Following the incredibly tough previous stage, and considering how far is left of the race, the riders face a day were escapes will most likely happen – although the sprinters’ teams may have a different opinion.
Stage 12’s 173 kilometres start in Escaldes-Engordany and immediately the riders face something they could only have dreamed of yesterday, a long 35 kilometre downhill run to start the stage.
However, the category two climb of the Coll de Bóixols ruins the blissful start. At 18 kilometres, it is longer than anything the riders faced yesterday, but at an average gradient of only 4.5 per cent, it will not be as hard. However, with 4 kilometres of false flat included, that average gradient is somewhat misleading.
If the sprinters can stay in close contact over the top, which is completed with 120 kilometres remaining, they should be able to get back to the leading peloton on the long technical descent.
There are one or two difficult lumps in the rest of the stage, but it’s mainly a gradual downhill run towards the finish line in Lleida.
Whoever is still in the main bunch at 30 kilometres to go at the only intermediate sprint should be fairly content that they have a chance of winning today’s stage.
With tomorrow’s stage being extremely lumpy, today could be one of the final opportunities for the sprinters in this year’s race. Teams without a stage win will be targeting today, either from the final sprint or a breakaway.
Look for breakaway specialists from Caja-Rural and Europcar to go up the road looking for the stage win.
In terms of the sprint, John Degenkolb is the obvious choice on paper, but so far in this year’s race his top-end speed has been well below par. Kristian Sparagli of MTN Qhubeka stole a wonderful stage win from the German on Stage 10 and will be looking to repeat his efforts.
Other riders to watch today include Kevin Reza, Pelle Bilbao, Julien Simon, Giovanni Visconti, Jose Joaquin Rojas, Tosh van der Sande, Pieter Serry, Darryl Impey, Simon Gerrans, Moreno Moser, Julien Simon, Jens Keukeleire, Matteo Montaguiti, Jose Gonclaves and Jean Pierre Drucker.
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