[Burkni]

A very, very interesting finale to tomorrow's stage:


With a series of medium-to-sharp climbs to weed out the sprinters and leave the puncheurs and more explosive GC men (read: Evans) to duke it out.

The problem is that the last kms are very, very twisting and turning, and largely on very narrow roads that are too small to even have Google Maps street view (not a good sign).
Peaking into the visible ends from the bigger roads reveals some bad road condition.

Conclusion?
Someone will see their Tour end in tears tomorrow. My guess is Wiggins or Schleck.

[LukeA]

I predict 1 of the main favorites - probably Frank Schleck or another other shooter will be dropped in the final climb and loose huge amount of time. As for who I think will win the stage, it's a difficult pick, it will really come down to how the race plays out, but I will put my money on Aussie national road champ - Simon Gerrans.

[Leafcake]

 Burkni, on 02 July 2012 - 09:02 PM, said:

The problem is that the last kms are very, very twisting and turning, and largely on very narrow roads that are too small to even have Google Maps street view (not a good sign).

Yeah, looks like a few Amstel Gold like narrow stretches.

 Burkni, on 02 July 2012 - 09:02 PM, said:

Conclusion?
Someone will see their Tour end in tears tomorrow. My guess is Wiggins or Schleck.

Are you so eager to get them out of the way, or is this some kind of counter jinx?

I like Chavanel for this stage.

[Burkni]

 Leafcake, on 02 July 2012 - 10:17 PM, said:

Are you so eager to get them out of the way, or is this some kind of counter jinx?

You know me far too well

Chava and Gerrans are excellent picks and glaring holes in my poll options.

[VdB]

 Burkni, on 02 July 2012 - 09:02 PM, said:

A very, very interesting finale to tomorrow's stage:

The problem is that the last kms are very, very twisting and turning, and largely on very narrow roads that are too small to even have Google Maps street view (not a good sign).
Peaking into the visible ends from the bigger roads reveals some bad road condition.

So...Sagan?

[N.B.O.L.]

 VdB, on 02 July 2012 - 11:01 PM, said:

So...Sagan?

Burkni, you didn't make it a public poll, so we can't see people choices.

Let's see, need a good bike handler, a puncher, and someone fearless.

I go Sagan.

[Jayhawk]

Going with Iglinsky for the surprise win.

I'll be very surprised if he wins.

[buddy]

I have gone for Gilbert. He showed us something on stage 1 so maybe he is getting those great legs back again from 2011. It will be interesting to see if they light it up going up the cat 3 climb before the finale. There could be a lot of guys off the back if they do.

I would like to pick Sagan, Valverde and Gerrans too but will stick with Gilbert.

Thanks,

Buddy

[Strategy]

Hey - I'm on the Sagan bandwagon.

Hehe - and Michael Mørkøv is off in the break AGAIN.

Third time in as many days. He has demonstrated a great nose for getting in the right breakaways earlier in the season, but this is an outstanding performance from the Tour debutant. Obviously, he is there to try and consolidate his hold on the jersey so that he can keep it until the big mountains; hope he succeeds.

Vibes of Jakob Storm Piil with this guy, which is certainly not the worst association to have.

[The Rake]

I voted Iglinsky, but now think this is for Chavanel

[Burkni]

 Strategy, on 03 July 2012 - 11:04 AM, said:

Vibes of Jakob Storm Piil with this guy, which is certainly not the worst association to have.

Frankly I think that in comparison with, say, the 2004 Tour where Piil and Voigt were constantly attacking, Morkov has a higher success rate thus far

[Burkni]

From the Cnews ticker:

Quote

It's pretty overcast, weather-wise. Local reports suggesting that there could be rain before the end of the stage here today. It would make an already difficult finish even tougher.

I think crashes will be an absolute certainty

[crockett]

Quick vote for Sagan, and then will be tuning out until this evening. Morkov has the Jeremy Roy touch this year?

[Leafcake]

Goss getting 8th (from the field) at the intermediate sprint? What happened?

[Leafcake]

Well, first bad luck for Sky as Siutsou is forced to abandon.

I like how the injured wrist duo T.Martin and LL.Sanchez find solace in each other.

With Szmyd doing so much work on the front, will he still be there come big mountains?

[Burkni]

Big crash, Sioutsou out of the race

Sagan held up by the crash or a puncture, and immediately Movistar are drilling it on the front. Idiots.
I am hoping for the result of Sagan dusting Valverde in an uphill sprint.

[Leafcake]

Crap. again!

[Strategy]

 Burkni, on 03 July 2012 - 11:31 AM, said:

Frankly I think that in comparison with, say, the 2004 Tour where Piil and Voigt were constantly attacking, Morkov has a higher success rate thus far

Well, Voigt and Piil's problem was that they were constantly getting upstaged by each other.

So far, Mørkøv has not had any such problem.

Looks like Mørkøv has managed to secure himself yet another day in the polka dots. Great work by the Dane.

[Leafcake]

 Strategy, on 03 July 2012 - 02:43 PM, said:

Great work by the Dane.

[Jayhawk]

Hey Rake, your guy is looking good!