July 14, Stage 12: Cugnaux - Luz-Ardiden 209km

ednwireland · 13-07-2011 08:14PM #1

The battle for yellow breaks out

Luz-Ardiden is back on the Tour route for the first time since 2003, when Lance Armstrong won there after his unforgettable collision with a fan and the "did he wait?" Debate that subsequently blew up around Jan Ullrich. This will bring an end to the phony war between the favourites for the yellow jersey. Preceding the final climb is the first-ever ascent of the narrow road that winds up through the trees to the Hourquette d'Ancizan, followed by the Tourmalet from the La Mongie-side. Coming off there, the race heads straight onto the final climb.

Inquitus · 13-07-2011 08:26PM

ednwireland wrote: »

The battle for yellow breaks out

Aye one of the four / five stages that will decide this tour. Can't wait :-)

niceonetom · 13-07-2011 08:33PM

It's been an extraordinarily interesting tour so far but for me it's all about the mountains. Here we go.

I'm hope they go for it and don't just watch each other. Bertie might want to get some time back but I'm not convinced he's in the condition he was in May.

Will Tommy hold the yellow?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUXL7XkVi7c

AstraMonti · 13-07-2011 08:42PM

I think HTC will probably kill themselves up to the intermediate sprint so Cav can keep the green jersey.

I can't see anyone else apart from Bertie attacking tomorrow. Also when did Andy lose 8 secs to Frank? He was only 2 down.

funnights74 · 13-07-2011 08:46PM

Here we go, finally the bluffing stops and the cards must be layed on the table. Having my doubts about Contador, beginning to wonder if his best form was left in italy. Enough of a time deficit to make him worry and a supposed Knee injury won't help his cause
Schleck is following as usual, might be holding back but absolutely no form at all this season.Leaving everything to chance by gambling on winning the Grand Boucle is sadly common for the last few years!
Cadel evans is looking good, seems to be strong and comfortable but has a history of having one shocker of a day in the high mountains in the major tours.
Still going to stick with Contador as the most likely winner but Cadel may just have enough to worry him.

ROK ON · 13-07-2011 08:53PM

It's too early for anything to happen.

Tomorrow will be won by some tiny Spanish climber thatno one has heard of before.

Of the top 10 neither Evans or the Schlecks need to do anything tOmorrow. Why risk having to defend the yellow for the next ten days.
Also Contador, not sure will be that pressed. He is a very calm athlete and unlikely to get rattled.

Of the big names if any of them are to do anything, then it has to be Basso or Sanchez. Next few days is sh1t or bust for them.
Evans will drift into yellow by end of day. He seems to want to wear the jumper, but he doesn't have the team to defend it IMHO.

BQQ · 13-07-2011 08:53PM

AstraMonti wrote: »

I can't see anyone else apart from Bertie attacking tomorrow.

I think A Shleck will attack.
Saw an interview with him where he seemed quite pissed off about criticism of his lack of aggression.
He said he would never be afraid to attack and he considers himself an aggressive rider.
Won two stages last year as well.

Guybrush T · 13-07-2011 09:12PM

ROK ON wrote: »

It's too early for anything to happen.
Of the top 10 neither Evans or the Schlecks need to do anything tOmorrow. Why risk having to defend the yellow for the next ten days.
Also Contador, not sure will be that pressed. He is a very calm athlete and unlikely to get rattled.

I'm not so sure, Contador isn't afraid of taking yellow, he took the lead in the Giro at the end of the first week. If he's got the form, I think he'll try to gain time, and even if he hasn't he might want the psychological blow of looking dominant in the mountains.
Andy Schleck needs to gain at least two minutes on Evans by next Saturday, and I really hope he doesn't try to do it by waiting for Evans to slip up.

TinyExplosions · 13-07-2011 09:28PM

I hope Voeckler goes on the attack... was great seeing him and Gilbert off the front yesterday, and he is the type of rider that could just go "fuck this, lets ride".

