Viva Le Tour - Tour de France 2011

[mickey]

Tonights Stage maps







Should be a good night of racing, especially as Grahaml poiinted out, the mountain doesnt end at the summit of the 3rd climb, followed by a long decent before the last climb of the day.

Will be interesting to see how the peleton tackle the decent after all the crashes we have seen so far this year.

[whufc]

So what are we hoping for from Cadel Evans tonight?

Also this stage looks like there is a few biggish climbs (is that correct) why then is Cavendish a favourite in the bookies markets.

[mickey]

So what are we hoping for from Cadel Evans tonight?

Also this stage looks like there is a few biggish climbs (is that correct) why then is Cavendish a favourite in the bookies markets.

JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS : A transition stage towards the Pyrenees

“As the race heads towards the Pyrenees, we will be heading through the Cévennes for two days. These stages are rolling, but lack any significant difficulty. But the heat can take a toll on the riders. The breakaway specialists will be dreaming of victory, as will the specialist sprinters, even though the latter are going to spend the whole day suffering because today’s route is not all flat. After the first rest day, those riders who have not had a good first week and think that they won’t have too many chances beyond this will be determined to show themselves. However, at the same time, the sprinters’ teams will not want to let them slip away. Consequently, we could well see this stage finish in a bunch sprint.”


The cat 4 climb is the "easiest" of the mountains in the tour... then it goes 3,2,1,HC. The HC are the big **** off mountains that are ridiculously high.. such as the ones below that will be tackled later...

[Squawk]

So what are we hoping for from Cadel Evans tonight?

Also this stage looks like there is a few biggish climbs (is that correct) why then is Cavendish a favourite in the bookies markets.

The profiles can be deceptive if you don't look at the altitudes alongside - 650m today vs 2000m later on

[mickey]

To put it in perspective a bit the 4 climbs on tonights stage were...

Côte de Figeac - 2.3 km climb to 6 % - Category 3
Côte de Loupiac - 2.5 km climb to 4.1 % - Category 4
Côte de Villefranche-de-Rouergue - 4.1 km climb to 5.9 % - Category 3
Côte de Mirandol-Bourgnounac - 3.9 km climb to 4.1 % - Category 4

The hardest climb in the Tour Down Under is Old Willunga Hill

3km climb to 7.6% and would be a category 3 climb

[Brodlach]

Good to see "Adelaides Own" Andre Greipel get a stage win. Does this have any positive effect on the TDU?

[Squawk]

To put it in perspective a bit the 4 climbs on tonights stage were...

Côte de Figeac - 2.3 km climb to 6 % - Category 3
Côte de Loupiac - 2.5 km climb to 4.1 % - Category 4
Côte de Villefranche-de-Rouergue - 4.1 km climb to 5.9 % - Category 3
Côte de Mirandol-Bourgnounac - 3.9 km climb to 4.1 % - Category 4

The hardest climb in the Tour Down Under is Old Willunga Hill

3km climb to 7.6% and would be a category 3 climb

Any idea on categorisation equivalents for Menglers Hill, the one above Gorge Rd (name escapes me) and (perhaps in future) Belair Rd, Old Belair Rd and Upper Sturt Rd?

[Grahaml]

Alexandr Kolobnev has tested positive to a banned substance and has withdrawn from the tour. Interestingly it was the same substance Shane Warne was caught for that made him pull out of the 2003 world cup. Because of the type of substance it was he could technically have continued racing but nobody does that in cycling anymore. If his B sample is also positive he'll ba sacked and fined 5 times his salary! There's talk that could be around $3m.

I actually feel better and better about cycling every year. It might just be wishful thinking but it really feels like the battle is slowly being won.

[mickey]

Ok, here is the definition i have found that they use to classify a mountain climb.. its what i used for the Old Willunga Hill.

There are no set rules on how the organizer of a race can categorize hills or mountains. This is how the Tour de France climbs are defined:
Category 4 - the easiest which is typically less than 2 km (1.24 mi) long and about 5% grade, or up to 5 km (3.1 mi) at a 2-3% grade.
Category 3 - can be as short as 1.5 km (.93mi) with a very steep grade, perhaps 10%; or as long as 10 km (6.2 mi) with a grade less than 5%.
Category 2 - can be as short as 5 km (3.1 mi) at 8%, or as long as 15 km (9.3 mi) at 4%.
Category 1 - can be anything from 8 km (5 mi) at 8% to 20 km (12.4 mi) at 5%.
Hors Categorie ("above category") rating is given to exceptionally tough climbs. This could be a Category 1 whose summit is also the finish of the stage, or one that is more than 10 km (6.2 mi) long with an average grade of at least 7.5%, or up to 25 km (15.5 mi) long at 6% or steeper.

