Rouleur predicts... Tour de France stage 12

Rouleur predicts... Tour de France stage 12

Rouleur predicts Tour de France 2020

PHOTOS: OFFSIDE/L'EQUIPE

The longest day, certainly in distance terms, with 218km on the cards for the tired legs of the peloton.

Time for the break to succeed, n'est-ce pas?

Stage 12: Chauvigny - Sarran Corrèze (218km)

Tour de France stage 12

Andy McGrath

Alessandro De Marchi (CCC Team) A long, rolling day and testing finish has got big breakaway written all over it. Without a GC man and with a future to ride for, CCC Team have been one of the most active out there. Many riders could win today, it's a tough one to call but few have the horsepower and nous of De Marchi.

 

Ian Cleverly

Marc Hirschi (Team Sunweb) Longest day of the Tour is not natural territory for a 22-year-old, but then he's not your average 22-year-old. The Hirschi Bar Kid has been mighty close on two occasions already, stages 2 and 9. If he can get in the break, there's a couple of lumps in the last 40km for him to drop the rest. 

 

Nick Christian

Nils Politt (Israel Startup Nation) The next few stages are starting to look a little bit like Classics, so who better than one of the up-and-coming one-day men who, crucially, is riding for one of the invisible teams. I have a feeling I might regret not going for Wout, but hoping he's a bit knackered from team duties.

 

Miles Baker-Clarke

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hangrohe) Now we all know Sagan has not been at his best so far this Tour, but his rule-bending barge at the climax of Stage 11 would have me inclined to believe that there is fight in the green man yet. Could this lumpy stage an uphill finish represent a return to form?

 

Ben Ward

Bob Jungels (Deceuninck-Quick Step) Showed he was in the mood for it today, testing out the legs. With a breakaway surely nailed on tomorrow, let's hope Jungels is given the freedom to go for it instead of having to guard green all day.

Cycling Mole says...

Okay, I took a risk on stage 11 and it didn’t pay off, that’s the life of being a cycling tipster. The Rouleur pack are now sensing blood and are moving in for the kill, but I’ve been around the block a few times and know what I’m doing.

Stage 12 has breakaway written all over it, in fact when I first looked at the stage I saw BREAKAWAY. The problem is that 100 riders in the peloton are thinking the same thing, get in the early move. When I say early move, I don’t really mean it. The fight for the break will be bordering on the ridiculous. The road isn’t particularly wide, but it should be chaos as we’ll get attempt after attempt. Once the break gets established, I don’t see anyone chasing to bring it back. The big climb comes with 30km to go, it has a section of 2.6km at 9.5%, but crests with 25km to go, which usually means we won’t get a solo winner. The final 5km also kicks up towards the finishing line, this is a tough old finale.

Only Miles is going for a sprint finish, and he follows the same mistake that’s been made on countless times this race. Peter Sagan is not going to win a stage; I don’t know how many times I have to tell these guys. Stop living in the past, this current version of Sagan just isn’t good enough, but he’ll be much better at the Giro.

The rest of the team are going breakaway daft, I think they got the memo. The worst pick has to be Nils Pollitt, he won’t cope with the climb. De Marchi is a breakaway expert, but he usually saves his wins for the Vuelta, and he’s been rather quiet in this race. Unlucky Andy, you didn’t even manage to select the best pick from CCC! Ben is going for big Boaby [Scottish for Bobby, hope that helps - Ed] Jungels, but I don’t see it myself. He had some freedom today, but seeing as he’s heading to AG2R, most of the Quick Step squad will be higher up the pecking order. Ian has the best pick of the team, which isn’t something I say very often. Marc Hirschi is clearly in outstanding form, if he makes the break he’ll win the stage, I have no doubt.

Alaphilippe

Remember folks, correctly predicting when a stage goes to the breakaway is hard enough. To then pick the winner of that breakaway is like winning the lottery twice. After a few days of taking things easy, I’ll happily take Julian Alaphilippe for the stage.

 

Rouleur predicts Tour de France 2020


READ MORE

Closing the gap: can Remco Evenepoel rise to the challenge of Tadej Pogačar in 2025?

Closing the gap: can Remco Evenepoel rise to the challenge of Tadej Pogačar in 2025?

The Belgian rider is not going to go down without a fight next season

Leer más
Max Poole on near misses, learning from the best and why Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s structure works

Max Poole on near misses, learning from the best and why Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s structure works

The British rider discusses his impressive Grand Tour debut and the work it has taken to get there

Leer más
'British Cycling has done everything for me' - Dani Rowe: From a talent ID programme to Olympic gold

'British Cycling has done everything for me' - Dani Rowe: From a talent ID programme to Olympic gold

Speaking after being inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame, Rowe tells Rouleur about her journey to the top of the sport

Leer más
Will Mark Cavendish return to the Tour de France in 2025?

Will Mark Cavendish return to the Tour de France in 2025?

We know the Manxman well enough now that we should never count him out when it comes to racing

Leer más
‘Cycling is my home… but it’s less fun nowadays’: Simon Geschke on 16 years as a professional

‘Cycling is my home… but it’s less fun nowadays’: Simon Geschke on 16 years as a professional

The German rider reflects on how the sport has changed over his career as a pro cyclist

Leer más
‘Our budget is 10 times higher’ - Canyon//SRAM manager Ronny Lauke on the changing economics of women’s cycling

‘Our budget is 10 times higher’ - Canyon//SRAM manager Ronny Lauke on the changing economics of women’s cycling

The German team boss on increased salaries, how the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has impacted his team and acquiring a new sponsor in...

Leer más

MEMBERSHIP

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Independent journalism, award winning content, exclusive perks.

Banner Image