Stage 12 - Friday, July 16 2010, Bourg-de-Péage - Mende, 210 km

ednwireland

nasty little kick at the end of this

Saluting Jalabert

Instead of two run-of-the-mill ‘transition’ stages between the Alps and the Pyrenees, Prudhomme and his team have opted to start the move westwards with a tricky day running through the Ardeche to the now well-known finish at Mende’s aerodrome atop the Montée Laurent Jalabert, so called after the Frenchman’s famous Bastille Day win there in 1995.

On heavy roads and over four categorised climbs, this stage could cause surprises, particularly if the temperature boils up. Spaniard Marcos Serrano won the last time the Tour finished here in 2005. Will a compatriot triumph today?

drogdub

I wonder if Roche will go for this one tomorrow?

IM0

yeah didnt they have this in the PN this year? if so I call GC shennagins, especially roche, he might take 30+ seconds on the last climb to Mende.

bamboozling

i've a feeling Schlek might attack on the last 3.1 climb into Mende. It is 10% gradient which i think is the highest of all the climbs this year. Could make things very interesting. I'd expect a break to stay away today.

on_the_nickel

Surely Sky have to do something. This much hyped team has had a disastrous tour so far and they're going to have little chance to do anything in the 3rd week.

EBH or even Thomas to take a shot today?

Captain Havoc

I'm thinking the same about Roche. I think it was in the paper today he said he'll be looking to make a move on one of the mountain stages, but I think this one might be for him. I don't think Schleck will make a move unless it's a reaction to Contador, I'd say they'll save themselves for the Pyranees.

ROK ON

Schleck seemed to indicate last night that this would be a stage that GC contenders would fight for. He said that he felt strong and was going to have a go.

joker77

Hope he does, getting a bit boring in the GC the last few days

kennyb3

ROK ON wrote: »

Schleck seemed to indicate last night that this would be a stage that GC contenders would fight for. He said that he felt strong and was going to have a go.

hope he does, he needs to, every second will count for the final TT. every time he gets to have a pop at contador he should. and i believe he will based on saxo's efforts in cross winds yesterday.

on_the_nickel

Armstrong spat out the back on first climb of day according to Graham Watson.

Dodge

Possibly another accident. Kloden got him back on.

Bog group trying to get away including Vinokourov. 18 riders apparently but so far I've only seen 4/5 names. Chartreu has already got himself ahead of Pineau in the race for polka dot

Guybrush T

And Hushovd's in the escape again, 4pts at the first sprint puts him even with Petacchi

Dodge

He'll be disappointed to lose that sprint to a Lampre rider.

No chance this break will stya away though. Not with Vinoourov and Hejsdel in it

Captain Havoc

If you're in Carlow looking at furniture and you hear TdF commentry coming over the sound system, it's the one I'm working in

DirkVoodoo

bamboozling wrote: »

i've a feeling Schlek might attack on the last 3.1 climb into Mende. It is 10% gradient which i think is the highest of all the climbs this year. Could make things very interesting. I'd expect a break to stay away today.

Is that because of the interview where he specifically said he was going to attack Contador today?

Note to Andy: keep it to yourself, element of surprise!

IM0

Saxo bank are using the energy needlessly, Astana have vino there getting a free ride let the jersey go lads and take it back in the pyrenees

clever riding from Astana, but saxo should know better

IM0

got inthere just before kelly said it!:D

titan18

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Is that because of the interview where he specifically said he was going to attack Contador today?

Note to Andy: keep it to yourself, element of surprise!

Also works,if you're not going to attack, and you say you are,they'll all be really paranoid waiting for it, and if you say it a few times and don't do it,eventually,they won't believe you anymore so it won't matter what you say.

It would have worked better if Frank was there,Andy saying he'll attack and everybody will watch him and Frank will go

kennyb3

Anyone got a link?

Dodge

Looks like the break will stay away until the next intermediate sprint so Hushovd will gain another few points. I think that climb at the end is too steep for Petacchi or Cav to get up so he's probably rode himself back into green.

Last climb could get mad, but I'm going to say Gesink will shoot off and claim the stage. Sanchez adn Rodriguez being the main obstacles.

joker77

18 is huge for a breakaway no?

Why don't they push on and try to get a bigger lead than the 2 minutes it's been hovering at the last half hour. Ok, prob easier said than done if the peloton is chasing and not allowing the gap to grow, still though, they could be putting a little extra pressure on

Dodge

joker77 wrote: »

18 is huge for a breakaway no?

Its big but loads of breaks start this way. If usually helps as the more teams involved in the break, the less likely the chase will succeed.

Why don't they push on and try to get a bigger lead than the 2 minutes it's been hovering at the last half hour. Ok, prob easier said than done if the peloton is chasing and not allowing the gap to grow, still though, they could be putting a little extra pressure on

I'm sure they're going full pelt. Once riders like Vino and Hejsdal were involved saxo bank couldn't let the time gap drift like yesterday.

