TdF '21 Discussion Thread Stage 15 Jul11 SPOILER ALERT
This is a 115-mile mountain stage.
With five peaks, there is a lot of opportunity for tactics. There are several riders who are certainly in play for a podium spot, overall, and at least for a top ten finish, overall. There are climber points at the second, third, fourth, and fifth climbs.
The first 11 miles are uphill right from the start, although this first peak is not very high or difficult. This will, however, make it a bit hard for sprinter teams to begin working for the day’s mid-way sprint points at Olette, at about 40 miles. Those sprint points are actually on an uphill that begins once the riders come through Prades. Prades looks like the road goes down to one lane, unless they clear out a parking lane on the west side of town.
The first climb for climber points is fairly long, at 6 miles, at Mount Louis, and after that mark for points, there are still 5 miles to the crest, Font Romeu.
After the descent, they ride up several miles to a crest at Puymorens, then a brief descent and resume the climb another 6 or 7 miles to Envalira.
Then, a challenging descent, and the final climb, of about 5 miles, to Beixalus. The riders then have a very challenging descent of about 8 miles to the finish, at Andorre-la-Vieille. Lots of switchbacks will slow down any breakaway rider or riders at the front. So, any GC contender hoping to advance will need to have his advantage before this final descent.
The descent levels out in the final few miles, and the finish is typical, flattening out as the route comes into town, for the final mile and a half. This finish has a broad turn, then two sharp left turns, then a quarter mile to the finish line. Again, any GC contender hoping to advance will need to have his advantage before this final stretch, since the turns will slow any rider down a bit.
What might happen? What to look for? As noted, the many climbs provide a lot of opportunity for tactics. Predominantly, the thing to look for is multiple attacks on Pogachar to tire him out our see how much gas he has in the tank. Successive attacks by different teams can expose weakness. With this route, Pogachar’s team may have some trouble keeping him in a comfortable spot. He has, however, not really seemed to require an escort very much. This could be yet another stage with a lot of shifting action, as was the stage with double-Ventoux – riders all over the place, slipping and sliding in the rankings. There is a rest day after this stage, so riders can expend energy liberally.
A non-threatening group may be allowed to break away. With the descents, the peloton may be able to keep any breakaway in sight. Of course, having riders all over the course allows challengers to bridge ahead.
Sprinters will have a Lanterne Rouge Gruppo in the back, but they should not be at risk of time cutoff.
This is a 115-mile mountain stage.
With five peaks, there is a lot of opportunity for tactics. There are several riders who are certainly in play for a podium spot, overall, and at least for a top ten finish, overall. There are climber points at the second, third, fourth, and fifth climbs.
The first 11 miles are uphill right from the start, although this first peak is not very high or difficult. This will, however, make it a bit hard for sprinter teams to begin working for the day’s mid-way sprint points at Olette, at about 40 miles. Those sprint points are actually on an uphill that begins once the riders come through Prades. Prades looks like the road goes down to one lane, unless they clear out a parking lane on the west side of town.
The first climb for climber points is fairly long, at 6 miles, at Mount Louis, and after that mark for points, there are still 5 miles to the crest, Font Romeu.
After the descent, they ride up several miles to a crest at Puymorens, then a brief descent and resume the climb another 6 or 7 miles to Envalira.
Then, a challenging descent, and the final climb, of about 5 miles, to Beixalus. The riders then have a very challenging descent of about 8 miles to the finish, at Andorre-la-Vieille. Lots of switchbacks will slow down any breakaway rider or riders at the front. So, any GC contender hoping to advance will need to have his advantage before this final descent.
The descent levels out in the final few miles, and the finish is typical, flattening out as the route comes into town, for the final mile and a half. This finish has a broad turn, then two sharp left turns, then a quarter mile to the finish line. Again, any GC contender hoping to advance will need to have his advantage before this final stretch, since the turns will slow any rider down a bit.
What might happen? What to look for? As noted, the many climbs provide a lot of opportunity for tactics. Predominantly, the thing to look for is multiple attacks on Pogachar to tire him out our see how much gas he has in the tank. Successive attacks by different teams can expose weakness. With this route, Pogachar’s team may have some trouble keeping him in a comfortable spot. He has, however, not really seemed to require an escort very much. This could be yet another stage with a lot of shifting action, as was the stage with double-Ventoux – riders all over the place, slipping and sliding in the rankings. There is a rest day after this stage, so riders can expend energy liberally.
A non-threatening group may be allowed to break away. With the descents, the peloton may be able to keep any breakaway in sight. Of course, having riders all over the course allows challengers to bridge ahead.
Sprinters will have a Lanterne Rouge Gruppo in the back, but they should not be at risk of time cutoff.
