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Le Tour de France 2015 | Stage 18: Gap - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
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| Malkael |
Posted on 22-07-2015 22:36
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Stage 18:  Gap - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (186.5km)
(click image to enlarge)
'Le grand Boucle' returns to Gap for a 186.5 kilometre-long 'High Mountain' stage to Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne. While lacking a summit finish today's stage still has the potential to reward a surprise attack or punish a bad day.
The stage gets right in to the thick of things from kilometre zero with the second category Col Bayard (6.3km @ 7%). As a result the race could shatter over the climb if the peloton get involved in a fight over who is part of the breakaway of the day.
Following the summit of the Col Bayard the race descends for a while until a short uncategorised climb to Chauffayer before the race descends again to the foot of the short, sharp third category Rampe du Motty (2.3km @ 8.3%). Afterwards the race tackles several uncategorised lumps and bumps en route to the foot of a succession of categorised climbs.
Starting with the Côte de la Mure (2.7km @ 7.5%) the race continues to ascend towards the summit of the Col de Malissol (2km @ 8.7%) before a short descent ahead of the second category climb of the Col de la Morte (3.1km @ 8.4%). A fast, technical 16 kilometre-long descent follows - involving several switchbacks and hairpin-like bends - before the riders begin ascending again to reach the intermediate sprint and Col du Glandon.
(click image to enlarge)
Officially commencing 125.5-kilometres in to the stage the hors categorie Col du Glandon (21.7km @ 5.1%) features an inconsistent slope, with two short mid-climb descents, with gradients as low as 2.5% and as high as 11%. After cresting the Col du Glandon a 20 kilometre-long downhill section awaits, a varied descent it has some technical sections mixed in with some relatively straight fast sections.
(click image to enlarge)
The final climb of the day is the Lacets de Montvernier (3.4km @ 8.2%), whose summit lies just 10-kilometres from the finishing line in Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne. Averaging gradients of around eight and nine per cent for the majority of the 3.4-kilometres, with a maximum gradient of above 10%, the final 500 metres of the climb averages just 5.4%.
Another varied descent of 4.5-kilometres, down to Hermillon, awaits the other side of the Lacets de Montvernier. The descent starts out relatively simple before becoming technical towards the end thanks to the presence of several switchbacks.
Upon reaching the small town of Hermillion the race has just 5.5-kilometres remaining. Following the Autoroute de la Maurienne, the race crosses over the highway via an overpass around the 2-kilometre to go mark to enter Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne. The road snakes in to the final kilometre and passes two large roundabouts before slowly curving around to the left to line up for a slightly uphill finish on the Rue Louis Sibue, a 75-metre finishing straight that is 5.5-metres in width.
The breakaway are once again the favourites to ride away with the stage victory if someone doesn't get on the front of the peloton and ride a high tempo to keep them in check. There are several prime candidates for today's stage if they can make the cut and Joaquim Rodriguez will surely be tempted by the number of KoM points on offer.
Some general classification riders we can expect to try and be a part of a breakaway are Thibaut Pinot, Jakob Fuglsang, Romain Bardet, Pierre Rolland and Tony Gallopin. Some other names to keep an eye on include Peter Sagan, Lars Bak, Romain Sicard, Brice Feillu, Bob Jungels and the MTN - Qhubeka team.
Will BMC Racing give their riders free reign to attack after the emotional retirement of Tejay Van Garderen?
With Tejay Van Garderen now unfortunately out of the race due to illness BMC are now without a team leader to look after. So in the remaining few days I expect their riders to try their luck at a stage victory over the remaining few stages. They have several options up their sleeve with Daniel Oss, Samuel Sanchez, Rohan Dennis and others.
You probably expected this but my dark horse for today's stage is Samuel Sanchez ( ), acting as Van Garderen's right-hand man the Spaniard has been riding well so far in the race. If Sammy Sanchez can get involved in the breakaway then his fearless descending and in-form climbing legs could see him scalp a stage victory in one of these last few stages.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 22-07-2015 22:46
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World Champion
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Tomorrow, it's finally an Europcar stage win. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 22-07-2015 23:02
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Tour de France Champion
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Possibly Sagan  |
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 22-07-2015 23:23
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One day, I'll be right. One day...
