Stage 09 - Arc-et-Senans > > > Besançon (41.5km) ITT
Monday, July 9, 2012
None - Individual Time Trial
(Graphics - letour.com & cyclingnews.com)
Posted on 06/24/2012 9:40:23 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
Check out the final hill, Col de la Croix, with 15 & 17% sections.
Tour de France 2012
Stage 08 - Belfort > > > Porrentruy (157.5km)
Sunday, July 8, 2012
"In my opinion, this could very well end up being the key stage of the Tour! The course is just 157 km long, but it has been designed to promote attacks and comebacks. If a favourite loses three minutes on the previous day's final climb, he will get the chance to make amends on this stage. There is a succession of six climbs, including the Col de la Croix a mere 16 km from the finish. This 3.7 km climb with an average gradient of 9.2% is a terrific launch pad! In short, this course is reminiscent of the one in Les Rousses, where Sylvain Chavanel stole the show two years ago. Back then, Andy Schleck regretted not having scouted the stage beforehand. This time he cannot say no-one has warned him."
The stage of seven hills
This stage is not unlike the one bagged by Sylvain Chavanel at Les Rousses in 2010. There’s no summit finish but there are seven climbs in just 157km and the last three all have very testing sections. It would be no surprise to see Chavanel and partner-in-crime Jérôme Pineau in the break today, perhaps with a few other French hopefuls who can climb well and can offer a decent sprint on the drag up to the finish – Sandy Casar and Pierrick Fédrigo, for example. The final ascent of the Col de la Croix is a chance for the climbers. The summit is only 16km from the finish. A good descender might fancy his chances too.
Allan Peiper: "We did some of the stage in Romandie and it is a hard one. The roads are not easy and they’re also quite technical. It will be the type of stage that will suit Sylvain Chavanel if a breakaway goes with some good climbers."
Pinot just made a helluva move, damn.
Stage 8 results - helluva race by the youngest rider, Pinot:
1. FRA PINOT Thibaut 146 FDJ-BIGMAT 03h 56’ 10’’
2. AUS EVANS Cadel 1 BMC RACING TEAM 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
3. FRA GALLOPIN Tony 13 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
4. GBR WIGGINS Bradley 101 SKY PROCYCLING 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
5. ITA NIBALI Vincenzo 51 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
6. BEL VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 111 LOTTO-BELISOL TEAM 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
7. GBR FROOME Christopher 105 SKY PROCYCLING 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
8. RUS MENCHOV Denis 131 KATUSHA TEAM 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
9. ESP ZUBELDIA Haimar 19 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 03h 56’ 36’’ + 00’ 26’’
10. LUX SCHLECK Frank 11 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 03h 56’ 40’’ + 00’ 30’’
11. USA HORNER Christopher 14 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 03h 56’ 40’’ + 00’ 30’’
12. SWE KESSIAKOFF Fredrik 187 ASTANA PRO TEAM 03h 56’ 57’’ + 00’ 47’’
13. IRL ROCHE Nicolas 79 AG2R LA MONDIALE 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
14. DEN SORENSEN Chris Anker 178 TEAM SAXO BANK-TINKOFF BANK 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
15. BEL MONFORT Maxime 16 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
16. FRA ROLLAND Pierre 29 TEAM EUROPCAR 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
17. ITA SCARPONI Michele 41 LAMPRE - ISD 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
18. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 9 BMC RACING TEAM 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
19. POR COSTA Rui Alberto 163 MOVISTAR TEAM 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
20. USA LEIPHEIMER Levi 191 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 03h 57’ 35’’ + 01’ 25’’
So far I’m having a good time watching this year.
Overall individual time classification - Result after the Stage 8:
1. GBR WIGGINS Bradley 101 SKY PROCYCLING 38h 17’ 56’’
2. AUS EVANS Cadel 1 BMC RACING TEAM 38h 18’ 06’’ + 00’ 10’’
3. ITA NIBALI Vincenzo 51 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 38h 18’ 12’’ + 00’ 16’’
4. RUS MENCHOV Denis 131 KATUSHA TEAM 38h 18’ 50’’ + 00’ 54’’
5. ESP ZUBELDIA Haimar 19 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 38h 18’ 55’’ + 00’ 59’’
6. GBR FROOME Christopher 105 SKY PROCYCLING 38h 19’ 28’’ + 01’ 32’’
7. BEL MONFORT Maxime 16 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 38h 20’ 04’’ + 02’ 08’’
8. BEL VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 111 LOTTO-BELISOL TEAM 38h 20’ 07’’ + 02’ 11’’
9. IRL ROCHE Nicolas 79 AG2R LA MONDIALE 38h 20’ 17’’ + 02’ 21’’
10. EST TAARAMAE Rein 81 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 38h 20’ 23’’ + 02’ 27’’
11. FRA GALLOPIN Tony 13 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 38h 21’ 09’’ + 03’ 13’’
12. POR COSTA Rui Alberto 163 MOVISTAR TEAM 38h 21’ 20’’ + 03’ 24’’
13. FRA PINOT Thibaut 146 FDJ-BIGMAT 38h 21’ 37’’ + 03’ 41’’
14. USA HORNER Christopher 14 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 38h 21’ 39’’ + 03’ 43’’
15. LUX SCHLECK Frank 11 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 38h 21’ 43’’ + 03’ 47’’
16. SLO BRAJKOVIC Janez 181 ASTANA PRO TEAM 38h 21’ 59’’ + 04’ 03’’
17. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 9 BMC RACING TEAM 38h 22’ 04’’ + 04’ 08’’
18. ITA BASSO Ivan 52 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 38h 22’ 08’’ + 04’ 12’’
19. GER KLÖDEN Andréas 15 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 38h 22’ 20’’ + 04’ 24’’
20. FRA ROLLAND Pierre 29 TEAM EUROPCAR 38h 22’ 22’’ + 04’ 26’’
21. USA LEIPHEIMER Levi 191 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 38h 22’ 42’’ + 04’ 46’’
Same here, Pete. I’m less familiar with many of the riders than in prior years, but the ‘new wave’ of younger folks have been quite fun to watch.
