The Montagne de Lure

by TheInnerRing on Mar 12, 2009 1:47 PM EDT

Montagne de Lure

The is THE summit finish in Paris-Nice. With the limestone, an arc of tarmac and the communications aerials on top, it looks a bit like Mont Ventoux, no? Indeed, it's sometimes called the little sister of Mont Ventoux, being just 40km away. Like Ventoux, this is not a mountain pass but a mountain peak with the road reaching up to the top. There's a small ski station at the top.

Tomorrow the riders will take the road from St Etienne les Orgues for 13km. You can actually continue further for a bit, the race doesn't go right to the peak. The road cuts up through the forest at a fairly steady gradient, averaging around 6% with one section at 8% but that's it. Remember that Bédoin - Mont Ventoux nudges 10% for a long time. So Lure is an easier, steady sort of climb.

The relatively easy gradient counts in Chavanel's favour, but his DS said today that holding the leaders jersey would be impossible and he wanted the Quick Step team to help Kevin Seeldrayers keep his "Best Young Rider" jersey instead, possibly a more realistic goal.

So it's not super steep but the real climbers will still be at home. Expect a flurry of attacks from lesser riders before as the whole stage is hilly. As for who will win tomorrow, well did you know one of the small villages on the side of the mountain is called... Le Contadour?

Contadour-panneau

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Comments

I'm getting the feeling that

this is Bert’s world and we are just fans in it.

Beautiful picture!

by ursula on Mar 12, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

great little preview

it does indeed look like ventoux ….. and Le contadour ….. great!

wish I was there!

well done

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

Another volcano?

Is it geologically related to Ventoux?

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 12, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

first .... let me say that I have no idea

but second,

as best I understand it is not an ancient volcano (but I am often wrong!!) instead part of the south French Alps

whereas Ventoux stands alone in provence and dominates the landscape from all directions … special (this i do know)

Don’t get me wrong: this small ski station is category one and should be a fantastic place to watch the race

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a volcano

Read it on CN, bottom of this page: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news2F20042Fjun04%2Fjun11news

by tedvdw on Mar 12, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

yje amazing thing is the top seems like it is covered in some sort of unique (lava?) rock

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

What a non-volcanic mountain is made of is not what produced it.

by ursula on Mar 12, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

:)

I concede.

Ventoux is no longer a volvano ….. ;(

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

volvano - volcano

tomato – tomato

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

No volcano

Neither are volcanoes. Lure and Ventoux are geologically related, and both actually are part of the Alps (so say the experts). The white, snow-like summit comes from limestone. But both can explode races apart!

by TheInnerRing on Mar 12, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

OK we all agree that I am a fool

but if you google – “Ventoux volcano” the first few entries are me ….. I am a false propagandist …. I was sure ventoux was a volcano.

now there is a burning fire in me ready to explode ;)

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

this depresses me no end

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Vulcano Schmulcano

It’s high and has infrastructure for cycling. All we need to know.

by Lopex on Mar 12, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

I like the term ‘infrastructure for cycling’. that makes me happy.

by Ed K on Mar 12, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

cheers that helped ;)

infrastructure? ok …. it has a nice road surface and lots of bikers …. i love it there

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Now thinking back on it, you did not ride the volcano, you rode the volcano in yourself,

and the volcano was in you.

Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.

by Jens on Mar 12, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

I'm a little afraid of whatever you had for lunch that day.

by Ed K on Mar 12, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

reminds me of a deep thought

If God dwells inside of us, as some people say, I sure hope he likes burritos, cuz that’s what he’s gettin’!

by plinytheelder on Mar 12, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

bahahahahaha!

by Jen See on Mar 12, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay- tell me who you think will win tomorrow

Contador of course is the favorite. We know that. Boring! Tell me below who you think is most likely (other than Bert) to win this thing:

-Garate
-Seeldrayers
-Lulu Sanchez
-Colom
-Karpets
-Voigt
-Monfort
-Sam San
-Franky Schleck

Well? And will your pick beat Contador?

by ursula on Mar 12, 2009 4:25 PM EDT reply actions

Nocetini in the mix?

by ncmussell on Mar 12, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Oooh, that's an interesting one

It should suit him, not too steep, and he won’t be marked.

by Jen See on Mar 12, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Bert has been working hard,

Astana haven’t been doing a great job of helping him so far, so he might blow up tomorrow?
Colom, Franky and Lulu, all look strong and haven’t spent a lot of energy(compared to Bert), and with the not so steep climb, should do well

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 12, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

How hungry is Jens! for a win?

He’s always up front but has been pretty quiet in general. Early break?

If all together at the climb, I’d still stay AC but Franky and Millar as some to be in the mix. Maybe even Garate.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Mar 12, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

A breakaway?

It’s possible someone like Moncoutié – far down on GC – is allowed to get away and uses his climbing abilities to stay away. Look out for Saxo’s Fuglsang or Voigt going up the road to pave the way for Schleck, but Frank hadn’t shown himself much as nikki says. Contador won’t care so much about the stage win, it’s time into Chavanel and Garate that he needs.

As a result, Contador will need to drop a lot of guys, so if a breakaway hits the climb with a small lead, he’ll eat into it very quickly and could well go away for the win, leaving the others trailing behind. But he’s good at sharp accelerations, staying away from the others is another matter. LL Sanchez matched him the Tour of Algarve and if it comes down to a group finish, someone like Colom has a fast finish, although I’m not sure about his form? Either way, it’ll be great to watch.

by TheInnerRing on Mar 12, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah interesting pick

Moncoutié might be a guy to watch…if he wants to attack they might let him go

by plinytheelder on Mar 12, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Ja

He won Mont Faron, so he’s definitely on form. But he would probably have to go early for it to work.

Also, Cadel Evans might go from the bottom for a stage win – they might let him go, as he’s not riding for GC at the moment.

by Jen See on Mar 12, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Moncoutie

I’d say that it’s practically a given that he goes early since he’s not a GC threat.

by ursula on Mar 12, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

colom at algarve

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Mar 12, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Think I disagree

about Bert not wanting the stage win.

by R Mc on Mar 12, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks for picks!!

is there a biking internet gambling site for this sure thing ;)

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by Willj on Mar 12, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the lack of a steep ascent keeps most of the people in it.

by ncmussell on Mar 12, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

On the Millar comment, possibly expect VdV to give him a good shadow considering it appears VdV took it easy today finishing over 8 minutes back.

by ncmussell on Mar 12, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Did I see CVV crash again today?

by ZoeRochelle on Mar 12, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure he was in the mix

that went down by the traffic island tumble. Everyone got back up and rode though. Haven’t heard of anyone hurt too much from it. Enough with the tumbles though. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Mar 12, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions