Don't tell everyone that all you need to do is attack and you win. You're giving away the secrets of the inner circle...Grater said:Kirchen or Valverde to take the stage win as they have the balls to attack at the end and Kirchen in yellow come the weekend!
No wheelsucking **** *** wins the tour this year!Crankyfeet said:Don't tell everyone that all you need to do is attack and you win. You're giving away the secrets of the inner circle...
Team Garmin's plan B for taking the yellow jersey is to try and take it on this stage. That means Miller attacking and taking back the time on Schumi, but also being ahead of Kirchen on the line. Anyone think it can work? I reckon it might be too steep for him to put in a successful dig at the end, so he'd need to be away before the second, steeper section.Crankyfeet said:This is a seriously interesting stage. Here's the finishing climb.
7.4 km @ 5.7% then a rest for a couple of kms then 1.5 km @ 10% to the finish line. My heart rate's gone to zone 3 and my legs hurt just typing this description.
Team Columbia... and possibly Gerolsteiner... are going to be all over Garmin if they (or just Millar) try to make a break, aren't they?Rolfrae said:Team Garmin's plan B for taking the yellow jersey is to try and take it on this stage. That means Miller attacking and taking back the time on Schumi, but also being ahead of Kirchen on the line. Anyone think it can work? I reckon it might be too steep for him to put in a successful dig at the end, so he'd need to be away before the second, steeper section.
As they are equal on time all Miller has to do is cross the line ahead of Kirchen to take yellow (and obviously be sufficiently ahead of Schumi). But, as you say, not so sure he can outsprint/climb Kirchen. I guess they can send Vande Velde up the road (as he's their next man on GC) and let Miller sit on whilst the others chase.Crankyfeet said:Team Columbia... and possibly Gerolsteiner... are going to be all over Garmin if they (or just Millar) try to make a break, aren't they?
And it's hard to imagine Millar being able to pull away from Kirchen on the final climb.
Whatever happens, it's going to be good TV.Rolfrae said:As they are equal on time all Miller has to do is cross the line ahead of Kirchen to take yellow (and obviously be sufficiently ahead of Schumi). But, as you say, not so sure he can outsprint/climb Kirchen. I guess they can send Vande Velde up the road (as he's their next man on GC) and let Miller sit on whilst the others chase.
Your not raceing so we wont have to worry!!!Grater said:No wheelsucking **** *** wins the tour this year!
i think lövkvist will set a furios pace in the last steep section then kirchen will go for it but valverde, sanchez and rico will give him a race all the way inEldrack said:Some people will be whittled away by the first part of the climb, but gaps will only really appear in that last steep section of 1.5km. And that's not long enough to create any big time gaps, so this stage is more about the win and snatching yellow by a few seconds. Kirchen, Valverde are both strong contenders for this, as is Cunego. But I think I'll go with Ricco to take this stage with a massive effort, as he knows he'll fade later in the race after such a hard Giro.
+1stilesiii said:I can see a successful attack on the Col de la Croix Morand and setting up a nice break on the decent. Considering the profile, I think this sets up for a break staying away.
But these aren't big Cols - they could have made it much more interesting if they'd have finished the stage at the nearby Puy-de-Dome.... a rather nasty 1st cat climb that's not been used for years.poulidor said:+1
Some people would try to harden the race to create gap.
The first cols are sometimes difficult after having pushed big gears the precedent days.
Do you remember the Col de La Sclucht where all Disco boys were dropped in 2005, the slope was less than 5% but it was the first mountain.swampy1970 said:But these aren't big Cols - they could have made it much more interesting if they'd have finished the stage at the nearby Puy-de-Dome.... a rather nasty 1st cat climb that's not been used for years.
Since this Tour is wide open, I'm hoping someone takes a gamble tomorrow and cracks this thing wide open.poulidor said:Do you remember the Col de La Sclucht where all Disco boys were dropped in 2005, the slope was less than 5% but it was the first mountain.
With less doping , adptation could be difficult for some.
If we assume that there is less doping... It's making me look forward to the mountains even more. And there is no real huge standout favourite and no predictable script. Good stuff.poulidor said:Do you remember the Col de La Sclucht where all Disco boys were dropped in 2005, the slope was less than 5% but it was the first mountain.
With less doping , adptation could be difficult for some.
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