Tour de France Stage 11 – July 16th, Besancon - Oyonnax **Unmasked Spoilers**

Darkglasses

Fabian Cancellara has not started today

Preview

ZiabR

Looks like a nice stage to be honest. Fabian Cancellara has withdrawn from the TDF to rest.

retalivity

I fancy sagan to have a go at this, either as part of a breakaway or putting cannondale on the front for the climbs.

My outsider for the day - Edet

A_Sober_Paddy

What are the chances of Rodriquez doing something in todays stage?

lennymc

logik wrote: »

Looks like a nice stage to be honest. Fabian Cancellara has withdrawn from the TDF to rest.

That's why I didn't enter. I needed to rest.

ZiabR

lennymc wrote: »

That's why I didn't enter. I needed to rest.

Well that is what Trek have reported. He has raced 59 days this year already and he wants time to rest up for the World Championships.

Brian?

Roche to win today.

WinnyThePoo

Brian? wrote: »

Roche to win today.

Was thinking that myself. My head though says Majka or Rogers from tinkoff are more likely to pick up a stage.

Talib Fiasco

Sagan attacking again...what a man

ZiabR

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Sagan attacking again...what a man

Part machine, part man.

Pudsy33

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

Was thinking that myself. My head though says Majka or Rogers from tinkoff are more likely to pick up a stage.

Majk is wrecked and doesn't want to be there. Certainly Roche or Rodgers have a shot.

REBELSAFC

logik wrote: »

Looks like a nice stage to be honest. Fabian Cancellara has withdrawn from the TDF to rest.

That's nice for him.
Would he not think of my fantasy team.
First Contador and now Fab.

MPFG

Brian? wrote: »

Roche to win today.

Not sure about today as he is not good after rest day

But if not today then tomorrow looks good too

Rodgers is not as explosive and favours more the long steady climbs in a break IMO...
Not sure about Makja form .....He must be sorely pi**ed ..he didn't want to be in Tour ...want to win Tour of Poland I think and ride Vuelata
Maybe next week would be good for him if his form is back

Pudsy33

Is Talansky cooked?

retalivity

my bets on contador to win the whole thing and talansky each way look really, really good

Glass Prison 1214

retalivity wrote: »

my bets on contador to win the whole thing and talansky each way look really, really good

I have Contador to win and Valverde each way, so at least I have one looking good, with all the big names out, this tour has been a betting nightmare.

Darkglasses

Talansky's about 2 minutes behind the peloton, no team-mates gone back to him. Should probably just be stepping off at this point

Itziger

Why are they allowing (making) Talansky go on like that without team mates? Strange.

Talib Fiasco

About time, Talansky has been a complete stink in this Tour

SomeFool

Garmin driving the pace while Talansky is struggling, very strange stuff.

Blowfish

SomeFool wrote: »

Garmin driving the pace while Talansky is struggling, very strange stuff.

I presume they know he isn't going to make it so are just going themselves for the stage win.

retalivity

Blowfish wrote: »

I presume they know he isn't going to make it so are just going themselves for the stage win.

still pretty ****ty all the same...either someone goes back to him or he steps off. don't know why he is continuing on

Chips Lovell

They'll only send guys back if there's a chance he'll get back on or limit his losses. If not, he might as well join the grupetto.

laraghrider

retalivity wrote: »

still pretty ****ty all the same...either someone goes back to him or he steps off. don't know why he is continuing on

Not ****ty at all. I think he'll pull out after the stage. His back is in bits. Woke up this morning in absolute agony with his back but refused to pull out. He knows he's done, his DS knows he's done and his team knows he done so someone else can go for the win.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd he's gone!!!

Pudsy33

Talansky back on his bike, what a fighter.

Eamonnator

Talansky is a broken man.

SomeFool

He's goosed.

Blowfish

retalivity wrote: »

still pretty ****ty all the same...either someone goes back to him or he steps off. don't know why he is continuing on

I'd presume it's that the injury isn't bad enough to keep him off the bike for a significant period, but is enough to make him noncompetitive. He may as well stay on the bike and treat the rest of the stage as a recovery spin.

Pudsy33

Roche going for it?

DDC1990

Go Nico.

Also fair play to Talansky, just won't give up.

Eamonnator

Talansky is 14 minutes down on stage.

Pudsy33

Don't think Roche or any of the break will make it, but hopefully I am proved wrong.

retalivity

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Don't think Roche or any of the break will make it, but hopefully I am proved wrong.

they're gonna need at least am minute over the last climb...not looking likely

eagle eye

Looks like they finally decided to work together in the breakaway again. Its probably a bit late but you'd never know. Only 19 seconds now but if the peloton started messing around again then they could get away.

Pudsy33

They'll probably by caught be the time we are back from the break

Pudsy33

Roche kicking on

DDC1990

Come on Nico. Going to be a tough 20k

Darkglasses

Nico's opened up a 30 second gap to the peloton, by himself now

Doc07

Come on Nico!

otterj

watchin the live feed in work come on Roche

ThisRegard

I think it's too far out with that climb coming up and Nibali pushing it.

otterj

really?

retalivity

theres still another uncategorised climb to come before the descent

otterj

hes a good descender could pick up time there

CramCycle

Down to 14 seconds now

Talib Fiasco

If he holds on here it'll be incredibly impressive...he better do the pistol salute if he wins :pac:

Edit: Ah it's over

Pudsy33

All over

MPFG

Tony Martin chasing ...enough said

ThisRegard

52kph doesn't seem too fast there, not speeds where he'd be increasing the gap.

MPFG

ThisRegard wrote: »

52kph doesn't seem too fast there, not speeds where he'd be increasing the gap.

Very narrow twisty road

Just wishing Tonly Martin would stop it now ...enough is enough

Nico is very strong looking ....will try tomorrow but needs to not go too early

REBELSAFC

Roche wins the Combative!!!!