And then the Commonwealth guys like Evans and Wiggins are turning in great performances as well.
Levi
Once again the boys were hyping Levi at the start of the TdF. I was like - Dudes, his time has come and gone and he’s missed the train.
Yeap, I was right.
Really enjoying this year as well. Today’s stage was excellent, lots of excitement and a broken up Peleton. Sad about Sanchez, though, gone in such a seemingly minor wreck.
Still don’t have a favorite to root, which may be a good thing, considering the carnage so far.
I was rooting for the Swed - then he was passed by the Frenchie and I was happy to root for him - and then the last remaining GC guys and a couple of others charged after him - so I could root for them - but the Frenchie won.
So I’m having a good time with the new and the old this year.
Stage 09 - Arc-et-Senans > > > Besançon (41.5km) ITT
Monday, July 9, 2012
None - Individual Time Trial
Tour de France 2012
Stage 09 - Arc-et-Senans > > > Besançon (41.5km) ITT
Monday, July 9, 2012
"How shall I put it? A crucial stage riddled with heritage sites and tourist landmarks. I mention heritage and tourism because it starts from the Royal Salt Works, which date from the time of Louis XV. The stunning pictures will be broadcast in 190 different countries. And I say it is a crucial stage because, after ten days of racing, the time trial will give us a much clearer picture of the state of affairs. The beautiful course is similar to the stage around the Lac de Vassivière a few years ago. We chucked in a climb which will no doubt sap cyclists' legs. We chose this terrain to make it easier for strong riders to prevail."
The battle for yellow begins
If a time trial specialist does win this year’s Tour, it’s a fair bet that he will be among the top three or four finishers today. Initially announced as 38km, this stage is now another 3.5km longer. It’s a test of two halves, with the first 20 kilometres much more rolling than those near to the finish. However, there is not much here that will worry the stronger time trialists, such as Wiggins, Martin and Cancellara. They will power up the climbs and should gain three to four seconds a kilometre on Frank Schleck and the other climbers – some two and three minutes by the end. If it’s any less than that, the RadioShack-Nissan leader will be very happy.
Sean Yates: "This could be decisive to the final GC. Bradley will be trying to win the stage and put as much time into his rivals as possible – every second counts. It’s an ideal length for him but not really as straightforward as the second time trial."
Actually there was a fair amount of discussion about this the day after Tyler's fall. I think it was Bob Roll who mentioned he suspected Tyler's wheel rubbed the wheel in front of his.
I wish I could give you better information about this discussion... I've only been able to catch The Tour in bits and pieces this year unfortunately.
We'll be traveling again starting mid-week. I may end up missing the rest of The Tour, unless our hotels carry the NBC Sports channel... :-(
Is that the late Marco Pantani with him?
Has Didi the Devil been spotted at TdF 2012 yet? I haven't seen him...
I saw a pitchfork today and we’re in the mountains, so I think the devil will show up soon. Last year his RV was wrapped so you knew he was near.
Exciting end to today’s race!
Maybe he'll surface in the mountains...
The Brits are having a fantastic Tour, so far. Wiggins with a clear lead an Froome #4 in the overall classification.
BTW did you see that the rumours of Wiggins and doping started as soon as he gained the yellow jersey. Apparently Stevn Roche had warned him that this was exactly what was going to happen. The “continentals” won’t give up until they have one of their own on top again.
(PS: Any news from Lance Armstrong and the USADA doping charges? I read Armstrong’s rebuttal and got really angry. The whole thing is kafqaesque in IMHO.)
Pitchfork... that's a sign of Didi the Devil for sure!
As far as actual PED use goes, I have always felt this should not be an issue. Athletics is entertainment. We love entertainers surgically improved, stuffed with silicone and digitally enhanced, why not athletes? Given the choice of fame and fortune over staying absolutely clean, I bet 90% of all athletes would take the chance to juice.
Now that the Olympics has gone pro it is hard to respect the facade of those who talk or purity in sport.
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