Here are a few hill climbs in SA

Cement Hill - 3.1km 5.6%
Norton Summit - 5.6km 4.9%
Windy Point - 3.7km 5.6%
Greenhill Road (Mt. Lofty) - 7.3km 6.4%
Corkscrew Road - 2.4km 9.4%
Menglers Hill (TDU version) - 1.25km 8%

The details of these climbs and others are found here- http://www.cycle2max.com/bike-hill-clim ... rials.aspx

[Grahaml]

I was looking for definitions of the categories but couldn't find them. Not surprisingly we have nothing around that would compare to the big climbs of the TDF. But then any climb is hard or easy depending on the pace.

Ride along something that would get a category 4 rating at the pace the sprinters take it when they aren't trying and you'll soon see how amazing these guys really are.

[mickey]

I was looking for definitions of the categories but couldn't find them. Not surprisingly we have nothing around that would compare to the big climbs of the TDF. But then any climb is hard or easy depending on the pace.

Ride along something that would get a category 4 rating at the pace the sprinters take it when they aren't trying and you'll soon see how amazing these guys really are.

Id much rather try Willunga hill or something similar... but would love to try this climb (in a car )
Alpe d'Huez (1 850 m) - 13.8 km climb to 7.9 % - Category H

[mickey]

JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS : An opportunity that can’t be missed

“After this stage the sprinters will not have a lot of chances left to show off their skills. They will have just two stages left on which to shine: in Montpellier and then in Paris with the finish on the Champs-Élysées. That’s why their teams will undoubtedly be looking to keep a tight rein on the action, just as they will do on the previous stage. But they will have to watch out. Riders of the ilk of Sandy Casar or Jérôme Pineau could try to pull off something spectacular today. The profiles of the stages that follow won’t allow them to do that. And, as there will still be a lot of teams that have not won a stage up to now, those that haven’t will be aiming to make an impression.”

[mickey]

Its a cracking pace tonite, breakaway will be caught and then upto the big sprinters to fight it out...

[Jase]

Can - not wait for the mountains to start tonight....

IMHO, this is the best part of le Tour....

[Grahaml]

Tonight's stage is the one I think we've all been waiting for. Bastille day, Frenchman in yellow, Cadel the leading rider out of the serious contenders and 3 massive mountain passes. Fancy the Tourmalet being the warm up for the final HC mountain pass! There will be several races in one today.

Firstly, the French in the Peloton who can climb will be gunning for a stage win. Voeckler will know he won't be allowed to go on a breakaway, so he will try to stick with the leaders and hope to jump away near the end. But I suspect we'll see a bunch of riders trying a breakaway today, with a strong French contingent. Any French team that isn't represented in the breakaway will be made to chase it down.

Secondly, some of the sprinters might fancy a shot at the intermediate sprint. It happens before any of the climbs and with no bunch sprint at the end, the intermediates are their only chance. They will be able to switch off right away and just get over the mountains so they might be happy to keep the pace high early on to stop too many getting away.

Thirdly, we'll no doubt see the top 20 change dramatically by the end of the day. I don't expect to see Contador, Schleck, Kloden or Evans to do much attacking but maybe Basso, Cunego or Leipheimer might give it a crack up the final climb. The leaders might if they feel good have a go closer to the top to see if they can shed a contender but I doubt we'll see anything too spectacular. However, we will certainly see maybe 10 of the top 20 dropping off the leading group to leave just the real serious contenders left.

My tip for the day is Contador leading home the contenders. I think the breakaways will be caught and I don't think anyone has the class for a surprise win. The other contenders will be happy not to lose time while I think Contador needs to make a bit of a statement. But the way Cadel has been going, he is a chance to upstage him again.

[Mop Up]

Yeah everyone says this the "start of the tour". It's funny, Geraint Thomas tweeted last night that if this is the start then what the hell has he been doing the last 10 days?
He's got some good TDF behind the scenese vids on his website too if anyone is interested

Tonight some questions will be answered on those crazy mountains below...
How's Contador's knee? Is Andy Schleck really out of form? Is Cadel that strong?
Can't wait...

[NFC]

Can - not wait for the mountains to start tonight....

IMHO, this is the best part of le Tour....

Agreed. Finally the mountains are here!!

[pels]

Have a look at hoogerlands legs
OUCH

[pels]

Love watching the mountain stages of Grand tours.
No place to hide for the contenders,you either have the legs or you go backwards.

I reckon all the action will happen withl 5km to go on the last climb
I have put a bet on for Cunego to win

Let the battle begin

[am Bays]

Yeah everyone says this the "start of the tour". It's funny, Geraint Thomas tweeted last night that if this is the start then what the hell has he been doing the last 10 days?
He's got some good TDF behind the scenese vids on his website too if anyone is interested

Tonight some questions will be answered on those crazy mountains below...
How's Contador's knee? Is Andy Schleck really out of form? Is Cadel that strong?
Can't wait...

I've shat myself just looking at those three climbs. O'Hallaran Hill veloway pfft....