Should be awesome to watch!! I’m going to kill myself on some hill repeats and then drop on the couch and start the DVR. Looking forward to this one. The third podium spot is up for grabs with a handful of riders literally starting the day within seconds of each other. Any predictions? I say it’s Contador and Andy Schleck across the line first followed by Armstrong and Kloden and Frank about a minute later sorting out the third podium spot by mere seconds. Wiggins may be a bit too trashed to answer the inevitable attacks on this awesome climb. Pure carnage. Love it.
thor hushovd gets some more sprint points early
then sastre for the win!
Sadly, the only way Sastre can win is if he hijacks a motocycle to get up Ventoux. That would be epic.
nah, the other way he can win is everyone is tired and lets a big break go with him in it
Sadly, the only way Sastre can win is if he hijacks a motocycle to get up Ventoux. That would be epic.
I just haven’t seen a flash from Sastre at all this Tour to indicate that he has the punch to stay with the leaders.
What I want to see is a battle for 2nd. With Contador’s four minute lead, there should be less of the team dynamics limiting Kloden’s and Armstrong’s opportunities to attack. I want to see them battle it out with Wiggins, and the Schlecks for the podium.
This is going to be huge!
I can see the Schleck brothers doing another show to finish 2nd and 3rd.
I believe Wiggins is out. He has been to follow until last climb of the the Alpes and never was able to attack.
Lance is a wild card. He wants to win. However he is not as fit. But then again its Lance.
Kloden I do not know.
Contador can just enjoy the show or show he is the greatest right now (really up to him).
My final top 5 for Sunday:
Contador
A. Schleck
F. Schleck
Lance
Kloden
Wiggins
Fred.
nah, the other way he can win is everyone is tired and lets a big break go with him in it
Haha… even with two stages to go, Carlos would never be able to ride in any break away to make up 15m26s. I know, never say never. But I’m saying never.
I’ve changed my mind, the only way Carlos can win is if he gets into this mythical breakaway and the rest of the peleton rides off the side of a mountain.
im not saying win the tdf
just the stage man
nah, the other way he can win is everyone is tired and lets a big break go with him in it
Haha… even with two stages to go, Carlos would never be able to ride in any break away to make up 15m26s. I know, never say never. But I’m saying never.
I’ve changed my mind, the only way Carlos can win is if he gets into this mythical breakaway and the rest of the peleton rides off the side of a mountain.
My final top 5 for Sunday:
Contador
A. Schleck
F. Schleck
Lance
Kloden
Wiggins
Methinks there is something wrong with your top 5...
My final top 5 for Sunday:
Contador
A. Schleck
F. Schleck
Lance
Kloden
Wiggins
Methinks there is something wrong with your top 5…
Lol !
How likely is it that the Schlecks and the Astana trio will be together at the top?
My final top 5 for Sunday:
Contador
A. Schleck
F. Schleck
Lance
Kloden
Wiggins
I think this is probably right. Lance hasn’t shown me he can stay with the Schlecks on the climbs. I see a similar scenario to Weds., where the Schlecks set the agenda and AC goes with them, but Lance is unable to follow. I think Andy and Frank’s goal will be to get Frank up to 3rd in the GC; he only needs to put 34 seconds into LA to get there.
With the Yellow safely in hand, Lance will not allow the Schleck’s get away from him this time. The podium will remain in this current order.
With the Yellow safely in hand, Lance will not allow the Schleck’s get away from him this time. The podium will remain in this current order.
Hell’s yeah, I hope you’re right.
Let’s go Lance!
should be a hell of a race!
I think we’ll know early on once they hit the steeper, lower slopes of Ventoux. If Lance can hang with them on the lower slopes, I expect there will be some serious fireworks on the upper slopes.
If he can’t hang with them on the lower slopes, then…well…it’s all about limiting the damage.
Victor
With the Yellow safely in hand, Lance will not allow the Schleck’s get away from him this time. The podium will remain in this current order.
I’d say it is a big unkown.
My prediction is Contador will be going all out for the win, no matter what is said on the bus before hand. It will be who ever can hang on the longest. Lance will have to have a perfect day to stay with Frank. Wiggens and Koden off the back.
Stage results
Contador
Franck @1:00
Andy ST
Lance 1:35 - Gutsy ride to stay on the podium
I think Kloden and Armstrong are going to uncork one on Saturday. I think they will ride together and take out the Schleck brothers. Contador might take the win but I do not see Kloden and Armstrong letting the bothers go like they did the last time.
Sunday is a casual ride so Saturday will be the final day to uncork a good performance.
I think you are right on the money. My big question is with Kloden so close, do he and Lance have an understanding that says let the best man finish on the podium if they break the Schlecks. He appears to have been consistently climbing better than Lance.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see them tag team the Schlecks and work together to the summit to see if they can make up the 1:20 plus on Andy and round out he entire podium like Johan originally wanted.
Just curious as to what anybody has seen this year that leads them to believe that Lance and Kloden can stay with the Schlecks? They couldn’t do it Weds and Ventoux, being an even harder climb, works to their disadvantage.
Sorry folks, just not seeing it. Wishful thinking is not evidence.