Stage 6 - Montargis > > > Gueugnon - 227.5 km
Friday, July 9, 2010
Montargis > > > Gueugnon - 227.5 km
•Km 69.5 - Côte de Bouhy - 2.9 km climb to 4 % - Category 4
•Km 91.5 - Côte de La Chapelle-Saint-André - 2.1 km climb to 4.3 % - Category 4
•Km 179.5 - Côte des Montarons - 3.6 km climb to 3.6 % - Category 4
•Km 204.5 - Côte de la Croix de l'Arbre - 2.3 km climb to 4.5 % - Category 4
Stage 6 - Montargis > > > Gueugnon - 227.5 km
Friday, July 9, 2010
Plain - A sporting perspective
The role of the HTC-Columbia team
The longest stage of this year’s Tour will present the pack with another opportunity for a grouped finish. The route is not very hilly and the riders will be well sheltered since there is a lot of forest, in the foothills of the Morvan range. Even if it is not a totally flat terrain, we will not see a grand battle like those we are used to on the passes. A word of warning though: if the weather is hot, this could affect the outcome. It will all depend on the team which takes control of the race, because if Cavendish is riding well and is sure of winning the stage, then his team will give it their all. Otherwise, which sprinting team will be capable of closing the door on the others?
(letour.com)
July 7 post:
We are headed to the French Alps, but first another expected sprinters' stage. Starting in Montargis, the stage 5 finish host, we'll continue to head southeast through the interior of France where temperatures can soar in July. There are three cat 4 climbs along the way, but the last one is 24 km from the finish.
It looks like a sprint finish on paper with a straight-forward run into Gueugnon, an industrial town hosting its first Tour stage. But, this is the longest stage of the Tour and the highs in Gueugnon later this week are expected to hit 86F/30C so the temperature may be a factor. The narrow, lumpy roads and the heat will work against a sprint finish.
Many of the sprinters are banged up as revealed after Stage 4. Tyler Farrar's lead out men Robbie Hunter and Julien Dean looked good finishing 5th and 2nd on stage 4 and were talking up an upcoming win. Will HTC-Columbia and Cervelo get their leadout right or will they be out smarted by veteren sprinter and two-time stage winner already this year, Alessandro Petacchi. — Steve
(steephill.tv)
Click the 'To' option to go to the start of the Stage 6 posts.
The Stage starts at 12:00 local time CEST (6 hrs ahead of US EDT).
velonews.com - "A breakaway will go early and be given a long leash in stage 6, the longest of the Tour, but the sprinters teams will likely pull it back on the wide boulevards heading into Gueugnon. Two Cat. 4 climbs early and two more in the last 50km will put some sting in riders’ legs, but are unlikely to affect the outcome of the race."
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