2010 Volta ao Algarve

[ravens]

Wasn't that Valverde he caught? I was embarrassed for him that day.

Embarrassed for who, the chicken or valverde? It was a milli vanilli moment. Had he (and, worse, Ricco) been a little more low profile, they may have gotten away with it. (The sh!t hit the fan for milli vanilli only AFTER they won a grammy, it was all good before that. Not that my world revolved around them, I just consider it an apt example.)

To me, both Ricco and Rasmussen seemed a little blatantly obvious.

Sorry if this is too off topic
.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Did Astana even bring a sprinter? lol

They were pathetic today. Nearest rider to AC almost seventy riders away. No protection. Two riders at sucking end of the main group and a DNF.

The entire Radio Shack team finished ahead of the second Astana rider. I'm telling you the entire team blew up getting AC into position yesterday. They have nothing left. Damn good thing this is almost over.

Twenty first in the teams classification, and the TT bike fiasco? This does not look good. They suck.

You suck! the damage is done. radioshack faltered yesterday as Contador jumped away. The main thing is that AC didn't lose time and is ready for the tt with an advantage.

 

[Ferminal]

Did Astana even bring a sprinter? lol

They were pathetic today. Nearest rider to AC almost seventy riders away. No protection. Two riders at sucking end of the main group and a DNF.

The entire Radio Shack team finished ahead of the second Astana rider. I'm telling you the entire team blew up getting AC into position yesterday. They have nothing left. Damn good thing this is almost over.

Twenty first in the teams classification, and the TT bike fiasco? This does not look good. They suck.

I was going to say well done to Rosseler on an impressive win, but this muppet distracted me

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

You suck! the damage is done. radioshack faltered yesterday as Contador jumped away. The main thing is that AC didn't lose time and is ready for the tt with an advantage.

Responding to a Carboncrank post wins you 10 trollfeeder points. Congrats.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Responding to a Carboncrank post wins you 10 trollfeeder points. Congrats.

Point taken. He's on ignore!

 

[Publicus]

Embarrassed for who, the chicken or valverde? It was a milli vanilli moment. Had he (and, worse, Ricco) been a little more low profile, they may have gotten away with it. (The sh!t hit the fan for milli vanilli only AFTER they won a grammy, it was all good before that. Not that my world revolved around them, I just consider it an apt example.)

To me, both Ricco and Rasmussen seemed a little blatantly obvious.

Sorry if this is too off topic
.

Valverde. No one really suspected Rassmussen was doping until right after that performance. He'd done the flyer in the mountains bit before, but usually faltered on another mountain stage and never made time up on a TT.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Carboncrank: your point is irrelevant. AC > entire radioshack team

 

[stefrees]

Carboncrank: your point is irrelevant. AC > entire radioshack team

i concur.

and in terms of rosselers win-some thought sky overreacted on their victories?

 

[ErmOkk]

Carboncrank: your point is irrelevant. AC > entire radioshack team

You should add "In the mountains", otherwise your point is quite irrelevant too .

Anyway, AC will win even with his older TT bike, because the profile looks a bit hilly, which obviously works in his advantage. On an entirely flat stage I'd might put my money on LL under the given circumstances.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Carboncrank: your point is irrelevant. AC > entire radioshack team

On a positive note, he is consistent.

Watched the highlights and quite clearly Astana let the break go, as most followers of the sport would have expected. Eventually, HTC took up a half-hearted chase.
Rossler broke away from the breakaway on the final rise and solo'd to victory.

I would expect a lot of the domestique help to scratch from today's ITT.

If RS are really that strong and intent on winning the GC, they would have used two of the guys in the top 10 in an attempt to get them into the breakaway, forcing Astana to chase. They didn't. Very conservative.

Best laugh of all. I had Eurosport commentary in Czeck and everytime he called the boys in red, clear as a bell: "Team Radio Shake."

 

[craig1985]

There has been a lot of wet weather in Madeira, will the elements play a part in Algarve?

 

[issoisso]

There has been a lot of wet weather in Madeira

Snow, even. 32 people killed

 

[Bike Boy]

Wasn't that Valverde he caught? I was embarrassed for him that day.

Here it is 50 seconds into the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeKBLLw9rUs&feature=related

 

[theswordsman]

VeloNews has a pretty thorough article on the Time Trial bike situation, with quotes from Contador and details from Specialized. Apparently the rest of Astana will ride their road bikes with handlebar extensions and aero wheels.

