TDF - Stage 9
Well today is the last of the Alpine stages. With two HC (above categorization) climbs, and a Cat 1 climb thrown in for good measure it should be a challenge to many. The thing that will level this stage out though is the LONG (LONG) LONG (LONG) distance between the top of the final HC climb and the finish. Even contenders that get left will have time to make up some to all of their losses on the downhill. In the end I don’t see big changes happening today. Lots of climbing but no big moves. Stable racing will lead to a stable finish today. The next few days should be fairly quiet for the overall contenders as well. They will be in the mix, but not breaking out. Expect one day specialist and team workers to try to pip wins and stages. Ramussen is in yellow until Saturday short of a crash or a terrible mechanical as he will not crack that badly in the mountains. The next big changes to the overall race will happen on Saturday in the Albi to Albi Time Trial (TT). That does not mean that the stages will be boring though, that just means that they will be more about individual wins then moves to take the overall TDF.
