16/04 - 20/04: Tour of the Alps (Giro del Trentino)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Actually you are wrong. Dumoulin had really good legs in Abu Dhabi.. In the TT he was leading until bad luck. In the mountain stage he had just closed the gap on Valverde after the first attack, and then his brake was pushing against the rear wheel..

In Strade he was slightly ill, in Tirreno ill and crashed. In MSR he was good but not positioned enough on the front to do something.

So yeah, no results, but form wasn´t bad.

He did not. He was on the front pulling for Kelderman for some time, then he stopped, and about 500-1000m further he had that problem with his bike. Formolo closed that gap by the way...

HE already had the problem when he dropped off. It's actually the reason he dropped off. It was in our local newspapers later on and in some cycling magazines. Appearently never reached your news. Understandable

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Uff, Froome's shape is better than I expected.
We have a month to the crucial stages of Giro.

 

[Laplaz]

Sosa to reach his friend Bernal next year in Team Sky? Hopefully not.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Just seen the full results and my first reaction

Sosa!! Wow!!

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Re:

Sosa to reach his friend Bernal next year in Team Sky? Hopefully not.

I hope so. He is 20. Nice thought.

 

[DNP-Old]

Fortunately, Sosa won't be selected for the Giro.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Fortunately, Sosa won't be selected for the Giro.

That's good, he shouldn't be rushed into it at all. I think another year at pro-conti too won't do him any harm. Last year there were signs of his talent but this year he's really stepped up: he'll be better off without pressure and with a free role or leader at Androni rather than a domestique or 'hot talent' at ef drapac or even sky. Bernal had two years near the top of the continental circuit, and Sosa should do that too - his first year was not bernal level, but these two stages have been very good.

 

[42x16ss]

Ben O’Connor is continuing his Zubeldia like form from Catalunya and Pais Vasco. 8th today and now 15th overall, while barely being seen.

Not bad for someone who recently turned 22.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Ben O’Connor is continuing his Zubeldia like form from Catalunya and Pais Vasco. 8th today and now 15th overall, while barely being seen.

Not bad for someone who recently turned 22.

If i remember correctly he was pretty good in the last Österreich-Rundfahrt, he seems to be a talented young rider.

 

[Robert5091]

Chapeau Sosa & Superman! Pinot on track, Froome seemed "rusty" & Aru ... well.

 

[Robert5091]

Stage 3 Ora - Merano - only 138 km

Will Sky/Froome give it a go up to Passo della Mendola/Mendelpass ?

 

[Tonton]

...enough climbing to get a smaller group to the finish. I like Pinot's chances, no surprise here , but he can't overlook Geniez...because Alex will try to take his wheel and use Tibopino as a lead. Been there, done that twice.

 

[Escarabajo]

Who has the best sprint among climbers without Valverde?

 

[Laplaz]

Today the stage winner will probably be decided on the long descent or from a reduced bunch sprint. It won't be easy for Sosa to control every move. But I go with Pello Bilbao for the stage win.

 

[Robert5091]

Today's stage is about who has already good "recovery form". People who had problems yesterday might be found out today. Hope Aru can bounce back & the Androni guys enjoy every minute on the front of the peloton.

 

[The Barb]

That is a Luis Leon Sanchez stage profile if ever I've seen one.

The only point against him is that he's only a minute and a half back in the GC so he may not be given too much leeway.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

Who has the best sprint among climbers without Valverde?

If this isn’t raced hard enough Astana has fa too many troops to make this a sprint finish. If all else fails, Pello is probably the quickest as well.

 

[DNP-Old]

Astana could easily play the GC game as well. They have 5(!) guys within 1:30. Lopez wont get room, but Hirt for instance might.

 

[Laplaz]

If Astana plays this well, they are difficult to beat, not only with the stage win but also for the GC.

 

[SafeBet]

Astana has the numbers and the riders to dominate this stage and get the jersey as well.
Outsider: Mark Padun. Very impressed with this kid.

 

[Robert5091]

Breakaway composition: - 11 Montaguti Matteo (ALM) - 66 Rabitsch Stephen (RSW) - 156 Visconti Giovanni (TBM) - 166 Senni Manuel (BRD)
3' 30" on the peloton as they hit the Passo Mendola climb.

Jeremy Roy did n't start today.

 

[Kokoso]

No love for Ben O'Connor and Michal Schlegel? They are doing pretty well. Schlegel even despite being domestique for Amaro Antunes here.

 

[Laplaz]

Pinot in a group with Padun, Pozzovivo and O'Connor 20 seconds in front of the rest.

 

[UselessToo]

Bahrain with 3 riders in the front

 

[Netserk]

Action! _O_

Astana on the back foot, 40'' behind.