2010 Vuelta al Pais Vasco

[theyoungest]

What a load of crap, this VeloNews article.

Though he is improving against the clock, Gesink is not on the same level as Horner and Valverde, so it should be a two-man shootout for overall victory.

Well, then explain to me why Gesink already beat Horner in the same TT two years ago? Very much looking forward to Horner getting his a$$ kicked again.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Horner at Velonews: "I know the (TT) from last year. They won’t be able to do some team tactics there."

anyone got the result of this last years timetrial he's talking about? couldn't find it...

I guess he's talking about year 2008. Profile was the same, only 2km shorter:

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/apr08/paisvasco08/?id=results/paisvasco086

 

[Arnout]

Funny from Horner. Sanchez catched him on top of the climb. Alone.

Then Valverde came and catched the two by sprinting for 1k and when he got there, Sanchez attacked instantly. No time for negotiations.

While Valverde may have allowed Sanchez to go, Horner should've expected that. After all it was Valverde who put in much effort in coming back before and Horner was the one who could relax the most in the minutes before.

And what did he think? That he could win the sprint against Sanchez or Valverde?

 

[Hugh Januss]

What a load of crap, this VeloNews article.

Well, then explain to me why Gesink already beat Horner in the same TT two years ago? Very much looking forward to Horner getting his a$$ kicked again.

Results

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 29.10.00 (41.143 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0.22
3 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.27
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 0.49
5 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 1.16
6 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1.17
7 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
8 Chris Horner (USA) Astana
9 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.23

Although to be fair it was not a totally dominating ass kicking then.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No, but Gesink was a minute back in the hill stage back then and of course 2 years weaker than he is now, he was 21 at the time (!!!!)

And already on par with Horner there. I'm not going to say who will be better, but to say like Velonews that 'Gesink is not on the same level as Horner' in the ITT, is not stretching the truth, but just flat out bull poo.

 

[theyoungest]

Although to be fair it was not a totally dominating ass kicking then.

Poetic licence But the point is that these guys have no idea what they're talking about.

 

[Bala Verde]

What a load of crap, this VeloNews article.

Well, then explain to me why Gesink already beat Horner in the same TT two years ago? Very much looking forward to Horner getting his a$$ kicked again.

I don't know if there is any worse magazine than Velonews. They are the Versus of the printed media. Be happy you're not often exposed to their 'information', because it is 'toebending'

 

[hfer07]

Today's Stage was very entertaining- just a couple of comments:
1-) tomorrow's showdown is between Horner & Valverde-forget Gesink
2-) Sammy Sanchez will make a jump to top 5
3-) I'm curious to see if Andy Schleck has made any progress in his TTing at all.
4-) what if Marco Pinotti spoils the victory?

 

[theyoungest]

Today's Stage was very entertaining- just a couple of comments:
1-) tomorrow's showdown is between Horner & Valverde-forget Gesink
2-) Sammy Sanchez will make a jump to top 5
3-) I'm curious to see if Andy Schleck has made any progress in his TTing at all.
4-) what if Marco Pinotti spoils the victory?

Avid Velonews reader?

 

[hfer07]

Avid Velonews reader?

in fact I haven't read the article at all- just opining on what the record says on their individual performances-although I cannot rule out any progress that Gesink has made lately, if he in fact has done it in recent ITT

 

[Mellow Velo]

Didn't you know the condor?

Roberto 'el condor' Jesinque or was it Jecinque?

Si ee ees the juan.
Two up sprint, Horner second.
Three up sprint, Horner third
Four up and Horner's forth.

Watch him get dropped on tomorrow's run in, if he doesn't fall, that is.

 

[Angliru]

Ok, that is true, but apart from that? I think we have to go back on his Kelme time.

