2008 Tour De France : Stage 1 Brest - Plumelec 195 km Saturday, July

limerickman

Stage 1

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Rolfrae

Could this be Ricco's first Tour stage win?

Anticyclone

Might not be a bad bet if it does come down to a sprint finish. Does anyone have any details of the final climb?

Rolfrae

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2008/100/PROFILKMS.gif

MintID

How about Valverde?
Could be to early in the race though.

Rolfrae

I wonder if he'd want to take the jersey so early on and have the team feeling pressurised into holding it. Then again, who'd say no to the maillot jaune?

The great thing about this stage is there are so many possible victors (Ricco, Betinni, Valverde, Cunego, Evans, Friere, Kirchen...). I wouldn't even rule out the possibility of a break staying away.

lucybears

Betinni will be in Austria

Rolfrae

spoilsport

Andrija

Maybe, there will be successful break away.
It's too early for the favorites to make risky, chasing finish and to take responsibility of wearing yellow jersey and tire their team.

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Anticyclone

Yeah, i was wondering who would do the chasing. I think the GC guys will only start to chase if the breakaway contains a rider who can climb well enough to make it difficult to get the jersey back. But then a rider like that wouldnt be allowed to get into the breakway and/or wouldnt make it through three weeks in the yellow jersey. It isnt really a great stage for a sprinter so their teams may well not be too interested - although if they think they have a chance to take the yellow jersey in the following stages then maybe they will want to prevent any breakaways staying away in case they get the time bonuses in the following stages and take the jersey. Also, the carrot of a yellow jersey if you can win the stage will prove strong for any teams who think they have a rider who might be able to do something at the end of the stage but isnt in the break.

I think that the breakaway will get chased down if it only has a few people in it. One possibility is that a large group does get away but these dont normally work well with each other.

thunder

Steegmans

guncha

Final climb is quite nice (1,7km with 6,2% average rate). Everything might happen here.

I like mountaintop finish at SuperBesse on Stage 6. I might cause some damage. It has 5,7% rate over first 7,4km and then after some flat section and slight downhill final 1,5km goes up to 10% avg. rate.

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Why am I still a fan of dopers sport?

limerickman

Final climb on stage 1 of the race will provide interesting viewing.
I think that this stage will go to a roadman, as opposed to an out and out sprinter.
Someone like Freire perhaps.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Scotttri

I dont think there is any time bonuses in this years race