2011 Volta a Catalunya

[icefire]

OMG, he's back on the bang-bang thing

 

[jaylew]

Contador attacked who countered Leipheimer

I think we're all missing something here.
Leipheimer attacked......in Europe!

Edit: After watching the video, maybe not.

 

[Descender]

 

[Cobblestoned]

Thank you

Now world is in order again.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

leopard is going to be the laughing stock/sky of 2011

 

[Parrulo]

doesn't contador look "bigger" as in more muscle? or is just the pic, or he has always been like this but i have never noticed before

 

[Parrulo]

doesn't contador look "bigger" as in more muscle? or is just the pic, or he has always been like this but i have never noticed before

p.s. this pic was posted on a portuguese newspaper but i think its not from this race so nvm

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Delayed transmission is on now. Just started.

http://www.esport3.cat/directes/especials/#cf

 

[kurtinsc]

I see Mini Phini didn't finish. Still recovering from injuries or just lazy?

I know he's never going to be a climber, but you have to finish a race sometime.

The knee again. Pain in the quad tendon. He still thinks he can be ready for Roubaix, but I think that's foolish. He should be building for the US ITT championship (May 28th this year), rather then trying to force things with the knee to make a race where he's likely too young to do anything anyway.

 

[hfer07]

Delayed transmission is on now. Just started.

http://www.esport3.cat/directes/especials/#cf

thanks a lot.

I was surprised to see Leech-airme getting on AC's wheel when he attacked-he looked sharp---I still think Scarponi looked good-even if some folks here keep saying the contrary-I see him causing troubles to AC in the Giro, no matter how many Kms are on his legs.

 

[BroDeal]

thanks a lot.

I was surprised to see Leech-airme getting on AC's wheel when he attached-he looked sharp---I still think Scarponi looked good-even if some folks here keep saying the contrary-I see him causing troubles to AC in the Giro, no matter how many Kms are on his legs.

Scarponi will win the Giro.

 

[jens_attacks]

hehe alberto destroying everybody.i really want to try the giro-tour double.he's so fuccin mad that i will expect to do it succesfully.
pretty disappointed by basso,di luca on the other hand i'm not worried he will storm the ardennes then we'll have some fun in giro(read stage wins)
and once again,good work radioshack.

 

[Publicus]

thanks a lot.

I was surprised to see Leech-airme getting on AC's wheel when he attacked-he looked sharp---I still think Scarponi looked good-even if some folks here keep saying the contrary-I see him causing troubles to AC in the Giro, no matter how many Kms are on his legs.

I only mentioned it because implicit in your comment was that AC is pretty much at his best right now and that Scarponi will get better between now and May. I don't know what you base that on, so that's why I mentioned the race miles in their respective legs. Scarponi has more of them and should be further along in his training, which in my rather logical mind suggests if he's getting dropped by AC in March, all things being equal, I don't see him closing the gap between now and May.

 

[hfer07]

I only mentioned it because implicit in your comment was that AC is pretty much at his best right now and that Scarponi will get better between now and May. I don't know what you base that on, so that's why I mentioned the race miles in their respective legs. Scarponi has more of them and should be further along in his training, which in my rather logical mind suggests if he's getting dropped by AC in March, all things being equal, I don't see him closing the gap between now and May.

I'm not stating Scarponi equals AC in abilities-AC is above him no matter what-but what I've noticed in Scarponi is a great progress since his move to Lampre-perhaps is only that he's racing more often and have performed well. As far as AC? everybody knows he had 6 months off racing & got back recently-that's impressive indeed-but even AC himself has noticed what the Italian is doing lately and he knows that him(Scarponi) racing at home is going to be a serious challenge--even if AC is a 100% in form.

 

[Publicus]

I'm not stating Scarponi equals AC in abilities-AC is above him no matter what-but what I've noticed in Scarponi is a great progress since his move to Lampre-perhaps is only that he's racing more often and have performed well. As far as AC? everybody knows he had 6 months off racing & got back recently-that's impressive indeed-but even AC himself has noticed what the Italian is doing lately and he knows that him(Scarponi) racing at home is going to be a serious challenge--even if AC is a 100% in form.

thanks for expanding on your views, it helps clarify things a bit. I definitely think Scarponi will be one to watch.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I'm not stating Scarponi equals AC in abilities-AC is above him no matter what-but what I've noticed in Scarponi is a great progress since his move to Lampre-perhaps is only that he's racing more often and have performed well. As far as AC? everybody knows he had 6 months off racing & got back recently-that's impressive indeed-but even AC himself has noticed what the Italian is doing lately and he knows that him(Scarponi) racing at home is going to be a serious challenge--even if AC is a 100% in form.

scarponi is just in way too good shape too earky, just like in 2009 androni year. nothing todo with him improving at lampre. he can barely hold himself back and savio finally managed to do it last year and he did great giro for gc.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Prior to this race:

Scarponi: 13 days, 2,203KM plus 26.1KM TT (including TTT)

Contador: 8 days, 1,065.4KM plus 29.6KM TT

So, I'm going to go ahead and give my original comment a +1

You can't compare the two riders form purely based on race programs. Tirreno Adriatico is more shorter climbs. Mrucia and Algarve have more longer climbs. Depends on what training the riders have done and what their targets toady.

