Stage 12 TDF : Briancon - Digne les Bains : Spoiler

[limerickman]

Stage 12 has relatively less steep climbs compared to stage 11, but it's no walk in the park, especially given the tough first week and the amount of climbing on stages 10 and 11.

Col du Saint-Jean, Col du Labouret, Col du Corobin, and the Col De L'Orme, all follow a relatively small climb at Cote Des Coiffees.

 

[jhuskey]

Stage 12 has relatively less steep climbs compared to stage 11, but it's no walk in the park, especially given the tough first week and the amount of climbing on stages 10 and 11.

Col du Saint-Jean, Col du Labouret, Col du Corobin, and the Col De L'Orme, all follow a relatively small climb at Cote Des Coiffees.

Given the terrain I believe this will give some other riders a chance to show their strong suits.
I couild be wrong but this looks like the kind of terrain that Ullrich dose well on, if he does well on anything this year.
He usually does better at the long sweeping climbs as compared to the extreme steeps.
Could be a stage for Valverde to take off on.

 

[strummer_fan]

Given the terrain I believe this will give some other riders a chance to show their strong suits.
I couild be wrong but this looks like the kind of terrain that Ullrich dose well on, if he does well on anything this year.
He usually does better at the long sweeping climbs as compared to the extreme steeps.
Could be a stage for Valverde to take off on.

I am expecting something from the Rabobank boys. Rasmussen himself has commented that he is now targeting the idea of getting on the podium for GC as well as KOM.

I am also expecting something from Credit Agricole, since Moreau is higher in GC than perhaps was expected.

It should also be pointed out, that I am usually 100% off with my predctions, other than calling a few stages for Boonen.

 

[spockroyaltea]

it seems like basso, landis, leipheimer, and other elites have been just following LA around france...maybe it is time someone made a move after disco is tired from tackling the mountains?

 

[tcklyde]

I am expecting something from the Rabobank boys. Rasmussen himself has commented that he is now targeting the idea of getting on the podium for GC as well as KOM.

I am also expecting something from Credit Agricole, since Moreau is higher in GC than perhaps was expected.

It should also be pointed out, that I am usually 100% off with my predctions, other than calling a few stages for Boonen.

It will be a day for the break away, I think. Like Lim said, no walk in the park, especially after today, but I don't think a big GC battle either.

So who is going to break away? I put O'Grady in an early break to go for the sprint points before the climbs -- if Quick Step let him get away. This isn't a bad stage for O'Grady; he's not a bad climber. Moreau is a great pick to go off the front, perhaps early with guys looking for sprint points, or later when the hills start. No chance Rasmussen gets away, though. The big guns will all be marking him. Moreau, too, could be a bit too high up on GC to get far.

Other names I look for to make a go: Brochard again, Moncoutie, Evans, Piepoli, Flecha, Boogerd, Merckx, Vasseur, Chavanel, Aerts...

 

[jhuskey]

it seems like basso, landis, leipheimer, and other elites have been just following LA around france...maybe it is time someone made a move after disco is tired from tackling the mountains?

That is what I am expecting and would be the obvious strategy for the other teams.Let DC carry the load and make them chase semi-contenders and then throw your best punch when the timing is right.

What do you guys think about Rasmussen? Will be hang back, pace with the peloton and try and buddy with Lance in the Pyrenees or pick his moment and stage another breakaway.
I know he not a TT specialist but he does seem to have some staying power.
He would be a hard man to chase down if he picks his moments.

 

[rule62]

Agreed...he definitely has ridden more strongly as the Tour has progressed. The Polka-Dot Jersey certainly has inspired him. I don't know how to feel about his podium chances given his 174th place stage 1 finish. I'll say this, I like the guy. He's got a ton of heart.

 

[tcklyde]

Agreed...he definitely has ridden more strongly as the Tour has progressed. The Polka-Dot Jersey certainly has inspired him. I don't know how to feel about his podium chances given his 174th place stage 1 finish. I'll say this, I like the guy. He's got a ton of heart.

Didn't Jaja once say that he started poorly in the Tour so that he would be allowed to take breaks to pick up mountain points? Perhaps MR was buying himself some break away time.

Pure speculation.

 

[Ullefan]

Tommorow is Bastille day, watch Voeckler try something.

 

[spockroyaltea]

Tommorow is Bastille day, watch Voeckler try something.

that'd be good, i'd like to see more of him

 

[sonicman]

Tommorow is Bastille day, watch Voeckler try something.

I´m not sure if it´s going to be Voecker (he´s out of shape IMO), but I can see a french guy looking for the win and leaving the peloton behind in an early attack.

 

[Le_cannibale]

Tommorow is Bastille day, watch Voeckler try something.

Finally someone said what I was thinking. Maybe JaJa II will do it, doubt it though. I hope Thomas can pull it off. He's a courageous man.

 

[1x1]

Finally someone said what I was thinking. Maybe JaJa II will do it, doubt it though. I hope Thomas can pull it off. He's a courageous man.

Personally, I'd like to see Horner or Evans try and stay away tomorrow. I think both of these guys would love to win a stage and both are deserving.

 

[patch70]

it seems like basso, landis, leipheimer, and other elites have been just following LA around france...maybe it is time someone made a move after disco is tired from tackling the mountains?

How far do you think you'd last if you tried to ride away from the blue train?

Attacking - and using up a lot of energy - only to be caught soon after and then probably dropped is not really a wise use of their energy. A man's gots to know his limitations.

 

[spockroyaltea]

How far do you think you'd last if you tried to ride away from the blue train?

Attacking - and using up a lot of energy - only to be caught soon after and then probably dropped is not really a wise use of their energy. A man's gots to know his limitations.

so are you suggesting that the competing riders do nothing but ride behind LA all the way to paris?

 

[patch70]

so are you suggesting that the competing riders do nothing but ride behind LA all the way to paris?

No, they just need to be realistic. Basso has maybe one chance to attack only. Rasmussen and Vino look more like they could attack a few times. But they might as well save up and try to make it work rather than doing a Sastre on the climb to Courcheval.

If you had ridden well over 1000km at about 50kph, do you think you'd be feeling like attacking a strong DC team?

 

[spockroyaltea]

If you had ridden well over 1000km at about 50kph, do you think you'd be feeling like attacking a strong DC team?

no sir, not one bit..i was just making sure we are clear on things . i just want some excitement is all.

 

[patch70]

no sir, not one bit..i was just making sure we are clear on things . i just want some excitement is all.

Me too. I am glad Vino is in the tour because his frequent attacking makes it much more exciting. I would love to see somebody really take it up to DC/LA. I think the only other one capable of a successful attack now is Rasmussen. Maybe Ullrich will come good in a few days but I think he is injured worse than he is letting on. I hope I am wrong and we see plenty more attacks but DC sure make that difficult.

Going up Courcheval, I was hoping for pressure but instead we just got to see great riders unable to keep up. Hard to expect any attacks when even these guys can't hold their wheel!

 

[tinks]

I would expect Moreau to maybe make a serious bid to get into the yellow jersey for Bastille Day. Rabobank might also see this as an opportunity for Rasmussen.

I just hope someone in the race for GC does something.

 

[limerickman]

Re : Thomas Voekler : part of the reason as to why he's not as prominent this year is because he has raced for his team practically from day one of the 2005 season.
He's done a heavy program already before this TDF.

I'd be surprised to see him do anything.