Fabian Cancellara and the rest of the CSC crew has demolished the lead. The yellow jersey peloton is now made up of these guys and more -
Evans, Arvesen, Frank, Andy, Kohl, Valverde, Menchov, Fofonov, Siutsou, Moncoutie, Aerts, Arroyo, Kirchen, Efimkin, Valjavec, Weening, Mounard, Vandevelde.
I'm hoping Hincapie is close.
The leader is just one rider, Velits, and he's just over a minute ahead. Two hors category climbs loom and here comes destruction.
Showing posts with label hors category. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hors category. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Dropping like flies
Two more riders have quit the Tour de France today.
Before reaching the top of col Agnel, Stijn Devolder and Mark Renshaw both dropped out.
That leaves 155 riders in the field.
Before reaching the top of col Agnel, Stijn Devolder and Mark Renshaw both dropped out.
That leaves 155 riders in the field.
The hors category climb
According to letour.com,
The breakaway group is at the base of this climb and has a lead in the range of 12 minutes over the peloton.
Details Of Col Agnel
The first ascent of the 15th stage is the Col Agnel. The sun is shining as Gerrans, Arrieta, Martinez and Pate make their way up the 2,744m high pass that peaks at the 58km mark. The climb is 20.5km long with an average gradient of 6.6 percent. The steepest sections are the 16th, 17th and 19th kilometers which are nine percent.
The breakaway group is at the base of this climb and has a lead in the range of 12 minutes over the peloton.
Monday, July 14, 2008
SPOILER - Top of col du Tourmalet
At the top of the Tourmalet climb - hors category - there were only 14 riders in the yellow jersey's peloton.
They were: Voigt, Sastre, Menchov, Cobo, Evans, Efimkin, Kohl, Schleck, Schleck, Ricco, Piepoli, Kirchen, Vande Velde and Duenas Nevado.
There were also eight riders ahead of this group already over the climb. That left 138 riders BEHIND the peloton and the stage leaders.
Can you sense the impending explosion?
Schumacher was spat out the back along with a bunch of other big names including - I'm afraid - George Hincapie.
They were: Voigt, Sastre, Menchov, Cobo, Evans, Efimkin, Kohl, Schleck, Schleck, Ricco, Piepoli, Kirchen, Vande Velde and Duenas Nevado.
There were also eight riders ahead of this group already over the climb. That left 138 riders BEHIND the peloton and the stage leaders.
Can you sense the impending explosion?
Schumacher was spat out the back along with a bunch of other big names including - I'm afraid - George Hincapie.
Mind games? Kim Kirchen
The Yellow Jersey owner in the 2008 Tour de France might be playing mind games with the press and the rest of the field - ala Lance Armstrong's feigned weakness in prior tours.
Yesterday Kirchen said that he felt a bit spent and if he rode stage 10 the way he rode stage 9, he'd be dropped by the peloton.
He also commented that team Columbia had done a ton of work thus far and other teams were still fresh and hadn't contributed much at the front of the pack. This could be interpreted by some to mean that the fresh teams could attack and beat team Columbia on stages like today's difficult journey.
Today has two hors category climbs and I think it will break the field apart.
Only time will tell. More thoughts to come.
Yesterday Kirchen said that he felt a bit spent and if he rode stage 10 the way he rode stage 9, he'd be dropped by the peloton.
He also commented that team Columbia had done a ton of work thus far and other teams were still fresh and hadn't contributed much at the front of the pack. This could be interpreted by some to mean that the fresh teams could attack and beat team Columbia on stages like today's difficult journey.
Today has two hors category climbs and I think it will break the field apart.
Only time will tell. More thoughts to come.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Stage 10 Overview, Picks and Comment
Stage 10 is only 156KM long, but is tough tough tough.
It climbs over the Tourmalet and has a mountaintop finish as well.
There are a handful of climbs in the stage, but two of them are hors category and one is the Col du Tourmalet (as mentioned) that takes place about halfway through the stage.
If you've got a climber on your fantasy team, you're in the money. Make your picks based on who is the best climber in the race. That's why I think I'll go with Oscar Pereiro or Carlos Sastre.
Gimme your choices.
And I seem to be a broken record, but I'm sure one of these stages HAS to break the GC wide open. We'll see if two hors category Pyrenees climbs will do it.
It climbs over the Tourmalet and has a mountaintop finish as well.
There are a handful of climbs in the stage, but two of them are hors category and one is the Col du Tourmalet (as mentioned) that takes place about halfway through the stage.
If you've got a climber on your fantasy team, you're in the money. Make your picks based on who is the best climber in the race. That's why I think I'll go with Oscar Pereiro or Carlos Sastre.
Gimme your choices.
And I seem to be a broken record, but I'm sure one of these stages HAS to break the GC wide open. We'll see if two hors category Pyrenees climbs will do it.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Heinous climbs ahead
The peloton is approaching the first category 2 climb.
Climbs can be one of SIX levels. 5 is the easiest and they get more difficult all the way up to 1. THEN HC or beyond category is the most difficult.
I'm going to have to go silent for a little bit because I fear the peloton and the entire race will get ripped apart by the next two climbs and I don't want to spoil your enjoyment of the race.
Back in a bit OR look for the final wrap up around 9PM EST.
**Right now - before the climb - there are 24 riders at about 30 seconds ahead of the main peloton.**
Climbs can be one of SIX levels. 5 is the easiest and they get more difficult all the way up to 1. THEN HC or beyond category is the most difficult.
I'm going to have to go silent for a little bit because I fear the peloton and the entire race will get ripped apart by the next two climbs and I don't want to spoil your enjoyment of the race.
Back in a bit OR look for the final wrap up around 9PM EST.
**Right now - before the climb - there are 24 riders at about 30 seconds ahead of the main peloton.**
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