Two down - three to go!
(and I love the finish line antics)
Posted on 06/24/2012 9:40:23 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
For the Stage:
1. SVK SAGAN Peter 57 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 04h 42’ 58’’
2. NOR BOASSON HAGEN Edvald 102 SKY PROCYCLING 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
3. SVK VELITS Peter 199 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
4. SUI CANCELLARA Fabian 12 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
5. SUI ALBASINI Michael 202 ORICA GREENEDGE 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
6. AUS EVANS Cadel 1 BMC RACING TEAM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
7. IRL ROCHE Nicolas 79 AG2R LA MONDIALE 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
8. ESP SANCHEZ Samuel 31 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
9. NED MOLLEMA Bauke 153 RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
10. ITA NIBALI Vincenzo 51 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
11. CAN HESJEDAL Ryder 61 GARMIN-SHARP-BARRACUDA 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
12. NED POELS Wouter 126 VACANSOLEIL-DCM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
13. GER KLÖDEN Andréas 15 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
14. CRO KISERLOVSKI Robert 188 ASTANA PRO TEAM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
15. BEL VANENDERT Jelle 119 LOTTO-BELISOL TEAM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
16. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 9 BMC RACING TEAM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
17. SLO BRAJKOVIC Janez 181 ASTANA PRO TEAM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
18. NED GESINK Robert 151 RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
19. BEL MONFORT Maxime 16 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
20. LUX SCHLECK Frank 11 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 04h 42’ 59’’ + 00’ 01’’
Overall after Stage 3:
1. SUI CANCELLARA Fabian 12 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 14h 45’ 30’’
2. GBR WIGGINS Bradley 101 SKY PROCYCLING 14h 45’ 37’’ + 00’ 07’’
3. FRA CHAVANEL Sylvain 192 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 14h 45’ 37’’ + 00’ 07’’
4. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 9 BMC RACING TEAM 14h 45’ 40’’ + 00’ 10’’
5. NOR BOASSON HAGEN Edvald 102 SKY PROCYCLING 14h 45’ 41’’ + 00’ 11’’
6. RUS MENCHOV Denis 131 KATUSHA TEAM 14h 45’ 43’’ + 00’ 13’’
7. AUS EVANS Cadel 1 BMC RACING TEAM 14h 45’ 47’’ + 00’ 17’’
8. ITA NIBALI Vincenzo 51 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 14h 45’ 48’’ + 00’ 18’’
9. CAN HESJEDAL Ryder 61 GARMIN-SHARP-BARRACUDA 14h 45’ 48’’ + 00’ 18’’
10. GER KLÖDEN Andréas 15 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 14h 45’ 49’’ + 00’ 19’’
11. NED MOLLEMA Bauke 153 RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM 14h 45’ 51’’ + 00’ 21’’
12. BEL MONFORT Maxime 16 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 14h 45’ 52’’ + 00’ 22’’
13. SLO BRAJKOVIC Janez 181 ASTANA PRO TEAM 14h 45’ 52’’ + 00’ 22’’
14. EST TAARAMAE Rein 81 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 14h 45’ 52’’ + 00’ 22’’
15. SVK SAGAN Peter 57 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 14h 45’ 53’’ + 00’ 23’’
16. FRA PERAUD Jean-Christophe 71 AG2R LA MONDIALE 14h 45’ 53’’ + 00’ 23’’
17. ITA MARCATO Marco 125 VACANSOLEIL-DCM 14h 45’ 53’’ + 00’ 23’’
18. ESP ZUBELDIA Haimar 19 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 14h 45’ 54’’ + 00’ 24’’
19. NED POELS Wouter 126 VACANSOLEIL-DCM 14h 45’ 54’’ + 00’ 24’’
20. IRL ROCHE Nicolas 79 AG2R LA MONDIALE 14h 45’ 55’’ + 00’ 25’’
Stage 3 wasn't for the climbers, rather, the puncheurs.
Sagan did well.
Les floobear ?
Fortunately, I’m in Vail b/c Denver is scorching hot. It was 105 when we left yesterday. Waaaaay too hot for late June/ early July.
How’s Texas?
Whoa! TMI! haha
Stage 04 - Abbeville > > > Rouen (214.5km)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Km 38.0 - Côte du Mont Huon 2.1 kilometre-long climb at 4.1% - category 4
Km 69.0 - Côte de Dieppe 1.8 kilometre-long climb at 3.9% - category 4
Km 74.0 - Côte de Pourville-sur-Mer 1.9 kilometre-long climb at 4.4% - category 4
Km 143.0 - Côte de Toussaint 1.9 kilometre-long climb at 4.5% - category 4
Down the Alabaster Coast
"The fourth stage, the fifth day of racing, but I am sure there will already be some gaps, proving that the prologue, the finish in Seraing and, most importantly, the finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer have made an impact. Today, we continue with one of the longest stages in the Tour, with 214.5 km between Abbeville and Rouen. We will obviously seize the opportunity to pay tribute to Jacques Anquetil. We will also emphasise the touristic aspect of the Tour by riding down the Alabaster coast for a long time and enjoying its breathtaking landscapes and light effects.