Given that AC is not even close to top form and Scarponi has a fair number of race kilometers in his legs (relatively speaking), I would have to disagree.

I actually disagree. I personally think that AC has quite strong form at the moment. Just my opinion from my observations.

 

[theyoungest]

scarponi is just in way too good shape too earky, just like in 2009 androni year. nothing todo with him improving at lampre. he can barely hold himself back and savio finally managed to do it last year and he did great giro for gc.

Scarponi wasn't much worse at this point last year. He was well on his way to winning the Tirreno.

 

[Publicus]

You can't compare the two riders form purely based on race programs. Tirreno Adriatico is more shorter climbs. Mrucia and Algarve have more longer climbs. Depends on what training the riders have done and what their targets toady.


I actually disagree. I personally think that AC has quite strong form at the moment. Just my opinion from my observations.

Nothing personal, but given your signature block and your fairly public bashing of him and all Spanish riders, it is fairly safe to say you don't view AC through a very objective prism. That being said, I wasn't comparing anything beyond basic race miles. There is only so much that can be gained in training--from what I can gather no one trains at race speeds.

In any event, hfer07 and I are actually on the same page. I think Scarponi will be a force to be reckoned with at the Giro. I just think AC is going to be better than he is now when that happens.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Scarponi wasn't much worse at this point last year. He was well on his way to winning the Tirreno.

against garzelli yes, this years tirreno was much harder and look at how he races now in catalunya and milano sanremo, he is racing way too much imo. I hear he will also do pais vasco?? last year he didn't do catalunya or pais vasco, just trentino, tirreno and one day races in italy I believe.

I hope to be wrong of course

 

[theyoungest]

against garzelli yes, this years tirreno was much harder and look at how he races now in catalunya and milano sanremo, he is racing way too much imo. I hear he will also do pais vasco?? last year he didn't do catalunya or pais vasco, just trentino, tirreno and one day races in italy I believe.

I hope to be wrong of course

And against Evans.

 

[Cobblestoned]

thanks a lot.

I was surprised to see Leech-airme getting on AC's wheel when he attacked-he looked sharp---I still think Scarponi looked good-even if some folks here keep saying the contrary-I see him causing troubles to AC in the Giro, no matter how many Kms are on his legs.

Alberto will out-TT him in Milan at latest.
Scarponi is very good, but Contador is better.
Who can drop him in mountains ? I don't see anyone out there. Not even Basso.
I was hoping for Ricco, but it is better that he is still alive and that he grows up first, before he returns in some years.
Of course Scarponi will cause some pain, but no trouble.
Michele has to start attacking and try gaining time from stage2 on, because Team Lampre will lose 30 sec (on a good day) in TTT.

 

[Delicato]

Alberto will out-TT him in Milan at latest.
Scarponi is very good, but Contador is better.
Who can drop him in mountains ? I don't see anyone out there. Not even Basso.
I was hoping for Ricco, but it is better that he is still alive and that he grows up first, before he returns in some years.
Of course Scarponi will cause some pain, but no trouble.
Michele has to start attacking and try gaining time from stage2 on, because Team Lampre will lose 30 sec (on a good day) in TTT.

I am a bit sceptic, but still-sometimes it's nearly impossible to drop Menchov when he is in top form. And his Geox squad should be better than Saxo(though if Riis brings both Sorensens and AC's Spanish domestiques the teams can be nearly equal). Their TTT is a disaster, though.

 

[theyoungest]

Alberto will out-TT him in Milan at latest.
Scarponi is very good, but Contador is better.
Who can drop him in mountains ? I don't see anyone out there. Not even Basso.
I was hoping for Ricco, but it is better that he is still alive and that he grows up first, before he returns in some years.
Of course Scarponi will cause some pain, but no trouble.
Michele has to start attacking and try gaining time from stage2 on, because Team Lampre will lose 30 sec (on a good day) in TTT.

Basso hasn't raced against Contador in a GT yet, that's why some people still think he could keep up with him. But of course he can't.

 

[Ryaguas]

Looking forward to picture of finishing move.

Ye... Teh pistol is back... that shows that Alberto is relaxed and confident... not like what happened in Murcia where He had a lot of pressure...

Given that AC is not even close to top form and Scarponi has a fair number of race kilometers in his legs (relatively speaking), I would have to disagree.

is always nice to have you back and supporting Alberto... that makes me realize that Hitch and Me are not alone... haha...

You can't compare the two riders form purely based on race programs. Tirreno Adriatico is more shorter climbs. Mrucia and Algarve have more longer climbs. Depends on what training the riders have done and what their targets toady.

Murcia and Algarve didnt have long climbs... they were pretty short actually...
Malhao = 2.8 km
Collado Bermejo = 5km tho...
Well... I think that is everybody target to stay with Alberto in the mountains... cuz if You can't that is already a psychological blow...

I actually disagree. I personally think that AC has quite strong form at the moment. Just my opinion from my observations.

I dare to say that He's at 70% or maybe 75%... He needs more Kms... but that is just enough to beat the other leaders... when He is in a "strong quite form" He puts like 40 or 50secs in a climb like that... and when He is on TOP He just make a Verbier...