TdF STage 12: Briancopn - Alpe d'Huez (spoilers!)

Yesterday was incredible - I can't wait to see what today might bring...

After yesterday I'm not bothering to make any predictions.

Pog to do a full on landis and take 8 minutes from everyone

Scores on the doors after yesterday’s fireworks are here:

League table

This stage looks incredible, and yesterday really lit the touchpaper!

For anyone thinking of tuning into watch AdH - here are the expected timings:
E BOURG D'OISANS (D1091-D1091 B-D211) 16.4 148.7 15:59 17:28 17:42 17:59

Penultimate column is the expected time at the foot of the climb (17.42, so 16.42 BST).

https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-12

thanks @crazy-legs

After yesterday's amazing race I'm not sure if we'll see another great day. I hope we do

I think Pog doing a Landis 2016 Tour Stage 16/Froome 2018 Giro Stage 19 is not beyond the realms of possibility.
I don't think it'll be a dull day for no other reason than a bunch of French riders would love to win on Alpe d'Huez on Bastille day. Could be quiet for GC though.

I think the Landis comparison is a poorly veiled suggestion that Pog might partake in some pot belge before today's stage. I don't think I'd watch pro cycling (or any sport tbh) if I was constantly assuming that the victors were always doping.

I do think there is something funny going on with pog, but i doubt he would be taking anything so blatant.
My suspicion is that he has taken a mitochondrial booster of some kind (within pharma we have to register a drug if it is found to have those effects)

I hope he does turn out to be clean, but equally i wouldn't be surprised to see an asterisk next to his tdf wins in future

So supposedly Pog got his fuelling wrong yesterday. Is that likely because he had no team members with him, or did something else go wrong with that.

If it was just a feeding issue will his recovery be quick enough to be a threat today I wonder.

. I don’t think I’d watch pro cycling (or any sport tbh) if I was constantly assuming that the victors were always doping.

I watch it under the assumption that they're all at it to a greater or lesser degree. The entertainment is still the same, there's less personal investment on my side, and if they're actually not, it all comes as a pleasant surprise.

I fully expect Pog to be able to put in a remarkable performance today

What I love at this moment in time is that the top ten is WIDE OPEN, we're used to seeing a few seconds between the contenders but this year it's measured in minutes

I watch with the assumption that they are all skirting about the rules and nudging and pushing where they can(like any sport involving money). I do assume innocent until proven guilty etc that they are not outright doping as we've seen in the past.

<tin hat mode on> They are young enough now to have been genetically modified, no drugs required. </tin hat mode off>

I honestly think we'll see another smash 'fest of some sort Pidders is far enough down to try and reap havoc for Ineos and line something up for el Capitan Tempo G Equally Pog isn't quite in a shit or bust scenario as of yet given what's coming up in the Pyrenees next week. Saying that Jumbo could fire Wout up the road again just to mess with UAE's heads and totally screw them over.

Likewise Gadu or Bardet could also go a bit bonkers in the eye of national pride, either way I can see it being a bit of another epic and as far removed from ye olde Sky train as possible in what seems to be a new Era of stage racing, vive les cyborgs!!

<tin hat mode on> They are young enough now to have been genetically modified, no drugs required. </tin hat mode off>

That is absolutely not beyond the reasons of possibility, would definitely be short term gains for some potentially significant consequences in later life though.

I could see a French rider going berserk today on the alpe. The noise will be incredible

I'm hoping so, I have Pinot and Bardet in my dream team 🤞

So, given the profile is it the case that gains made on the first climb could possibly be preserved throughout the stage? Because there are few flats to allow the peleton to catch up?

Because there are few flats to allow the peleton to catch up?

I don't think there'll be much of a peloton, it'll blow to pieces almost immediately. The sprinters will be looking to form the [i]autobus[/i] as soon as the road goes up!

How old in Vingagoagoagoago if POG still has white jersey?

Isn't Bardet a demon descender? Vive La France!

How old in Vingagoagoagoago if POG still has white jersey?[

25. However cycling goes off YEAR of birth rather than actual age so he's not (quite) eligible for the White Jersey which is for "riders under 26" - at the moment this translates to "riders born 1997 or later".

Limey, I'd have had him down as younger, just goes to show what a freak POG is.

Headwind up Galibier means the sprinters have chance of keeping somewhere near the peloton - and a tailwind over Croix de Fer?

So supposedly Pog got his fuelling wrong yesterday. Is that likely because he had no team members with him, or did something else go wrong with that.

I think being constantly attacked in the last 60k he just didn't have chance to fuel up and faded in the last 15, having no team members to hand him drink or food also contributed. I think the biggest factor was attacking himself when he didn't need to used up valuable energy.
He could of course have got COVID from Mr low viral load Mica

Stop what you're doing and watch Pidcok descending the Galibier :-0!

That's some mega descending skills from Pidders!

Pidcock's descending!

Imagine putting all that work into gaining time on the climb only to have him cruise past you like that.

