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Juanjo Cobo
surprised quite a few by winning the Vuelta España last year but unlike Chris Froome
he hasn’t really kept the same level in this Tour. In the last days in
mountains Cobo has been looking better and better though and I think he has his
eyes on this particular stage. The Spanish riders are always extra motivated in
the Pyrenees and if I’m sure Juanjo Cobo is eager to prove what happened in the
Vuelta was a one-time-only. Cobo also knows this stage very well. In 2007 Stage
15 of the Tour had both Col de Menté, Port de Balès and Col de Peyresourde on
the menu and back then the Spaniard took 4th place on the stage -
Alexander Vinkourov actually won the stage, but was DQ afterwards due to a
positive doping test. “I have great memories from 2007 and I hope I can win
this time”, Cobo said on the rest day. I think Juanjo Cobo will manage to get
in the right breakaway and from there he will be very difficult to beat showing
the last days condition.
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| The last hard 15,5 km of the stage Click for larger view! |
If it
should come back together before the last climb I would put my money on Chris
Froome. On Stage 16 on Peyresourde he once again showed how strong he is right
now and according to himself he’s only getting stronger and stronger as the
race progresses. It’s clear that Vincenzo Nibali and Jurgen Van den Broeck will
have to try something but if Froome is as good as he has been so far I would be
surprised if he goes solo on the last km and win the stage.
Winner
pick: Juanjo Cobo
Joker:
Chris Froome
Im hoping for Rolland today :-)
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