Tour de France Stage 12 - Briançon - L'Alpe d'Huez (165.1km)

retalivity

Another monster day in the Alps, Jumbo Visma to go full sky train, Pog to angrily bounce back, Quintana to roll back the years, Bardet to finally give up the ruse he's going for KOM?? Anything could happen...and if its anything like the stage yesterday, it promises to be another 5 hours glued to the screen again from start to finish.

No idea why Woods/Fuglsang are near the favourites again, probably will be another GC day. Caruso lost a heap of time yesterday, might be worth an outside shout. Also it's Bastille day, so expect Pnot, Barguil, all of B&B hotels, and a heap of other french riders to try and get in the break again. The Alpe has already been manic for the past 24 hours

https://twitter.com/LaMontagne_TDS/status/1547330031596306435

Stage Odds:

neris

Nairo to disappear out the back today

Dr. Bre

Jungles for me today . I noticed he was not break yesterday so maybe saving some energy for today

cheese sandwich

Nothing like a finish on Alpe d’Huez. I think as long as Pog doesn’t have covid he hits back hard today

dahat

I had plans today but cancelled all to watch this today. Hope it delivers a cracking days racing.

dastardly00

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119335544#Comment_119335544

Maybe! He'll be on a new bike too!

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bob-jungels-to-ride-new-bike-with-euro12000-frameset-to-celebrate-tour-de-france-stage-win/

mewso

Yep arranged a half-day for today and couldn't watch yesterday until I got home from work. Was thinking I had picked the wrong day but today could be just as good. Pog has said he wants revenge so fingers crossed. On another note the one good thing about the media in Ireland not giving a crap about cycling is it's easy to get home in the evening without having the result spoiled :)

keane2097

Hope to see Pinot doing something for the sake of my velogames team!

Jez there's steep climbs even in the roll out here , Ewen could be dropped before the race even starts 😂

dahat

Back from an early lunch date with daughter & 600m left in tje roll out, savage timing.

retalivity

Froome going for the break!

neris

Carltons love for Louis mentjies hasn't died off by sounds of it. Louis will do sweet f.a today

dahat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336148#Comment_119336148

Didn’t last long!

Froome away again. Definitely has the old form coming back, for real this time for sure 😁

Morris Garren

'The man from Tolouse, its his to win today!'

'Chris Froome, the greatest rider of our generation!'

'Wout Van Aert, moderating everybody's push here, he's super human!'

'It's about to blow in a fabulous way!'

I'm torn between laughing and cringing at some of the Eurosport comms. Not much really significant happening just yet in fairness.

Brian?

Even if it's 30% less eventful than yesterday, I still expect it to be epic.

Pogacar to win today for me and take back less than 30s.

Dcully

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119336481#Comment_119336481

While I sub to GCN for the racing they can be hard to listen to.

Blythe in particular has gone from trying to be funny to just childish and cringey now.

They all want to talk over eachother and interrupt eachother.

Macy0161

I do prefer Ned and Millar, but tbh the ads have driven me more nuts than CK when I've had the chance to watch it live!

neris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337088#Comment_119337088

It's not just the ads its the type of ads they rerun every break

retalivity

Kirby needs to retire, hasn't a notion. Though WVA was attacking his own teammates when he was going for bottles

The Croix de Fer isn't the climb I thought it was, I've one in mind that's way more baron and rocky near the Briancon area. Col d'Izoard I have in mind maybe?

retalivity

Was that Bardet being dropped??

Edit: NOPE

harmless

Kirby needs his own thread again this year. Van Aert speeds up to grab a musette and Carlton thinks it's a move even after he has been corrected he continues to talk about it.

CrowdedHouse

The E LeClerc crowd give away some amount of T-shirts....yes it's exciting so far 😀

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337273#Comment_119337273

Its more barren on the other side with the Glandon, wait for the descent

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337288#Comment_119337288

Ah ha !!!!! Pesky mountain having more than one side/way up confusing me !!!!!

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337287#Comment_119337287

I was very disappointed that LeClerc stores weren't selling them for small money when I was over a few weeks ago. Had to settle for a load of wine and biere artisnale.

mewso

As ever Ganna not failing to impress. At least I think he is still there in the main group. Fair play to Froome too.

De Bhál

what a road

Yeah thats the one I had in mind!!!! Spectacular.

neris

https://twitter.com/friebos/status/1547594051557285894?t=-djma5yBAVXsYZup42CvBQ&s=19

..

griffin100

Pidcock taking a drink and looking around at almost 90kph. Now that’s impressive.

I'd actually love to see Froome do this even in the knowing that Hatch and Kirby will be singing about it for months.

Paddigol

What's happened to Hischi this year? Seems to be very subdued everyday? Back in the Broomwagon (with Rigo and Mike Woods too actually) now.

griffin100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337486#Comment_119337486

It would be a great comeback and will make for great TV for the Netflix documentary.

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337514#Comment_119337514

He had covid a week or 2 before the tour started, and was only drafted into the TDF at the last minute to replace someone else who I think also got covid.

He's nowhere near 100%, think he said so himself.

neris

Has any commentator ever said "Chris Froome wins from the break away"

Kelly mentioned Froome never being in a break away. I recall him going in a late one with Sagan, Bodnar and a 4th (don't recall who, Trentin maybe?) before at the Tour.

griffin100

You forget how awkward Froome looks on a bike. He all elbows.

neris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337559#Comment_119337559

He's riding like he's absolutely bollixed and out of gas

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337584#Comment_119337584

Back to his best so!

mewso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337555#Comment_119337555

Did he mean the tour only? Does a solo breakway in the Giro count?

dahat

Rob Hatch has Pidcock home & hosed already with 7km left. He does look strong though & had all day.

dastardly00

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337555#Comment_119337555

I think that group attacked on a descent close to the finish (I could be wrong). So I don't think you'd classify it as a breakaway in the traditional sense

Edit - here it is:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2016/stage-11

I think Sagan wanted the group to let Bodnar take the win because he had done all the hard work, but Froome went for the win, so Sagan said feck that and he won

Marty Bird

Absolutely love the crowds on the alpe some support.

neris

Pogacar the wheel sucker

dastardly00

Not a good day for the French

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119337727#Comment_119337727

They'll probably be muttering darkly about "cycling at two speeds" again.

neris

Poor aul froome could be caught by the peleton at this stage

neris

Go on pog

griffin100

Delighted for Pidcock, I’m a fan from his CX days. Nice to see Froome on the podium as well.