2011 Tour de Suisse Stage 2: Airolo - Crans-Montana, 148 km

[Publicus]

nibali and scarponi didn't climb better, if you atke rujano's time and take off the 5 minutes he lost in the sterrato stage and 2 mintues he lost on friday both because he was behind a crash and without a team he would've finished 2nd, no thanks to his itt. so in the mountains he was 2nd bets but when totally fit for 3 weeks with whole team around him like with contador I can see rujano beating contador in mountains. they are same age as well.

Nibbles and Scarponi were more consistent than Rujano in the climbs. Rujano lost five minutes on a stage in the race. You can't pretend that he didn't. And he lost 2 minutes because he wasn't being attentive and staying at the front end of the group. Crashes happen. So he finished EXACTLY where his talents indicated he should finish. He has never shown the discipline, focus and self-motivation to win a GT and at this stage of his career I don't think he will magically start. Surrounding him with a team won't mean a thing without those three things.

But I do like his attacking style.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

He just bothered me since the first day I saw him. I'm not a hater, not my style. Guilty of disliking him though

Don't be sad Veedeebee, we can't always agree.

Dat is waar

But I like him, if he's able to stay on his bike he's a very attacking climber, I like attacking riders

 

[hrotha]

Soler's climbing was never the problem. Just all his crashes that messed up his preparation. He's even unluckier than Tom Boonen when it comes to the Tour de Frane. Though I still see these 2 mess up before the Tour starts.

Soler climbed with Contador for example at Castilla y Leon in 2010. It wasn't a surprise for me to see him do well here as long as he didn't crash.

You guys keep bringing up the Morredero because there's literally no other example of Soler climbing like this in recent memory.

 

[Moondance]

i always believed in Juan Mauricio Soler.

i really hope he brings those legs to TdF.

They'll serve him well as he's running up the mountain, cheering on his teammates, right besides Didi Senft

 

[Escarabajo]

He just bothered me since the first day I saw him. I'm not a hater, not my style. Guilty of disliking him though

Don't be sad Veedeebee, we can't always agree.

What did this noble Colombian rider did to you to deserve this?

As long as he stays upright he is one of the best climbers out there. Let's hope that he keeps himself upright to at least have one more attacking climber for the Tour.

 

[boomcie]

What did this noble Colombian rider did to you to deserve this?

As long as he stays upright he is one of the best climbers out there. Let's hope that he keeps himself upright to at least have one more attacking climber for the Tour.

Please read the whole topic. It's mostly Loser's face.

 

[El Pistolero]

You guys keep bringing up the Morredero because there's literally no other example of Soler climbing like this in recent memory.

Because all other times he crashed which messed up his prep.

Some are acting like it's a surprise he has climbing legs again since 2007. But his climbing never disappeared as we could see in 2010.

The fact that there are no other examples just proves how unlucky he is. And a bad bike handler.

 

[Escarabajo]

because all other times he crashed which messed up his prep.

Some are acting like it's a surprise he has climbing legs again since 2007. But his climbing never disappeared as we could see in 2010.

The fact that there are no other examples just proves how unlucky he is. And a bad bike handler.

+1111111.................

I try not to get excited about him anymore, because you never know when he is going down.

 

[Escarabajo]

Please read the whole topic. It's mostly Loser's face.

That's why I asked.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

You guys keep bringing up the Morredero because there's literally no other example of Soler climbing like this in recent memory.

Lagunas de Neila 2009. He attacked at the base with Mosquera and they opened up a gap together, but Soler was behind Mosquera on GC and had to attack him. Which he did, several times, but this caused him to blow up in the final k and he was left by Mosquera, and caught by Tondó and Valverde.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I am truly impressed with Andy Schleck. He fought to the end like a dog and got his eventual reward - he managed to drop and put 5 whole seconds into José Joaquín Rojas. Fantastic!

(But seriously, Rojas' 18th place is a hell of a showing for a sprinter. Came in ahead of Danielson, Gerdemann, Albasini, Madrazo, Efimkin, Hesjedal and Velits. The rest of the sprinters came in in the laughing bunch, 16 minutes behind him)

(Oof, Klöden +10'46")

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I am truly impressed with Andy Schleck. He fought to the end like a dog and got his eventual reward - he managed to drop and put 5 whole seconds into José Joaquín Rojas. Fantastic!

(But seriously, Rojas' 18th place is a hell of a showing for a sprinter. Came in ahead of Danielson, Gerdemann, Albasini, Madrazo, Efimkin, Hesjedal and Velits. The rest of the sprinters came in in the laughing bunch, 16 minutes behind him)

(Oof, Klöden +10'46")

I thought this was a stage suited to his capabilities

 

[lancaster]

team type 1 sanafi aventis going all out for the team prize!
no one within 5 mins and 2nd and 3rd at~12mins

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I thought this was a stage suited to his capabilities

So did I. I thought, hey, it's his home Tour, gradual climb with a short finish uphill, the kind of thing he usually does pretty well at (I think Albasini is quite an underrated cyclist actually, rarely ever gets touted as a candidate for a victory but has managed quite a few in his time), but then he goes and gets outclimbed by a sprinter (though as I said before, we know Rojas is a very good climber amongst sprinters but it was still a great showing to finish top 20 today).