Can't see Andy attacking much, he's got a minute and a half on Bertie, so I reckon he'll just shadow him (like usual) and only attack next week if he feels he needs to.

happytramp · 13-07-2011 09:47PM

Reckon AC will do a little bit of probing tomorrow just to see how Andy's doing. He probably won't bother going for it this early unless Andy is very weak and can't keep up with a moderate (by AC's standards) attack.

velopeloton · 13-07-2011 10:05PM

Tomorrows weather should be better than today. It will still be cold by local standards. This is the scene this evening.

Have a go at predicting the stage winner tomorrow. I'm going for S Sanchez to win stage and LL Sanchez to be in yellow.

http://www.velopeloton.com/tour-de-france-competition/

Should be fun tomorrow.

Hourquette d'Ancizan

500m from Tourmalet summit

Luz Ardiden from the summit.

petethedrummer · 14-07-2011 06:43AM

hmmm, tempted to ring in sick.

AstraMonti · 14-07-2011 07:25AM

petethedrummer wrote: »

hmmm, tempted to ring in sick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmUZGdi7Ty4

Sundy · 14-07-2011 07:52AM

petethedrummer wrote: »

hmmm, tempted to ring in sick.

Screw that im going to watch it in work!

GT_TDI_150 · 14-07-2011 07:59AM

Sundy wrote: »

Screw that im going to watch it in work!

any link?

I think Tony Martin might have a bash!!(finger crossed for my e/w bet @ 150/1!!)

Chips Lovell · 14-07-2011 08:00AM

Big question is whether Contador is still tired from the Giro and/or is really injured. I'd say he'd be happy to sandbag for another while yet, but his crash may have put paid to that. If he can make up the time, he won't want to leave it too late and may opt to start eeking back the seconds today.

He wasn't afriad to go on Etna after all.

Sundy · 14-07-2011 08:19AM

GT_TDI_150 wrote: »

any link?

I think Tony Martin might have a bash!!(finger crossed for my e/w bet @ 150/1!!)

I subscribed to eurosport player. Was only €8 for the month.

kennyb3 · 14-07-2011 08:31AM

I think Contador ideally will want to attack/test Evans more so than any other potential rivals. He's over a minute and half down and will take maybe 30 seconds off evans in the TT, if even.

Tomorrow stage doesnt have an uphill finish so waiting till Thurs and Friday of next week will be very nerve wracking.

I think he ll be happy to let Andy suck his wheel and maybe even work with him if they get away against Evans and have his battle with Andy next week. He only needs 30 secs off Andy, given he will likely take a minute plus in the TT.

Whether Contador is able to do all this is another matter. We ll see if he is sandbagging or not today.

Decuc500 · 14-07-2011 08:54AM

I'm sure Contador will attack today. He always attacks first chance he gets. I just hope Evans is able to follow. I would hate to see Contador and A Schleck distance everyone on the first hard stage.

Hermy · 14-07-2011 09:03AM

petethedrummer wrote: »

hmmm, tempted to ring in sick.

Unemployment doesn't seem so bad when the Tour hits the big hills.

DeadMan1 · 14-07-2011 09:30AM

velopeloton wrote: »

Tomorrows weather should be better than today. It will still be cold by local standards. This is the scene this evening.

Looking good VP

niceonetom · 14-07-2011 09:33AM

Hey, it's Bastille day!

Allez Thomas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-E2H1ChJM

D3PO · 14-07-2011 10:10AM

Kadri up the road. You can be sure that was planned to give Nico some support in the moutains later.

AG2R · 14-07-2011 10:31AM

Thomas is the break

joker77 · 14-07-2011 10:48AM

GT_TDI_150 wrote: »

any link?

Here you go:
http://www.fromsportcom.com/c-9.html

Lumen · 14-07-2011 11:50AM

I keep losing the Eurosport Player feed, but those little animated men in the break look like they're doing a grand job.

They're going to need a hell of gap when they hit those spikey bits.

De Bhál · 14-07-2011 11:58AM

Lumen wrote: »

I keep losing the Eurosport Player feed, but those little animated men in the break look like they're doing a grand job.

They're going to need a hell of gap when they hit those spikey bits.

If you have Sky sports at home, you can watch it on up to four laptops with the Skyplayer. Eurosport is included with this. It's perfect.

You just need to get the password you were given or from someone with Sky sports at home.