Beware the wind
It’s going to be hard for any one team to control the peloton on this long stage that follows the coast for a good distance and also takes in some lumpy terrain. That said, it’s one of the best opportunities the sprinters have in this year’s race, so they won’t want to pass it up. If the wind gets up off the English Channel the peloton could split, so once again all of the teams with a sprinter or overall contender will want to be near the front in case echelons do form. Breakaway specialists will like the look of this stage as well, which could bring riders such as Jérémy Roy, Rubén Pérez and Anthony Roux into the frame.
André Greipel: "Wind off the sea could cause problems early on and two tight turns to get over Guillaume le Conquérant Bridge with 1km to go could upset the lead-outs. The sprinters will want to stack up the points before the mountains begin."
Much obliged for the pings R4F
And thanks to all the folks with the insightfull comments
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Yep — thanks for the pings!
Not sure who I am rooting for yet, would have been Andy Schleck, but sadly he’s out. Sagan is fun, but don’t want to be a bandwagon jumper just yet.
Just saw a little interview with Tom Danielson, sounds like he’s in bad shape with a separated shoulder that’s taped up but really painful, that sucks.
Would like to see Boasson Hagen win one so we could celebrate a W by
Boss Hagen or declare it Boss Hagen - Daz
:) :) :)
Ouch! Great pic, Bay, thx.
Stage 05 - Rouen > > > Saint-Quentin (196.5km)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
None - no classified climbs
Tour de France 2012
Stage 05 - Rouen > > > Saint-Quentin (196.5km)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
An awe-inspiring course
"I have already cited Jacques Anquetil, and now it is time to mention Jean Robic, since the stage will start at the foot of the Côte de Bonsecours, right where a stele commemorates his historic exploit. And what an exploit it was, with a 130 km breakaway to defeat Brambilla and take the yellow jersey in the last stage of the 1947 Tour de France! Having said that, today's stage to Saint-Quentin should play into the sprinters' hands. We expect the bunch to ride fast on an awe-inspiring course which is usually home to the Tour of Picardy. May I say that I am personally quite fond of this region?"
All set for the sprinters
Having zigged to the west, the race zags back to the east and begins its march towards the mountains with this straightforward stage into St-Quentin. Mark Cavendish has won stage 5 of the Tour in three of the past four seasons and is sure to be well backed to continue that run here. There are no difficulties at all. The terrain is ideal for chasing down a small breakaway group, while the finish is straight and wide enough to provide the sprinters with a great stage on which to perform. Tribute will be paid today to Jean Robic, whose 1947 Tour-winning break began at the location of the start.
Jérémy Roy: "Because the route follows one general direction, everything will depend on the weather – if the wind is from a bad angle there will be people everywhere! The sprint teams will try to control the race so it will be difficult to get away."
Will Johnny Cash be performing there?
Stage 06 - Épernay > > > Metz (205km)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Km 145.0 - Côte de Buxières 2.7 kilometre-long climb at 3.8% - category 4
Tour de France 2012
Stage 06 - Épernay > > > Metz (205km)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Sprint expected but not certain...
There is another day of flat racing and thus the consensus is that this will be another day for the sprinters but there are some lessons to take home from the early stanza of Le Tour 2012: accidents happen, riders can falter, and some lead-out trains are more organized than others. Peter Sagan missed out on adding points to his tally in stage five because of a crash. Matt Goss has been consistent and appears to be getting closer to his first Tour stage win. André Greipel's crew has proven to be the most formidable this year. And, on top of everything, there is a week of racing with weary legs and damaged bodies to consider. We've seen three bunch sprints this year but each has been affected by a crash leading to the finish. Surely what we all want to see in Metz is all the specialists going head-to-head before the Tour arrives in the mountains. A true, pure sprint. That's the likely conclusion for stage six but a glimpse at the finish of stage five reminds us that the escapees are getting closer to pulling off a coup. Perhaps today will be the day that the attackers are the big beneficiaries.
Last sprint before the hills
The race continues east with another stage that’s sure to be a sprint. There’s one categorised climb, soon after the day’s intermediate sprint, but the sprinters won’t be too troubled by it. Plus, they have the motivation of knowing that this will be their last moment in the spotlight for the best part of a week, so they won’t want to pass this chance up. With the mountains just ahead, the baroudeurs, who like nothing more than several hours out at the front of the race, will be evident too. Could this be a day when one of them goes the whole distance? Probably not, but that won’t stop them trying.
Sean Yates: "It is too early to be going for intermediate sprints so we won’t be trying keep it together. It’s the last flat stage and then we hit the mountains – the combination of us [Sky], Omega Pharma-Quick-Step and Lotto will surely lead to a sprint."
(Commentary - letour.com & cyclingnews.com)
Farrar going after Tom Feelers after yesterday’s stage was absurd. Honestly watching the video from above, it looked like the crash was Farrar’s fault. He was clearly leaning into Feelers. I think he is just frustrated with his Tour so far. He has fallen 4 times now.I like Tyler and would like to see him get a stage win but this kind of behavior will not win him any friends.
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