Today Alberto puts on the new version of the Spanish Time Trial Champion jersey for the first time. The team has left everything on the road for him this week. I think the change in bikes will make it a challenge, but if he manages to win this, or to finish in a time that wins the overall, he'll have done it on heart. The experience overcoming adversity at the Tour last year probably won't hurt, either.

Alberto Contador isn’t happy about the UCI’s decision to ban his Specialized Shiv time trial bike on the eve of Sunday’s decisive final TT in the Volta ao Algarve.

The UCI says the Specialized Shiv doesn't comply with strictly applied rules.

The UCI notified Astana and Saxo Bank team management via e-mail Friday that the Shiv time trial bike – which was unveiled as a prototype in last year’s Tour de France – did not conform to UCI’s rules.

“I am not happy about it, but we are working together to get something ready. It was a surprise for everyone,” Contador told VeloNews on Saturday. “I’ve been training on the Shiv for months and now I have to race on something I’ve never ever ridden before. The other bike is no better or worse, it’s just that it’s a different bike. Tomorrow we’ll just to do the best we can.”

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/02/news/contador-unhappy-about-uci-decision-to-ban-bike_105666

 

[theswordsman]

An ominous preview from the live text, via Google Translate:

In recognition of the route that we have seen that there are several areas very dangerous. With about 5 kilometers, the runners will encounter a dangerous turning downhill, with wet road. At about 3 kilometers from the end, there is a downhill road with high pedestrian crossings which follows a left turn dangerous. Moreover, in different sections of the route the rain swept rocks and mud onto the road and elsewhere there are pools that occupy the entire lane.

http://jornalciclismo.com/directo-da-5ª-etapa-da-volta-ao-algarve-2

 

[Publicus]

There has been a lot of wet weather in Madeira, will the elements play a part in Algarve?

It certainly seems that way. This is what the live ticker had to say about the route (It's translated from Google translation, but you should be able to get the idea):

In recognition of the route that we have seen that there are several areas very dangerous. With about 5 kilometers, the runners will encounter a dangerous turning downhill, with wet road. At about 3 kilometers from the end, there is a downhill road with high pedestrian crossings which follows a left turn dangerous. Moreover, in different sections of the route the rain swept rocks and mud onto the road and elsewhere there are pools that occupy the entire lane.

I'm surprised that more riders have not scratched.

 

[theswordsman]

I'm surprised that more riders have not scratched.

I'm thinking the Astana riders might not mind being on their road bikes. I hope the whole field gets through without any crashes.

 

[Publicus]

I'm thinking the Astana riders might not mind being on their road bikes. I hope the whole field gets through without any crashes.

From the description of the road and the weather conditions, road bikes might be the best choice.

 

[Berzin]

The entire Radio Shack team finished ahead of the second Astana rider...

...and not one of them could get the better of Contador. Enjoy that Pyrrhic victory you're celebrating with this idiotic post.

How does champagne taste when it's made from sour grapes?

 

[Publicus]

He's warming up. And it looks like his TT kit won't be so much of an eye sore this year:

 

[Ferminal]

He's warming up. And it looks like his TT kit won't be so much of an eye sore this year:

I like it if they've just replaced the bluey colour with the red. Nice and simple.

 

[Publicus]

Here's the map and profile:

Levi is on the road and AC should be in the starting house (he leaves at 14:34 local time, or 6:34 PT).

 

[hfer07]

He's warming up. And it looks like his TT kit won't be so much of an eye sore this year:

TDF 2009 ITT prologue: "the wheel Issue" and he finished 2nd to Cancellara
TDF 2009 ITT stage 18: "The transport Issue" and he smoked the competition
Volta ao Algarve ITT: "The banning TT bike Issue"...............

I dont see any problems at all, considering the ordeals he's gone through in the past

 

[Publicus]

And after a few hours of sunshine, the clouds are rolling and it may start raining on the favorites. Should make for an interesting TT.

EDIT: And there are no intermediate check points. We won't know who's doing what until they finish.

 

[Publicus]

Lulu just posted a new best time 21:32. He was 43 seconds back on AC at the start of the day.

Levi just posted 21:54.

Samu posted 22:07

Machado 22:02

AC 21:45. Two time champion. And Lulu jumps up to second and kicks Levi off the podium.