Alert Cadel Evans fans. This is the most challenging stage of this year’s tour. Join us for live coverage of Stage 11 of the 2012 Tour de France.
The route runs 148 kilometers from Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles and live coverage will begin at 9pm AEST with updates throughout the stage.
The peloton will be on flat roads for the first 15 kilometers or so and from there on, it will be mostly up and down. The stage comprises two hors categorie climbs, a category 2 climb, and a category 1 climb to the finish.
This will be the stage where climbers’ legs will be tested and the yellow jersey challenged. There will be plenty of opportunities for Evans and Nibali to continue attacking Wiggins on climbs and on descents.
At the same time, Sky will have the difficult job of once again protecting the yellow jersey on this extremely challenging terrain.
After earning the polka dot jersey during yesterday’s stage, Voeckler will likely try to get himself into an early break and pick up some more valuable points to solidify his lead.
Today’s stage is the kind where a break may succeed, as it did yesterday, and it wouldn’t surprise me if some bigger names tried to get into the break with Voeckler, as they did yesterday.
Among the virtually certain things we will see, are attacks from Nibali on the descents and from Van Den Broeck on the climbs. VDB managed to pull back 30 seconds yesterday, and may be looking to chip away some more at the time of those ahead of him on GC.
At some point during tomorrow’s stage, Wiggins will likely run out of teammates. While it is possible that Froome will have the legs to stay with him until the end, Wiggins will likely be more vulnerable on the final climb to the finish, where I would expect Evans, Nibali and Van Den Broeck to attack him.
I expect Pierre Rolland to stay with the main group of climbers and launch a late attack, especially if Voeckler doesn’t make the break and isn’t feeling too great on the climbs.
I still remember Rolland’s great win on Alpe d’Huez last year, and I’m sure he’s looking for a stage win in the mountains this year as well.
This will be an exciting stage – no doubt about that!
vitalyg
Roar Guru
This was an exciting one! Come back tomorrow for Stage 12. Good night!
vitalyg
Roar Guru
TJV holds on to the white jersey.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
And here are 6 through 10 - Rolland now in 9th! 6. ZUBELDIA Haimar 19 RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 48h 50' 08'' 06' 15'' 7. VAN GARDEREN Tejay 9 BMC RACING TEAM 48h 50' 50'' 06' 57'' 8. BRAJKOVIC Janez 181 ASTANA PRO TEAM 48h 51' 23'' 07' 30'' 9. ROLLAND Pierre 29 TEAM EUROPCAR 48h 52' 24'' 08' 31'' 10. PINOT Thibaut 146 FDJ-BIGMAT 48h 52' 44'' 08' 51''
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Evans lost almost a minute and a half today.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Provisional top 5 on GC after today's stage: 1. WIGGINS Bradley 101 SKY PROCYCLING 48h 43' 53'' 2. FROOME Christopher 105 SKY PROCYCLING 48h 45' 58'' 02' 05'' 3. NIBALI Vincenzo 51 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 48h 46' 16'' 02' 23'' 4. EVANS Cadel 1 BMC RACING TEAM 48h 47' 12'' 03' 19'' 5. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 111 LOTTO-BELISOL TEAM 48h 48' 41'' 04' 48''
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Now we wait for how long it will take Evans to make it to the finish.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Looks like I called this one correctly! Rolland wins the Queen Stage of the 2012 TDF!
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Evans off the podium. More than a minute behind on Wiggo's group.
NFS
Guest
Add Pinot and Rolland to the list as well
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
In a few years it is going to be TJV v Froome for the GC
vitalyg
Roar Guru
And back with Wiggo he goes.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
This is insane! Froome just dropped Wiggo!
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Will Nibali attack again?
vitalyg
Roar Guru
It's now Wiggo v. Nibali, but Nibali is about to get caught.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
That attack up the second climb must have hurt him a lot.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Well. I think we found out what Evans has in him - not much.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Never mind. Froome is back.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Looks like Froome can kiss that podium goodbye for now.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Evans still has TJV with him.
vitalyg
Roar Guru
Froome is done! Wiggo is alone!