2008 Tour de France : Stage 9 : Toulouse - Bagnères-de-Bigorre 224.0 km Sunday July13

Andrija

Very possible... I don't know how I've forgotten him.

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Cobblestones

Conventional wisdom says that there will be a break and all the GC contenders will arrive together with maybe 1 of them having a jour sans. This TdF has defied conventional wisdom quite a bit already. So maybe we see a real attack by someone? Maybe CSC will try something with Sastre and the Schleck brothers?

Grater

A breakaway may survive, but the GC contenders will arrive together as mentioned above.

On the final climb or the one before, I see Cunego and CSC and possibly some Euskatel Riders attacking. Zubeldia or Sanchez might be the ones to attack on the final. Sanchez is my early tip for the stage.

It will be interesting to see if any rider from the major teams (Columbia, CSC, Euskatel, Caisse, Lotto) put someone into the break or will they wait till tomorrow? Either way, its going to be a good stage and I reckon people should attack Evans.

Anticyclone

Szmyd to go in a break? De La Fuente, Chavanel and Voeckler would be suggestions for the KoM competition. Looks like the GC this morning will mark the high-water mark for Garmin-Chiopotle. Millar probably wont finish with the front group - if things are bad then he may just write the day off and finish with the autobus or he may finish in a group a few minutes down. He may try and early attack and hope to stay away not being a threat to the final overall. However, i think he will be too tired. Van de Velde could be more interesting. Going by recent form he stands a chance of just making the leaders' group at the end if there are 20-30 of them.

Scotttri

I think Ricco would be a reasonable bet for the win. I think there will be attacking on both mountains and someone if not a few will crack, If 3 0r 4 of them get over the top with a minute or 2 gap then I think they can hold that to the line, it's not like there's going to be huge bunches behind them chaseing them down.

Anticyclone

Hm, the early breakaway contains Jalabert, Lang and Kuschinyski. maybe the French riders will be thinking of putting in a big show for Bastille Day?

Conveniently, Cyclingnews are following several riders heart race, cadence etc - Lang's data can be seen here

http://www.cyclingnews.com/sponsors...our08/index.php

EDIT: Or maybe it cant - hopefully it will work!

TheDarkLord

The race started today at 11:20 am! That sucks because the Eurosport coverage starts only at 15:00 hrs. Usually, the approach to the Pyrenees is very scenic.

Gap down to 10:40.

Scotttri

Is the peleton as one or are there a couple of groups off the back??

TheDarkLord

I'm only following the race through CN and the official site, and there is no indication on ether site about a fractured peloton.

Anticyclone

The peloton have been taking it fairly easy (until Euskatel got going anyway) - thats how the gap got up to 15 minutes so quickly. I would have thought it would be all as one unless anyone is trying to make it back after a mechanical.

Scotttri

I dont get live feed here for another 2 hours, so all i've got to rely on is cyclingnews. Unless you guys know of a better site.

TheDarkLord

For following breaks/split-up, I recommend the official site: http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

Anticyclone

Evans has crashed, but is back on and is chasing back. He has hurt his left elbow apparently

Crankyfeet

Sh!t

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