2010 Vuelta al Pais Vasco

[Dekker_Tifosi]

How good is Horners TT? Is he able to threaten Gesink and Valverde in this very difficult hilly TT? Personally I think it now goes between Gesink and Valverde, like I thought in the beginning of this race. It will be very close I think

I remember when Horner had the lead in the Tour de Romandie 2007, he was pretty much demolished by Dekker, Savoldelli and Kashechkin in the final hilly TT.

But since all first 3 are blatant dopers, the honoust answer is, he is probably not too bad

 

[Berzin]

What does the overall top ten look like?

Tomorrow's stage looks like it could be decisive way before the TT on Saturday-at least on paper it does, depending on which team decides to take the race by the scruff of the neck-

 

[Francois the Postman]

Sorry, my TV doesn't have dutch-o-vision goggles.

LOL.

I'm with you on this one. And I was still wearing those goggles.

 

[theyoungest]

ROTF.
I think I'd better stay outa this, after being called a hater of babies and fathers.

I hope you understand that I was kidding

 

[maikel]

I would be very surprised if horner is still with Gesink and Valverde tomorrow, the final climb is much to steep for him I think when they and Sammie/Rodriguez press on the gas

 

[Moondance]

Just think that he wouldn't have bridged the gap on his own strength today. So as much as you dislike Valverde, I think he got a hand more than a hindrance there.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

You're totally wrong in this... I'm actually quite partial to him. I have a pic of him and me from the prologue of the '06 Tour of Romandie which is one of my very favorite possessions. He finished 2nd in Geneva that day behind Savoldelli, was right after he did the Fleche-Liege double.

I don't care for his tactics (and it would've suited him better to work with Gesink to close down Horner and Sanchez), but I've always liked him.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The final part was a bit steeper, Horner lost some of his lead there, you could be right, but since you are Dutch like me, that's more based on hope than anything else.

 

[Hugh Januss]

After leading all the way, Horner snatched sh*t out of the jaws of victory.
What happen to the much fancied Rodriuguez, today?



Yes. All you need is to get on "the team" and a massive leap of form for ancient never hasbeens.

Horner has always been like that. A super strong team mate who always falls a bit short when he has the chance to ride for himself.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I hope you understand that I was kidding

Yes, of course I did. You obviously were "jesting" about Christian's "off beat" comment.
Clearly you didn't see my reply about them (dad's with kids) having the best parking spots at the supermarket!

All good fun to me.......I hope Frank is OK though.

 

[Francois the Postman]

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

You're totally wrong in this... I'm actually quite partial to him. I have a pic of him and me from the prologue of the '06 Tour of Romandie which is one of my very favorite possessions. He finished 2nd in Geneva that day behind Savoldelli, was right after he did the Fleche-Liege double.

I don't care for his tactics (and it would've suited him better to work with Gesink to close down Horner and Sanchez), but I've always liked him.

Sorry, indeed, reading back I added your comments to those made by Dekker_Tifosi.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Rodriguez dissapointed, Vandenbroeck is also too far behind now.
Tomorrow another chance

 

[maikel]

The final part was a bit steeper, Horner lost some of his lead there, you could be right, but since you are Dutch like me, that's more based on hope than anything else.

Yes I hope that Gesink drops Horner (and Valv) tomorrow, but it's a fact that on the steep parts Gesink is one of the very best climbers. Look at Pandera in next years vuelta. Although it is not that steep tomorrow

 

[Moondance]

Sorry, indeed, reading back I added your comments to those made by Dekker_Tifosi.

Well, that's understandable.... All us cloggies look alike after all

 

[Polish]

Horner's Audacious Attack in the final Km's was almost enough.
Oh well, great effort!

He will try again on Friday no doubt.

 

[maikel]

Horner's Audacious Attack in the final Km's was almost enough.
Oh well, great effort!

He will try again on Friday no doubt.

