The Official 99th Tour de France thread, 2012.

[Pantani]

Dan putting the hammer down at the front

He should let someone else lead for a while now. He splintered the group it is up to someone else to keep it going, or he will burn himself out well before the end.

 

[jackanada]

With 2 team mates up the road is this the day we see a serious move from Evans? If it turns out all the GC contenders are equally knackered this could end up being a slow burner that never catches fire.

 

[1066familyman]

Voeckler doing his best to drop Kessiakoff for that KoM jersey.

Dan Martin looking really strong. Long way to go though.

 

[1066familyman]

Love Europcar. Tommy doing a job on the KoM and now Kern up the road for Rolland

 

[Stoichkov]

Paul Sherwen: "Dan Martin has turned up the screws"

 

[Pantani]

Voeckler doing his best to drop Kessiakoff for that KoM jersey.

Dan Martin looking really strong. Long way to go though.

Feel he is laying too much down too early. There are still two 1st Cats to go after this, he does not need to break all his allies with more than 80km to go.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Really ramps up for the front group soon

 

[Stoichkov]

Getting to the hard bit of the Tourmalet now.

I've skied down this from the top. Theres a nice cafe too full of Tour memorabilia.

Wouldn't DREAM of riding a bike up it ffs!

 

[1066familyman]

Feel he is laying too much down too early. There are still two 1st Cats to go after this, he does not need to break all his allies with more than 80km to go.

Voeckler or Martin?

Martin - yes, I agree, too early in terms of going for a stage win.

Voeckler - perfect I think as can't see Kessiakoff coming back to him to take those two cat 1's ahead of him.

 

[1066familyman]

I see Stortoni is there. I was doing some research on him last night. Couldn't find much on him but rider type given as 'Strada'. I assumed that was Italian for road or possibly sprinter lost in translation. No idea he was a climber Oh well, at least my cheap dom in the shape of Sprick gave it a go earlier.

 

[Pantani]

Voeckler or Martin?

Martin - yes, I agree, too early in terms of going for a stage win.

Voeckler - perfect I think as can't see Kessiakoff coming back to him to take those two cat 1's ahead of him.

Martin, Tommy does not want to win the stage, so will probably be only looking to the top of the last Cat 1, or even the one before that.

Tourmalet

1. Voeckler 25pts

2. Feillu 20pts

3. Martin 16pts - at 1'08"

4. Kessiakoff 14pts - at 1'30"

5. Sorensen 12pts

6. Voigt 10pts

7. Ten Dam 8pts

8. Hincapie 6pts

9. Stortoni 4pts

10. Vinokourov 2pts

 

[Stat Brother]

So to go for a long one over The Aspin or balls out up The Peyresourde?

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Martin, Tommy does not want to win the stage, so will probably be only looking to the top of the last Cat 1, or even the one before that.

Tourmalet

1. Voeckler 25pts

2. Feillu 20pts

3. Martin 16pts - at 1'08"

4. Kessiakoff 14pts - at 1'30"

5. Sorensen 12pts

6. Voigt 10pts

7. Ten Dam 8pts

8. Hincapie 6pts

9. Stortoni 4pts

10. Vinokourov 2pts

16 points between top two in King of the Mountain

What points on offer on the Aspin and Peyresourde, shame its not a mountain top finish and double points on offer

 

[Pantani]

I make the KoM points like this now:

1. Kessiakoff 103
2. Voeckler 87
3. Sorensen Who cares

 

[1066familyman]

So to go for a long one over The Aspin or balls out up The Peyresourde?

The latter I think.

 

[Stat Brother]

I've been up and over Aspin and halfway up this side of the Tourmalet.





In the car

 

[1066familyman]

Martin, Tommy does not want to win the stage, so will probably be only looking to the top of the last Cat 1, or even the one before that.

Thing is, at this rate Tommy could well go on and take the stage. I didn't expect the gap to be quite this big. I thought Voeckler would be caught by GC on the Aspin probably having gone KoM crazy and given his last few ounces for Rolland who'd jumped off the GC.

 

[Pantani]

16 points between top two in King of the Mountain

What points on offer on the Aspin and Peyresourde, shame its not a mountain top finish and double points on offer

10 points for first over the top. So even if Voeckler wins both it will be close, they will have to fight it out again tomorrow.

 

[Pantani]

Thing is, at this rate Tommy could well go on and take the stage. I didn't expect the gap to be quite this big. I thought Voeckler would be caught by GC on the Aspin probably having gone KoM crazy and given his last few ounces for Rolland who'd jumped off the GC.

10 minutes is nothing in the mountains, if one of the big GC names goes for it over the Aspin they will reel that in no problem. Especially as it is just two in the breakaway, watch for them both blow up spectacularly on the final climb.

 

[Stat Brother]

10 minutes is nothing in the mountains, if one of the big GC names goes for it over the Aspin they will reel that in no problem.

The one thing we are all waiting for.