:19
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| Selwink |
Posted on 03-07-2013 17:21
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Think Kittel will take this one, the stage seems just flat enough for him and Cavs train was, apart from Steegmans, horrible
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 03-07-2013 17:24
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Selwink wrote:
Think Kittel will take this one, the stage seems just flat enough for him and Cavs train was, apart from Steegmans, horrible
Meanwhile Argos is renowned around the world for their world class leadouts, right? 
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| Selwink |
Posted on 03-07-2013 17:26
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Veelers is one of the best lead-outs you can get I believe, and De Kort and Gretsch can really drive. I have to admit Greipel and Cav usually have a better train, but Greipel himself and Cavs train seemed weak today
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| Malkael |
Posted on 03-07-2013 17:40
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Cheers for the comments on the previews everyone. I felt the same and so this stage preview was born.
If Argos-Shimano can manage to get the entirety of their sprint train working in good order I could see Kittel challenging Greipel and Cavendish for the stage victory. Would be nice to see a straight sprint out between the three instead of at least one of them getting caught up in an incident, unless Kittel successfully made it back to sprint in Stage 5.
The wind and the hilly nature of the stage seemed to take a bit out of the sprint trains. Must have been the messiest Lotto-Belisol sprint train I have seen for a while. However, the biggest question on everyone's lips is whether the Euskaltel-Euskadi sprint train will be making another brief appearance, okay maybe not .
Edited by Malkael on 03-07-2013 17:41
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 03-07-2013 17:43
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Great preview, Malkael!
The final kilometers aren't exactly pancake flat, but I can't see anyone taking this away from the sprinters.
Cav celebrated today, I say it's Sagan's turn tomorrow. Greipel can have the next day |
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| cosmic |
Posted on 03-07-2013 17:45
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Gonna be another faceroll Cavendish win. Bring on the next stage |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 03-07-2013 19:30
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Btw, who's going to make the Stage 7 preview tomorrow? Just so we won't have 3 guys making it
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 11:42
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| Thehenk |
Posted on 03-07-2013 19:34
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I think Cavendish will take this one again. Kittel will end second |
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| Schleck96 |
Posted on 03-07-2013 19:34
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Cav has this one in the bag too. He is just the best sprinter, and he can manage a way to win even when his train fails. |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 03-07-2013 19:42
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My guess of the day will be Kristoff 
But Cav probably has it in the bag. Though I spot a small uphill part at/close to the finish
Edited by Jesleyh on 03-07-2013 19:42
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| Wilier |
Posted on 03-07-2013 22:02
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Bouet won't start because of the injuries sustained in today's stage. A shame for him, cause he looked to be in good shape. |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 03-07-2013 22:11
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Guys, that tiny hill that I see very close to the finish... Is that actually a sharp hill? Is that actually an important hill for the race? Or does the profile shown trick us? Because even a tiny hill can disrupt Kittel and maybe Cav.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 03-07-2013 22:14
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It's probably the one in the last 5k profile as well, in which case it's something like 500m @ 5% or so.
Kittel made it over today's hills pretty well, so I doubt it'll put him completely out of contention.
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 03-07-2013 22:15
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They never go over 60 meters so cab hardly be called a hill. Completely flat
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 03-07-2013 22:16
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cio93 wrote:
It's probably the one in the last 5k profile as well, in which case it's something like 500m @ 5% or so.
Kittel made it over today's hills pretty well, so I doubt it'll put him completely out of contention.
Oh yeah, of course it is, forgot to look at that.
Well, Kittel won't have problems with that
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| XxMillad24Xx |
Posted on 03-07-2013 22:29
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Strong crosswind should make the race much harder than expected. Splits might be there around 50 to 30 KM to go. I still got Cav though.
"Cycling is now the the world's cleanest sport." - Chris Froome
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