Guybrush T

Dodge wrote: »

He'll be disappointed to lose that sprint to a Lampre rider.

No mistake in the second one, 6pts, he's back in green for now at least, you've got to admire him:)

nutzzz123

kennyb3 wrote: »

Anyone got a link?

http://atdhe.net/21024/watch-tour-de-france

joker77

Farrar has abandoned the Tour!

more to follow....

Moflojo

joker77 wrote: »

Farrar has abandoned the Tour!

more to follow....

Is it because of his broken wrist or did something further happen to him today?

joker77

No pictures yet, commentary have no further info, but it looks definite

DirkVoodoo

Now THIS is a finish! Steeper, steeper damnit!

joker77

Vino, the bauld boy, going for it

DirkVoodoo

Here we go!

joker77

Contador going past Vino

DirkVoodoo

Didn't look to happy that Vino couldn't stay with him over the top.

joker77

Boooo....

joker77

(saying that because I'd backed Contador to take the Yellow back today... stupidly)

Dodge

Delighted Vino couldn't stay away. Delighted AC put 11 seconds into schleck. We'll see how everyone else falls over the line now

(BTW I mentioned Rodriguez in 3 names I gave earlier - didn't back him though)

Inquitus

Dodge wrote: »

Delighted Vino couldn't stay away. Delighted AC put 11 seconds into schleck. We'll see how everyone else falls over the line now

(BTW I mentioned Rodriguez in 3 names I gave earlier - didn't back him though)

I don't like AC, too much dirt on him, would rather see Shleck win the tour,

joker77

Roche where?

Edit:
Nicolas Roche 20th on stage at 31 seconds.

iregk

Strange one that from Roche. Really expected him to use this stage to do something and try a last few km attack.

ThisRegard

Yeah, spotted him coming in at the back of the yellow jersey group. Not too bad in the end as I thought he'd lose a lot more time on the the climb when I saw him behind a struggling Wiggins falling off the back.

niceonetom

Magnus Backstedt looks like a darts player in that shirt.

IM0

he didnt get a chance to, he went out the back door when the tempo went up.

Who is the bigger muppet Vino or Bert?

Bert for chasing down his lead and only gaining 10 seconds over schleck..
or Vino for being Vino and trying to take a shot at Bert :pac:

poochiem

well not quite minute-by-minute but better than none at all for those of you who can't watch or listen - sorry if this is repost

Dodge

iregk wrote: »

Strange one that from Roche. Really expected him to use this stage to do something and try a last few km attack.

He's not a good enough climber to attack on a 10% gradient climb. To be fair he's doing a great ride if he can keep up with Sastre, Basso etc

Fine result again for him though and he's leapfrogged Hesjedal and gained more time on Rogers too

Dodge

poochiem wrote: »

well not quite minute-by-minute but better than none at all for those of you who can't watch or listen - sorry if this is repost

This is a better link if you're stuck with text (as I can be) http://live.cyclingnews.com/

EDIT; Actually Roche is still 14th. Only 19 seconds behind Hesjedal

joker77

me@ucd wrote: »

he didnt get a chance to, he went out the back door when the tempo went up.

Who is the bigger muppet Vino or Bert?

Bert for chasing down his lead and only gaining 10 seconds over schleck..
or Vino for being Vino and trying to take a shot at Bert :pac:

Vino was getting caught either way though

joker77

Farrar's wrist flared up on the climbs, according to Shane Stokes, said he would have found it hard going today and that's why he abandoned

Dodge

joker77 wrote: »

Farrar's wrist flared up on the climbs, according to Shane Stokes, said he would have found it hard going today and that's why he abandoned

Thats all the wanker signs he was shaking at Cavendish all day

Beached

Great finish to the stage today. Only watching it in work without sound, so i mistook Roche for Gadret when he made that burst. Its a great TdF this year.

ednwireland

Dodge wrote: »

Thats all the wanker signs he was shaking at Cavendish all day

stage wins cav 3 farrar ..................................

winey git anyway good riddance all i ever here from farrar is how someone blocked him ore someother lamo excuse, if he was at the front in the first place wouldnt be a prob !

and i missed the end of the stage damn customers and their phone calls

Dodge

ednwireland wrote: »

stage wins cav 3 farrar ..................................

relax, I was making a joke (you know, that Farrar thinks cav's a wanker) rather than commenting on the issue at hand (if you'll pardon the pun)

iregk

Is it just me of is Farrar's timing just terrible. Now I'm more a climber than I am a sprinter. To be honest I'm a terrible sprinter but just looking in this tour at Kav, Allesandro and Tyler he just always seems to leave it way too late and by the time her reacts the other two are too far out of reach.