In all fairness, including his "being helped by his teammates" isn't really quite realistic is it? Isn't that what teammates are supposed to do? Also in a race its one's opponents responsibility to rid themselves of him before the line if they know they have no hope in an uphill sprint against him thus Gesink riding a hard tempo, I'm assuming in an effort to break and drop Valverde. You yourself said and I have read that Gesink likes to up the tempo on climbs to see who is hurting and who isn't. Should Valverde have gone into the red to jump on the front and ride at an even faster speed on the climbs? Was there ever a point where Gesink motioned or communicated to Valverde that he wanted him to pull through? I ask because I didn't see it.

 

[hfer07]

Si ee ees the juan.
Two up sprint, Horner second.
Three up sprint, Horner third
Four up and Horner's forth.

Watch him get dropped on tomorrow's run in, if he doesn't fall, that is.

he's basically trying to out sprint himself over the competition........

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Horner would probably still squash Gesink over a long, flat time trial. But this isn't a long, flat time trial. It's one that plays to Gesink's strengths, and while Horner may know this course well, Gesink's no stranger to it either.

 

[theswordsman]

I don't know if there is any worse magazine than Velonews. They are the Versus of the printed media. Be happy you're not often exposed to their 'information', because it is 'toebending'

Last year one of their writers or editors said on twitter that they had this great post-Tour interview with Contador. I made a ten mile drive to bookstores three separate times, because I had read the stuff in the Spanish press. The fourth time I inquired on twitter about availability, the editor offered to mail me a free copy. When I got it, it was mostly a bunch of "this never happened" and "that didn't matter".

I'm normally a grateful person, and probably said thanks when the magazine was offered, but I sure didn't say anything afterward. Thankfully I was able to read the Cycle Sport interview on Zinio.

At least the website seems to have backed off the all Radio Shack all the time coverage from last winter.

 

[Angliru]

Horner said he was 'robbed' by the Spaniards. Valverde let the gap for Sanchez, that is true.

He also says he will take the victory in the time trial.

I don't think the word "robbed" was used in the interview. Nevertheless as mentioned earlier its only natural that any riders in pursuit of someone up the road will work together since they are all likely there with the goal of winning.
Just a bit of a whine by Horner. The strongest rider won the stage. Why not just admit that instead of conjuring up some Spanish conspiracy to collectively prevent the great Horner from finally getting a win after 2+ years of zilch?

 

[Frosty]

Peraud is defintely not out of it... But 33 seconds is a significant gap given that the TT also has some serious climbing.

I don't know why you clearly rate Horner's TTing higher than Gesink's or Valv's though.... In the 2008 Basque Tour Gesink placed higher than Horner on the final TT (5th for Gesink, 8th for Horner, though the diference was minute)

The race i linked was the crit international which took place a few weeks ago. In it, Horner finished in almost exactly the same time as Sanchez which i think shows good tt form. I wasnt aware of the basque tour result in 2008 but seeing as Horner would have been working for Contador its difficult to know how valid a comparison it is, maybe he's aimed to peak at this event. Gesink should have improved since then but you could argue Horner has to. So yes, maybe i was a bit unfair to Gesink, looks like one that could be a very close finish

 

[maikel]

I don't think the word "robbed" was used in the interview. Nevertheless as mentioned earlier its only natural that any riders in pursuit of someone up the road will work together since they are all likely there with the goal of winning.
Just a bit of a whine by Horner. The strongest rider won the stage. Why not just admit that instead of conjuring up some Spanish conspiracy to collectively prevent the great Horner from finally getting a win after 2+ years of zilch?

Yes it was whining of horner offcourse, but the stupid thing was that it also was untrue. Sanchez was already with him at the top and Valverde en Gesink closed the gap seperately as Valverde was sprinting from Gesink in the descent. And that trying to be a tough guy by saying that he is going to beat them in the TT is not funded on anything as Gesink already was faster than him at this course at the age of 21(!)

