Stage 11 - Blaye-les-Mines > > > Lavaur - 167.5 km
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Km 28.5 - Côte de Tonnac - 3.6 km climb to 4.9 % - Category 3
Km 135.5 - Côte de Puylaurens - 4.2 km climb to 3.8 % - Category 4
(Graphics - letour.com)
Posted on 07/01/2011 7:58:26 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
man, wish I could watch the mountain stages, but I’m
versusless
Good job R4F, throw my name on the pings list for the TdF if you got one going.
Go Andy, Anybody But Contador!
I think there are some ways to stream it on line. Try googling it and see what you come up with.
Looks like this is an option:
http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/2596
Also this:
http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/
Stage 11 - Blaye-les-Mines > > > Lavaur - 167.5 km
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Km 28.5 - Côte de Tonnac - 3.6 km climb to 4.9 % - Category 3
Km 135.5 - Côte de Puylaurens - 4.2 km climb to 3.8 % - Category 4
Stage 11 - Blaye-les-Mines > > > Lavaur - 167.5 km
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
En ligne - A sporting perspective
JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS: An opportunity that can’t be missed
“After this stage the sprinters will not have a lot of chances left to show off their skills. They will have just two stages left on which to shine: in Montpellier and then in Paris with the finish on the Champs-Élysées. That’s why their teams will undoubtedly be looking to keep a tight rein on the action, just as they will do on the previous stage. But they will have to watch out. Riders of the ilk of Sandy Casar or Jérôme Pineau could try to pull off something spectacular today. The profiles of the stages that follow won’t allow them to do that. And, as there will still be a lot of teams that have not won a stage up to now, those that haven’t will be aiming to make an impression.”
(letour.com)
Stage 11 - Blaye-les-Mines > > > Lavaur - 167.5 km
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Blaye-les-Mines
• Stage town for the first time
• 3, 200 inhabitants
• Commune of Tarn (81)>br>
The origins of Blaye-les-Mines date back to the building of a royal country house at the start of the fourteenth century. It’s only some time later, in the nineteenth century, that the true destiny of this municipality – its coal-mining and glass-making industries – would become clear. From this glorious past, the town retains plenty of reminders. The Sainte- Marie mine shaft, for example, built in 1922 and restored in 2008, used to transport thousands of miners and bring up tonnes of coal. Restored to remember the town’s mining past, its restoration won Blaye-les-Mines the Grand Prix de Patrimoine in 2009, in recognition of its pride in its heritage. Le Domaine de la Verrerie – the old glass-works – is today a museum. It had been built by the coalmine’s owners to diversify its activities and make glass bottles. Cap’Découverte, a huge open-pit mine, replaced the underground coal-mines, shifting millions of cubic metres of earth. The huge crater measured a kilometre in diameter, and was 150 metres deep, but has now been transformed into a popular theme park of the same name.
Sébastian Minard‘s victory in a stage of the 2005 Tour de l’Avenir in this village of the coal field of Carmaux may not have been due to luck. The French cyclist may have drawn inspiration and energy from Blaye-les-Mines to set out to achieve his first victory on the Tour. This may also have been the case for the Estonian rider Rein Taaramäe, who won the individual time-trial there during the 2008 Tour de l’Avenir.
Lavaur
• Stage town on 1 previous occasion
• 10, 800 inhabitants
• Cantonal subdivision of Tarn (81)
A town of undeniably rich history, Lavaur takes its name from the Gallic word ’vobero’, meaning a hidden stream. The town has a strong identity, which it has always retained while at the same time always looking forward. Capital of the Pays de Cocagne, Lavaur was always a stronghold of catharism faith before playing host to a bishop for five centuries.
The cultivation of woad, vineyards and agriculture all combine to form the identity of what is now a resolutely twenty-first century town, and home to the dermo-cosmetic Centre d’Innovation et de Développement des Laboratoires Pierre Fabre. Spanning tradition and modernity, Lavaur offers both its inhabitants and visitors all the amenities of a modern city, while remaining aware of the need to be environmentally friendly. Thanks to the rich social and cultural life it offers, and its shops and amenities, Lavaur allows everyone to feel a real attachment to this town, the national and international reputation of which is becoming increasingly important.
During the unique arrival of the Tour de France in Lavaur in 2001, the Belgian cyclist Rik Verbrugghe went on to win the stage which had begun in Pau following a long breakaway. The peloton then left the Pyrenees, where a famous rider from Tarn called Laurent Jalabert had put on the polka dot jersey. In fact, just a few years before, when the Critérium International was held in Tarn, Laurent Jalabert was successful in Lavaur, in 1995. Although he only finished 3rd in the individual time-trial which was won in the town by Pascal Lance, “Jaja” had already secured the overall victory by winning the first two stages.
wow, thanks. that first link has some real-time video coverage.
Tomorrow the real action begins!!
Within 60km, a Cat 1, then Tourmalet, followed immediately by another HC.
Starting ~141km into a 211km stage.
Brutal.
yep — now we really separate the men from the boys, eh?
Stage 11 - Cugnaux > > > Luz-Ardiden - 211 km
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Km 141.5 - Hourquette d'Ancizan (1538 m) - 9.9 km climb to 7.5 % - Category 1
Km 175.5 - Col du Tourmalet (2115 m) - 17.1 km climb to 7.3 % - Category HC
Km 211.0 - Luz-Ardiden (1715 m) - 1.3 km climb to 7.4 % - Category HC
Stage 11 - Cugnaux > > > Luz-Ardiden - 211 km
Thursday, July 14, 2011
High Mountains - A sporting perspective
JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS: Summit finish in the high mountains
“The race’s first major climb, the Hourquette d’Ancizan, an off-shoot of the Aspin, makes its first appearance on the Tour. The riders then head onto the Tourmalet. They descend off that and finish with the climb to Luz-Ardiden, which has not featured in the race since 2003. That year, Armstrong crashed after colliding with a spectator, bringing Mayo down with him. Everyone waited for him, then his foot slipped out of his pedal. But in the end the American dropped all of his rivals and went on to win the stage and give himself a bit of breathing space in the yellow jersey. Following this stage, which is a long one at 209km, the overall classification will become a bit clearer and more structured.”
