2012 Criterium International, 2.HC, 24th - 25th of March

[Ryo Hazuki]

he doesn't need much racing. same with uran. that's why sky allows them to train a lot in colombia

 

[roundabout]

1.stage: Bouhanni
2.stage: Pinotti
3.stage: Rolland or Geniez
GC: Froome

Rolland is coming back from injury. No reason to expect any great performances.

 

[Gloin22]

Froome won't win. First race of the season for him not counting Algarve wchich he didn't finish. People put to much overestimation on him imo so early. Nordhaug would be more likely bet the way he climbed last month for Sky, and is most likely GC leader in this race.

 

[Gloin22]

Henao as Ryo said wanted to stay on Colombia and train there, will be back for Pais, Ardennes and then Giro.

 

[al_pacino]

Aero Schleck to to defend the race.

 

[Christian]

Notable Starters: Peraud, Gadret, Evans, Pinotti, Taaramae, Kolden, Voigt, F Schleck, Duarte, Fedrigo, Anton, Talansky, Zabriskie, Monfort, Froome and Henao.

Kolden not to start either according to @rsnt website. On a sidenote first pro race for kiwi George Bennett and first race of the season for portuguesy Nelson Oliveira IINM

 

[dlwssonic]

I expect evans to be in better shape.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I think he won't. it's one week since tirreno? little more

 

[dlwssonic]

I think he won't. it's one week since tirreno? little more

His form wasn't that bad in tirenno, got 8th on one of the hard uphill sprints.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

he was very bad in tirreno. evans always has a very high basic level. that was totally gone in tirreno. he clearly lacks training basis. he also said that. that isn't over in 1 or 2 weeks

 

[maltiv]

Froome won't win. First race of the season for him not counting Algarve wchich he didn't finish. People put to much overestimation on him imo so early. Nordhaug would be more likely bet the way he climbed last month for Sky, and is most likely GC leader in this race.

Indeed, but Froome isn't particularly predictable so you never know

It's Nordhaug's big personal goal this season so he should be in shape. Obviously it's not the most important race but in the ardennes etc he will have to support Uran or so. He was 11th overall last year and he has proven already that he has improved a lot since then.

 

[Frosty]

Indeed, but Froome isn't particularly predictable so you never know

It's Nordhaug's big personal goal this season so he should be in shape. Obviously it's not the most important race but in the ardennes etc he will have to support Uran or so. He was 11th overall last year and he has proven already that he has improved a lot since then.

So maybe UK is Plan A and Norway is Plan B again.... Hope it works out better than last saturday!

Peraud went extremey well in the Paris-Nice TT, but his race for GC was ruined by the echelons and he had problems in the wet in the prologue. Should do pretty well here.

 

[canyonball]

This race is perfect for Machado Well, water under the bridge...

If Cadel Evans had good form, GC would be locked in. As it stands I'm not really sure who will take this.

 

[greenedge]

Cadel will win this, the best ITTer, he was pulling on that stage into Chieti, pulled over then got ambushed- which along with the fact he was not at his best contributed to him getting smashed there. I think he will aim to remedy that as he wants to gauge his form against last years. Frank has not done anything so far this year, Taaramae ( not riding )/ Froome suffered from other things.

Monfort to challenge for the podium with Gadret/ Peraud.

 

[Euskaltel!]

Nordhaug I guess, although Peraud could be in it with his TT and mountain capabilities. It's hard to know with Froome, he's had a tough start to the season and although we'd like to see him in top shape, I'm not sure that will happen here.

 

[auscyclefan94]

After reading what Sciandri said, I'd imagine that BMC will ride for Pinotti but Cadel will still be an option because it is possible that his tough week in Tirreno will have got him in better shape.

 

[dlwssonic]

After reading what Sciandri said, I'd imagine that BMC will ride for Pinotti but Cadel will still be an option because it is possible that his tough week in Tirreno will have got him in better shape.

I hope they ride for evans, I dont think pinotti will do well on the climb.

 

[maltiv]

I hope they ride for evans, I dont think pinotti will do well on the climb.

Since the TT is first then they'll easily know who has the best shape when the mountain stage arrives anyway. If Cadel doesn't time trial well he probably won't climb well either (same with Pinotti).

 

[theyoungest]

Does it hurt to have two team leaders? Just see who's dropped first on the climb. Can't see either of them really featuring.

 

[maltiv]

Does it hurt to have two team leaders? Just see who's dropped first on the climb. Can't see either of them really featuring.

True. Not everyone has to go with the Sky tactic (i.e sacrifice everyone for one particular guy even if said guy isn't even the favorite).

 

[Frosty]

Does it hurt to have two team leaders? Just see who's dropped first on the climb. Can't see either of them really featuring.

Yeah thats what i was thinking. Provisional start list has BMC with 7 riders rather than 8 but the riders should be fresh enough to have 2 protected riders and 5 helpers as there is only a short stage the day before. Suppose one problem that can emerge is what happens if one of the riders gets dropped in a split etc but generally it should be a case of get them to the final climb and let what happens decide.

 

[dlwssonic]

I seriously hope BMC can get their first win here. For the TT they have pinotti and evans.

 

[will10]

Hadn't realised they'd switched the TT from the 2nd day to the first, interesting.

 

[gustienordic]

I seriously hope BMC can get their first win here. For the TT they have pinotti and evans.

Evans = awful form.

 

[Gloin22]

Evans = awful form.

No, imo Evans was good in Chieti finishing on 9th and then had the crash on mountain stage. After that it was just training ride to get the miles into the legs. Imo he took the TT easily as well. That's my opinion but I may be mistaken.