 

[theyoungest]

The race i linked was the crit international which took place a few weeks ago. In it, Horner finished in almost exactly the same time as Sanchez which i think shows good tt form. I wasnt aware of the basque tour result in 2008 but seeing as Horner would have been working for Contador its difficult to know how valid a comparison it is, maybe he's aimed to peak at this event. Gesink should have improved since then but you could argue Horner has to. So yes, maybe i was a bit unfair to Gesink, looks like one that could be a very close finish

Fair point there, although Gesink wasn't exactly in overall contention himself either. But why bother, Valverde is probably going to win this anyway

 

[ferryman]

Just seen the highlights on Eurosport and what a stage. Valverde's 1K sprint the highlight for me. Interesting pointer for the Ardennes also. Cunego not looking great. Andy S looking just OK on today's showing but not winning LBL form. Frank S sore head and no form so far. Valverde on fire and will start favourite. Gesink/Sanchz don't have the punch.

 

[skidmark]

Reading Horner's interview, and remembering the stage, I think he was talking about the sprint when they 'teamed up', not the chase on the mountain as it seems like people here are talking about. The way I remember (and I only watched it once, so maybe I'm wrong) is that Valv bridged to Horner and Sanchez, and having caught the GC threat (Horner), he sat up in second wheel just as Sanchez attacked from the front, and effectively blocked Horner through the corner for that split second, which was enough for Sanchez to get the winning gap. Not that Horner could have beaten him anyway, and not that I think his complaining makes any sense, but I think what he's talking about is slightly different than what some folks here are reacting to.

 

[theswordsman]

Reading Horner's interview, and remembering the stage, I think he was talking about the sprint when they 'teamed up', not the chase on the mountain as it seems like people here are talking about. The way I remember (and I only watched it once, so maybe I'm wrong) is that Valv bridged to Horner and Sanchez, and having caught the GC threat (Horner), he sat up in second wheel just as Sanchez attacked from the front, and effectively blocked Horner through the corner for that split second, which was enough for Sanchez to get the winning gap. Not that Horner could have beaten him anyway, and not that I think his complaining makes any sense, but I think what he's talking about is slightly different than what some folks here are reacting to.

I'd have to watch a replay to see what corner he was talking about. It sounds like the complaint might be about both, but definitely includes the chase and catch.

The RadioShack veteran attacked with 4km to go up the very steep Cat. 1 Arrate climb but was caught on false flats with 1km to go following collaboration between the two Spaniards.

“It was a little Spanish get together. Sánchez didn’t get me. Valverde opened up the gap on him, and then sat up on me on one of the corners.

Read more: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010...sque-tour-valverde-leads_110857#ixzz0kYJwjdD1

 

[auscyclefan94]

Valverde and Sanchez playing together

Typical!

Baby Schleck came in 39 seconds down on the stage

What is up with his form especially with L-B-L coming soon?

Gesink looked like a blind squirrel on jet skis on that descent. He came close to losing it about three times.

Nice analogy. Though their are a lot of dutch posters on here so you may get your head chopped off!

 

[peloton]

"The RadioShack veteran attacked with 4km to go up the very steep Cat. 1 Arrate climb but was caught on false flats with 1km to go following collaboration between the two Spaniards.

“It was a little Spanish get together. Sánchez didn’t get me. Valverde opened up the gap on him, and then sat up on me on one of the corners."

It was Sanchez that got him. On the climb, before the false flat, where both Valverde and Gesink got him.
I didn't know Gesink was Spanish, that's news to me.

 

[auscyclefan94]

"The RadioShack veteran attacked with 4km to go up the very steep Cat. 1 Arrate climb but was caught on false flats with 1km to go following collaboration between the two Spaniards.

“It was a little Spanish get together. Sánchez didn’t get me. Valverde opened up the gap on him, and then sat up on me on one of the corners."

It was Sanchez that got him. On the climb, before the false flat, where both Valverde and Gesink got him.
I didn't know Gesink was Spanish, that's news to me.

Spanish = corrupt and i think they hate english speaking riders. Mean barstards!