Tour de France 2015 Stage 13 Muret - Rodez *contains unmasked spoilers3

Darkglasses

We're finished with the Pyrenees, and we're back to a lumpy sprint stage like the first week. Hopefully it will be as entertaining as the first set of stages were.

Peter Sagan has still not won a stage this Tour, despite a fine performance, and he will have his eye on this one. The climbs are neither long nor steep, but being late, they could be made decisive by a team with an interest. This opportunity, plus the uphill nature of the sprint, means that Greipel is less favoured for this stage. Instead it's likely to be contested by climb-friendly sprinters Sagan and Degenkolb, although there is a fair likelihood of a breakaway staying away also.

Oddschecker: Sagan 4/1, Degenkolb 9/1, Stybar 16/1, van Avermaet 20/1, Boassan Hagen 20/1

De Bhál

Greg van Avermaet

Thanks for putting these previews up.

dastardly00

John Degenkolb

I hope Sagan finally gets a stage win.

He might have to rely on other teams though to pull back the breakaway because the Tinkoff-Saxo boys are probably wrecked from working for Bertie in the Pyrenees.

Pudsy33

Martin from the break....

spock.

Kristoff @ 40/1 for me.
He isn't in the best of form, but this stage should suit him.

ZiabR

John Degenkolb

I would love to see Dan do it but I think it will be Sagan.

happytramp

logik wrote: »

I would love to see Dan do it but I think it will be Sagan.

Tomorrow's a good one for Dan.

death1234567

Sagan to win from the breakaway.

D3PO

this is the kind of stage I could see an opportunist nab with an attack with a few km to go. Could be one for Navardauskas to have a pop at or Adam Hanson.

daheff

Bryan Coquard

I'm going for Boassan Hagen. Hes due a performance :cool:

I see a group attacking on the cat 3 climb, getting away and staying away to win the stage by 3 odd mins.

Dont think the GC contenders will have too much interest in chasing a group of 3-4 minor placed riders.

youwhoglue

Zdenek Stybar

Strong man's day.

Last 570m is at close to 10%

Van Avermaet, Sagan, Degenkolb, Stybar etc. unless the break goes away which is unlikely

joehayes999

John Degenkolb

Lumpy enough in the last 70k for a breakaway to stay away? Sky will need to keep the gas on from the start. Sagan for me.

letape

Didi the Devil

youwhoglue wrote: »

Strong man's day.

Last 570m is at close to 10%

Van Avermaet, Sagan, Degenkolb, Stybar etc. unless the break goes away which is unlikely

Looks like a finish for Kwiatkowski, Rodriquez or Valverde but I'd say the three of them are wrecked after yesterday.

Talib Fiasco

Greg van Avermaet

Degenkolb.

petethedrummer

daheff wrote: »

I'm going for Boassan Hagen. Hes due a performance :cool:

Guaranteed he'll be somewhere from 6th to 10th. Is it possible to bet on that kind of thing?

dastardly00

John Degenkolb

joehayes999 wrote: »

Lumpy enough in the last 70k for a breakaway to stay away? Sky will need to keep the gas on from the start. Sagan for me.

I think Sky will be able to take it relatively easy today. I can't see any of the GC contenders being too interested.

Pudsy33

I reckon a break goes. Who is motivated to chase? The winner will be a lottery then.

ZiabR

John Degenkolb

What time does coverage start today?

daheff

Bryan Coquard

about 25mins ago @ 11.45 it seems!

small breakaway already

dastardly00

John Degenkolb

18 km gone and it looks like the break of the day has formed.

Alexandre Geniez (FDJ), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Nathan Haas (Cannondale-Garmin) and Pierre-Luc Périchon (Bretagne-Séché Environnement).

They have a 2'30" lead.

dastardly00

John Degenkolb

Interesting to note that Alexandre Geniez (FDJ) is from Rodez so he's obviously very motivated today.

And Cannondale-Garmin have actually managed to get someone into the break at long last.

Decuc500

Wait, Thomas De Gendt is in this race?

Talib Fiasco

Greg van Avermaet

dastardly00 wrote: »

18 km gone and it looks like the break of the day has formed.

Alexandre Geniez (FDJ), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Nathan Haas (Cannondale-Garmin) and Pierre-Luc Périchon (Bretagne-Séché Environnement).

They have a 2'30" lead.

About time Kelderman did something. I know he crashed badly first week but he's done f*ck all this Tour when he should be pushing for top 10/15

daheff

Bryan Coquard

break is 4.30 now. Can see these guys out for the day now......nobody too high up GC, nobody dangerous in that break so no need for peloton to chase....going to be a boring day

dastardly00

John Degenkolb

Decuc500 wrote: »

Wait, Thomas De Gendt is in this race?

Yeah... I have him in my Velogames team. He's normally great for getting in breakaways so that's why I picked him. He was in the breakaway on Stage 4, but he hasn't featured much elsewhere.

REBELSAFC

dastardly00 wrote: »

I think Sky will be able to take it relatively easy today. I can't see any of the GC contenders being too interested.

Looking at the profile maybe on the descent into Rodez but it doesn't look long enough to cause any major problems

Decuc500

dastardly00 wrote: »

Yeah... I have him in my Velogames team. He's normally great for getting in breakaways so that's why I picked him. He was in the breakaway on Stage 4, but he hasn't featured much elsewhere.

