Tour de France Stage 8 – July 12th, Tomblaine - Gérardmer La Ma **Unmasked Spoilers**

Darkglasses

Finally, we're in the mountains. Not the hardest day we'll have by any stretch but definitely there's the opportunity for Nibali or Contador to take some shots. Parcours is fairly straightforward, 130km of flat roads and then 30km of two Cat 2s, and then a Cat 3 summit finish. I would strongly expect Contador to have a big attack on Nibali on this stage, to start to make up the 2.5 minutes he owes him. Doesn't have a lot to lose by trying at least.

Valverde will also be eyeing this one up. He's well positioned in the GC in 9th - 2'11 behind Nibali and '26 ahead of Contador.

First climb - 7.6km @ 6%
Second climb - 3km @ 7.5%
Third climb - 1.8km @ 10.3%

Oddschecker: Valverde 15/4, Contador 11/2, Kwiatkowski 9/1, Nibali 13/1, Rodriguez 13/1

Talib Fiasco

Nibali

This one suits Valverde and Kwiat...Imma go for the latter. I don't think we'll see Contador explode today unless he sees weakness, I think he'll save it for Monday.

Finally Chavenel does something!!!

seany15

Good to see chava out there. You'd have to fancy valverde or rui costa. I think I'll go with costa.

MPFG

Breakaway is going to stay away IMO ....Astana don't look like chasing.....Cannodale may chase ...they are going to wait and see ???

So its Chava or Simon Yates or maybe Kadri

Of course there will be a battle between the GC guys .....

ThisRegard

Arrived in the one in laws, the tour was on, nice one I thought. Then nice one from the in laws when they realised they had Eurosport and English commentary when I flicked over to it from TG4.

Inquitus

Simon Yates hopefully!

Aoibheann

The gap is really dropping now - still at 6'30 but the peleton have really put the hammer down now! Really looking forward to the remaining ~25km or so. I know Contador said he wasn't planning to attack today, that the stage was more suited to Valverde or even Nibali, but methinks that's likely a bluff!

Zyzz

The breakaway will be caught for sure, especially with the conditions and the front of the peleton are going hell for leather!

seany15

Chavanel might nick this!!

Aoibheann

Well now, this is exciting.. The gap is absolutely FLYING down now, particularly with Saxo on the front. Kadri and Chavanal have 4'30 over the peleton, 17' over Terpstra/Petit/Yates.

REBELSAFC

Nico looks comfortable at the front with his buddies

Pudsy33

I don't think he's there anymore

Never mind, he's fourth wheel.

Aoibheann

Gap doesn't seem to have changed much in the last 5km or so, Kadri has 4'34 over the peleton atm.

Looks like Zubeldia was dropped there? Kwiatkowski too!

dastardly00

Nico looks cream-crackered. When Rogers peels off, I dunno how long Nico will be able to last at the front.

Aoibheann

He constantly looks like he's suffering the second he even looks at a climb though, so let's hope it's just that!

Schleck's right at the very back of this peleton, looks to be struggling a little!

Fulsgang made a mess of that corner!

Heisenberg1

dastardly00 wrote: »

Nico looks cream-crackered. When Rogers peels off, I dunno how long Nico will be able to last at the front.

Doesn't looked cream crackered now.

Aoibheann

Heisenberg1 wrote: »

Doesn't looked cream crackered now.

Gone now, but great effort there!

Aoibheann

CONTADOR! Such a liar.

Doesn't seem to be hurting Nibali at all though...

Also, of course, well done to Kadri!

seany15

Porte climbing well

full_irish

"on the final climb, he'll be making the 'calculashion' that he...

Gotta love Kelly.

xxyyzz

Some mind games there by Nibali there.

Heisenberg1

Aoibheann wrote: »

CONTADOR! Such a liar.

Doesn't seem to be hurting Nibali at all though...

Also, of course, well done to Kadri!

Doesn't seem to have that burst of speed that he had from previous years Nibali not troubled at all.

Aoibheann

Heisenberg1 wrote: »

Doesn't seem to have that burst of speed that he had from previous years Nibali not troubled at all.

I would say to wait 'til we hit the real climbs before saying that... Monday should be interesting for sure!

full_irish

Heisenberg1 wrote: »

Doesn't seem to have that burst of speed that he had from previous years Nibali not troubled at all.

No burst of speed? Did you see him go when Nibali faltered:pac:

BQQ

Nico hung on for 16th @3:33

Great performance given he was putting in shifts on the front.

