The first time that this route has ever featured in the TdF.
Posted on 06/24/2012 9:40:23 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
The Tour starts next Saturday, June 30th!
Now I need to find my ping list & html templates!
The first time that this route has ever featured in the TdF.
Ces filles avaient mieux d'être vraiment jolie.
Recall these are the same les Bozos who think Lance losing one testicle to cancer gave him "an advantage" and also that Fabian Cancelera has a motor somewhere hidden in his bicycle
Stage 03 - Orchies > > > Boulogne-sur-Mer 197.0km
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Km 132.0 - Côte de L'Éperche 0.7 kilometre-long climb at 6.9% - category 4
Km 163.5 - Côte de Mont Violette 1 kilometre-long climb at 9.2% - category 3
Km 181.0 - Côte de Herquelingue 1.7 kilometre-long climb at 5.8% - category 4
Km 185.0 - Côte de Quéhen 1.4 kilometre-long climb at 5.9% - category 4
Km 190.5 - Côte du Mont Lambert 1.3 kilometre-long climb at 8.4% - category 3
Km 197.0 - Boulogne-sur-Mer 0.7 kilometre-long climb at 7.4% - category 4
Tour de France 2012
Stage 03 - Orchies > > > Boulogne-sur-Mer 197.0km
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thanks very helpful.
Wanted A Schleck to get a win this year.
Now pulling for a Cadel repeat. He raced well last year planning his moves for the long haul.
Hence the reason behind my question.
Am pulling for the Manx Missile to get a few more wins. They guy has an amazing 100m kick!
And it makes week 1 exciting (sort of like a NBA game or my honeymoon night. It all happens in the last minute)
Love that Super Domestique Big George is shooting for the longevity record too. One for us old guys !!!
But I am still trying to figure out why on the awards stand, some give two kisses (left/right) and sometimes 3 (left/right/left). Maybe the “quality” of the winner and/or presentor ?? :-)
Hi luvvy, good to see you, lady!
Hope all is well in your area of CO?
Opening of hostilities
"We are now in France and ready to start from Orchies, a familiar place for classics specialists. One could be forgiven for thinking we have come for the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, but we are actually going to ride straight away from them towards the hills of the Boulonnais. Six big climbs in 100 kilometres, four of which in the last 16 kilometres. This could mark the opening of hostilities in the Tour. There is no way the sprinters will be there at the finish, which will be decided at the same place as the French Championships won by Chavanel. I think the bunch will be smashed to smithereens."
Primed for the puncheurs
This stage could cause some surprises due to the tricky nature of the closing kilometres. It starts at Orchies, a name synonymous with the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix. However, rather than pavé, it’s short, steep hills that are on today’s agenda. There are four testing climbs in the closing 16km before the final 700m-long climb up to the finish. All five are categorised for the mountains jersey competition. As at Seraing, the puncheurs will thrive but the overall contenders should also break cover today, especially as they will want to be at the front of the action to avoid needless crashes in what will be a very nervy peloton.
Jérémy Roy: "The last 60 kilometres contain a series of bumps where attacks may be launched. The final is very hard, with Mt Lambert and the hill in Boulogne. Anything is possible but I think we will arrive in small groups and the puncheurs will prevail."
Young Peter Sagan got boxed in and didn’t get to test him but he got some schoolin’ in the process. I expect him to apply his lessons as the tour moves along.
He looked like he was in great position, but lost it quickly.
Couldn’t believe the pace the peleton was motoring at.....
I had to rewind the feed several times to check that the speed Phil and Paul were quoting was accurate. 40 + MPH ?????
I don’t think I’ve ever reached that on a flat, let along most downhills.....
But I am still trying to figure out why on the awards stand, some give two kisses (left/right) and sometimes 3 (left/right/left). Maybe the “quality” of the winner and/or presentor ?? :-)
Belgians/Dutch customarily use 2, with the 3rd thrown in if a relative, or someone you haven’t seen in a long time.
Also, if a 3rd you finish on the same side you started.
Lived in Belgium for 5 years, so became very familiar with this .
P.S.
French tend to follow the same pattern.
As you may know the northern part of Belgium is predominately Flemish
Flanders /Vlaanderen and the south French - Wallonia.
So you do get to see some differences.
Interesting also is the flag used. A fierce lion for the Flemish, and a
Rooster for the French.
Thanks for the ongoing pings R4F!
Tho’, six big climbs? Hmmm... Four cat 4s and two cat 3s... Longest one is just over a mile...
Nope, not seeing the big climbs here... tho’ I am interested in seeing what the young Slovak can do today.
Even in a fast finish peloton speed is normally about 30-32 mph leading into the sprint. 40 mph is flat out flyin'. It must have been adrenalin combined with Cavendish and others feeling the need to give Sagan a little respect for the big time. There is a difference between a fast twitch jump and holding an amazing reserve of steam to carry that kind of speed for 150 meters. Cavendish is a master, no doubt.
I'm looking forward to see how today shakes out with the hills at the end.
I’m looking forward to see how today shakes out with the hills at the end.
So am I. Early but might give some indication of how Cadels teammates will work to help him gain some time.
#2 for Sagan, Bay. He keeps this up and he’s going to have “billions and billions” of stage victories.
This one was made to order for him. I saw it in the tour of California. He’s not afraid of hills, maybe even likes the uphill finishes more than the flats. That’s why I see him as a threat in the medium hilly stages and the intermittent flat stages with rolling finishes late in the tour.
Did they check for flubber gas in his tires?
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