This stage is the longest of this 100th Tour. It is also one of the most prestigious because nobody wins by chance on the Ventoux, especially not on 14 July? There are two scenarios: either a group gets away from a long way out and maintains enough of an advantage for the escapees to fight it between themselves; or the leaders shut down the race as far as the foot of the climb, transforming the stage into one enormous hill-climb! Depending on the weather, a lot of damage could be done today. Imagine what it could be like if there’s blazing heat all day? Whether you’re in the yellow jersey or not, if you do badly on this climb you will lose a quarter of an hour!
This is going to be fun. Maybe Quintana to win (especially as he’s got a load of domestiques dedicated to him now)? Froome could get another one in the bag? Or even Contador? Unless they let a break go… Of course, with it being Bastille day and all, everyone remotely French is going to want to win. Chavanel? Rolland? Gadret? Bardet? Roy? Pinot is meant to be ill, and Voeckler is crap and everyone hates him, so I think they’re out..
It sounds like Evans and Schleck want to give it a go too, but, well…
Here’s a reminder of what happened to Tony Martin on Ventoux in 2009..
Weather is looking quite warm, but not massively so. No real wind predicted either. Nice. I’ve heard the estimated number of fans to be on Ventoux is around 300,000.
Mike’s Men – no Fro by mikewingrave has taken 1st place again, knocking Ro5ey’s Roulers by andy rose into 2nd, in the fantasy league. Time to do some crashing still at the bottom in the loser league… Yawn…
I believe it was 46 years ago yesterday that Tom Simpson died. I remember stopping by his memorial on Ventoux when I was there – I imagine it will look quite different today.
And once again, the backstage pass video from OGE is always worth a watch
One of the write ups/previews I caught said they were forecasting a potentially decent tali wind for the first 200km which would end up being a head wind on the summit run. That would really make things interesting.
I wonder if the french guys are drawing lots as to who has to go for it on Bastille day, will have to wait for the highlights in the morning but I reckon this will be a finish to remember.
I reckon plenty of the French lads will turn themselves inside out to nail this one. They’re French so I guarantee they will all be in cahoots with each other, will nominate a winner before the race even starts and then will cross-team support that guy to win. What Froome needs to do is work out who that is and stay on his wheel.
Froome to take more time out of the GC guys but I’d be surprised if he actually wins the stage – that would be nice though – I suspect a breakaway will bag the win.
Frome will be boxed in and then spat out the back today. Saxo/Movistar maybe one other team will isolate him and pen him in then they’ll attack and spit him out.
It’s going to get messy. French guys riding Luke their tails on fire, valverde out for revenge after he get a lesson in Belgian riding, Saxo bank riding everyone else legs off and sky getting a kicking. Should be good viewing
I’m looking forward to see what Quintana will do. Especially now it looks like he will have super domesique support. whatever happens it looks like a good day ahead.
I was gutted Simon couldnt hold on yesterday. But would have an ear to ear grin for the rest of the Tour if Voekler managed something heroic today. But I think he said his legs have deserted him this year 🙁
OOh, maybe it was a bluff? Please, lets hope he was bluffing and he is strong as ox!
Today is going to be special. It’s Bastille day and it’s Ventoux. But mostly because, for me, Givors, today’s start town, is where our most precious, beautiful but oh so crazy daughter Pia was born. Unfortunately I’m not with my family as working in Azerbaijan, but I will be glued to live streaming.
As much as I REALLY want Tommy V to do it today, like Sean Kelly said on Eurosport yesterday, he’s had some bag falls early season meaning he didn’t do the Dauphiné: He did the little known Rhone Alpes Isere Tour as a warm up.
Movistar are looking strong for this today. Possibly Quintana for the win. Froome needs to keep his wits about him and not chase every move once on the Ventoux as he’s likely to do. I don’t think Sky are as weak as people are saying but Movistar seem the stronger team. Tommy V will try to attack today although like others have said he’s not on great form.
Looking forward to this. If the weather was crap I would feel less guilty about being indoors.
Frome will be boxed in and then spat out the back today. Saxo/Movistar maybe one other team will isolate him and pen him in then they’ll attack and spit him out.
Problem they have in doing this is that he is faster than them
they have the numbers but he has the speed and the legs of them
I expect him to drop all of them on the final climb again
Bertie for the win.
FFS I so hope not dirty dirty cheat and he is only half the man he was pre steak
Hard days racing.
Hope so but I will miss it all as I take the kids out for their first hilly 15 miler- we may take as long as the stage to complete 😉
Really should be a corker of a stage and it has been a fantastic race so far.
Exciting as Froome looks the best but his team – at least it seems to have stopped the drugs rumours] look pretty weak this year and have been cracked a few times
Perhaps we might see a similar stage to that in 1994 when Eros Poli broke away early built a 20 minute lead and somehow managed to hold on just to win the stage (OK the finish wasn’t at the top that that day but it was just a run down the other side)