2009 TDF stage 7: Barcelone - Andorre Arcalis 224 km

Barcelone - Andorre Arcalis 224 km

MOUNTAIN PASSES & HILLS

Km 32.0 - Côte de Montserrat - 4.1 km climb to 3.8 % - Category 4
Km 97.0 - Port de Solsona - 5.8 km climb to 4.3 % - Category 3
Km 127.0 - Col de Serra-Seca - 7.7 km climb to 7.1 % - Category 1
Km 136.5 - Port del Comte - 3.1 km climb to 5.3 % - Category 3
Km 224.0 - ANDORRE ARCALIS - 10.6 km climb to 7.1 % - Category H


General classification after stage 6 (top 30)

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 19:29:22
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:19
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:00:23
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0:00:31
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:00:38
7 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 0:00:52
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:16
9 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:22
10 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC 0:01:29
11 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0:01:31
12 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC 0:01:36
13 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
14 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:41
15 Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Astana
16 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana 0:01:45
17 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:03
18 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC 0:02:16
19 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:17
20 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:02:28
21 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:32
22 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:02:43
23 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:02:44
24 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:55
25 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Slipstream 0:02:56
26 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0:02:59
27 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
28 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:03:03
29 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Astana 0:03:11
30 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
Steve
CyclingForums.com

It's a big day today, there are sure to be attacks from Sastre and Evans, I think Contador will match them. Lance is still an unknown quantity, I think, watching him that he secretly feels that he has enough under the bonnet to match Contador, especially at Arcalis, which isn't a real climber's climb, it's more of a power climb.

So I'm going for a Armstrong, Contador, Evans sprint at the top. I don't think Evans should be underestimated he had a good Stage 1 and even though his team sucked in the TTT, he looked pretty strong.

Should be a great stage. I'm getting up at 6am for a 10 mile run, drink some energy drinks, and bounce all over the living room during the climb.

I don't think there will be too many players throwing down the gauntlet this early unless they are pretty sure of themselves. There are serious contests on for each of the mountain top finishes right up until the second last day. Don't want to peak to early (excuse the pun).

True, but some of the riders have a fair bit of time to make up. Better to start chippin away now rather than leave it too late

And so the tour begins....

I shall join the ranks of living room bouncers - this is gonna be awesome!!

I'm going to go against the grain and put my money on Lieutenant Kloden for no other reason than I've been a fan since forever...

Let the bouncing begin!!!

Lance just twittered that uci antidoping came in this morning and tested lance, kloden, contador and levi.

__________________
"For now, I must focus on my treatment. However, I want you all to know that I intend to beat this disease, and further, I intend to ride again as a professional cyclist."....
I intend to be an avid spokesperson for cancer once I have beaten the disease.
Lance Armstrong Press Conference October 8th, 1996

Sastre repeat what he did at the Giro - win by about a minute, Contador and a few others come in then Armstrong with the rest of the group come in later.

I'm not exactly looking forward to this stage. The blue train (turquoise this time) is running again, and that fact kills my enthusiasm a bit. But I'll be watching Saxo and Schlecks very carefully. If some team can match Astana - it's Saxo, and if some one can match Contador in the mountains - it's Andy Schleck.

__________________
"Soldiers! Heroes!

The supreme command has erased our regiment from its records. Our regiment has been sacrificed for the honor of Belgrade and the Fatherland. Therefore, you no longer have to worry for your lives - they do not exist anymore.
So, forward to glory! For King and country! Long live the king! Long live Belgrade! "

I am afraid we will hear a new term today, "the Astana train". It would be an advantage to get someone up the road before the last climb. For Astana Kloden would be great but I doubt he can get away considering his high standing.

__________________
Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

so far, so dull. maybe now that they've hit the base of the final climb...

__________________
"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues

It should start real soon.

__________________
Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Contador is the MAN!

No one can match AC accelerations.

He's definately going to be tough to beat