Widely differing opinions as to what this Stage will do to the GC.
Tour de France 2012
Stage 12 - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > > > Annonay - Davézieux (226km)
Friday, July 13, 2012
"Yet another strategic stage, one which could tip the balance in the points classification on its own. Why? Because we have adorned the first part of this long stage (226 km) with the Col de Grand Cucheron and the Col du Granier. The latter will be climbed on its most difficult side. A high pace will knock out the sprinters, favouring riders who are fast and capable of hanging onto the bunch on climbs. We will insist that time limits be applied strictly, so I bet many riders will get fidgety, and some of them will not forget the finish in Annonay any time soon..."
Complicated for the sprinters
The sprinters will have been quiet for a few days now – and some of them may well have fallen by the wayside – but this one could go their way depending on how the first 80km goes. Some riders are sure to view the Grand Cucheron and Granier as the ideal opportunity to break clear and perhaps build a stage-winning advantage. It’s the kind of day Thomas Voeckler will appreciate if he’s not in overall contention. After the climbs, though, the sprinters have got plenty of terrain on which to set their rouleurs to work. The final cat 3 climb might foil the sprinters, especially after 200km and two weeks of racing.
Janez Brajkovic:"This is somewhere that a break can stay away all day and take the stage victory. If the day’s break hasn’t gone by the first climb it will be pretty hard to go after that. I don’t think there will be major changes to the GC here."
July 12 update: Stage 12 will exit the Alps via two cat 1 climbs as we head west from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay for the longest stage of this year's Tour at 226 km. Annonay is often featured in the Criterium du Dauphine but this is the first time it will be featured in the Tour de France. Actually, to be precise, the finish is in Davezieux just northeast of Annonay and both towns are considered joint hosts for this stage.
A break should gain significant advantage in the mountainous first half of the stage before we settle into a long, rolling/lumpy ride to the finish where two hills near the finish could whittle the break down before the flat final km.
This finish is well suited for Peter Sagan, but he isn't likely to make it over the first two cat 1 climbs if he's part of the break and if he's not part of the break will Liquigas-Cannondale chase it down? They'll need help from other teams like Orica-GreenEdge (for Matt Goss), but the peloton will be tired after two mountain stages so it's quite likely another break will succeed. Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) missed out on a stage win on Wednesday's Stage 10 as part of the break, but he'll have another chance on this day and the finish is better suited to him. — Steve
Very different set-up today. I’m thinking Sagan might make a move, or possibly Cavendish or another sprinter — too early to tell right now.
Despite everyone on Sky making the right noises this morning, I’m thinking things aren’t quite as peachy between Froome & Wiggins as they say. Teejay seems a lot more settled into his “duties” and content to wait his time. Maybe it’s just that I find Wiggins somewhat unattractive and dour, he sure isn’t doing anything to make me root for him.