Tour de France Stage 9 Preview!

by Jen See on Jul 9, 2011 11:32 PM EDT in Tour de France

That was some good racing on Saturday, wasn't it? And how much fun to see two young riders, Rui Costa and Tejay van Garderen, go up the road. I heart me some of that. Sunday, it's back into the Massif Centrale. Now, with more climbing! Breakaway party!

The Tour de France continues to race through the Massif Centrale with Sunday's 208 kilometer stage from Issoire to Saint-Flour. If you look hard enough you might find a centimeter or two of flat road on this profile, but in the main, it's all up and down all the time. The stage includes eight categorized climbs, which is a remarkable number when it comes right down to it. The final climb to the line is much like Saturday's finish. This stage 9 should follow a similar pattern to Saturday, though there is more climbing on the menu. Here is the stage 9 profile.

The last major climb arrives just outside 50 kilometers to race when the riders climb the category 2 Col de Prat de Bouc. If there are any sprinters left, they will be gone after this 8.5 kilometer hop. It's still a long way to the finish from the summit, so this climb is unlikely to shake up the overall standings. Here is the profile for the Col de Prat de Bouc.

A break will almost certainly go early on Sunday, and they're in with a chance to survive to the finish. With so many mountains points on offer, there's plenty of motivation to join the escape. Behind, watch for a flurry of action from the bigs, but this stage is unlikely to upend the general classification.

Thor Hushovd of Garmin-Cervélo has so far resisted efforts to rip the Yellow Jersey off his back, and there's no reason to think he won't hang on another day. SMASH! Cadel Evans of BMC Racing Team still lurks 1 second behind Hushovd. We wait for the Pyrénées for the real Tour to begin. Here are the current race standings.

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Comments

Hoogie!

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 9, 2011 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

who else

wants it? Tejay?? Kinda doubtful.

If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 9, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Egoi?

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 9, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

is moncoutie racing?

"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 Jul 9, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Omega Pharma Lotto will assist to chase the breaks

Le profil des derniers kilomètres suits PHIL!!

look, if it's hurting me, the other one is going to be about to die now - Jens!

by singhstax on Jul 9, 2011 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

I am excited for this stage. Very difficult – even if not an uphill finish.

Hopefully, some of the teams/riders will be targeting this and we’ll see some fireworks.

For the cyclosportive fans in the crowd: this route will be the Etape du Tour #2 – organised by ASO – raced next weekend.

"Long Live Cols" - ant1

by Willj on Jul 9, 2011 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

The finish is uphill

by Phil H. on Jul 9, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

ooops

sweeeeeeet!

"Long Live Cols" - ant1

by Willj on Jul 9, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

barely uphill …… :)

"Long Live Cols" - ant1

by Willj on Jul 9, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Only in your world Will....

"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi

by muk on Jul 9, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Enough uphill for it to be considered uphill

by Phil H. on Jul 9, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Meh

"On paper, your team is awesome." -- Pigeons on my WVDS team, and life in general.

by tedvdw on Jul 9, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

7.5% last kilometre

by William H on Jul 9, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks uphill to me, even a cat 4 climb

obviously it isn’t a mountain

by Phil H. on Jul 9, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

you win this round

"Long Live Cols" - ant1

by Willj on Jul 9, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

On paper this stage feels right.

by Uphill on Jul 9, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Points could change shape tomorrow

Current Points standings

1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 187 pts
2 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team 172
3 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 153
4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo 130
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 120

Hard to see Rojas or Cavendish being in contention for the intermediate points, let alone the points at the finish. Thor? Maybe. Gilbert? Probably. Evans, he’ll be around for both, but not too sure if he is interested..

This could be a big day for PhilGil….

"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi

by muk on Jul 9, 2011 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

If Gilbert wants to keep the Green jersey, he will probable need to score points

here imo.

by Uphill on Jul 9, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

My point

He could get a sizeable lead on the other points contenders tomorrow. Well worth digging deep for. Not that he is interested in it ;-)

"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi

by muk on Jul 9, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Cavendish will be gone of course

Thor and Rojas have been climbing pretty well though. Thor has made every finish so far and Rojas has only been a minute or so behind on the two difficult ones.

So unless OPL tries very hard to drop Rojas, I think he’ll be at the intermediate sprint. Thor definitely will be as well (who knows whether he will challenge though).

As for the finale, Evans will be there and probably in the action. Thor will be there probably. Gilbert may win it. Rojas will probably not be there.

Tomorrow should be really exciting for the green jersey. If I was Rojas, I’d go for intermediate and then save my energy for tomorrow – depending on how many riders are in the break.

Gilbert and Evans could definitely put some room between themselves and Rojas/Cavendish/Thor (I expect Thor to make the finish with Evans, but only if a group does and probably at the back end of the group)

"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"

by ncrow on Jul 10, 2011 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

The intermediate sprint

comes only 24 km after the summit of a Cat 2 climb, the third of the day.

I’m willing to bet that Rojas will be really struggling to still be there, ditto Thor. Gilbert, I think, has a better chance to hang in there than Thor, who must be looking at the stage profile and, despite his ride in stage 8, admitting that his time in yellow is over by the end of day Sunday…

Of course the smart thing to do is wait and watch, but this is fun too :-)

"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi

by muk on Jul 10, 2011 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Thor says he owes Phil for yellow

They’ve been training in he Monaco hills together. And training with Phil in the hills is not easy, apparently.

by tgsgirl on Jul 10, 2011 7:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Damn pity we can't see this stage from the start (on TV), as the action

is likely to be hot from the beginning.

by Uphill on Jul 9, 2011 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

Inner Ring has a CN post about that very subject

Good read. Lamenting the fact that the 2nd most exciting part of a stage is rarely, if ever, shown.

"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"

by ncrow on Jul 10, 2011 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Today’s French Lesson:

This is a route “casse-pattes” (broken foot)

Lots of ups and downs.

"Long Live Cols" - ant1

by Willj on Jul 9, 2011 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

bien sur!

If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 9, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

At this year's Tour

that may be too literal for the riders

by Phil H. on Jul 9, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah yes, took me a while see the meaning: leg breaker

"On paper, your team is awesome." -- Pigeons on my WVDS team, and life in general.

by tedvdw on Jul 9, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, leg braker is a better translation

"Long Live Cols" - ant1

by Willj on Jul 9, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Sanchez.

If he’s got any form.

Released from Gesink-duty, he’ll be sent into the break by Rabo.

At least this is what at least a few of his VDS’s demand.

by R Mc on Jul 9, 2011 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

I was looking through the standings and I totally agree

Unless Gesink just had an off day (instead of an injured Tour) it’s time to let Barredo, LLS and Mollema go. Barredo and LLS for stages. LLS and Mollema for top 10s.

(This is coming from someone who was convinced Gesink was going to win this Tour)

"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"

by ncrow on Jul 10, 2011 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions