Forums
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
marychain1
24 Jul 15 18:22
Joined:
Date Joined: 05 Apr 05
| Topic/replies: 1,683 | Blogger: marychain1's blog
Stage 20  »  Modane  ›  l'Alpe d'Huez   (110.5k)

Fun and games on l'Alpe d'Huez

The last of 4 Alpine stages, and although this probably isn't quite as hard as yesterday, it is the stage most have been waiting for, finishing as it does with the legendary l'Alpe d'Huez summit finish. This is a reworked route after roadslides on the Galibier meant that climb had to be ruled out. Off the bench comes the HC Col de la Croix de Fer again after yesterday, although today they climb it from the other side.


The stage starts at Modane and heads West past St-Jean-de-Maurienne which has already been a stage start and finish in the last few days. The route takes the riders downhill for the first 25km or so until the start of the Croix de Fer. This is an HC, 29km climb @ 5.2%. This is a quite uneven climb, the first 4km or so vary between 7-8% and 4-6% before a short descent. The next 6km after this is the hardest section. Again their is a short descent and then a flat section before the climb starts again. The next 5-6km are fairly easy, just going up at a rate between 2.5% and 5%. The final 5-6km are pretty hard again, with gradients upto 8%. The descent from the Croix de Fer is varied, with some very technical sections and some setions that are almost flat and even a couple of small climbs. It is likely that the race all comes back together in the valley.

The famous climb of alpe d'Huez with its 21 hairpins starts at Bourg-D'Oisans. The intermediate sprint is there too, it is not often you get an intermediate sprint after an HC climb. This is obviously a very difficult climb, at 13.8km @ 8.1%. The first 11km or so are all between 7.5-11%. The steepest section is about 4km from the top where it gets up to 13%. The last 2.5km are around 5%.
This is the 8th time a stage has finished on top of l'Alpe d'Huez. In 2011, Pierre Rolland won but even more recently Christophe Riblon won in 2013.
Pause Switch to Standard View *Tour de France - Stage 20* Saturday...
Show More
Loading...
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:08 PM BST
Didn't panic --
Report CJ70 July 25, 2015 2:10 PM BST
Pinot leading the second group down.. There's another minute gone Laugh
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:10 PM BST
POWER DESCENT!
Nibali doing nothing on the descent!
Looks like it'll be a pissing contest in the valley as they all call for drinks prior to the shoot-out on the Alpe.
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 2:10 PM BST
my coins have been placed on a couple hail marys on Pinot and Hesjesdal
Report casemoney July 25, 2015 2:11 PM BST
Laugh was just going to say Any odds on Pinot Completeing the descent Laugh
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:13 PM BST
Coming back together again -- much earlier than expected!
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 2:16 PM BST
sky train is back
Report Happybacker July 25, 2015 2:16 PM BST
Another 8 pts for froome on that climb so hopefully my 10/1 for kom is safe now!
Report the swede July 25, 2015 2:16 PM BST
are there any bonus sec for podium on this stage?
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:18 PM BST
Geniez was 9thon GC in the Giro earlier this year. 13th in 2014. In his prime at 27. Won by 3 mins from Scarponi and Nibali in stage 15 of the 2013 Vuelta on a mountaintop finish.

He can climb, and has a nice gap at 3+ mins.
Report Happybacker July 25, 2015 2:20 PM BST
Great stuff from Sky, i think they knew it would all come back together at the bottom so told their all riders to get over the first climb as quick as they could at their own pace. Froome and the team have got their tactics spot on so far today.
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:20 PM BST
Nice movement on the Quintana lay from earlier of 1.9 -- into -- 2.32.
Report CJ70 July 25, 2015 2:20 PM BST
Hesjedal, Pinot, Anacona & Plaza in that chase group. Geniez probably needs a miracle if the GC guys go.

Not sure if there's bonus seconds different sources state differently.
Report nugget July 25, 2015 2:21 PM BST
Yes there is bonus seconds
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:21 PM BST
What will hurt Geniez is the long valley road -- as CJ intimated earlier, that road will fry a leader or sole combatant.
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:22 PM BST
No bonus seconds!
Report nugget July 25, 2015 2:28 PM BST

Jul 25, 2015 -- 8:22AM, SwingingPick wrote:


No bonus seconds!


this should tell you that there are definitely bonus seconds

Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:29 PM BST
So this has become suddenly complex, but I guess the lesson was that any such break of good climbers was always going to panic the Quintana backers from earlier.
Report nugget July 25, 2015 2:31 PM BST
First time I've seen SKY chase with intent
Report the swede July 25, 2015 2:32 PM BST

Jul 25, 2015 -- 8:28AM, nugget wrote:


Jul 25, 2015 --  2:22PM, SwingingPick wrote:No bonus seconds!this should tell you that there are definitely bonus seconds


Cool

Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:35 PM BST
Laugh
I suspected that nugget was writing sh!t about me, now I have the proof, even though I am enjoying having the after-timing MUG blocked and irrelevant!
Laugh
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 2:37 PM BST
One thing this Tour hasn't had so far is a lone breakaway rider turning squares on a final climb - reckon we'll get it today
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:39 PM BST
I hope those squares come when they're still hexagons, almost resembling circles, so that a nice lay might become the play. Grin
Report nugget July 25, 2015 2:44 PM BST
are there time bonuses on this stage?
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:45 PM BST
Some good liquidity on a Geniez lay for anyone with deep pockets thinking he is going to hit that wall on the Alpe. Cool
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 2:46 PM BST
Edet and Bak, back with the 2nd group which now has 9 members
Report nugget July 25, 2015 2:46 PM BST
doesn't appear anyone wants to back Geniez at the moment
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:47 PM BST
Oops -- there it goes -- must've been Millionaire nugget! Laugh
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 2:48 PM BST
There ARE time bonuses. I was mislead by the Letour website, but there defo are time bonuses.

Eg Before Stage 19 Valverde was 3.55 up on Nibali
Nibali won stage 19 and put 2.26 into Valverde.
Looking at the GC Nibali is now 1.19 behind Valverde instead of 1.29 which shows he has also received a 10 second time bonus for winning stage 19.
The Le Tour website said there were only time bonuses up until Stage 9 but they have now changed it to say it applies to all non-TT stages
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:49 PM BST
Cheers MC, wasn't aware of the change.
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:52 PM BST
Anyone tempted by Hesjedal here at 30s?
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 2:53 PM BST
i hit Hesjedal at 75 which is probly a fair price. 30s might be low now
Report CJ70 July 25, 2015 2:54 PM BST
Expecting the GC guys to go early, so staying away from any of the breakaway riders.
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 2:55 PM BST
Just cannot see past Quintana here
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:56 PM BST
Fair enough guys.
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 2:56 PM BST
Sums up Nibali's tour
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 2:56 PM BST
Nibili changes to the moto bike
Report CJ70 July 25, 2015 2:56 PM BST
Will SKY drive it? Laugh
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:56 PM BST
Payback?
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:57 PM BST
Payback?
Report nugget July 25, 2015 2:57 PM BST
Nibali crevaison
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:58 PM BST
...
Report CJ70 July 25, 2015 2:59 PM BST
Quintana goes.
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 2:59 PM BST
Quintana had to go early.
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:01 PM BST
Quintana hitting some solid jabs
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:01 PM BST
Nice attack -- very smooth -- but not riding away means he is not destructive.
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:10 PM BST
leader almost caught now
Report Angela Rebecchi July 25, 2015 3:10 PM BST
5.2 froome lol
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:12 PM BST
I have my doubts about Valverde's performance here at this tour
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:13 PM BST
Take 2...
Report Angela Rebecchi July 25, 2015 3:13 PM BST
ty froome 3.1 backers, like burning money that
Report the swede July 25, 2015 3:16 PM BST
if quintana wins froome needs to be 5 th for polka
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:16 PM BST
dammit Quintana will ruin my long odds backs
Report razz July 25, 2015 3:19 PM BST
what's quintana's gap over froome anyone? missed the last 5 mins
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:19 PM BST
awesome crowed there
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:19 PM BST
Valverde dropped?
Anaconda doing good work
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:19 PM BST
47 secs...
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:20 PM BST
35secs
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:20 PM BST
37 secs...
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:22 PM BST
Pinot full of riding!
Report razz July 25, 2015 3:24 PM BST
quintana too by the looks of that acceleration!
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:25 PM BST
Pinot the better for mine...
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:26 PM BST
neeed a couple of sticky bottles from Fdj
Report casemoney July 25, 2015 3:28 PM BST
Come on Pinot
Report CJ70 July 25, 2015 3:30 PM BST
This is going to be so close. Pinot my favourite as long as he doesn't bonk at the end.
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 3:31 PM BST
Where are the pictures of Marc Madiot going mental in the car?
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:31 PM BST
does it flatten out at all ?
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:31 PM BST
Lost 10 secs on that km, and starting to crack, this is going with Quintana now!
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:32 PM BST
common Pinot!
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 3:35 PM BST
Pinot LoveLove
Report razz July 25, 2015 3:35 PM BST
wow great ride from pinot!
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:35 PM BST
Don't crash Thibaut
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:35 PM BST
awesome well done Pinot and well done Froome
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 3:35 PM BST
Kirby crying
Report casemoney July 25, 2015 3:35 PM BST
HappyGreat rides Pinot and quin
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 3:36 PM BST
Shame about the bronchitis, Pinot could have had another podium this year he has been getting stronger and stronger
Report Angela Rebecchi July 25, 2015 3:37 PM BST
why do they hate froome so much? did they place the worst bets ever and back him 3.1 for the stage?!!!!!
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:38 PM BST
Quintana ran out of rode, and Pinot dug deep to find some deep reserves.
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:39 PM BST
Quintana gets KOM?
Report Fangsy July 25, 2015 3:40 PM BST
Not by my sums
Report the swede July 25, 2015 3:41 PM BST
froome get kom 119 p
quintana 108 p
if my calculation are correct
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:41 PM BST

