2010 Volta ao Algarve

[theswordsman]

Rough weather day. Thirteen guys have abandoned.
Tomas Vaitkus (RadioShack), Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions), Ricardo Van der Velde (Garmin-Transitions), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Vidal Celis (Footon-Mobile Team), Tomas Swift (Palmeiras), Nelson Vitorino ( Palmeiras), Alberto Morrás (Madeinox-Boavista), Marco Cunha (Madeinox-Boavista), Antonio Amorim (Barbot), Marcio Barbosa (LA-Rota dos Moveis), Mark Cassidy (An Post-Sean Kelly) and Gil Suray (An Post -Sean Kelly).

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=22900

 

[Dr. Maserati]

I realise that the weather conditions were severe today and the riders finishde 75 minutes down on the schedule, but some big names struggled.

And in particular some names that have targeted races within the next month.

Hushovd finished 21:03 down.
McEwen finished 18:17 down.
Millar finished 12:21 down.
Noval finished 10:11 down.
Devolder finished 5:43 down.
Haussler finished 2:30.

 

[Publicus]

I thought AC was only in Lance's mind. Apparently he's got whole team tied in knots:

However these two stages play out it would be a good bet that Team RadioShack will be near the top of the results. The perfect ending to this Portuguese race would be a one-two finish and message sent to one Alberto Contador.

That's from the Stage 2 write up at the Team Radio Shack FAN website. Pretty damn sad really.

Sorry, I wasn't very careful and unfairly blamed the Team's site, when it was a fan site. My bad.

 

[Publicus]

I realise that the weather conditions were severe today and the riders finishde 75 minutes down on the schedule, but some big names struggled.

And in particular some names that have targeted races within the next month.

Hushovd finished 21:03 down.
McEwen finished 18:17 down.
Millar finished 12:21 down.
Noval finished 10:11 down.
Devolder finished 5:43 down.
Haussler finished 2:30.

Noval was probably pretty wasted as Astana did the lion share of chasing down the break (FDJ didn't have it) until Euskatel chipped in and took over toward the end of the stage.

 

[hfer07]

Tomorrow is going to be a big showdown between the big names-but based on what is going on, I wouldn't be surprised if someone unknown takes the win

 

[taiwan]

Greipel = His nickname sucks, though.

 

[Polish]

Giant Douchebag vs Turd Sandwich

I thought AC was only in Lance's mind. Apparently he's got whole team tied in knots:



That's from the Stage 2 write up at the Team Radio Shack website. Pretty damn sad really.

I found the article upbeat and well written - not damn sad at all.
Why do you find it sad? Please don't cry waawaa
http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-sees-a-win-on-the-horizon-in-algarve-051/


The article was written by a nice NorCal SchoolTeacher - Thomas Mendonsa.
This is a fanboy site. Like the Astana fanboy site.
Why would you say the "whole team is tied in knots"?
Is Thomas tied in knots maybe? Maybe not?

http://www.teamradioshack.us/staff-writer-thomas-mendonsa/


Alberto HAS been a turd sandwich to both Levi and Klodi in the past

 

[Publicus]

I found the article upbeat and well written - not damn sad at all.
Why do you find it sad? Please don't cry waawaa
http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-sees-a-win-on-the-horizon-in-algarve-051/


The article was written by a nice NorCal SchoolTeacher - Thomas Mendonsa.
This is a fanboy site. Like the Astana fanboy site.
Why would you say the "whole team is tied in knots"?
Is Thomas tied in knots maybe? Maybe not?

http://www.teamradioshack.us/staff-writer-thomas-mendonsa/


Alberto HAS been a turd sandwich to both Levi and Klodi in the past

I think it is sad that a perfect ending for them involves AC. That's pretty damn pathetic if you ask me. But, I guess that's how you roll.

RETRACTED: My comment should not have been directed at the team. Bad Publicus! Bad Publicus!

 

[python]

I found the article upbeat and well written - not damn sad at all.
Why do you find it sad? Please don't cry waawaa
http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-sees-a-win-on-the-horizon-in-algarve-051/


The article was written by a nice NorCal SchoolTeacher - Thomas Mendonsa.
This is a fanboy site. Like the Astana fanboy site.
Why would you say the "whole team is tied in knots"?
Is Thomas tied in knots maybe? Maybe not?

http://www.teamradioshack.us/staff-writer-thomas-mendonsa/


Alberto HAS been a turd sandwich to both Levi and Klodi in the past

the thing is, im yet to find on astanafans.com a single negative reference towards rs or any of the rs riders. check it out for yourself.

example..christine kahane a long time contributor and astana fan speaks compassionately about levi and odessa losing one of their beloved dogs.

astanafans.com is w/o the meanness or ill will frequented by the rs fan site.