(letour.com)
Stage 11 - Cugnaux > > > Luz-Ardiden - 211 km
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Cugnaux
Rue du Pré Vicinal, Espace Culturel Paul Eluard by night© Sylvie Bascoul
• Stage town for the first time
• 16, 100 inhabitants
• Commune of Upper Garonne (31)
Situated 10 kilometres from the Capitole and central Toulouse, Cugnaux is the sixth biggest town in the Haute-Garonne in terms of population. Half urban, half country town, symbolised by the town’s communal gardens, it’s both a pleasant place to live and to visit, and has roved it, too, thanks to two environmental prizes and having been awarded a ’flower’ at the 2010 Concours de Villes et Villages Fleuris – an annual competition which rewards French towns’ floral displays. Cugnaux’s strong economy is reflected by the 400 businesses who call the town’s 280-hectare industrial zone home. Culture is given equal importance through the Artempo arts fair, the Festimanoir theatre and music festival as well as a programme made up of another 50 arts events through the year. As for sport, Cugnaux – home to former footballer Daniel Bravo – is also a big fan, with more than 4,000 people regularly taking part, with a sports club which covers 17 sports. Environnent, culture and sport: life is good in Cugnaux.
The town is situated near Toulouse, which has often been used by the peloton as the gateway to the Pyrenees. In 1985 for example, a stage was mapped out right between the pink city and Luz-Ardiden. On that day, the wearer of the Yellow Jersey, Bernard Hinault began the most agonizing crossing of the Pyrenees of his career. Weakened by a serious fall three days earlier in Saint-étienne, the leader of the La Vie Claire team lost more than 4 minutes on the winner at the summit, Pascal Delgado and a long minute on Greg LeMond, his team mate and his first challenger in the general classification.
Luz-Ardiden
Luz-Saint-Sauveur: Pont Napoléon© Office du Tourisme Luz Ardiden
• Stage site on 7 previous occasions
• Winter sports resort of the Upper Pyrenees (65)
• Part of the commune of Luz-Saint-Sauveur (1, 100 inhabitants)
Luz-Ardiden (altitude 1,680-2,500 metres) is a resort that caters for everyone. Skiers of all abilities are kept happy thanks to 65km of ski-run, a superb infrastructure, a snow park, two ski schools, bars and restaurants at the bottom of the ski-run and a crèche – and all that, plus a snow guarantee thanks to 110 snow canons. And just a few minutes from the resort, at the foot of the Gavarnie natural amphitheatre, in the heart of the Néouvielle national park, Luz Saint-Sauveur provides the ideal spot for lovers of beautiful views to take a break and savour the atmosphere in this famous climbing area. It’s also the perfect place to be reminded that this is an area where cattle breeders practise their art, so why not titillate your taste-buds with some local lamb. Those interested in old stones may want to explore, via the winding streets, the twelfth- century fortified church of the Templars or the ruins of the tenth-century château Sainte- Marie. Or head to the Pont Napoléon where thrill-seekers can bungee jump or rock climb on the ’via ferrata’
The arrivals in the Pyrenean resort regularly give rise to brilliant performances and noteworthy surprises. After Bernard Hinault’s ordeal in 1985, Claudio Chiappucchi also experienced a few setbacks, while he was wearing the Yellow Jersey in 1990. Following the attack of LeMond, he only had a 5 second lead in the general classification, whereas Miguel Indurain had just won the second mountain stage of his career! It was in Luz-Ardiden, four years later, that Richard Virenque’s run of luck in the mountains began thanks to his first stage win. And during the 2003 edition, Lance Armstrong had to get up after a fall in the ascent and overcome a series of frights before making it to the summit first.
Today’s brutal mountain stage seems unusual for a Bastille Day run? I seem to recall that the 7/14 stage is sometimes a flat that the peleton can allow a local guy to win.
Not today, tho - no quarter given, no mercy shown. Thomas Voeckler doesn’t have what it takes, so who will it be?
Contador? The Schleck brothers?
Has anyone else noticed that Phil is kind of an ass this year? He’s not his usually genteel, charming self. Doesn’t seem to be having fun, is kinda on edge, and is mildly abrasive. What’s up with that?
That said, these Bob Roll Road ID commercials are hilarious.
Has anyone else noticed that Phil is kind of an ass this year? He’s not his usually genteel, charming self. Doesn’t seem to be having fun, is kinda on edge, and is mildly abrasive. What’s up with that?
That said, these Bob Roll Road ID commercials are hilarious; although he looks like he aged a lot in a year.
Contador likely can’t win it today unless he decimates the field as there are enough mountain stages left. But he could lose it if the Schleck’s do the opposite. As much as I cannot stand him, Contador is the likely favorite today.
"In the 2003 Tour de France, Lance Armstrong was riding with Iban Mayo at the start of the climb to Luz Ardiden when Armstrong crashed, bringing Mayo down with him. The fall was caused when Armstrong caught the handlebar of his bike on the strap of a spectator's bag. Jan Ulrich, who was riding just behind Armstrong and Mayo, avoided the crash, and in an act of chivalry he slowed to wait for the fallen riders. Armstrong quickly re-mounted his bike and caught Jan Ulrich. Immediately, Armstrong attacked the group of riders, none of whom could follow him and he powered his way to win the stage by 40 seconds."
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