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TdF'13 Stage 9: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre (July 7)
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| Malkael |
Posted on 06-07-2013 15:56
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Stage 9: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre
The 100th edition of le Tour de France bids farewell to the Pyrenees with a stage designed by race organisers ASO to tempt the daring in to attacking. The peloton depart from the town of Saint-Girons and crest five categorised climbs along the stage's 168.5km route to the town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre. With a 30.5km descent in to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, we could see the likes of Cadel Evans, of BMC, test the bravery and descending of the other riders.
Intermediate Sprint
For the second consecutive day the sprinter's thoughts shall turn to self-preservation. However, there is the distinct possibility that Peter Sagan, of Cannondale, will extend his lead in the Points Classification to well over 100 points. With two categorised climbs preceding the Intermediate Sprint, there is the distinct possibility Cannondale could again apply a high tempo and distance the other sprinters.
With five categorised climbs there will be a total of 45 points on offer in the King of the Mountains classification, should one rider manage to crest each summit in first place. The spread out nature of Stage 9's categorised climbs should suit the breakaway more then Stage 8, with more chances to collect points before the peloton potentially swallows up the breakaway.
The Category 2 Col de Portet d'Aspet, just 23.1km in to Stage 9's route, is classified by race organisers ASO as a 5.4km long climb with an average gradient of 6.9%. While the Category 1 Col de Menté, reached after descending roughly 8km from the summit of the Col de Portet d'Aspet, is categorised by as a 7km long climb with an average gradient of 7.7%. After cresting the Col de Menté the peloton get some welcome respite from climbing for roughly 32km, before reaching the foot of the Col de Peyresourde.
Col de Peyresourde
The Col de Peyresourde heralds the beginning of a, potentially agonising, succession of three climbs for the peloton. There will be little respite for the peloton as they summit one categorised climb only to descend in to start of another. Classified as a 13.2km long climb with an average gradient of 7%, the Col de Peyresourde should suit tempo riding with its steady gradients of between 6-8.5%. This should warm up the legs of the climbers and General Classification riders for the two steeper climbs to come.
Col de Val Louron-Azet
While shorter than the Col de Peyresourde, the Col de Val Louron-Azet has a steeper average gradient. It is classified as a shorter, but harder, 7.4km long climb with an average gradient of 8.4%. There will be no hiding on the Col de Val Louron-Azet as the gradient never dips below 6.2%, with a tough 3km long section between 9.2-10.1% in gradient. In comparison, the Col de Peyresourde has two sections of 3 and 4%, both roughly 1000m in length.
La Hourquette d'Ancizan
The last climb for Stage 9, before the peloton descend in to the finish at Bagnères-de-Bigorre, is the La Hourquette d'Ancizan. Classified as being 9.9km in length and at an average gradient of 7.5%, the La Hourquette d'Ancizan will be the spring board for anyone looking to create a gap before beginning the descent. Much like the Col de Peyresourde, the La Hourquette d'Ancizan has two sections of brief respite where the average gradient does not crest 5.5%. However, the remainder of the climb never dips below 6%, with a section found near the summit, and peaks near 10%, with a section at 9.5% found a couple of kilometres in to the climb.
Final Kilometer
With a fast, narrow, and sometimes quite technical, descent in to the town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre the stage arguably favours those who routinely exhibit bravery and great descending. With Vincenzo Nibali, of Astana, and Samuel Sanchez, of Euskaltel-Euskadi, absent from the Tour de France, it falls upon the shoulders of the likes of Cadel Evans to make something happen. However, unlike in 2011, Christopher Froome and Sky Pro Cycling are arguably not as scared of, or deficient at, descending as the Schleck brothers were.
The stage feels like a better opportunity for a breakaway to once again steal the limelight, should the right group break free. With Peter Sagan freakishly improved at climbing, and having won a similar style stage in the Tour de Suisse earlier, perhaps he will be involved in a breakaway, or keep up with the pack. Ultimately, if no one attacks, or can establish a gap, the General Classification contenders could reach the line as one group. Where riders like Alejandro Valverde, of Movistar, may be the best “sprinter” left, if the breakaway is caught.
With a day in the mountains to help create some gaps in the General Classification will a breakaway finally make one stick again? Or will the major Malliot Jaune contenders lock the race down? Perhaps we will see another attack from the likes of Quintana, probably not in name but perhaps in nature? Or after such a dominant performance on Stage 8 Sky Pro Cycling will just continue their dominance.
Edited by Malkael on 06-07-2013 15:57
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:00
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Mollema 
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| Firefly21 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:01
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Sky to finish 1st through 9th 
Great preview as always
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| Selwink |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:01
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Voeckler!
Nice preview
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| MrUfo87 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:03
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Jesleyh wrote:
Mollema
And Ten Dam.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:11
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I'll bet on Costa. A 15, 20 rider group is going to finish in front and Costa will outsprint everyone. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:11
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Did you write that all up yourself?!? Great effort on the preview 
Breakaway I'd expect...Voeckler? |
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| Schleck96 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:13
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Sky will drop everyone then Froome and Porte will go downhill, and sprint against each other. All the other riders will lose about 5+ minutes. :/ :/ :/ |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:14
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wackojackohighcliffe wrote:
Did you write that all up yourself?!? Great effort on the preview
Breakaway I'd expect...Voeckler?
I'm thinking Voeckler too, but with 4 first category climbs, it won't be easy for him
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| CountArach |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:23
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Seems like the sort of stage for Voeckler or Gesink.
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| Kimmage |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:54
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Should be a breakaway with riders who lost time today and are no longer a threat GC wise, who will now focus on trying to win a stage. I don't see the GC guys doing anything. The descent is too long for anyone to stay away. And Sky isn't gonna attack. |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:55
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CountArach wrote:
Gesink.
It has descents
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 16:55
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Sagan is probably going into the BOTD tomorrow. |
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| Malkael |
Posted on 06-07-2013 17:01
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Some would call me crazy, personally I kind of enjoy analyzing the climbs and everything. You can also occasionally find me on The Roar in Australia, but pfff the best stuff is on PCMDaily due to images  .
Hoping for some payback on Sky to make things interesting, but in the likelihood of that not happening here is hoping an exciting breakaway takes it.
Edited by Malkael on 06-07-2013 17:04
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| Mwuhi |
Posted on 06-07-2013 17:02
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I hope Van Garderen will be way better than today |
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| schleckfreak |
Posted on 06-07-2013 17:02
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Y not Pinot? Or Schleck  |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 06-07-2013 17:04
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Kwiatkowski pace himself very well actually. Finished ahead of Rolland, Moreno, Schleck, Evans
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Jacdk |
Posted on 06-07-2013 17:08
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A good bet is that as long as the biggest "rivals" stay Team sky will let a breakaway go and the winner will be one in that group.
Otherwise we will see a quite race where it will be up to the others to attack and after today, i think most willl just sit and let the stage go. |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 17:11
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A climber that can sprint decent. Valverde, Purito, Mollema, Martin, or BOTD. Sky dominated race of course, they weill have all guys left over the climb and Boasson Hagen will win over Froome, Porte, etc
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 06-07-2013 17:15
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CountArach wrote:
Seems like the sort of stage for Voeckler or Gesink.
From Belkin, Nordhaug would have a better chance than Gesink tomorrow I think. As isso said, it has descents and Gesink climbing today didn't look very well either. Obviously, he had no chance against Quintana, but he wasn't able to gain too much time on Riblon.
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