2009 TDF stage 13: Vittel - Colmar 200 km



steve

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Aug 12, 2001
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2009 TDF stage 13: Vittel - Colmar 200 km

MOUNTAIN PASSES & HILLS

Km 46.0: Côte de Xertigny - 2.0 km climb to 5.3 % - Category 3
Km 105.0: Col de la Schlucht - 8.9 km climb to 4.2 % - Category 2
Km 138.5: Col du Platzerwasel - 8.7 km climb to 7.6 % - Category 1
Km 165.5: Col du Bannstein - 2.1 km climb to 5.1 % - Category 3
Km 179.5: Col du Firstplan - 8.4 km climb to 5.4 % - Category 2

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLjbuYf38Xo"]YouTube - ANALYSIS OF THE STAGE 13[/ame]

General classification after stage 12 ( top 25 )

1 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 48:27:21
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:06
3 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:00:08
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0:00:39
5 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:00:46
6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:00:54
7 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 0:01:00
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:24
9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:49
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:01:54
11 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:02:16
12 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC 0:02:21
13 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:25
14 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0:02:40
15 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:45
16 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:02:52
17 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:03:02
18 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0:03:07
19 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC 0:03:16
20 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:03:49
21 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:03:58
22 Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Astana 0:04:14
23 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana 0:04:20
24 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram
25 Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel 0:04:26
 
okay, fine. today is the day when the excitement begins. attack and counter-attack. lungs bursting, faces contorted in pain. spit turning to froth, legs spontaneously combusting. an entire year's preparation gambled on one spectacular thrust at legend. or just another fart in the church stage.
 
Are the 20 clicks long enough for a breakaway to keep out after the peak? I dunno....

Still, better than we've been seeing. Should answer some questions about LA's over-the-hill status.
 
I agree - this stage is going to show if any significant levels of tiredness have begun to set in.

Difficult stage today for the riders.
Wonder what the weather forecast is for today in that region.
if the weather is bad, it could well be a miserable stage for those struggling.

Unfortunately I can't get to see it live today.

One thing is for certain - Cav won't win this stage!
 
I would not be surprised if we just see more of the same style of riding as the Pyrenees, with the blue train setting a pace that causes slow attrition of riders. Don't expect too much!
 
limerickman said:
I agree - this stage is going to show if any significant levels of tiredness have begun to set in.

Difficult stage today for the riders.
Wonder what the weather forecast is for today in that region.
if the weather is bad, it could well be a miserable stage for those struggling.

Unfortunately I can't get to see it live today.

One thing is for certain - Cav won't win this stage!

Neither will Leipheimer :(

Sadly I think Levi's exit will help loosen Astana's hold on the peleton in the mountains - better for the viewers in my opinion.

Methinks today will sort out the lucky GC holders (Noci etc) from the real GC contenders. No great shakes though - none of the "real" top 10 to lose more thn 1min.

I say a breakaway group to win.
 
I've been looking forward to this stage for last few days.
The start of the hills and some that are a little testing.
Going by the couple of attacks Evans & A.Schleck have done lately you'd think this stage they (or others) could well bring them out for good go.
The weather forcast in that area had chance of some showers, is that still the case??
If it is wet that should bring a whole new element to the stage and make it that much harder.
Who has a gutsy wet weather descent of the GC guys that might give it go??
Hopefully the other teams can at least give Astana a hard time of it.

Leipheimer, I'm assuming is out given he says now he has fractured his wrist in yesterdays crash. That will put a little dent into Astana or if is still a starter I can't see him being able to be much help and will probably lose a big chunk of time if the pace is on in the last 2 climbs.

Should see how their climbing legs are going, who's tiring.

They have their radio's back for this stage now as well.
Could have been interesting if it was wet and no radio's

Hopefully should be a pretty good stage.


Edit:
I just read an article saying Leipheimer is out.
 
Control of the entire stage from start to finish is essential today. If Astana can ride the front at a high tempo they can control attacks by keeping the other teams on the defensive and tired.
Astana still has an array of weapons they can sacrifice to keep themselves in the drivers seat.There will be other days in mountains to be considered and this is only the start.
It should be a day of suffering for sure.
 

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