Jul 25, 2015 -- 9:36AM, marychain1 wrote:


Shame about the bronchitis, Pinot could have had another podium this year he has been getting stronger and stronger


No doubt. I know you said you like Pinot mc, I hope you had him.  You deserve a win for the effort on the threads.

Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:42 PM BST
If Valverde came over Froome at the end Quintana could of taken the 4 points tommorow and got kom ? are my maths correct?
Report the swede July 25, 2015 3:42 PM BST
but if he had a good first week he wouldnt won today
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:43 PM BST

Jul 25, 2015 -- 9:42AM, the swede wrote:


but if he had a good first week he wouldnt won today


True. Same as Nibali yesterday.  You still need the class to pull off the win though.

Report Fangsy July 25, 2015 3:43 PM BST
Only one cat 4 tomorrow, so only 1pt.
Report SwingingPick July 25, 2015 3:45 PM BST
I guess that's what MC sees in Pinot when the Frenchman can come out on the big stage and suffer like that. Impressive stuff.
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:45 PM BST
So was the flat/windy stage 2 the difference in the end?
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:46 PM BST
think Valverde got him on the line anyway
Report nugget July 25, 2015 3:55 PM BST
I tipped Pinot on stage 17 and 18 and he didn't come through so I thought I better stop tipping him.  Obviously too much pressure for him.
Thankfully I didn't stop backing him. I'm just dirty because I would of had more on him if I hadn't backed him in the 3 stages prior to today. Happy
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 3:58 PM BST
what made me go for Pinot was the fact that there was 2 climbs but only 1 descent
Report marychain1 July 25, 2015 4:05 PM BST
That was an absolutely amazing stage and this has been a cracking Tour.
Report nugget July 25, 2015 4:10 PM BST

Jul 25, 2015 -- 9:58AM, virtuoso wrote:


what made me go for Pinot was the fact that there was 2 climbs but only 1 descent


lol, nice one.
Big effort from Pinot because he was dropped early on the Croix de Fer.  I had Quintana, Pinot and Barguil in a head-to-head stage bet 3-leg multi today and both the French were in difficulty on the first climb.  Barguil was one of the first dropped, does anyone know where he finished?  I remember Jens Voight saying he will probably get back on but the other commentator was saying he was gone.

Report nugget July 25, 2015 4:19 PM BST

Jul 25, 2015 -- 10:05AM, marychain1 wrote:


That was an absolutely amazing stage and this has been a cracking Tour.


Have to agree mc.  I was a bit down on Movistar's tactics and I still think they could of done more to get the yellow jersey, but 2nd and 3rd on the podium and winning the teams classification would probably be seen as a success for them.  I think Valverde could of won a couple stages and rode more like Richie Porte, a proper domestique. It was obvious however that Valverde really cherished that spot on the podium, good for him, I didn't think he had that in him.  2 classics and a podium in the TdF, not a bad year.

Report casemoney July 25, 2015 4:35 PM BST
there was 2 climbs but only 1 descent

Laugh Spot On Virt I bet him at 25 pre race Laid some off when Quin started the chase Happy

Been a great Tour this Year ,the withdrawal Symptoms monday will be Immense Sad
Report razz July 25, 2015 4:43 PM BST

Jul 25, 2015 -- 10:35AM, casemoney wrote:


there was 2 climbs but only 1 descent Spot On Virt I bet him at 25 pre race Laid some off when Quin started the chase Been a great Tour this Year ,the withdrawal Symptoms monday will be Immense


at least we get our daytime back just in time for the remainder of summer :) Wimbledon/tour de france back to back has killed my daytimes lately

Report casemoney July 25, 2015 5:01 PM BST
Grin
Report virtuoso July 25, 2015 6:36 PM BST
has been a nice tour indeeed. back to reality has stated, it will be a bleak Monday. Roll on the vuelta next month
Report sixtwosix July 25, 2015 8:53 PM BST
That was more like it from Quintana , needed to have chipped away last week at the lead though.
Report geoff m July 25, 2015 11:57 PM BST
Nairo Quintana the Jamie Spencer of cycling.
Post Your Reply
<CTRL+Enter> to submit
Please login to post a reply.

Wonder

Instance ID: 13539
www.betfair.com