 

[BYOP88]

Alberto HAS been a turd sandwich to both Levi and Klodi in the past

Ok I'll give you Contador's remarks from the 08 Vuelta regarding Levi that wasn't the best thing to say but I'm sure there's a rider on Levi's current team who would've said the same thing about a teammate doing well at the back end of a stage race in France circa 1999-2005, but please tell me the Kloden thing it isn't from stage 16 or 17 of last years Tour.

 

[Bike Boy]

I thought AC was only in Lance's mind. Apparently he's got whole team tied in knots:



That's from the Stage 2 write up at the Team Radio Shack website. Pretty damn sad really.

Don't get me wrong I don't want to defend Armstrong, the last couple of months I have learned why so many people hate Armstrong.
But you have to admit that in this case you commited an error presenting it like the recap came from the official website.
I can't deny or confirm your conclusion (the bolded part) but you sure as hell can't derive it the way you do.

 

[zapata]

Armstrong is not competing in algarve, is he? My money is on Mosquera. And would be fun to see Eeckhout beating Greipel.

 

[Bike Boy]

Armstrong is not competing in algarve, is he? My money is on Mosquera. And would be fun to see Eeckhout beating Greipel.

Absolutely right, he's in Austin, Texas.

 

[Publicus]

Don't get me wrong I don't want to defend Armstrong, the last couple of months I have learned why so many people hate Armstrong.
But you have to admit that in this case you commited an error presenting it like the recap came from the official website.
I can't deny or confirm your conclusion (the bolded part) but you sure as hell can't derive it the way you do.

Yeah, that was my bad. It was a fan site and I wasn't paying too close attention.

 

[craig1985]

Armstrong is not competing in algarve, is he? My money is on Mosquera. And would be fun to see Eeckhout beating Greipel.

Armstrong commutes between Europe and the US for races. Same with LL and Horner.

 

[Publicus]

Thinking about tactics for tomorrow, if I am Martinelli I try and get at least one Astana rider into the break (preferably Jesus Hernandez (he's sufficiently far down on GC not to be a threat, but can climb)). Astana did a lot of work today and they don't want the responsibility of chasing down the break again and I don't see HTC pulling the weight.

 

[issoisso]

Stage 3 is too hard for a break. The strongest will win on the final climb

 

[ErmOkk]

Stage 3 is too hard for a break. The strongest will win on the final climb

There's always a break, mostly not even intended to win but the shuffle off the work like said before .

 

[craig1985]

Is Filipe Cardose related to Manuel Cardoso?

 

[Mellow Velo]

I've watched the highlights.
Longest stage, wet temperature 6-9C
Break went at 12 kms and got to 12 minutes, as nobody felt like chasing.
Astana did all the donkey work.
Last breakman standing was caught, with just 300 metres to go, on the uphill drag finish.
Lots of small gaps in the broken peloton.

 

[Publicus]

Stage 3 is too hard for a break. The strongest will win on the final climb

So are you suggesting that the peloton will stay together the entire stage, shredding riders until it is down to the strong men? Somehow I don't see that working out quite that way. There will be a break and some team (or teams) with a GC contender(s) will chase down the break (maybe not completely, but the gap will be narrowed) before the final climb. I'm suggesting that after yesterday's effort (MV's "donkey work"), Astana shift that responsibility to another team. But maybe I'm wrong (wouldn't be the first time) and Astana has the legs to pull it off two days in a row this early in the season.

 

[craig1985]

I would not tip against Luis Leon Sanchez for the stage. Otherwise I'm of no doubt that Contador will certainly try something.

 

[ErmOkk]

I would not tip against Luis Leon Sanchez for the stage. Otherwise I'm of no doubt that Contador will certainly try something.

Yes Contador will put on a show for sure, if not just to prove that he's back and ready to kick some ***. Looking forward for the outcome, but I never believe that LL or klöden will finish in AC's wheel .

 

[theswordsman]

Information about the fall of Gert Steegmans. The Belgian RadioShack struck a parked car left the road, fell and hit his head on the ground after losing his helmet. The sprinter was transported to the hospital for evaluation of the clinical situation. Source: Xinhua

http://jornalciclismo.com/directo-da-3ª-etapa-da-volta-ao-algarve

Sandy Casar also abandoned after a crash.

The stage started in sunshine but apparently there are dark clouds ahead. They had to lengthen the stage by 7 kilometers to avoid roads damaged by yesterday's rains.

 

[Publicus]

http://jornalciclismo.com/directo-da-3ª-etapa-da-volta-ao-algarve

Sandy Casar also abandoned after a crash.

The stage started in sunshine but apparently there are dark clouds ahead. They had to lengthen the stage by 7 kilometers to avoid roads damaged by yesterday's rains.

That's terrible news about Steegmans. I hope he's not seriously injured.