Tour de France 2015 Stage 7 Livarot - Fougeres *contains unmasked spoilers*

Darkglasses

Surely we can catch our breath tomorrow? Right?

As with today, the weather forecast is looking amenable, no crosswinds or rain likely. There is only 1 KOM point on offer on that Cat 4 climb, so Teklehaimanot will hang onto the polka dot jersey assuming J-Rod doesn't win the point. Also similar to today, the final KM is an uphill finish. However, it is a meagre 4% average, and so Greipel enters the race as favourite for the stage win. There are a good number of roundabouts to contend with towards the finish, but hopefully the dry roads will mean we have a relatively peaceful day.

Oddschecker: Greipel 2/1, Cavendish 5/2, Sagan 4/1, Kristoff 7/1, Degenkolb 10/1

Inquitus

Sam doesn't have the legs for this sort of distance he's been nowhere to date sadly, the Gorilla seems to be the one to beat, so have to agree with the bookies, but Cav might get a decent leadout on this stage so I'd pick him at 5/2.

Darkglasses

Mark Cavendish

Inquitus wrote: »

Sam doesn't have the legs for this sort of distance he's been nowhere to date sadly, the Gorilla seems to be the one to beat, so have to agree with the bookies, but Cav might get a decent leadout on this stage so I'd pick him at 5/2.

Sam finished 166th today, behind Nico Roche. I don't think we'll be seeing him contest a sprint any time soon

spock.

Mark Cavendish

Sagan is getting so close.
I think he'll get his win tommorow.

dastardly00

Bryan Coquard

Darkglasses wrote: »

Sam finished 166th today, behind Nico Roche. I don't think we'll be seeing him contest a sprint any time soon

Unless he was taking it very easy in preparation for Stage 7, right?

If the weather is ok and there are no crashes, I think Sam should be in the main bunch for the sprint. I can't see him getting top-10 or anything though.

Lotto-Soudal put in a lot of effort in Stage 6 so they might pay for that in Friday's stage.

I reckon Degenkolb will win his first TdF stage.

Subpopulus

Peter Sagan

Very hard one to call. On the face of it either Greipel, Cavendish, Degenkolb or Sagan, but there's also a lot of second tier sprinters like Demare, Coquard, and Kristoff there who probably won't be weeded out by the wind or steep climbs...

And I know Kristoff is technically a first-tier sprinter, but he's been very quiet so far this Tour...

Brian?

Mark Cavendish

I have yet to pick a correct stage winner - no one put any money on Sagan for this one.

lennymc

Darkglasses wrote: »

Sam finished 166th today, behind Nico Roche. I don't think we'll be seeing him contest a sprint any time soon

Wasnt he up in the front group the day before, but got caught out by going the long way around a roundabout?

death1234567

Alexander Kristoff

Cavendish is my pick. Surely they can't ballz up the leadout again.

Leroy42

Looking at the sprints so far I actually think it is a combination of not a perfect lead out but also Cav is not helping. He is losing wheels, and then going to early.

Greipel had a poor/no lead out on the last one (I have no idea what Sagan was doing so far back) yet both beat Cav.

His failure in the earlier stage, when he 'let' Cancellara take third was more down to the fact he just doesn't have either the top line speed or the staying power. I think he needs to think more like Robbie McEwen in that in needs to look at others to do the work for him and leave it as late as possible.

I can't see him winning any sprints this year unless he sorts that out.

I'm not discounting him completely, the guy is awesome on his day, but his day seems to have passed

letape

Alexander Kristoff

So far more votes for Sagan and Degs than Griepel and Cav. Surely this is a stage for a pure sprinter. Head says Griepel but going with Cav - he has to win a stage at some point.

dastardly00

Bryan Coquard

lennymc wrote: »

Wasnt he up in the front group the day before, but got caught out by going the long way around a roundabout?

If it's Stage 5 - Arras to Amiens that you are thinking about, then it was Sam's team mate Zakkari Dempster.

Decuc500

Alexander Kristoff

Greipel is by far the strongest in a flat sprint this year but if Cav gets the lead out he needs he'll eventually win one.

dastardly00

Bryan Coquard

The final 300 meters are uphill with an average gradient of around 4% all the way towards the finishing line.

happytramp

Peter Sagan

Greipel. All day long.

Hopefully TG4 sort the sound out for their coverage. Last two stages have been terrible to watch with the sound low or commentary completely absent.

Taxuser1

John Degenkolb

fancy Kristoff today. Cav will get his lead out but won't hold it.

Greipel got luckier than Sagan in Wednesday's sprint - both were boxed in but Greipel got a gap - the late sprint favourted them both as it was gently rising and everyone had gone too soon

Kristof will love the finale. Even though there were 2 team trains on Wednesday he still managed to start the long sprint and got caught late. Don't think he'll mis-time it today

Matt Bianco

Just out of interest, any idea what speeds are hit in these final sprints? Read Martin saying that he crashed a (relatively) low speed with another source saying it was around 50kph which looks pedestrian when you see the specialists really turn on the speed for the final push

ThisRegard

Eurosport show the speed in the corner of the screen during the sprints and at other stages, must keep an eye out today.

lennymc

Greipel was reported to be doing just under 80 with a bit of a tail wind in one of the sprints, but about 50 with a bit of a headwind according to GLeM.

xxyyzz

Greipel hit 95kmh on Wednesday according to strava. I'm not sure if that was a descent but it was a relatively flat stage.

