mmoose
06-22-2004, 01:57 PM
Ok, I need more opinions, which stages are the critical stages to take off work and watch live?
Ignoring thru stage 9--anything critical will be the TTT (sorry, watching a time trial is somewhat boring, even though the TTT makes it more interesting), or any stage with crashes (unpredicatable) or a pretender in a big break (unpredictable again). Which of the following stages will have the fireworks that justify taking vacation time?
Stage 10 Wed to St. Flour, to transitional, without Vino taking a flyer, I don't see anything here other than a group break, but without the GC boys.
Stage 12 Friday, Col d'Aspin, LaMongie; if it is raining will LA try his signature move and punch the climbers before they have time to adjust the legs? probably. Otherwise, the climbs are steep enough for the 'pure climbers' to put others in trouble (JU most specifically) but fairly short. JU might be able to power over with minimal time loss. Is it worth an all out effort by Mayo and Heras or just wait for tommorow? possibly huge fireworks
Stage 13, Saturday, Plateau DeBeille; Saturday stage, so I don't have to worry about it anyway. Virenque will prabably take his flyer early to get mountain points on the 6 categorized climbs, I'm not horribly interested in that. Hopefully, someone is smart enough to go with him and steal the points away. Should be huge fireworks.
Stage 15, Tuesday to Villard de Lans I'm not sure about this stage. My head says that all the true contenders will take it easy the day before the l'Alpe d'Huez. The final climb of the day is not horribly long. The peleton has tended to regroup on descents over the years (unlike in the Giro where some descent attacks occasionally happen from Simoni or Savoldelli). Is this transitional? is it just there to soften the legs for the next day? anyone think that there will be a significant move attempted?
Stage 16 Wednesday l'Alpe D'Huez MTT...even MTTs are a bit hard to watch to me. But, this mountain is too spectacular not to watch. Sure it's not the steepest or longest, but it is spectacular. But I disagree with the thought that this is the critical stage of the Tour. I beleive that the time differences between the GC riders will not be large compared to the typical Tour "critical stages". Certainly not as wide as Mt. Ventoux. Small time losses here can be made back. Some pretenders should see thier hopes end though.
Stage 17 Thursday Le Grand Bornarnd at 212k, the longest in the last week of racing...the big climbs are early, 3 smaller climbs late. The whole stage is up or down. LA commented that this will be a surprising stage for some riders...especially ones who overcooked on l'Alpe. I'm thinking that this stage may be more important than it looks hidden behind the MTT.
Stage 18 Friday Lons le Saunier, while the last "mountain stage", it's not too bad. Big mountain in the middle, some bumps near the end, managable by a strong team, pure transition stage to get to the ITT. GC boys will be hiding in the pack. Good day for the end of the KOM competition. Am I missing something?
So far, stages 12, 16 and 17 really merit watching live and taking off work. Opinions on stages 15, 17 and 18 please!
(and yes, don't they ALL really call for us to watch? but I can run down to the break room TV for the final 15 minutes or so after following online...)
Ignoring thru stage 9--anything critical will be the TTT (sorry, watching a time trial is somewhat boring, even though the TTT makes it more interesting), or any stage with crashes (unpredicatable) or a pretender in a big break (unpredictable again). Which of the following stages will have the fireworks that justify taking vacation time?
Stage 10 Wed to St. Flour, to transitional, without Vino taking a flyer, I don't see anything here other than a group break, but without the GC boys.
Stage 12 Friday, Col d'Aspin, LaMongie; if it is raining will LA try his signature move and punch the climbers before they have time to adjust the legs? probably. Otherwise, the climbs are steep enough for the 'pure climbers' to put others in trouble (JU most specifically) but fairly short. JU might be able to power over with minimal time loss. Is it worth an all out effort by Mayo and Heras or just wait for tommorow? possibly huge fireworks
Stage 13, Saturday, Plateau DeBeille; Saturday stage, so I don't have to worry about it anyway. Virenque will prabably take his flyer early to get mountain points on the 6 categorized climbs, I'm not horribly interested in that. Hopefully, someone is smart enough to go with him and steal the points away. Should be huge fireworks.
Stage 15, Tuesday to Villard de Lans I'm not sure about this stage. My head says that all the true contenders will take it easy the day before the l'Alpe d'Huez. The final climb of the day is not horribly long. The peleton has tended to regroup on descents over the years (unlike in the Giro where some descent attacks occasionally happen from Simoni or Savoldelli). Is this transitional? is it just there to soften the legs for the next day? anyone think that there will be a significant move attempted?
Stage 16 Wednesday l'Alpe D'Huez MTT...even MTTs are a bit hard to watch to me. But, this mountain is too spectacular not to watch. Sure it's not the steepest or longest, but it is spectacular. But I disagree with the thought that this is the critical stage of the Tour. I beleive that the time differences between the GC riders will not be large compared to the typical Tour "critical stages". Certainly not as wide as Mt. Ventoux. Small time losses here can be made back. Some pretenders should see thier hopes end though.
Stage 17 Thursday Le Grand Bornarnd at 212k, the longest in the last week of racing...the big climbs are early, 3 smaller climbs late. The whole stage is up or down. LA commented that this will be a surprising stage for some riders...especially ones who overcooked on l'Alpe. I'm thinking that this stage may be more important than it looks hidden behind the MTT.
Stage 18 Friday Lons le Saunier, while the last "mountain stage", it's not too bad. Big mountain in the middle, some bumps near the end, managable by a strong team, pure transition stage to get to the ITT. GC boys will be hiding in the pack. Good day for the end of the KOM competition. Am I missing something?
So far, stages 12, 16 and 17 really merit watching live and taking off work. Opinions on stages 15, 17 and 18 please!
(and yes, don't they ALL really call for us to watch? but I can run down to the break room TV for the final 15 minutes or so after following online...)