His career has been disappointingly quiet since he did well in the Giro a few years ago.

I'd like to see that break stay away and one of De Gendt, Kelderman or Haas win.

donfers

daheff wrote: »

break is 4.30 now. Can see these guys out for the day now......nobody too high up GC, nobody dangerous in that break so no need for peloton to chase....going to be a boring day

Hold on there hoss - do you not think Sagan or Degenkolb's teams will chase?

donfers

Hoping for Sam Bennett today - if he can get over the climbs with the main pack he's got a chance

Alternatively Dan can go for a long solo breakaway

either scenario would suit me

Pudsy33

LeMond seems to think this stage should be an exciting one. He reckons teams need to attack sky on days like today as they can't match them in the mountains.

Darkglasses

Greg van Avermaet

Pudsy33 wrote: »

LeMond seems to think this stage should be an exciting one. He reckons teams need to attack sky on days like today as they can't match them in the mountains.

It's a good point, to me Astana would be the strongest team for that kind of ride. Shame they are so far down.

donfers

Why is Martin yo-yoing so much on this tour. good day/bad day/good day/bad day?

I remember reading somewhere that this kind of form was a sure sign a rider isn't on any kind of juice. There is little doubt then that Garmin are 100% clean.

Have I answered my own question or am I speculating wildly?

dastardly00

John Degenkolb

Are there any green jersey points available at the intermediate sprint after the six breakaway riders pass through?

Pudsy33

donfers wrote: »

Why is Martin yo-yoing so much on this tour. good day/bad day/good day/bad day?

I remember reading somewhere that this kind of form was a sure sign a rider isn't on any kind of juice. There is little doubt then that Garmin are 100% clean.

Have I answered my own question or am I speculating wildly?

His effort was so spectacular on Wednesday I'd be surprised if he's not still wrecked tbh. He said himself he is more suited to one day races than he is to tours. I haven't heard anything suspicious about Garmin ever, and they're so ****e I'd imagine they're squeaky clean :pac:

CramCycle

donfers wrote: »

Have I answered my own question or am I speculating wildly?

MOD VOICE: Speculating wildly, this comment will only lead to comments about how others are not yo yoing, so w will leave it out of this thread, thanks

Any questions please PM me, not in thread

MPFG

Why is Sean Kelly calling him Froomey

No Sean no !!!

Darkglasses

Greg van Avermaet

https://twitter.com/EurosportUKTV/status/622030193553731584

Greipel takes the intermediate and back into green. Degenkolb looks mighty quick.

daheff

Bryan Coquard

donfers wrote: »

Hold on there hoss - do you not think Sagan or Degenkolb's teams will chase?

They might....but they might be happy enough to leave the group out on their own. Giant Alpecin (what a team name :rolleyes:) Director claimed they were riding for Degenkolb as the last 500m suits him. I just dont know if they'll have the legs come the end of todays stage after yesterday. It'll be interesting to see how far ahead the group are after the 2nd climb today. If its only a couple of mins they could be pulled back on the last climb....if they keep their 3.3 to 4min + gap they could stay out.

MPFG

Here is a video (at 13.52) of Nico discussing that the Tour isn't over and his role today


http://www.skysports.com/live-blog/12040/9915967/tour-de-france-stage-13-live

And it more than water carrier

Eamonnator

John Degenkolb

There are 36 riders in this year's TdF, who have won one stage or more in the TdF

MPFG

Anyone know how Sam Bennett is feeling ...today would be a great finish for him

Pudsy33

I have a euro on Martin and Bennett at 100 and 150 respectively. Martin in to 25s now. Could suit them both.

dastardly00

John Degenkolb

With 85 km to go, the breakaway have a lead of only 4'24". I can't see them staying away.

ZiabR

John Degenkolb

Greipel is having a super TDF this year he looks streets ahead of the other sprinters. Cav is nowhere this year.

dragratchet

logik wrote: »

Greipel is having a super TDF this year he looks streets ahead of the other sprinters. Cav is nowhere this year.

cav has won a stage in fairness, hardly nowhere, just not as prolific as years gone by

gambeta_fc

That video segment Eurosport just showed with the 90 year old man handing out cans of coke to the riders was great. Some operator, even running after the Cofidis rider who missed out originally. Brilliant ... vive le tour!

Talib Fiasco

Greg van Avermaet

I still hope Sagan wins green this year to send a big f*ck you to the organisers for changing it.

As for today, Valverde is a good shout now but still going with Degenkolb

WinnyThePoo

Vuillermoz again?. Love to see Stybar take it.

Eamonnator

John Degenkolb

logik wrote: »

Greipel is having a super TDF this year he looks streets ahead of the other sprinters. Cav is nowhere this year.

Yeah, Cav. is nowhere.
Just a stage win, a 3rd place, and a 4th place.
And 4th in the Points competition.

Pudsy33

Eamonnator wrote: »

Yeah, Cav. is nowhere.
Just a stage win, a 3rd place, and a 4th place.
And 4th in the Points competition.

You know what he means though. I'd have expected him to be quicker then the Gorilla.

MPFG

Bad crash for Peraud but he is up riding again...but looks injured

The 3 from last years podium hvae had a terrible Tour by their standards


and just then Nibali has a puncture