Tour de France stage 8 – Pau / Bagnères-de-Luchon – Pyrenees number 2

Sorry it’s late, it’s the weekend and I had other things to do! Anyway, here we go.

Tour de France organizers have opted for gradual difficulties in the Pyrenees this year, the complete opposite as last year when La Pierre-Saint-Martin, in fact the grueling ascent to col du Soudet, was the first and decisive climb. Col d’Aspin was the first category 1 climb this time around – and the only climb of stage 7. Before the queen stage at Andorra, the second act in the Pyrenees is of a higher difficulty with a hint of unprecedented as well. The col du Tourmalet is nothing new. It’s even the most visited climb in the history of the Tour de France (79 times). The Souvenir Jacques-Goddet price will be awarded to the rider who will crest the first HC climb of this Tour in first position. It should be another breakaway from far out with Peter Sagan probable eager to hunt for his well beloved green jersey at the intermediate sprint located at Esquièze-Sère (km 67) just before climbing the Tourmalet. The run-in to Val Louron, another well known hill, will be throughout the Hourquette d’Ancizan on an unprecedented versant. Col de Peyresourde, another legendary one since 1910, the first time in the mountains, precedes the downhill finish to Bagnères-de-Luchon where Michael Rogers was the stage winner two years ago. Shall the favourites be willing to fight, the terrain enables them to do so. But they might wait for the day after…

Tourmelet, brutal.

Who to watch, well, lets consult Inrng[/url]:

The Contenders: Alejandro Valverde is a safe pick as he’s riding with the best at the moment and packs a good sprint. So far we’ve seen a light shone on the troublesome team politics at BMC Racing, Tinkoff and Astana but imagine if Valverde takes yellow, it’ll place a burden on Movistar that they may not yet want. But it also gives the Spanish team the yellow jersey as they head into Spain.

Dan Martin is the second pick for his speedy sprinting. He’s won a Tour stage in the Pyrenees before, in Bagnères… de Bigorre, another spa town not far away. He’s in good shape and would be a good yellow jersey for many in the race. If not Alaphilippe has the power for a sprint.

Will we see a Froome vs Quintana showdown? Both want to test each other but this is difficult terrain to deliver a knock-out blow. So just as Valverde is a pick above, Geraint Thomas led in the riders yesterday and could snipe a stage win again today for the other side.

If you watched yesterday’s stage you might have seen Domenico Pozzovivo take a flyer on the Col d’Aspin. It turns out it was a relay move to help Romain Bardet only Team Sky were too fast so Bardet could not jump clear. The Ag2r La Mondiale leader is riding well, so far the best of the French riders.

Among the GC riders Rui Costa is well down on GC so has room to try, as do several others. Take your pick from Ilnur Zakarin, Rafa? Majka and Astana’s Diego Rosa, the latter climbs well and is heading for Team Sky so could play his own cards.

And from yesterday, Steve Cummings, you legend.

And a collapsed flame rouge.

My predictions, well, I’ve been very wrong so far but why let that stop me.

In a word, Froome, I think he will attack and I think he will attack hard. The downhill finish doesn’t really suit him to gain a lot of time but I’m not sure he’ll be able to help himself.

I also think the yellow jersey will change hands, GVA went deep yesterday and I think he’ll pay for it, Yates in yellow at the end of the day perhaps?

theres a video of the yates flamme rouge incident

here[/url]

😆 😯

51 km in the first hour 🙂 full gas to the first climb! peloton still together

Thanks again lunge. 🙂

In a word, Froome, I think he will attack and I think he will attack hard.

nah not today, will be tomorrow

Lunge no need for any apologies, to the contrary thanks. Tricky afternoon with Lenzerheide DH and TdF – multiple device time !

As proven I know little about the complexities of the tactics but I go for Froome watching and waiting, Sky will respond to any GC attacks but otherwise just pace it out, wait and see if anyone cracks.

Surprised not to hear from Edukator as he lives/works in Pau

Sky looking comfortable at head of peloton 2/3rds of way up Tourmalet

Pinot takes the trophy, Sky looking very strong

GVA is toast

Nibali 3 or so minutes back from the main group.

The break looks strong though, Pinot and Majka can climb and Martin is no slouch either. They could easily stay away I reckon with 2 minutes on the bunch.

Just watched the flaccid flame rouge video, not sure I’ve ever seen better comic timing. All good, all good, all good, Oh shit I’m on the deck.

So who will be in yellow. Big sky train, movistar with only 3 ? I think Froome may take it or do they roll in with Quintana again ?

Interesting stage….. Adam Yates is currently yellow Jersey on the road. Cav has been dropped from the gruppeto and is with only Bernie Eisel. Going to be a huge struggle for him to make the time cut….think he’ll just do it mind. Poor Morokov (awful crash on stage 1) is already 30 mins behind, all alone.

Sky look strong!!!

My massively out on a limb reading of this is that Froome doesn’t feel great so Sky are hoping that nobody attacks.

Movistar’s at the front now so we’ll see shortly…

Interesting take…..can often be the case. Froome has looked in good nick IMO…..there’s a theory that a tour winner should finish in the top 20-30 places of every stage including sprint stages….. Been up there so far I think….although obviously a stage like today’s is a much better indication of his form!

Hey all, just getting in to this year. I used to love the live graphics on the Tour site with the little spinning cyclists, showing the breaks/groups etc. Has that gone? I’m at http://racecenter.letour.fr/#/stageprofile

Un the upside, Waldorf and Statler have been shuffled off ITV4. Yay and double yay!

doesn’t France look beautiful.

My massively out on a limb reading of this

Is agree, Froome looks very uncomfortable

Danny Hart by 0.096 🙂

doesn’t France look beautiful.

Indeed the Tour was conceived to advertise the country especially remoter parts and it really delivers !

Hopefully the big guns are going to do a shoot out on this hill but it might only be a teasing test of power and form

Sky look solid as a team.

Good stuff from Adam Yates so far…..reckon there’ll be one big effort from the front though that will thin the group…..

Froome going…..smashing the group to bits…..Martin goes too!!! Excellent!!!

Beefeater dropped 🙂

Froome attacking on the descent 😯

Was that Edukator in the Baywatch outfit?

Froome with a new descending technique 😯

Interesting wheel choice for Froome as well, looks like this was always the plan

No freebies from Sky! 🙂

Tom B yes indeed 🙂

Goes off out to pedal like Froome

Not one I would be trying but clever move to get the wee break

Froome is smashing it!
Showing massive balls yet at the same time squashing them!

90k with his teeth by the front wheel 😯

Wasn’t expecting that from Froome!

And a “bonification”, it can’t get any better!

Doubled his gap on the descent, going to be in yellow with 30 plus seconds on Quintana at this rate too

Looks hideous but good effort!

Smashed it!

“Froome isn’t great at descending”

Well, there’s that myth shattered.

Who said that? He’s always been pretty good.

Not watching it live today… crazy risk taking for a GC contender?