Unless the big guys take it easy today (which I don’t really see happening), I’m thinking Thor will be out of yellow at the end of the day.

Last year I seem to remember they took this stage absolutely flat out and killed pretty much everyone. I think I remember Evans with a broken elbow getting dropped in yellow..? Could’ve been a dream.

Should be good.

Chris Horner of Radioshack hasn’t started today.

Some useful links:

http://live.cyclingnews.com/
http://gaps.letour.fr/us.php
http://data.srmlive.de/TDF/

The druggy will win it

The druggy will win it

You sure about that?

heh heh!

Will you be outing any other cyclists today hounsy?

contador has been showing already, so i wouldn’t be surprised to see him test his legs, What i wonder is whether some of the lesser leaders might use a stage like this as a chance to build a buffer before the high mountains.

It would be a miracle for Thor to remain in yellow, do you really see him finishing the stage with Evans?

I’d like to see a couple of teams try and work Contador over on this stage. I’m not convinced about the strength of his team this year.

Matt

I’m gonna get sentimental and go for Rigoberto Urán for the win today.

[edit]

Evans starting in yellow tomorrow.

Come on Tim! 🙂

elf, Tim’s out

This Tim’s in! I reckon it could be Miller or Kloden as they are close enough on time and are in teams that have little prospect of the final podium. Although hard it won’t drive hugh gaps and Miller getting a few seconds up on the heads wouldn’t be chased down.

Possibly stupid question, but why not give time bonuses for places in the stage? Would that not force GC contenders to go for stage wins?

Sorry if this is a well debated and rubbished question already.

They do, just not very big ones.

Wouldn’t improve anything really.

Is it just accepted now that there are different disciplines and that there won’t be crossovers anymore? Do they give time bonuses? I didn’t think they did.

They used to give time bonuses, it resulted in larger time gaps. we get closer results now

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14092680.stm

@Steve Austin, ah right, fairy Nuff. Just wonderin’ like…

It used to get some crazy attacks as riders knew they could not only gain time but get a time bonus as well. I miss it, but the racing is a lot closer now

They still get time bonuses in the first week to try to encourage some racing.

You’re pulling my leg now aren’t you?

No time bonuses this year atlaz…

Woo! Go Thor.

Great ride by Costa.

contador looked like he actually had to do some work, might be interesting when the mountains arrive

wah poor vino 🙁

if he had a bit more blood in him he’d have had it

Could be Cuddle’s year, but he needs to conserve his energy, not go attacking all the time. He did put pressure on Contador and Schleck there though, they coon’t quite reel him in.

Still 2 weeks left though. And some proper big hills to come….

Nice to see Evans hitting Contador with a change of pace on the hills. A.Schleck looks like he still thinks Contador is the wheel to watch though.

Don’t know who I’m going to be supporting when it comes to the mountains now that Wiggins is out – Andy or Evans?

Fairly pleased Vino sucked today.

schleck looked far more comfortable than contador when evans went?

Realman, I don’t want to drag that tedious topic up again but I think I’m going to support cuddles. Thor seems quite fond of yellow doesn’t he.

Great ride by Thor and Gilbert, hats off to them and costa