TdF Stage 16 – Mastery Of All Aspects Of Cycling [Spoilers]

Pau, a stronghold? Pau, a strategic place? On today’s menu, a 197 km classic succession of great Pyrenean cols: the Aubisque, Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin and Peyresourde. As Christian Prudhomme said, a mere four days from the finish, this stage will turn the thumbscrews on the peloton! Moreover, such a course is exactly my idea of a true mountain stage: not with a summit finish, which tends to lock up the race a bit, but an up-and-down course which calls for a mastery of all aspects of cycling. Two years ago, Andy Schleck vacillated somewhat on the descents… Probably won’t have to worry too much about him doing that again. Or his bro.

I reckon Evans has to drop the hammer on the descent to the line, but there’s already a break of about 40 riders – they could stay away.

Cool pictures of a boring stage..

http://www.steephill.tv/2012/tour-de-france/photos/stage-15/

A few useful links

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Steephill[/url]
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Velogames Fantasy League
Classifications
Withdrawals

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-schleck-requests-b-sample-will-claim-hes-been-poisoned

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/10-conclusions-from-the-tour-de-france-rest-day-2-edition

its hot here today. just come down 3,000ft of descent on the road into quillan and while the air temp is 33degs in places it yep more like 40 coming off the hot tarmac. would not want to be doing any climbing in this. I’m sweating just working through this Ricard.

anyway been looking forward to today’s stage so am tracking down. a bar to watch it.

took this on Sunday and am bit chuffed given the speed they hooned past at.

Very jealous. I can see there being a lot of pain today.

With two in the breakaway I wouldn’t be surprised if Evans tries an escape over the summit of the Aspin. Bridging too his team mates on the decent, as they drop back to help him over the last climb.

just come down 3,000ft of descent on the road into quillan

Ride through the gorges St Georges, Stoner?

Edit: Ouch

Even though this is a tour town there’s not a big following here. Last time we stayed at luchon with aqr Mrs s rode three of today’s cols so bit of personal interest.

Unfortunately Ive been struck down by man flu these last three days so haven’t been able to ride my favourite vtt routes round here 🙁

Ocrider, no from above montmija.

I can’t climb with these lungs of lead so Mrs s climbed there on one of My fave routes and I drove up with the kids and we went for a walk. Then swapped and I freewheeled down to town on her Diddy 456 in my flip flops. Getting a lift back up to the plateau this evening 😉

Quillans a wierd place. The first time I drove through it, I felt like I was flung back into the 80’s. Nice road up to Axat, mind you. Guess all the roads leading out of town are pretty (apart from the one to Limoux)

Unfortunately Ive been struck down by man flu these last three days

MFTFU? 😀

Some great roads round here and lots of brilliant xc vtt as opposed to gravity stuff. Been coming this way for years since some friends got a place here nearly 15 yrs ago.

Quillan still weird but comfortable

today has to have a do or die move from one of the top 10.
surely one of them has something up his sleeve (and not just track marks).

i think itll be nibali going for broke today

maybe someone can remind me but i cant actually remember a time cadel launched a successful damaging attack in a previous tour?

Yes, the last climb will be interesting to see what happens with the lead bunch.

WFH – with it on mute (well on mute if anyone calls)

ITV4 is driving me barmy with all the adverts!! they seem to be on every 15 minutes and last for ten!.Where can i watch that has continuous coverage?

ads: I flick between ITV4 and Eurosport, sometimes the ad breaks are synchronised, sometimes they’re not.

gonna be a cracking day. always like to see that they are sub 100km, but with 4 HOURS to go.

proper terrain.

Just got the fr3 feed switched on In the bar. I think the locals are quite sympathetic this year what with “GB” @ 1&2 😉

eurosport player on on my iphone just below my monitor with my headphones on 😀

i cant actually remember a time cadel launched a successful damaging attack in a previous tour?

me neither – they keep talking about him having a kick, but I’ve never seen it last very long. certainly when he won, it was because he would grind out a chasing pace. didn’t he grind down Andy Schleck’s break on Alpe D’Huez last year to minimize the time gap?

My major spectating issue is I have the video on the telly (= driving/telly watching glasses) and the graphics and work on my lappy (= reading glasses) and have to keep switching between then. It’s like a Morecambe and Wise sketch.

Jens Voight’s top tube. Reads: ‘Shut up legs! 805,000 km. 3,100kg of pasta consumed. 110 stitches. 100 crashes. 64 wins. 40 years. 25 screws. 16 times around the world. 11 broken bones. 1 Jens!’

Is that spider real?

that must just be racing KM’s or KM’s in the 11tooth sprocket maybe :d he has to have ridden more than that.

I love voeckler. I think his tongue is doing all the work though 🙂

Excellent.

what happened to hincapie? claret on him.

I’m following this on the Eurosport live txt feed and they’ve described it as another training ride for Sky, why will nobody attack? Seems they’re just marking themselves out of the race.
As much as I want Wiggins to win I would like to see Cadel, Nibali or even TJ go for it, just to liven it up a little 😉

what happened to hincapie?

Crashed on the start of the descent.

I’d also like to see some crazy attacks, I’m counting on Nibali here.

nibbles=all mouth, no lycra

why will nobody attack?

hang on… 2 bigguns to go yet. be a hell of a bold move for a GC contender to try and grab it 3 or 4 climbs out…

exactly – nibbles will be waiting for the last climb and descent I reckon (and a fair few journos/ commentators who I might have listed to 😳 )

From Eurosport feed

Voeckler wants Feillu to come through and help. He looks very erratic – and quite barmy. He appears to be talking to himself. His earpiece is not in, so he really is just chatting away. To himself.

😆

i like the sound of using sagan as a wind break off the aspin to get nibbali into the last climb first.

hardcore 70mph DH for the win.

“Cadence up, cadence up, cadence up, down gear..”

From Eurosport feed
Voeckler wants Feillu to come through and help. He looks very erratic – and quite barmy. He appears to be talking to himself. His earpiece is not in, so he really is just chatting away. To himself.

just another day in the saddle for Tommy V.

HERO.

just another day in the saddle for Tommy V.

He’s been quality to watch, I’m glad he’s in the break again 😀

“Cadence up, cadence up, cadence up, down gear..”

:elbows Francis off top of Col:
…down cliff

voeckler is ace, cos he makes it look what it is. **** hard.

you shouldn’t be able to do that kinda stuff with a smile.

HERE WE GO!!!

Here we go..

HA