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Finally, finally some hills...
Two stages in a row feature non asphalted roads. After stage 9 including the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix and a rest day in between, the first Alpine stage goes through the Plateau des Glières using a 1.8km carriage way with no tarmac. It might not impact the overall result of the Tour de France as it’s still far away from the finish in Le Grand-Bornand but it surely has an historical dimension with the national monument to the Resistance. It’s a tribute to the 121 members of the Resistance who were killed by the Germans in March 1944. On a sporting point of view, the col de Romme and col de la Colombière at the end of the race make a frightening double before the downhill to Le Grand-Bornand. The climbers can now show up.
Lumpy.
and the last 5km?
Will the GC guys funally come out to play? lets see.
The Contenders: Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) won the opening mountain stage of the Vuelta last year, taking the others in the front group by surprise. Does he try and snipe the sprint or will he try in the mountains? I think he and others are more likely to try and mark so he’s got a good chance to preserve his energy on the final climbs, exploit the descent to pressure rivals and take the sprint.
Otherwise it’s hard to gauge form so Alejandro Valverde is a default pick because he can win the sprint if he’s in contention at the finish. Whether he can get over the climbs in the front group is another matter but the relative brevity of the climbs suits him and he can hang back while Movistar team mates Mikel Landa and especially Nairo Quintana try longer range moves. Another aspect in favour of Valverde today is the conservatism of the first mountain stage where riders will often try to get the measure of each other, especially because the descent means landing a knock-out blow is harder.
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) stands to gain the yellow jersey and he can win the stage too and will want the time bonus. Like Valverde he’s got a quick finish and like Valverde we’ll see how he fares over the multiple, steep climbs.
Dan Martin (UAE-Emirates) is quick in a group too but Valverde and Thomas should be quicker so perhaps the Irishman takes a flyer and stays away, he’s got the jump to do this on the Colombière. Adam Yates is another rider who is quick out of a group. Mitchelton-Scott have ferried him around Northern France like a fragile parcel and now he’ll find less support and the onus on him.
Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) could hang on, he managed a stage win in the Dauphiné but was on the limit on the Col du Mont Noir before getting it together for the finish. A good descender he could lose time on the final climbs and just come back but it’s not obvious. It’s a good test for Bob Jungels, can he stay with the others on the final two climbs?
Warren Barguil was floating over the pavé. Has he found the form of last summer again? His problem is that he’s not far enough down on GC to try any attacks.
What chance of a breakaway? Slim and it would need some big engines to tow it across the first part before some climbers who are no threat to GC try to stay away on the final climbs. So Dani Navarro (Cofidis), Darwin Atapuma (UAE-Emirates) and of course Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) come to mind. However they breakaways may all have their eyes on Thursday’s stage to Alpe d’Huez, especially de Gendt who’s not just a breakaway specialist but a big trophy hunter with wins on Mont Ventoux and the Stelvio and tactically Stage 12 suits a break a bit more.
Interesting pics for a rest day are always hard to find so I'll do my best.
Dimension Data take a spin along the lake.
Getting the bike ready.
Froome in the sun.
Hills!
Breakaway to go over the Glières and make it stick, I reckon. Someone looking for the polka dot. Rest of the race will be well marshalled by the GC teams until the final climb. That finish, Colombières and then a descent, would really suit Froome or Dumoulin.
That finish, Colombières and then a descent, would really suit Froome or Dumoulin.
Or Nibali, who I think will go for it today. If he can get a gap on the climb no-one will stay with him on the way down.
That finish, Colombières and then a descent, would really suit Froome or Dumoulin.
Bardet.
I reckon Froome will probably keep his powder dry for the moment although on the flipside he does need to try and make up 1'42" - more a watching waiting game for him today marking the other favourites. Bardet and Nibali will come to a descend-off and we'll be treated to a display of what may as well be flying.
Thinking more, it's interesting that a lot of the GC riders (Froome, Nibali, Bardet, Uran) are damn fine descender too, yes, Froome looks ugly doing it but he is damn fast. Be interesting to see how it kicks off.
Having done this 9 days ago I would say Froome as the Colombiere is not actually that steep. The Plateau de Glieres was horrendous for us but sure the teams will handle it fine. The gradient actually gets shallower as the climbs go on although the Col de Romme was very very long. I think Froome will also out descend everyone on the way to the finish which rewards risk-taking.
Breakaway to stick today. GC will mark each other.
Gee's a good descender when he stays on the bike. Tough call today though, I can't imagine there will be big gaps unless someone breaks early on.
