Another Stage Win for France!

Pierre Rolland won today's grueling Stage 11.  Below is the comparison with our prediction.

• Stage 11:  4h 43' 54" (actual), 4h 28' 03" (prediction), 15' 51" fast (-5.58% error)

There was a crash in today's stage on a descent that involved Rolland.  Though it surely did not slow him by 16 minutes, our prediction looks a little better in light of the crash.  I'm happy that we are closer today compared to yesterday's prediction.  We were slow then, fast now.  Predicting stage-winning times for the Tour de France is challenging!  Below is Rolland's average speed.

• Stage 11:  8.689 m/s (31.28 km/hr or 19.44 mph)

Those brutal climbs certainly bring the average speed down!

Tomorrow's Stage 12 is the longest stage at 226.0 km (140.4 miles).  The medium-mountain stage begins in the commune of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and takes cyclists west to Annonay/Davézieu.  Riders have to traverse two category 1 climbs early on before a relatively long downhill stretch.  A category 3 climb awaits cyclists near the stage's end.  Below is our prediction.

• Stage 12:  5h 40' 12" (prediction)

Bradley Wiggins maintains the yellow jersey and Chris Froome is just over two minutes back in second place.  Can anyone catch Team Sky?