Tour de France - Stage 14 - SPOILER

[Keith Oates]

Today is another tough day for everyone with five climbs to get over before the final long, steep drag to the finish line at Plateau de Beille. If any of the favorites are a bit below par today they could well lose their chance to wear the Yellow jersey after arriving in Paris. I would like to see Contador put in a stellar performance today but have my doubts so I'll be hoping that Evans puts on a good show and defeats the Schlecks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[yello]

Riis & Contador are playing it down but I personally feel today is one of those days where Contador must look to take back some time. If he looses time, surely it's all over for him... unless he's got a rip, shoot or bust stage in him for later. He's a canny sod, he knows what he has to do and doesn't panic. When the times right, and he feels that it's on, then he goes. Will it be today?

I reckon we'll see a Schleck in yellow at the end of the day. Probably Frank, as a forward payment for self sacrifice.

Whatever happens, I'm looking forward to it. Looking at the stages before the tour started, I did reckon this one was one that'd weed the GC list out.

 

[MichaelM]

The intermediate sprint comes at an interesting point today. OLO to the front for the first cat 2? (Maybe it comes a bit too early.)

I'd like to Voeckler keep yellow again!

 

[lukesdad]

Might be too early for Basso but I think he ll be there or there abouts. I have doubts about voekler in yellow now but Id love to see him hold on.

 

[Dayvo]

I also think that Contador will make a move today. And I'm sure the Schlecks and Evans will also be 'up front'.

I've gone off Voeckler, so I hope he won't be in yellow come the evening.

 

[lilolee]

Cav has got two objectives, he must win the Intermediate sprint and he must finish as I think stage 16 is built for Gilbert to win and 19 for him to win the intermediate.
Bertie has got one objective, he must show the other GC contenders that his knee is OK and push up to the finish. I don't think he needs to gain any real time as there are three mountain stages next week and a time time. He should just see how AS, FS and CE cope. Now if I was CE I would be less worried as he can time trial very well.

So
CAV still in Green
FS in Yellow
Bertie may not win but he will be ahead of FS, AS and CE, but not by much.

 

[naffets]

+1 about voeckler way he was acting in the stage he got yellow,

unless berties sandbagging cant see him shaking the schlecks, basso,s looking good and with a breakaway up the road the last climb could play to his strenghts

 

[fossyant]

Live coverage at 11am on ITV4

 

[Paul_L]

gonna be a heck of a stage. I think cuddles or baso could be in yellow tonight. Would like to see AS attack but he's boring me now. True champions don't defend, they need to put themselves up there and attack. Unless Bertie's been playing a canny game of poker for the last few days i can' see him figuring, buti could well be proven wrong.

 

[Crackle]

I think Voeckler will lose yellow on the final climb because the GC's will have to attack. Franck Schleck to win, then Basso, Andy Schleck and Evans, followed by Contador. Such a prediction is bound to mean the very opposite happens It will be interesting if Voeckler keeps yellow.

 

[Holy Warrior]

Oh my days what a stage I can't wait! It best not dissapoint! I don't like to make predictions and just watch the stage BUT I don't think Contador has the legs to hurt the others who are looking strong! it's good to have a tour where nobody knows who is going to win it! 2 Schlecks, Contador, Basso, Evans, Sanchez are all strong favourites, and we've lost Vino, Wiggins and a fair few Radiochack riders!

 

[Dayvo]

Interesting to see such a large lead group (20 riders) with no contenders in it.

About 130 km to go and nearly a 5-minute lead.

Who's going to make a break or who's going to come up from the main peloton?

 

[Noodley]

Go Sandy!
That is all.

 

[Baggy]

Sandy's doing his best to please you...
Go Millar!

 

[Keith Oates]

With you on that one Baggy, Millar is doing well and seems to be around the action on most days during this tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!