Pidcock 's descending was exhilarating to watch. Us mountain bikers are clearly a breed apart eh lads? 🙂

Pinot/bardet break and sprint finish would see bars all over France drunk dry tonight

Pidcock and Froome teaming up!

Pidders is flying. And given he doesn't have many pies to help his descending speed, his skills and positioning are incredible.

Froome as well (!)

Watching Pidcock coming down was a joy to behold. Will be interesting to see if he works with Froome.

Wow, thats awesome descending!

If "The Missile" wasn't already taken that should be his nickname.

Wasn’t sure about his outside line on that overtake. Wouldn’t you duck inside given the other rider is more likely to move outward than inward? But then I’ve never overtaken anyone at 50mph on a corner!

that was fabulous to watch from Pidders, and it's great to see him team up with Froome to work together on the descent (there's a headwind so a two-up will give each some respite)

Back on yesterday

having no team members to hand him drink or food also contributed.

Nairo was DESPERATE for a bottle yesterday when he went off the front but I don't recall seing hime get one from anyone - no roadside helpers. not the neutral service vehicle or anything. Hope they're a bit better prepared on the climbs today as it's supposed to be just as hot if not hotter

So how long will froome last then?
head says: dropped on the CdF
heart says: solos up the alpe!

Pidders and Frooe make it up to the front group. Great to see

he's got no brakes 😀

I was driving in a domestic race years ago that Pidcock was racing. National Series thing. He was in the break with about 6 others and on every descent, he'd drop them all. He crossed it up on a humpback bridge once - got air off it, little flick, landed it and straight into the corner. Everyone else was on the brakes losing time, he was effortlessly gaining ground.

He's impressive to watch.

Also, Chris Froome in the break. Top going, that's fantastic to see.

If Pidcock wins today, can I bagsie “Tour de Yorkshire” as a newspaper headline.

He’s not been leaving much tarmac on the exit of the bends 🫣😳🫣

Hilarious comparing Pidcock’s descending vs Latour

Nothing much happening yet on the CdF but it is really interesting listening to Lizzie Deignan and Dave Millar talking about stuff

Nothing much happening yet on the CdF but it is really interesting listening to Lizzie Deignan and Dave Millar talking about stuff

Great isn't it.

So, is Pidcock going to drop like a stone off the top of the Croix de Fer and generate enough of a gap to keep the chasers at bay on the Alpe?

So, is Pidcock going to drop like a stone off the top of the Croix de Fer and generate enough of a gap to keep the chasers at bay on the Alpe?

Problem is that there's a long (11km) stretch of flat from the bottom of the CdF to the Alpe plus he then needs to hold off attacks there. Jumbo-Visma have already quietly pulled back a minute on the climb of CdF...

I can't see Pidcock winning the stage today but he may just have a bit of fun on the descent.

Edit: literally as I posted that, TP just puts the pressure on a bit...

Yep, TP turning the screw. On the way up!

Froome hanging on in there!
Still looks like a stick insect on a climbing frame but it's nice to see flashes of his former brilliance.

I think Pidcock quite fancies this today.

Standby for the Pidcock show.

Not sure how much good it does to Pidcock to be able to out-descend everyone on this. If he gets there 90s ahead of everyone else he's going to have a lot of work to do on his own. However, if he can use the cornering speed to remove the need to sprint out of corners whilst staying in the group he might just be that bit fresher on the next climb.

If he can help to pull the others downhill, that'll benefit them all.

I think Pidcock quite fancies this today.

Jumbo-Visma have turned on the chase now.

Froome there still, taking a look at his stem

Descent doesn't look very technical, so not easy to make up time. I think the peleton will mop up the breakaway I'm sad to say

Looks like a strong headwind too so more in favour of the bunch.

Not technical, but bloody hell pidcock is fast downhill

He nearly hit that wall!

Made about a minute on the peleton... that's worth having!

Yeah, gap has gone out again - see how much Jumbo-Visma are willing to smash it on the flat before the Alpe starts.

Here we go - Alpe d'Huez!
6 minute gap...

Here we go

This is going to be fantastic.

Does TP look quite chilled there on the front?

pidcock casually chucking his rubbish into the bin bag as he cycles past - class

Pidders and froome look good (well froome never looks good on a bike, but is riding well)

Pidcock firing his gel wrapper into the bin. Pure class.

Froome always looks like a pedalling stick insect on a bike too small, but would love to see him do well, horrific injuries and miracle he is riding a bike at all

JV have woken up a bit on the final bit of flat... this is going to be fun

Pidcock gone off the front

Oof.

Attacquer de Tom Pidcock!!

What a man!

Jeezo I hope he makes this stick.

Froome always looks like a pedalling stick insect on a bike too small, but would love to see him do well, horrific injuries and miracle he is riding a bike at all

This, remember the other year in the commentary they said he was lucky to keep the leg let alone compete again.

Cracking stage so far

WvA has significantly upped the pace but it's still 5 minutes back from TP...

WVA putting in a strong stint for JV