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 00:51
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World Champion
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I think BMC are going to do something, after losing TVG.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 01:31
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Sammy will love the last 40k.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 22:38
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| Movistar |
Posted on 23-07-2015 07:06
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Domestique
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Daredevil Nibbles move for the win? |
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| dark_x2012 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 07:51
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Breakaway Specialist
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I'm sure Contador will attack but I somehow feel Movistar will give him a hard chase. Otherwise I expect a frenchie to win today. |
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-07-2015 07:53
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Breakaway-day, and most likely polkadot-day
Sammy, Rodriguez, Majka, Pinot, Hesjedal, Meintjes (if in better shape), Bardet, Rolland, Voeckler, Yates.... And of course Sagan
Will be interesting to see if Contador tries to go early to make up for his loss yesterday, if him and Nibali tries we might be in for some fireworks today aswell
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| kubys |
Posted on 23-07-2015 09:09
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Domestique
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Come on MTN!
Die hard fan of Tom Boonen and Quickstep since 2004.
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 09:17
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I think Bakelants will win today |
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| dark_x2012 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 09:20
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Breakaway Specialist
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Heine wrote:
Will be interesting to see if Contador tries to go early to make up for his loss yesterday, if him and Nibali tries we might be in for some fireworks today aswell
Movistar won't let them go. And Contador isn't powerful enough to get rid of them. |
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| dark_x2012 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 09:25
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Breakaway Specialist
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I really hope Sagan would go for the stage win. He's strong enough to survive the Col de Glandon as it's actually short steep parts and flat parts in between. And then a downhill where he'll make up for some of his losses eventually depending on who else is in the break(He can't gain anything on Sanchez for example) Go Sagan break the curse |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 10:02
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dark_x2012 wrote:
Heine wrote:
Will be interesting to see if Contador tries to go early to make up for his loss yesterday, if him and Nibali tries we might be in for some fireworks today aswell
Movistar won't let them go. And Contador isn't powerful enough to get rid of them.
Yeah exactly. Just like yesterday Movitards will do all of the work for Sky to reel them back. 2nd place mentality. Small time team.
Edited by Kirchen_75 on 23-07-2015 10:07
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| Strydz |
Posted on 23-07-2015 10:28
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
dark_x2012 wrote:
Heine wrote:
Will be interesting to see if Contador tries to go early to make up for his loss yesterday, if him and Nibali tries we might be in for some fireworks today aswell
Movistar won't let them go. And Contador isn't powerful enough to get rid of them.
Yeah exactly. Just like yesterday Movitards will do all of the work for Sky to reel them back. 2nd place mentality. Small time team.
I think they are doing the best with what they have, take Valverde out of the team and we might see them race differently, hard to go all in for Quintana when the squad clearly has split loyalties
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 23-07-2015 10:40
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Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 10:40
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
dark_x2012 wrote:
Heine wrote:
Will be interesting to see if Contador tries to go early to make up for his loss yesterday, if him and Nibali tries we might be in for some fireworks today aswell
Movistar won't let them go. And Contador isn't powerful enough to get rid of them.
Yeah exactly. Just like yesterday Movitards will do all of the work for Sky to reel them back. 2nd place mentality. Small time team.
Movistar didn't do all of the work to bring Contador back. Anacona set pace (not coming closer to Contador) because Thomas was caught behind. Once Thomas reached the front group Konig set the pace. Valverde then jumped to Contador but there was no point in continuing cause Konig had brought Froome and the others back to their wheel.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 23-07-2015 11:22
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Tour de France Champion
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Bertie in pain this morning. Mhm. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 23-07-2015 11:49
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Rodriguez, Rolland and Pinot all in an early group of 29 off the front. |
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| HuDCC |
Posted on 23-07-2015 11:51
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Domestique
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FroomeDog99 wrote:
Rodriguez, Rolland and Pinot all in an early group of 29 off the front.
Europcar have there hlaf of their team 
Thank you Andy for everything!
Thanks to the_hoyle for banner! |
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