Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[dellzeqq]

In the 38 are 2 from BMC : Cummings & Hincapie but none from Liquigas. Does this mean Cadel will have a go early and Nibali on the descent ?
Also Dan Martin, Voeckler, Casar, Vino, Taaramae, Kessiakof (KOM), Voigt & Popovich (RNT) and then some more.

I can't think that this is a big 'GC podium' day. I suppose Evans and Nibali will have a pop toward the end, but neither have the team to make a big attempt two days in succession - and BMC are, in any case, more comfortable on the flat than on the hills.

If Cuddles or Nibbles are intent on a big move it will surely be tomorrow. I suspect that Evans is pretty much intent on saving what he's got, and might even fancy his chances of overhauling Nibali in the TT.

 

[smutchin]

Two BMC riders in the break (Cummings and Hincapie) suggests Evans will attack on the Tourmalet, surely?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Two BMC riders in the break (Cummings and Hincapie) suggests Evans will attack on the Tourmalet, surely?

That's what I was thinking.

 

[smutchin]

Call me an old cynic by all means, but I can't help feeling the Torygraph has swallowed the Sky publicity machine's output without any kind of questioning.

I get the impression Brendan Gallagher doesn't follow the sport too closely. In his piece in the Sunday edition, he said that Brad used to be Cav's leadout man at HTC.

d.

 

[thom]

I can't think that this is a big 'GC podium' day. I suppose Evans and Nibali will have a pop toward the end, but neither have the team to make a big attempt two days in succession - and BMC are, in any case, more comfortable on the flat than on the hills.

If Cuddles or Nibbles are intent on a big move it will surely be tomorrow. I suspect that Evans is pretty much intent on saving what he's got, and might even fancy his chances of overhauling Nibali in the TT.

I dunno - Hincapie and Cummings aren't going off for fun. Today is the hardest day so any sign of weakness can be exploited to biggest advantage. If Evans wants to tin the TdF he has to force something today because whatever time gaps you can open on the uphill at the end tomorrow, they won't be the 4 or 5 mins he needs on Wiggo.
I suspect the reality is Nibali is quite happy with 3rd and will want to find a way to open time on Cadel because as you say he will expect to lose time to him in the TT. It will be tricky given Sky will aggressively defend Froome's position against Nibali. More likely a move tomorrow for Nibali.
I hope Cadel will be feeling that 4'th is a pointless position for a tour winner so have a go.

 

[raindog]

Evans is a fighter and will always try his best. Whether he's got enough in the tank to pull something off is another matter.

 

[PpPete]

Tommy V sprinting for the mountain points !

 

[Nearly there]

Good to see Cav at the front with the rest of sky

 

[smutchin]

Sherwen has predicted Wiggins to win today's stage. Interesting. Would love to see it happen.

d.

 

[PpPete]

Unlikely ... he needs to save a bit in case Nibbles attacks like a mad bastard on the descent from the Port de Bales tomorrow ?

 

[Strathlubnaig]

I was hoping for a bit of an attack early on, the sooner Nibali and / or Evans started making Sky work the better off they would be. No one has really made Wiggins have to work for this win yet. I get the impression they are settling for a possible 3rd spot. Bit duff really.

 

[smutchin]

If the big contenders are all together near the finish, he might fancy a dig, just to show he can. He did it at Romandie, although that was a flat sprint.

Edit: just checked - last 2.5km are completely flat, so if they're all together by then, he may well fancy it. It would enhance his credibility in the yellow jersey to win a road stage as well as a TT.

 

[dellzeqq]

Unlikely ... he needs to save a bit in case Nibbles attacks like a mad bastard on the descent from the Port de Bales tomorrow ?

I make you right. There's no room in that team for sentiment.

 

[raindog]

Good to see Cav at the front with the rest of sky

I think Cav's sketching out his future as a GC contender in GTs.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Camera bike got a bit caught out on the descent

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