Sunday's stage could be an influence on today though. I think a lot of people will still be recovering.
today I have no clue as to who could take the stage! I am looking forward to a great days racing.
His Nibbs today.
Baguil for an outside bet, off in a break with a handful of nutters out to prove themselves for 2019 contracts. This is the first test for both Dommies and Leaders of smaller teams who are seeking new allies.
Can’t see much movement in the GC, hence my main choice for MrNibbs because he’s not a GC contender IMO.
Will Cav make it over the bumps? I will wear a clowns hat tomorrow if he turns up on the start line..
Fast start, break goes, lots of chasing on and attacking but all comes together in the lead group for a sprint finish. Valverde to take bonus seconds. OR Sagan gets in a break and makes it stick.
Don't forget the women's race is on already if you're able to watch. Brutal pace, the peloton is shedding riders like nobody's business
descent should be interesting.... still close
Van der Breggen is going to win La Course barring disasters for her. Van Vleuten and Moolman-Pasio seem to have tired legs and there's still some flat to ride not just a descent.
Getting close still 10k to go, great race
Moolman is not a fast descender, so it's other two for the win. AVdB looks strong tho.
Surely live gaps aren't beyond the realms of reality in this day and age? It'd be great if they could give us more
Is one of the women called van Gluten?
Brilliant finale
top race
Wow. What a finish.
Weird having La Course so soon after the finish of the Giro Rosa.
Is one of the women called van Gluten?
No
Surely supports the call for a womens tour?
The average speed over the last 12km from the summit of last climb to the finish line could be crazy fast. It will be interesting to see if all the main GC guys are still all together at the bottom of the final climb or if some start to stir it up on the preceding climb. My prediction is they will all go over the top of the last climb within 20secs or so of each other and remain a bit fractured to the line but in reality only a handful of seconds either way getting won or lost.
I'd love to see Dan Martin win today but he's probably still sore from his crash.
Who else saw that La Course? Wow.
I thought Van Vleuten was going to be too late, van der Breggen must've been pedalling backwards for the last 20 metres.
En E Breaks ?
Gorrit...
Its healthy 👍
Tony Gallopin (AG2R), Elie Gesbert and Amaël Moinard (Fortuneo-Samsic), Ion Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida), Jack Bauer and Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Julian Alaphilippe and Philippe Gilbert (Quick Step), Peter Sagan and Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), Serge Pauwels and Tom-Jelte Slagter (Dimension Data), David Gaudu, Rudy Molard and Arthur Vichot (Groupama-FDJ), Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo), Lilian Calmejane and Rein Taaramäe (Direct Energie), Guillaume Martin and Thomas Degand (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).
at 2:50
Good skills, no handed gap jump!
So Froome &co are 7 mins down on the MJ, right? Are they expecting to make that time up on the final climb or they just don't think he's a threat or what?
He's already up on Froome - isn't this a disaster?
Nah, even if he finishes 10 mins up, he won't make all the stages in the lead so they'll get him probably before the alps are over with.
GVA is on the MJ, he'll lose that twice over over the coming days, no question at all. No-one in that group will be in the mix for it by the end of week 2.
Looks like Cav is hanging out the back, he might struggle with the time cut-off I fear.
So Froome &co are 7 mins down on the MJ, right? Are they expecting to make that time up on the final climb or they just don’t think he’s a threat or what?
Both I expect.
Alaphilippe on the attack here, virtual yellow I think, GVA working hard but struggling.
Blimey, Ala’s doing an awesome job here innnney ?
QS for another win 👍💪☄️
.
Got to hand it to GvA, there aren’t many (I can’t think of any recent) Yellow Jumper wearers that have ridden off the front and attacked whilst wearing it.. Normally they’re stuck somewhere in the pack hiding from view.
MOAR Awesome riding from GvA.
*Is now a fanbouy.
Uran is in trouble by the sounds of it.
Ala & GvA..
Grupetto sneaks in with 30 seconds to spare, there'll be some tired legs on that group.
Thanks again, Lunge.
Some good rides all round today, busy soigneurs this evening.
Cracking stage... if not for GC excitement. Hope that kicks off tomorrow
was the ending of La Course fixed? she didn't just die at the end, she seemed to give up! even VdB said it made for good promotion in her interview...
Looks like a decent dinner at the QuickStep hotel tonight.
https://twitter.com/alafpolak/status/1019332796911968257?s=19
Chateau, Julian, chateau!
Oh, and...
<div class="bbp-reply-author">CaptainFlashheart
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<div class="bbp-reply-content">Hills!
Breakaway to go over the Glières and make it stick, I reckon. Someone looking for the polka dot
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Fairly close!