Maybe he will try, it will credit him for sure. But I think the final tomorrow is a to difficult one for Horner. Much steeper than it was today

 

[theyoungest]

Yes I hope that Gesink drops Horner (and Valv) tomorrow, but it's a fact that on the steep parts Gesink is one of the very best climbers. Look at Pandera in next years vuelta. Although it is not that steep tomorrow

Tomorrow Valverde has about 10 km to chase possible Horners or Gesinks, plus an explosive climb right at the end to close what is left of the gap.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yup, just like 2008. Result back then

1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - NGC 04:02:48 (40.03km/h)
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Silence - Lotto
4 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC
5 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
6 Joaquím Rodríguez Olivier (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
7 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Kaiku +0:00:15
8 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC
9 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) AG2r Prévoyance
10 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi +0:00:20

So probably a group sprint

Edit: don't look at the teams, they are all messed up

 

[pedaldancer]

Sorry, did someone say Horner had no explosive kick? Was I watching the curling or something on Eurosport 2- I'm pretty sure I saw him drop the hammer!

Hopefully Sami Sanchez' sponsors will be off the teams back now, awesome ride, truly awesome.

Now, am I the only one thinking that today would have been a good opportunity for Wigans to stretch his legs? Sitting around chatting to Freire all day won't give you any ammo to fuel your arrogant gun.... I bet even Berti and Lance would have had some fun going up that climb regardless of whether or not they want to peak in July. Either he doesn't want to show his card or he doesn't have any to show...

Poor Steve Cummings!

 

[theyoungest]

Sorry, did someone say Horner had no explosive kick? Was I watching the curling or something on Eurosport 2- I'm pretty sure I saw him drop the hammer!

Hopefully Sami Sanchez' sponsors will be off the teams back now, awesome ride, truly awesome.

Now, am I the only one thinking that today would have been a good opportunity for Wigans to stretch his legs? Sitting around chatting to Freire all day won't give you any ammo to fuel your arrogant gun.... I bet even Berti and Lance would have had some fun going up that climb regardless of whether or not they want to peak in July. Either he doesn't want to show his card or he doesn't have any to show...

Poor Steve Cummings!

That wasn't an explosive attack, more a "Zoetemelkian" one, as we say in Holland

 

[Polish]

Maybe he will try, it will credit him for sure. But I think the final tomorrow is a to difficult one for Horner. Much steeper than it was today

Today had two cat1 climbs - one at the finish

Friday is only cat2's and cat3's with a flat to downhill finish?

Wish there were more climbing for Horner sake...

A day to be attentive....stay upright...some guys have a tendency to crash.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Those cat 2 and cat 3 climbs includes the final climb, Alto de Aia, with percentages to 23%, so it's not as soft as you think

 

[Aguirre]

Horner

wondering if RS it's allready testing the gasoline for TdF

 

[maikel]

Sorry, did someone say Horner had no explosive kick? Was I watching the curling or something on Eurosport 2- I'm pretty sure I saw him drop the hammer!

Hopefully Sami Sanchez' sponsors will be off the teams back now, awesome ride, truly awesome.

Now, am I the only one thinking that today would have been a good opportunity for Wigans to stretch his legs? Sitting around chatting to Freire all day won't give you any ammo to fuel your arrogant gun.... I bet even Berti and Lance would have had some fun going up that climb regardless of whether or not they want to peak in July. Either he doesn't want to show his card or he doesn't have any to show...

Poor Steve Cummings!

Except for the tour, Wiggens never showed he can really follow the best in the climbs. I thought he was planning something today because his team was helping Caisse and I don't believe they did that for Cummings.

Really exciting at tomorrows climb with that steep parts.

 

[luckyboy]

Horner

wondering if RS it's allready testing the gasoline for TdF

When he attacked, he was out of the saddle for like 3kms. Don't know what his normal style is though..

 

[skidmark]

Should be an interesting TT. It's nice to see Peraud coming out of the woods. I'm excited about his transition to the road this year... an experienced and accomplished MTBer with no road experience is quite the wild card. I wonder how he'd do in GTs, it's been long enough since the French had a great white hope, so it'd be wonderful to see him come out of left field.

But 33 seconds is tough to make up on the likes of Valv and Gesink (and Horner, I suppose).

Marco Pinotti is also 49 seconds back, and he'd clearly be a good choice in any TT (although obviously more on a flat one).

Samu will probably be quite good and could be a good bet for that stage too.

I like stage races where it's pretty hilly every day, you never really know how it'll shape up with the selection and the finish. This one's been fun so far.