 

[El Pistolero]

So did I. I thought, hey, it's his home Tour, gradual climb with a short finish uphill, the kind of thing he usually does pretty well at (I think Albasini is quite an underrated cyclist actually, rarely ever gets touted as a candidate for a victory but has managed quite a few in his time), but then he goes and gets outclimbed by a sprinter (though as I said before, we know Rojas is a very good climber amongst sprinters but it was still a great showing to finish top 20 today).

He doesn't get a lot of victories. Although since with HTC he picks up one or 2 each season.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He doesn't get a lot of victories. Although since with HTC he picks up one or 2 each season.

But that he can win MTFs and stages of races like País Vasco, and the GCs of races like the Tour of Austria, show that he isn't to be underestimated, or at least should get mentioned as a threat a bit more often than he is.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Seriously dude, you had never heard of Soler? His name is more synonymous with crashing than Fränk Schleck's. Also famous for his polka dot jersey.

Wait, what? You can't talk about crashing without mentioning Euskaltel. I love those guys though.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Wait, what? You can't talk about crashing without mentioning Euskaltel. I love those guys though.

nor can you talk about crashing without mentioning Soler/F Schleck

Or Tom Boonen for that matter ..

 

[El Pistolero]

But that he can win MTFs and stages of races like País Vasco, and the GCs of races like the Tour of Austria, show that he isn't to be underestimated, or at least should get mentioned as a threat a bit more often than he is.

Sporza guys were surprised he cracked, so they didn't underestimate him

I don't find him a bad cyclist at all though. Just doesn't win overly that much, but usually makes it to the final on stages like that in stage races.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Sporza guys were surprised he cracked, so they didn't underestimate him

I don't find him a bad cyclist at all though. Just doesn't win overly that much, but usually makes it to the final on stages like that in stage races.

Yea, he's mostly a decent placements guy, like a lot of BMC's riders. It's just that sometimes Albasini does actually win.

 

[ManInFull]

I am truly impressed with Andy Schleck. He fought to the end like a dog and got his eventual reward - he managed to drop and put 5 whole seconds into José Joaquín Rojas. Fantastic!

(But seriously, Rojas' 18th place is a hell of a showing for a sprinter. Came in ahead of Danielson, Gerdemann, Albasini, Madrazo, Efimkin, Hesjedal and Velits. The rest of the sprinters came in in the laughing bunch, 16 minutes behind him)

(Oof, Klöden +10'46")

Seriously, what's up with Baby Schleck? Or is it him just getting some miles on his legs? I really don't like it when he and Frank are in the same race. It's as if they pre-determine who is going to be the aggressor. Why does Frank have to ride for Andy next month? It would be more interesting if they were on different teams.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Seriously, what's up with Baby Schleck? Or is it him just getting some miles on his legs? I really don't like it when he and Frank are in the same race. It's as if they pre-determine who is going to be the aggressor. Why does Frank have to ride for Andy next month? It would be more interesting if they were on different teams.

1 - nothing's up with him. It's just not Ardennes week or July, so he just doesn't give a damn.
2 - yes, pretty much
3 - Easy enough to guess: Andy if it's Ardennes week or July, Fränk at all other times.
4 - Because Andy is more talented than Fränk even if Fränk works harder - just like the Fourcades or the Olaizolas.
5 - Yes, it would be, but it is never going to happen because their love is stronger than Fabian Cancellara going out for a spin with Magnus Ver Magnusson.

 

[roundabout]

But that he can win MTFs and stages of races like País Vasco, and the GCs of races like the Tour of Austria, show that he isn't to be underestimated, or at least should get mentioned as a threat a bit more often than he is.

To be fair he was in the break on the day to Kitzbüheler Horn and held on (outsprinted Caruso who caught him IIRC) to the end.

Also YMMV but it wasn't the highest caliber of opposition

http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=13753

As for the stage today he seemed a bit off the pace in the prologue (nearly caught by Cancellara) so it's not really surprising that he didn't do well today.

I also think that it's not very often that a rider like Albasini who is not a climber can stay with the best on 12km 8% climb.

In short, the form is off and the stage would have probably been too tough for him anyway.

 

[DenisMenchov]

1 - nothing's up with him. It's just not Ardennes week or July, so he just doesn't give a damn.
2 - yes, pretty much
3 - Easy enough to guess: Andy if it's Ardennes week or July, Fränk at all other times.
4 - Because Andy is more talented than Fränk even if Fränk works harder - just like the Fourcades or the Olaizolas.
5 - Yes, it would be, but it is never going to happen because their love is stronger than Fabian Cancellara going out for a spin with Magnus Ver Magnusson.

You follow biathlon???

 

[craig1985]

Good on Soler, about time he did something in a big race.