2012 Tour de France: Stage 13 (Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux - Le Cap d'Agde)

[monty1104]

Stage 13: Saint-Paul-Trois-Chaeaux - Le Cap d'Agde
A welcome return to the sprint stages.... for the sprinters anyway. A nasty Cat. 3 climb towards the end shouldnt cause problems for sprinters, but you just never know.

Current Jersey Leaders

Bradley Wiggins (Sky)

Peter Sagan (Liquigas)

Frederik Kessiakoff (Astana)

Tejay Vangarderen (BMC)

Radioshack-Nissan

General Classification after Stage 12
GBR 1 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) 54:34:33
GBR 2 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 2:05
ITA 3 NIBALI, Vincenzo (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 2:23
AUS 4 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 3:19
BEL 5 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen (LOTTO BELISOL) + 4:48
ESP 6 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 6:15
USA 7 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) + 6:57
SLO 8 BRAJKOVIC, Janez (ASTANA) + 7:30
FRA 9 ROLLAND, Pierre (EUROPCAR) + 8:31
FRA 10 PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ-BIG MAT) + 8:51
No changes to the overall last night in what was a bit of a nothing stage to be completely honest. Breakaway win was predicted and came through. Happy to see David Millar win a stage. I know he is not everyones favourite rider after admitting to doping, but I quite like him. He seems like a nice enough guy and is the consumate team mate IMO.

Peter Sagan opened up a nice lead in the green jersey last night after Matt Goss' relegation from the final sprint after a dangerous move. I know he is Aussie and so are we so we should be patriotic etc., but what he did was downright dangerous. Imagine if he did that to Cav, Cav would have punched his lights out. Probably the most dangerous manouver I have seen since the Giro so he was deservedly relegated. If he didnt make the move, Sagan would have had him anyway, but at least Goss would have had some points. Silly and unnecessary.

Tonight is definitely a night for Cav. Expect him to win on what is a pan flat course. Greipel could also do well as usual, but I think Cav will go for this one then call time on his tour.

 

[monty1104]

After the stage last night Millar came out and said this was an important win for him to prove he is a good rider without doping. It was hid first win since his suspension. He also hinted that now with Hesjedal, Danielson and Farrar gone, Garmin will look to be in the break every day.

 

[No BS!!]

the mistral winds could spoil the sprinters party tonight if they're not up the front and awake to it. could be the cause of some surprises in the GC order too.

and with it being Bastille Day in France, watch for numerous French riders trying to get into a breakaway.

 

[monty1104]

the mistral winds could spoil the sprinters party tonight if they're not up the front and awake to it. could be the cause of some surprises in the GC order too.

and with it being Bastille Day in France, watch for numerous French riders trying to get into a breakaway.

Oh yeah, forgot it was Bastille day. Someone from every French team, plus Sylvain Chavanel will be in the break.

 

[Flawed Genius]

So, so many French riders in the breaks. Is anyone here? Or am I going solo in this party?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I'm tuning in.

Still trying to recover from Justin Koschitzke's epic performance.

Cavendish will win this. Goss to come second.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

That is just ridiculous.

I need to own a chateau.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Two chateaux in as many minutes! Chateau Watch going off.

 

[No BS!!]

So, so many French riders in the breaks. Is anyone here? Or am I going solo in this party?

5 of the 8. will be looking for glory on such a day.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Has anyone put together a parody of Dwayne Russell commentating Le Tour?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Worst. Sprint. Ever.

 

[Donakebab]

Why am I not drinking on Bastille Day? Best day for Chateau watch! That old roman one on the hill, epic!

 

[blue gunslinger]

wow trees that are 100 years old

 

[Vader]

wow trees that are 100 years old

I thought he was going to say over 1000 years, or at least 500 years.. but no, just 100 years. Pretty lame.

Did love the two Roman chateaux on top of that ridge line.

 

[sacka]

I haven't seen a lot of this years TDF (work/training with some early starts) but are the stages this year a little boring? also imo with a few blokes out for the GC it just doesn't have that excitement the tour has had over the last handfull of years, anyone else find it the same?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

precis of the intermediate sprint?

 

[THRILLHO]

Checking in. Looks a pretty boring stage but Bastille Day offers potential.

I haven't seen a lot of this years TDF (work/training with some early starts) but are the stages this year a little boring? also imo with a few blokes out for the GC it just doesn't have that excitement the tour has had over the last handfull of years, anyone else find it the same?

Yeah. My interest in TDF dropped massively when Evans lost a minute the other night. And it's not because he's Australian, it's simply because now there's no competition for Wiggins. It's just going to be a procession to Paris now.

 

[Donakebab]

I haven't seen a lot of this years TDF (work/training with some early starts) but are the stages this year a little boring? also imo with a few blokes out for the GC it just doesn't have that excitement the tour has had over the last handfull of years, anyone else find it the same?

As much as I dislike Bertie, he's mega exciting through the mountains with his explosive changes of pace. Tours are much better with battles between the likes of him, A.Schleck, Evans, etc... and yeah stages are a bit meh this year, no doubt because 2013 will be a completely epic route.

 

[monty1104]

I haven't seen a lot of this years TDF (work/training with some early starts) but are the stages this year a little boring? also imo with a few blokes out for the GC it just doesn't have that excitement the tour has had over the last handfull of years, anyone else find it the same?

I've actually found this year quite good. GC riders know they must attack Wiggins where possible. Last year not much happened until stages 18 & 19 other than Voeckler and LL Sanchez winning in a long breakaway, and they only won due to crashes in the peleton.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Checking in. Looks a pretty boring stage but Bastille Day offers potential.





Yeah. My interest in TDF dropped massively when Evans lost a minute the other night. And it's not because he's Australian, it's simply because now there's no competition for Wiggins. It's just going to be a procession to Paris now.

bit of a filler transition day to move south really.mmm paella

 

[monty1104]

Morkov trying to pull a Tom Boonen.

 

[blue gunslinger]

sorry which body of water is that in the distance?

 

[sacka]

I've actually found this year quite good. GC riders know they must attack Wiggins where possible. Last year not much happened until stages 18 & 19 other than Voeckler and LL Sanchez winning in a long breakaway, and they only won due to crashes in the peleton.

i couldn't keep my eyes off it last year, and it wasn't just the Cadel factor either. The tactical battle early then the GC riders attacking each other constantly through the later stages was some edge of your seat stuff. Im not sure if it's the excitement of last year or just the lack of GC riders but im not feeling it.
Did BigF go crazy for anybody else or is it just me?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

This stage has been BABS. (Boring As Bat Shit)

 

[Vader]

The problem this year is that there are so few contenders. We started the race with just Cadel, Wiggins & Nibali as the only realistic chances for the GC win (noting that Froome was always going to be in support of Wiggins - and therefore racing for 2nd place at best). The further this race has gone the more apparent Sky's pharmaceutical advantage has become (must be on something new, which BMC & Liquigas haven't got their hands on yet). Their blatant drug cheating has just robbed the Tour of any real interest, knowing that everyone else is now racing for 3rd.