DDC1990

A longer climb and Contador will gain more time on Nibbles.

Porte was great as well.

Very exciting Tour in prospect.

DDC1990

A longer climb and Contador will gain more time on Nibbles.

Porte was great as well.

Very exciting Tour in prospect.

CramCycle

Really enjoyed that, I thought Nico looked in great form

Brian?

Talansky

DDC1990 wrote: »

A longer climb and Contador will gain more time on Nibbles.

Porte was great as well.

Very exciting Tour in prospect.

Completely agree. That climb was 1.8km long. He had Nibali on the limit and dropped Porte while looking fresh as a daisy.

Great team ride by Tinkoff-Saxo as well. Burned off Sky and Astana

MPFG

DDC1990 wrote: »

A longer climb and Contador will gain more time on Nibbles.

Porte was great as well.

Very exciting Tour in prospect.

I have an issue with Nico ...again !!

On stage 2 and yesterday and again today ....when he takes over on the short sharp climbs he put in this almighty burst ...that lasts all of 10 seconds
When Rodgers peeled off you can see his face and it is almost saying 'holy cow its my turn better do something quick'..its like he panics ...if he maintained the speed of Rodgers he would have lasted longer .and could have after setting into the front upped it a little and brought Contador further up the climb .....Why does he do this surge just to run out juice ...

Also why Tinkoff Saxo looked impressive today I am with Lemond on this ...better to have let Astana ride and tire them out ....TCS cannot keep this up for 2 weeks and best used where Contador can cause the most damage to Nibali ..which is onthe longer climbs

I am not sure Nico will continue to be 4th wheel if he doesn't last a little longer ...thought Majka looked very good and Rodgers great too
Nico was also great is just that one thing because i think he could sort that out and be better on steep climbs

Brian?

Talansky

MPFG wrote: »

I have an issue with Nico ...again !!

On stage 2 and yesterday and again today ....when he takes over on the short sharp climbs he put in this almighty burst ...that lasts all of 10 seconds
When Rodgers peeled off you can see his face and it is almost saying 'holy cow its my turn better do something quick'..its like he panics ...if he maintained the speed of Rodgers he would have lasted longer .and could have after setting into the front upped it a little and brought Contador further up the climb .....Why does he do this surge just to run out juice ...

Also why Tinkoff Saxo looked impressive today I am with Lemond on this ...better to have let Astana ride and tire them out ....TCS cannot keep this up for 2 weeks and best used where Contador can cause the most damage to Nibali ..which is onthe longer climbs

I am not sure Nico will continue to be 4th wheel if he doesn't last a little longer ...thought Majka looked very good and Rodgers great too
Nico was also great is just that one thing because i think he could sort that out and be better on steep climbs

I'm pretty sure it's team orders. Nico sets a blistering pace to burn off as many riders as he can and soften up others for Contador to attack. Everyone in the Tinkoff Saxo train knows exactly what power I ride at and how long they can hold it.

Don't forget the last 2 days were short punchy climbs. No point in maintaining a tempo at the front if the climb is 2km long. Nibali can handle tempo, it's the sudden accelerations he struggles with.

Inquitus

Initial impressions are Bertie has Nibali's number as long as he stays upright.

velo.2010

Inquitus wrote: »

Initial impressions are Bertie has Nibali's number as long as he stays upright.

Actually, one could argue the opposite based on what we saw today.

Inquitus

velo.2010 wrote: »

Actually, one could argue the opposite based on what we saw today.

He took 3 secs on a climb that would generally favour Nibali, and Astana were noticeable by their collective team fail, whereas Saxo looked very strong. Nibali looked cooked at the end, Contador looked super fresh. Maybe we watched a different stage.

Bring on Planche des Belle Filles

velo.2010

I'm actually rooting for Contador! Nibali though, did what he only has to do to win this Tour - stay upright and follow Contador's wheel. Should be a fascinating stage to Planche des Belle Filles. Nibali did well there two years ago behind Froome.


Can Tinkoff employ similar tactics to Sky in 2012 and motor up that climb?

Inquitus

velo.2010 wrote: »

I'm actually rooting for Contador! Nibali though, did what he only has to do to win this Tour - stay upright and follow Contador's wheel. Should be a fascinating stage to Planche des Belle Filles. Nibali did well there two years ago behind Froome.


Can Tinkoff employ similar tactics to Sky in 2012 and motor up that climb?

