Tour de France Stage 11: Albertville - Col de Granon (151.7km)

retalivity

The first big day in the Alps, time for Jumbo Visma or Ineos to try and put Pog under pressure. Pog still favourite though, though there are some crazy names up there - Fuglsang? Woods??

No new covid dropouts yet...

Paddigol

You'd think that they have to try something early here, if to soften up the remnants of UAE and cause a bit of stress for Pog if nothing else. We've seen that if you leave it late to move, he's generally more than capable of covering moves himself, limiting losses and even using attacks as springboards for his own bid for the stage win.

Macy0161

I actually think they could ride the UAE doms off over the Telegraphe and Galibier rather than have to do something early. Set up the attack that way. I think JV can run a fast enough train that McNulty, Soler and Majka can't live with. Also, the heat a big unknown with Pog.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119330447#Comment_119330447

Agreed, Jumbo and Ineos need to try get a rider each in the early break. Then attack with Roglic and Pidcock/Martinez on the Galibier to make UAE chase and soften them up early on. Vingegaard and Thomas/Yates then need to give it socks on the final climb and keep pinging attacks off him.

Mind you I could also see a scenario where Pog attacks solo on the Telegraph or the Galibier and holds it to the line.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Also hard to believe we are only halfway through this tour!

retalivity

Is the video on the Eurosport/GCN feed miles behind the audio??

mewso

We were going so well. 10 stage threads named with 'Tour de France' in them. My OCD is in overdrive :)

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119330651#Comment_119330651

Fixed!

De Bhál

Cattaneo trying to get in a break with those two, he obviously loves to suffer

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Soler didn't need much encouragement to start chasing down that Movistar rider 😂

retalivity

This Montvernier climb is probably the most beautiful in the whole race

Mefistofelino

Soler would have chased that down even if he was still with Movistar

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119330620#Comment_119330620

Not just me, so

griffin100

That helicopter shot of the climb hurts my legs!!

Wounded will the laughing group struggle today with the time limits given the fast pace already on show.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Ollie Naesen out of the race 😢

The last climb today was used in 86 and hasn't been included since. Ominous maybe that even the google car hasn't been up there when I tried to drop the man on it.

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119331084#Comment_119331084

Dead end, narrow road so logistically difficult is the reason apparently. I don't think all journalists are being allowed to the top!

Dr. Bre

Van der Poel withdraws

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119331252#Comment_119331252

Weird, seeing as he was at the front for the first 50k. Go out with a bang i guess!

Dodge

love him but it goes to show that these days, you can’t do a Giro at full pelt and hope to do anything in the Tour

Dr. Bre

Surprised to see an attack on the telegraph!

retalivity

Here we go!

Wow kicking off early. Wasn't expecting this.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

THIS IS BRILLIANT

neris

This is mad stuff they'll be bollixed

retalivity

Outrageous stuff

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Great riding from Thomas to stay with all the attacks, I was sure he wouldn't be a factor in this Tour.

c.p.w.g.w

This is mental

We're spoiled this year we get to see these views again tomorrow.

retalivity

Pog vs 4 JV & WVA up the road!

Rog gone pop