I watch it in work and have the password from a mate whose parents have Sky.

Well worth it for the cycling season.

It's also great during the football season for watching the games on a Sunday, saves me watching them in the pub.

I also find it useful for Sky Atlantic - good shows on there.

Thing is you need to know someone with Sky.

kennyb3 · 14-07-2011 12:40PM

Johnny with a little dig, the man has some balls

kmart6 · 14-07-2011 12:41PM

Haha there goes Johnny again....mad fu*ker!!!

Hermy · 14-07-2011 12:43PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEq62iQo0eU

Mint Sauce · 14-07-2011 01:06PM

Lucky escape from Gariet Thomas.

:eek:

ThisRegard · 14-07-2011 01:07PM

What's going on here, twice in a row ? First would could have been nasty if didn't take the dive. He seriously has the jitters now.

Mint Sauce · 14-07-2011 01:08PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

What's going on here, twice in a row ? First would could have been nasty if didn't take the dive. He seriously has the jitters now.

Was that him the 2nd time as well? Only got a glismp of it as I was typing my last post.

Idleater · 14-07-2011 01:08PM

I'm beginning to rethink my "need" for full carbon rims now...

kmart6 · 14-07-2011 01:11PM

Voeckler down...and a whole load of others!!!

ThisRegard · 14-07-2011 01:12PM

Same corner it looks like. Eurosport reckon there's sand on the road, possibly because of an oil spill, or it's just the wet patches catching them out.

Fantastic timing by ITV4, go to ads just before it happens. Just as well I'm a station whore jumping from one to another.

kmart6 · 14-07-2011 01:12PM

Kloden getting caught there again....has had no luck this year!

CianRyan · 14-07-2011 01:14PM

Jesus, this decent is a bit mad.

Chips Lovell · 14-07-2011 01:15PM

Voeckler hit a car?

Lumen · 14-07-2011 01:16PM

el tonto wrote: »

Voeckler hit a car?

A parked one. Very slowly.

kmart6 · 14-07-2011 01:20PM

CianRyan wrote: »

Jesus, this decent is a bit mad.

Ah wouldn't go that far...weren't exactly high speed crashes!

Lumen · 14-07-2011 01:23PM

Eurosport Player is much more stable on IE than Chrome or FF.

It's based on Silverlight (spit) so I guess it ought to be.

Also, Sean Kelly just said "cow shíte" on air.

Mint Sauce · 14-07-2011 01:23PM

el tonto wrote: »

Voeckler hit a car?

Seen that. Straight into it.

Makes a change from the cyclists being hit.

Edit.

Just seen him switching bikes

Chips Lovell · 14-07-2011 01:23PM

Lumen wrote: »

Also, Sean Kelly just said "cow shíte" on air.

WIN!!!

Hermy · 14-07-2011 01:37PM

Leopard tREK turning up the heat

petethedrummer · 14-07-2011 01:41PM

ffffuuuuuuuu....... I'm on site and my internet is way too slow. Damnit. Even the eurosport matchstick men are taking ages to load.

Rovi · 14-07-2011 01:43PM

Lumen wrote: »

Also, Sean Kelly just said "cow shíte" on air.

el tonto wrote: »

WIN!!!

"Mousse de vache", apparently

Must remember that on the back roads around here.

Mint Sauce · 14-07-2011 01:47PM

How far behind are these 6 riders at the back? letour.fr just says delayed.

D3PO · 14-07-2011 01:49PM

irish-stew wrote: »

How far behind are these 6 riders at the back? letour.fr just says delayed.

who cares about a timesplit to a grupetto of sprinters on a mountain stage ?

edit looks like Gesink is in that group now. hes been struggling all tour. I sense LL Sanchez will be new team leader after this stage.

Lumen · 14-07-2011 01:49PM

Gesunk.

GT_TDI_150 · 14-07-2011 01:54PM

D3PO wrote: »

who cares about a timesplit to a grupetto of sprinters on a mountain stage ?

edit looks like Gesink is in that group now. hes been struggling all tour. I sense LL Sanchez will be new team leader after this stage.

hoogerland is in that group1

July 14, Stage 12: Cugnaux - Luz-Ardiden 209km

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