Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France Stage 19
After such an epic and, frankly, shocking (as in stunning, stupendifying and surprising) stage to the Galibier last night, it’s going to take more than a few hours to recover and get back on track for tonight’s VSP stage to the mythical L’Alpe d’Huez.
I think the semantics of Stage 18 have been covered brilliantly by the Community here, and there’s nothing left for me to say about it except, wow.
So without further ado, and with the maximum time for you to get your tips in, we present the VSP for Stage 19, the Queen of the climbs, L’Alpe d’Huez. Sit back and enjoy the spectacle, because if you though that was good, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
You know the drill. Good luck!
Looking at the route profile – this is a loooong descent…
Tommy’s riding has been completely apeshit. He’s gone to another level for sure.
BUT…has anyone else noticed a bit of the prima donna going on? Demanding bottles, kit changes the occasional overt boss gesturing and now whistling teammates into line?
Just saying…
Andy impressive on the descent again – must’ve been taking lessons from Spartacus this year.
I absolutely love going downhill fast. But watching these guys do it makes my palms sweat. Or it might be the 3rd cup of Seattle’s Best French Roast, not sure……….
@G’phant
I said it ironically, so I think we’re OK. (Jump to about a minute into the clip)
ITT preview?
Wow, I’m really beginning to hate that shitty Sidi advert.
Cripe!! Sanchez needs a heat shield he’s flying so fast!
@frank
Oh fuck dude!
Yep. Get set for the Dirty Bertie alliance on the Alpe…
Uh-oh. Meat-muncher’s orange-clad teammate just joined him.
Just another day at the beach for the Schleck boys.
Cadel’s lines in some Of those corners look like he’s pushing hard. A bit wide.
@wiscot
True, but at least it’s not a naked Pozzato with a pair of shoes hiding his junk.
@wiscot
I’ll still take it over the grunting and groaning of the Bobke RoadID adverts on Versus
@harminator
The dude rides with one cage. He would need a lot of help getting bottles.
@pakrat
I thought frank cracked down on gratuitous pics of young ladies showing too much flesh… -looks more closely- Oh fuck! My eyes!
@Blah
As long as he’s pushing and upright, he’s cool
@il ciclista medio
A-Merckx.
Uh oh, what’s going to blow up first: the “not exactly official” Eurosport feed or the Maillot Jaune?
Reckon Cadel could tactfully ask FDJ to stop helping him?
Dirty Sanchez struggling?
The record up the Alpe d’Huez is 37 minutes something. Pantani was fastest in the tour, but Contador was 5 seconds faster in the Dauphiné 2010.
I found this great pic of Basso and Smyd gallavanting together.
TV will get back on.
@marko
Gold
@il ciclista medio
+1
The gap to Tommy is closing down! Gruppo compacto soon?
The shlucks are back to their swivelin ways…
wow .. bunch sprint up d’alpe?
Rolland deserves a stage win, but T5 might be needing him more…
Why is Europcar letting Rolland go with Hesjedal… just as Voeckler made it back to the lead group. He should be staying with him.
Take it easy, Cadel. Don’t pop, keep it steady.
Uh-oh here comes the Swivel Sandwich…
This is going to take a year off my life.
Fucking briliant race or what chaps?
@il ciclista medio
Chaps happy, yes.
Could Clenbutador actually do this? This is insane.
Crap, what did Conti eat for dinner last night?
Fuck off. Swivel wins by 2 minutes and it’s a great ride… Conti gets a 10 second gap and it’s drugs…
Contador’s got a V on the back of his helmet.
Watch this come down to Cadel chasing.
Riis is saying, “Uhhh…wrong day, Conti!”
Salmon Sandwich might get across to Conti… trouble brewing.
Can’t follow Andy any more, I think…
Agreed. Can’t give Bertie a sniff for the TT. He’s pretty cooked though…
I’ve found it quite easy this stage to call for attacks and chases. Must be the new couch.
Go you tall, orange lunatics!
Noticed yesterday Bertie has a FingerBang on the side of his helmet. Ugh.
Frank is the limp left wrist of the one-two