Le Tour – Stage 12 – Up and over again?

I’m skipping this thread from now on, but Vino did say yesterday that Fulgsang was now the no 1 in the Astana team in preference to Nibbles

Just looking at the third stage photo, was Richie Porte on the pies night before last and needed a breather on the way up??

Rachel

Just scrolled back to see what you were talking about. Coffee now in keyboard.

By the end of the stage today the riders will have climbed about 10km in 2 days

That is properly insane. When the days are that hard and you have a lead like Froome does then it seems likely he’ll try and shadow the other top GC guys. I don’t believe they have enough to bother him so it could be a relatively quiet GC day…. or all hell could break loose! Exciting day for sure 😀

Rain and cooler conditions, faster up and sketchier down?

They do seem to be taking the corners fairly gingerly so that is a good call

Some interesting data from some of the tour stages over at Training Peaks…

http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/2015-power-analysis-tour-de-france-week-1

Rain and cooler conditions, faster up and sketchier down?

I reckon that seals the break staying away. No one’s going to chase hard off the Port De Lers

Sean Kelly back with the coffee.

Just scrolled back to see what you were talking about. Coffee now in keyboard.

Photo…?

I don’t understand what’s happened to the Yates brothers in this Tour. Simon was right up there on all the climbs of the Dauphine and Adam nowhere to be seen whereas the reverse seems to be the case here so far.

According to their backstage pass Simon’s got a cold, should be all cleared up by the alps!

Kwiatkowski and Vanmarcke have 15 seconds on the chase group that contains the remnants of the main break.

And about 10mins to Froomie..

Break has it then??

Unless some’s really, really up for this. Bertie to attack the descent?

Most likely, but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion. Break’s been out for a long time and the GC boys will be relatively fresh.

It’s belting down at the finish. Looks grim!

Yikes, raining on the decent too.. Steady does it..

Could be an interesting one for the main group when they hit the decent, fingers crossed they all string it out and land safely at the bottom 😕

Coverage struggling. Lots of helicopter shots!

Stuck between Cricket and TdF Ads now 🙁 the last one was a info one that said the average rider eats blah calories which is the equivalent of 252 double cheese burgers…mmmm burgers

All set for some fun at the end

Just scrolled back to see what you were talking about. Coffee now in keyboard.
Photo…?

“was Richie Porte on the pies night before last and needed a breather on the way up??”

Weather looks interesting at the finish, hail is being talked about.

looks like some nasty weather at the end

There aren’t too many people who would have picked Sep Vanmarcke and Micha? Kwiatkowski to be battling for a mountain stage victory, you’d have got a good few quid on that bet I reckon.

Yup, two flat landers 🙄

Rodriguez, Fuglsang and Bardet off after Kwiatkowski. Can’t see him holding them off.

Holy crap that looks grim

Sep Vanmarcke and Micha? Kwiatkowski to be battling for a mountain stage victory, you’d have got a good few quid on that bet I reckon.

I’ll give you 100/1

Some games in the peloton, Saxo couldn’t do it. Sky in control again

Fulsang past Kwiatkowski like he was stood still. Just checked, he is 11 mins behind Froome, they may want to keep an eye on him I reckon.

Edit, and he has 8 minutes on them at the moment, they better get a move on.

Bertie goes, too soon, too late? Richie on the chase

Is that contador Nibbles making a move…

And Nibbles, no panic, this is what St10 was about, the rivals have it all to do and go for broke. Sky can lose one of this lot. Still3 Sky men in the group. Froome not even flogging it yet

Still GT and Porte with Froome. Will Froome attack???

Whats the Porte back on the front 🙂 Thats got to hurt the challengers

Not sure why Valverde volunteered to do Sky’s job for them there.

G to make it? Shame as I was hoping Porte was going to make it up there for the KOM jersey in his own right

Froome attacks, marked by Nairo, Bertie and TJ.

Fight for the line, too much by Froome just to egar

Attacks all over the shop, someone is going to go pop I reckon.

Love this on the cycling news feed:

16:50:18 CEST
And Quintana attacks. Porte cracks and Thomas takes over.

16:50:42 CEST
Thomas has enough to bring back Quintana. Instantly.

Some lovely punch and counter punch stuff. Come on Movistar, make them work for it!

Quintana goes, but they hold him

and G **** holds them all

Rodriguez win the stage, he had has 13:22 behind Froom on GC, start your watches, Fulsang was 13:02 behind. This puts them both back in the mix.

I think Purito quite enjoyed that