Wiggins gapped Nibali on the climb with Froome sprinting to Victory. Nibali some say is better now then he was then, I am not so sure, either way it is a true gem of a Tour climb and long may we see it feature since they spent all the money resurfacing it in 2012. It is certainly another key stage in an epic opening week or so. I think we will get some answers on it for sure.

buffalo

I like how Carlton tells us when a rider is a lovely guy and Kadri is such a nice guy, but why does he never mention when a rider is a right prick? Think it'd be a good addition to the commentary.

"And here comes today's stage winner, Tony Lynch. He's a right wanker, doesn't deserve this victory at all!"

gordongekko

buffalo wrote: »

I like how Carlton tells us when a rider is a lovely guy and Kadri is such a nice guy, but why does he never mention when a rider is a right prick? Think it'd be a good addition to the commentary.

"And here comes today's stage winner, Tony Lynch. He's a right wanker, doesn't deserve this victory at all!"

Ah that's not fair I know Tony lynch and once you get to know him he's sound.

velo.2010

Speaking of Carlton, here is a picture of the (great) man himself.....





Now you can put a face to that voice!:D

Talib Fiasco

Nibali

Very impressive by Bertie today and the team as a whole...Nibbles was hurting badly there, it looked like Contador didn't go full gas at all...great gains too, up 10 places in a medium mountain stage is significant, getting rid of the irrelevant cyclists hoping for top 10 glamour. Nibbles is classy so expect one hell of a fight but Contador is looking really good atm...if he stays out of trouble and his team can deliver he has a hell of a chance.

Darkglasses

Kwiatkowski

buffalo wrote: »

I like how Carlton tells us when a rider is a lovely guy and Kadri is such a nice guy, but why does he never mention when a rider is a right prick? Think it'd be a good addition to the commentary.

"And here comes today's stage winner, Tony Lynch. He's a right wanker, doesn't deserve this victory at all!"

Because Froome and Cavendish aren't in the race anymore.

Lusk_Doyle

Is it just me or does Nibali have some sort of nervous twitch when on the bike? It looks as though he is constantly shrugging his shoulders forward in an attempt to move the jersey around. Maybe he ain't comfortable in yellow!

MPFG

Brian? wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it's team orders. Nico sets a blistering pace to burn off as many riders as he can and soften up others for Contador to attack. Everyone in the Tinkoff Saxo train knows exactly what power I ride at and how long they can hold it.

Don't forget the last 2 days were short punchy climbs. No point in maintaining a tempo at the front if the climb is 2km long. Nibali can handle tempo, it's the sudden accelerations he struggles with.

Thanks for reply
However Nico interview on ITV says he hoped to hold his turn longer

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/video-nicolas-roche-confident-that-contador-can-bridge-time-gap-to-nibali

Said the same in Sheffield..So even though he knows what power he can do (I presume) he somehow (my theory) gets excited or something and goes too fast too quickly and cannot maintain his power ... 3 times in this Tour and twice in the Giro he has hit a climb very hard and almost come to a standstill after 20 seconds approx...and afterwards has said he was not his intention .So I think he needs to address this..Its a pity cos he looks great and has great form


As for Carlton Kirby ...there are riders he doesn't like
Valverde , Betencur to name 2

Lumen

Impressed by Porte today given his poor preparation and chaos of last few days. Hope he can ride his way into the Tour and use this opportunity to prove himself.

Brian?

Talansky

Lumen wrote: »

Impressed by Porte today given his poor preparation and chaos of last few days. Hope he can ride his way into the Tour and use this opportunity to prove himself.

I hope Porte does well too. However he did very little to impress today. Never attacked and got dropped on a cat 3 climb.


If he finishes on the podium I'd be delighted for him, hopefully he'd get a leaders role elsewhere.

Zyzz

Are Froome and Cav gone?

seany15

Zyzz wrote: »

Are Froome and Cav gone?

hard to say, Carlton hasn't mentioned it.......

Darkglasses

Kwiatkowski

Zyzz wrote: »

Are Froome and Cav gone?

Zyzz, please..:o

Zyzz

seany15 wrote: »

hard to say, Carlton hasn't mentioned it.......

Hence my confusion..

Darkglasses wrote: »

Zyzz, please..:o

:D

Heisenberg1

full_irish wrote: »

No burst of speed? Did you see him go when Nibali faltered:pac:

He gained 3 seconds on him let's see how he does next week.

Heisenberg1

Brian? wrote: »

I hope Porte does well too. However he did very little to impress today. Never attacked and got dropped on a cat 3 climb.


If he finishes on the podium I'd be delighted for him, hopefully he'd get a leaders role elsewhere.

He came back well in the end.