Posted on 07/01/2011 7:58:26 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
Finally, some mountains!
Missed yesterday’s stage but congrats to a US win on the 4th of July!
Interesting finish to the stage today. Will any of the big names make a move. Probably not but it is important not to lose any time.
Heya Vision!
They’ve had 1 or two CAT 4s so far, but I think this is the first CAT 3. And at the finish, no less.
Yea, and that with the rain...it’s a tough day...
Jean-Francois Pescheux has done a great job with the design of this course.
Prudhomme, who’ll be 50 next month, has delivered the boldest course of his tenure, notably in terms of the number of stages favorable to the pure climbers. “We really wanted as many mountain stages in the Pyrénées as in the Alps,” he said Tuesday. “That is to say, three stages in each, with two iconic finishes at altitude in both (mountain ranges). We want the suspense to remain until the very end but also have the possibility of a big battle well before that.” - Velo News
The “Breton Wall” coming up in 2 k. Tyler is suffering today. At the back of the peleton.
Alberto Contador fights back. Looks like he has taken it in front of Evans.
Evans wins....... A great finish.
Contador attacks, Evans keeps ups, passes and holds on to win.
The God of Thunder keeps Yellow.
A very, very good stage.
Maybe this year is Evans’ year.
Yep, that was close, but it goes to Evans. And Thor keeps the yellow!!
That a mighty effort by Thor.
Loved this Garmin twitter last night:
Ride_Argyle Garmin-Cervélo
The yellow jersey makes men superhuman, so guess what it does for the #GodOfThunder? #Climber! #TdF
:-)
The stage today could perhaps end up a tad more exciting than expected if the forecast is correct and we end up with quite a bit of wind.
Cheers.
Stage 5 - Carhaix > > > Cap Fréhel - 164.5 km
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Km 45.5 - Côte de Gurunhuel - 2.3 km climb to 5.1 % - Category 4
Stage 5 - Carhaix > > > Cap Fréhel - 164.5 km
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
En ligne - A sporting perspective
JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS : Eschelon country
“Like the previous stage, this one takes place entirely within Brittany with the setting on this occasion in Finistère and the Côtes-d’Armor. The stage heads from Carhaix to Cap Fréhel through spectacular countryside, with the final 70km alongside the sea. So, once again, the riders will keep an eye on the wind and be aware of the possibility that echelons might form. It will all depend on the weather, but there might be some surprises today. All things being normal, like the stage into Redon, this stage should be won by a sprinter.”
(letour.com)
Stage 5 - Carhaix > > > Cap Fréhel - 164.5 km
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Carhaix
• Stage town for the first time
• 8, 200 inhabitants
• Cantonal subdivision of Finistère (29)
Carhaix is perhaps best known for its Festival des Vieilles Charrues music festival – literally ’the Old Ploughs Festival’ – which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, running from the 14-17 July. Last year, what is France’s biggest music festival welcomed 240,000 people, but Carhaix also hosts a number of other events and festivals throughout the year, including the Festival of Amateur Theatre in May, the Bagadañs festival each 14th July (a meeting of bagadoù – pipe bands – and cercles celtiques, or Celtic clubs), the Paris-Brest-Paris cycling event in August and the Brittany Book Festival in October. Situated right in the heart of Brittany, less than an hour’s drive away from the region’s major towns, Carhaix enjoys a strategic and somewhat special location between the Montagne Noires – the Black Mountains – and the Monts d’Arrée. Capital of the richly historic Poher municipality, Carhaix is one of western France’s oldest cities, built more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Considered the economic powerhouse of central Brittany, Carhaix can offer businesses a strategic position. Drawing from a potential workforce of 110,000 inhabitants, the town boasts strong commercial nous, with 250 shops and services. Carhaix also has more than 190 clubs and societies.
In July, the commune usually vibrates to the rhythm of Les Vieilles Charrues, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2011. This is one of the most popular music festivals in France, with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, James Brown, Joan Baez, Peter Gabriel, Manu Chao, etc. Next year Carhaix will also witness the arrival of the peloton of champions of the cycling planet. In recent years, Carhaix has been preparing for the event by hosting stages of the Kreiz Breizh Elite on several occasions. Mathieu Ladagnous in 2005, and Cyril Gautier in 2008, have already raised their arms there as a sign of victory.
Cap Fréhel
• Stage site for the first time
• The peninsula of Côtes-d’Armor (22
Cap Fréhel, with its 400 hectares of wilderness, is home to one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in France. A heritage site, it is also the largest area of coastal moorland in Brittany. From the cliffs, the view extends all the way to the bay of Saint Brieuc, Bréhat, the Chausey islands, Saint Malo and Granville – a truly panoramic view that attracts a million visitors each year! A paradise for sea birds – both migratory and non-migratory – Cap Fréhel is made up of a number of steep cliffs, inlets and fine sandy beaches, beaten by a merciless, but beautiful, emerald sea. There are also a number of monuments steeped in local history, such as the Fort La Latte – a mediaeval fortress built from pink sandstone – and the 33-metre-high Cap lighthouse, which can be seen from the old GR34 toll road, now the coastal path. Sports-wise, Cap Fréhel is perfect for outdoor pursuits: sailing, horse-riding, hiking, golf, fishing... But for those who are looking for something a little more relaxing, then they need look no further than the beach at Sables-d’Or-les-Pins!
Above all people go to Cap Fréhel for a breath of fresh air, but all five senses are invigorated by a visit there. Cap Fréhel has a stunning lighthouse that towers above its spectacular cliffs. Cap d‘Erquy and Cap Fréhel are part of the “Grand Site de France” Network (that includes exceptional, fragile, protected and listed cultural landscapes that are both renowned and emblematic). In terms of cycling, the site initially honoured women by hosting a stage of the Women’s Tour of Brittany there in 2005.
Jeez Louise - WHAT’S UP WITH ALL THE CRASHING?
Not a “classic” sprint to the line but a lot of sprinters in there fighting for the first place.
Didn’t get a chance to post yesterday as we were traveling but what a finish!! Hincapie rode a perfect lead out and Cadel won the day. It made me especially happy that he beat out AC. I thought for a minute AC had gotten it but thank goodness for photo finishes b/c it was indisputable who won as seen from the camera.
Wednesday’s stage: don’t remember when I have seen so much crashing. Poor Brakovic (sp?). That was a terrible fall. Boonen looked to be in a lot of pain, too. After he pushed MC out of the way at the intermediate sprint, the word karma flashed through my head...
Speaking of karma: How about AC? They must have shown him chucking his bike in the ditch 6 times! ha!
NIce win for Cavendish. He deserved it.
Hope the riders will stay upright tomorrow.
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