July 13, Stage 11: Blaye-les-Mines - Lavaur 168km

ednwireland

The end of the beginning

This stage marks the halfway point of the Tour but the sprinters will have already past most of their winning opportunities. After today, the only two stages where they will be expecting to get a look-in are in Montpellier and 11 days down the line on the Champs-Elysées. Consequently, it will be a surprise if they allow this stage to elude them. That said, there will be many baroudeurs who have come up with a similar assessment of their own prospects, unless they are the kind of breakaway specialist who can stay the pace on seriously big climbs. A bunch finish… probably.

ROK ON

If these flat stages were in Ireland we would be calling it a hilly course. There is as much climbing in that stage as in any sportif in Wicklow for example.

ednwireland

just looked at the route had a great time in tarn gorges a few years ago, some fine wines from Gaillac

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

If these flat stages were in Ireland we would be calling it a hilly course. There is as much climbing in that stage as in any sportif in Wicklow for example.

I bet their sangiches are better.

I think I've done the Tarn Gorge and surrounds on a touring bike, a long time ago, with a triple. Move over Johnny...

TinyExplosions

Gadret's out, citing fatigue... bad for Nico possibly, and terrible for my Velogames team!

AG2R

Gadret hasn't looked good at all tbh

ednwireland

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Gadret's out, citing fatigue... bad for Nico possibly, and terrible for my Velogames team!

considering he had zero points (and didnt seem likely to get any) no loss

thats the first out of my velogames team

TinyExplosions

ednwireland wrote: »

considering he had zero points (and didnt seem likely to get any) no loss

thats the first out of my velogames team

I was still holding out a modicum of misplaced hope that he'd pick up a few in the mountains

He has looked very tired and terrible this year, am amazed they took the punt on him tbh, as he didn't seem too certain of his recovery in interviews before the tour

bcmf

Looks like the Giro is starting to claim casaulties. IMO either Contador looks shagged when he tries to attempt something or he is playing a good 'I am wrecked card'.

TheBlaaMan

ROK ON wrote: »

If these flat stages were in Ireland we would be calling it a hilly course. There is as much climbing in that stage as in any sportif in Wicklow for example.

Yep, not at all dissimilar to the SKT 160 route in terms of stats. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/474674

168k with over 2200m of climbing.

AG2R

HTC being made do all the work again

ednwireland

AG2R wrote: »

HTC being made do all the work again

they could just sit up, but they have one m.cavendish on board

AG2R

They're sitting up now :L
Garmin coming up too. Farrar must have the legs today

mgmt

I can see some crashes with all this rain.

Mint Sauce

mgmt wrote: »

I can see some crashes with all this rain.

Its looking preety wet alright, lets hope everyone stays upright.

AG2R

Lars Boom is giving his all

AG2R

Goss gone from the back

AG2R

Boom is not making any new friends in the peleton today

AG2R

Nice Sprint.

Green changing hands?

ednwireland

cavendish - brilliant delivers again

cav in green !!!!

Lumen

I wonder whether Cav will thank his team? I'm on the edge of my seat...

SomeFool

Cav again, great finish, shows how Renshaw is so important to him too.

AG2R

Lumen wrote: »

I wonder whether Cav will thank his team? I'm on the edge of my seat...

He did.


Gilbert was nowhere to be seen today.
going be tough for Cav to keep that.

Lumen

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendishs-french-lesson-for-manx-students

"When people ask about cycling on the island, I always tell them that we now get 500 kids every Tuesday night turning up to the National Sports Centre in Douglas and doing some kind of race. They’re all in their HTC tops, dreaming of one day being like Cav."

Five hundred little Cavs. Can you imagine the whining? :pac:

AstraMonti

Got to love the wording

Yesterday, Greipel was perfect but today I made sure I didn't make the same mistake.

"It's not that Greipel is any good, I just didn't do it correctly" haha

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

Five hundred little Cavs. Can you imagine the winning? :pac:

FYP

TheBlaaMan

AstraMonti wrote: »

Got to love the wording

"It's not that Greipel is any good, I just didn't do it correctly" haha

I wuv you......

ColSheehan

Did anyone else hear Cav say 'Aww for fcuk sake' when he got to the interview area? The Eurosport commentators were mad talking about Cav's win and I'm guessing they didn't hear it