jasimon wrote:So does anyone want to talk about their thinking and tactics for the next stages?
Well I used 5 of my transfers last night to get in 4 GC/climbers and 1 transfer to balance the books.
I intend to hang on to the sprinters who I think can handle some climbing aka Hushvod, JJ Rojas and Ciolek through the Alps and maybe the Pyrennes, my logic goes like this:
Tonight it is expected that the finish will be a bunch of 20 or 30 elite riders, if any of those guys are in that bunch they should win
Sunday mountain top finish, GC heaven maybe, see comment about breakaways
Tuesday 30km from Col de la Madeleine to the finish last 10km flat, do not expect them in top dozen or so riders, but green jersey points to 20th place, so if they any are in a group expect them to sprint for points
Wednesday the Côte de Laffrey is 100km from the finish this should sort the climbers from the rest. Still if my picks get over it in the main bunch, a catergory 2 & catergory 3 climb stand between them and glory
Thursday sprinters day
Friday the finish is on an airfield after the Laurent Jalabert climb in Mende 3.1km at around 10% I have no idea
Next Saturday more transfers if required.
Breakaways are more likely in mountains and middle mountain stages, GC riders are worried about other GC riders rather than the glory of the stage win and green jersey points, especially since no time bonuses. So they sit back and cover the contenders and let non contenders go for broke.
Likely breakaway riders anybody with a Cofidis, Euskaltel-Euskadi, AG2R, etc jersey. So I will not gamble there, I will stick to GC and those that can finish out of a bunch.