Talib Fiasco

Mark Cavendish

Crash occurred earlier in the neutralised section...Contador down, so was Gesink

godtabh

Matt Bianco wrote: »

Just out of interest, any idea what speeds are hit in these final sprints? Read Martin saying that he crashed a (relatively) low speed with another source saying it was around 50kph which looks pedestrian when you see the specialists really turn on the speed for the final push

Yesterdays data

39.108 km/h – the average speed on the stage.
33.63 km/h – average speed of fastest rider up Côte du Tilleul, Gregory Henderson (LTS).
75.89 km/h – top recorded speed on the stage by John Dagenkolb (TGA) at km 186.5.
00’02” – the time gap between the first and last rider.
49.09 km/h – top speed Teklehaimanot (MTN) reached just before the King of the Mountains point on Côte de Pourville-sur-Mer as the climb leveled out.
56.77 km/h – top speed on the intermediate sprint by Degenkolb (TGA) in the km before the Saint Leonard checkpoint.
36.13 km/h – speed of Van Bilsen (COF), who was ahead in the break, winning the intermediate sprint comfortably.
28.19 km/h – speed at which Tony Martin (EQS), crashed less than 1km from the finish line.

Average speeds up the Category 4 climbs:
Climb 1 – Côte de Dieppe: Teklehaimanot (MTN) 23.40 km/h; Quemeneur (EUC) 23.39 km/h; van Bilsen (COF) 23.33 km/h.
Climb 2 – Côte de Pourville-sur-Mer: Teklehaimanot (MTN) 25.36 km/h; Quemeneur (EUC) 25.48 km/h; van Bilsen (COF) 25.37 km/h.
Climb 3 – Côte du Tilleul 25.02 km/h – average speed of Teklehaimanot (MTN) up the 3rd climb, claiming the maillot à pois rouges!

MPFG

I fancy Degenkolb today ...3rd German to win ?

MPFG

Why is Harvey Keitel doing those excruciating ads. He is a Hollywood legend and must be loaded

CramCycle

Mark Cavendish

ronoc wrote: »

Hopefully TG4 sort the sound out for their coverage. Last two stages have been terrible to watch with the sound low or commentary completely absent.

It has been fine for since the start. Listening to it in the background at work.

Oddly enough every time I focus on work and they mention Jack I keep thinking its an advert for 24 coming to TG4

CramCycle

Mark Cavendish

Just heard Wav1 get a shout out on TG4, just after they were discussing the PMQ and issues within the UCI management. Really should pay more attention.

afatbollix

For professional cyclists they do fall down alot.

CramCycle

Mark Cavendish

afatbollix wrote: »

For professional cyclists they do fall down alot.

I thought the video of the BMC rider hitting the giant padded bollard yesterday was hilarious (once he looked OK, obviously). At normal speed you could see it in plenty of time and no one to his left. Suppose you must go into a trance after awhile if your not doing anything.

dastardly00

Bryan Coquard

Since there isn't anything happening in the race..... at the finish they appear to be having a wet t-shirt competition :eek:

dhayes73

Is this on TG4, when I tune onto the live player, I get rallying, thought the TdF was on.

MPFG

There is a new Disney movie coming out representing the emotions inside out head as minions

I bet there is one in Sean Kellys head now shouting 'die Kirby die'

He is non stop

(and for anyone saying mute him ...I want to hear Kelly)

xxyyzz

That laugh after he insults someone

CramCycle

Mark Cavendish

dhayes73 wrote: »

Is this on TG4, when I tune onto the live player, I get rallying, thought the TdF was on.

Watching it on there now, its not as exciting as the last few days but it is still the TdF

godtabh

roche leading them out

dhayes73

Have it streaming, on a different link. But its very jumpy. Was hoping to get it better on TG4, will try again

at1withmyself

"smoke no joke" priceless..............

spock.

Mark Cavendish

Bennett is in a good position.

godtabh

godtabh wrote: »

roche leading them out

And gone.
Kelly classic

Smoke No Joke!

ThisRegard

That guy he mentioned earlier getting removed from the trail of cars for not wearing a seatbelt. When I watched their video of the in car footage when Martin won the stage I was wondering if they were exempt from seat belts, obviously not.

godtabh

Benett in the front middle

MPFG

Stannard mouthing something rude there

dastardly00

Bryan Coquard

Good luck Sam!

MPFG

Bennet looking eager

REBELSAFC

Bryan Coquard

Go Sam!!!!!!

check_six

godtabh wrote: »

Kelly classic

Smoke No Joke!

What does that mean?

ThisRegard

Sky messed that roundabout up.

MPFG

Pity peloton split

ThisRegard

check_six wrote: »

What does that mean?

Was in reference to people having flares at the side of the road.

Eamonnator

Cav

Inquitus

10th for Sam I think