2012 Speculation (and confirmation) thread - rider schedules and parcours

[Libertine Seguros]

I guess there aren't any pictures of Basso playing with dolphins?

Basso with the Dolphin:

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Having both Basso and Szmyd in support does help Nibali a lot of course. I wonder what Capecchi will aim for: Giro in support of Basso and then Vuelta for his own success? I'd like to see him try a GT for himself for a change.

except szymd is not nearly as useful for nibbles, as say basso. Lol at the giro this year when szymd did hit the front he soft peddaled and the front groups pulled away further. Nibbles used him to slow the group of main contendors rather then aniliate the field. Basso in the past utilized him much better. That being said, still a very useful team mate.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

except szymd is not nearly as useful for nibbles, as say basso. Lol at the giro this year when szymd did hit the front he soft peddaled and the front groups pulled away further. Nibbles used him to slow the group of main contendors rather then aniliate the field. Basso in the past utilized him much better. That being said, still a very useful team mate.

It's still useful however. If Nibali couldn't go any faster, then Szmyd's reputation means that he can ride as fast as Nibali can and other riders will be happy enough to follow at Szmyd's pace and not be dropped until he lets go - and if Szmyd's riding within himself he can ride up there longer, and mean that when the attacks do come they come later and less time can be put into Nibali.

 

[The Hitch]

except szymd is not nearly as useful for nibbles, as say basso. Lol at the giro this year when szymd did hit the front he soft peddaled and the front groups pulled away further. Nibbles used him to slow the group of main contendors rather then aniliate the field. Basso in the past utilized him much better. That being said, still a very useful team mate.

Szmyd was sick for the Giro and was only used on stage 20 where Nibali sucked.

See Kreuziger 2010 Vuelta for how Nibali can use great climbers for help. Or how both he and Basso used Szmyd in Giro 10. But yes Szmyd does suit Basso more and at the tour just serves to bring back attacks really as hes not going to tire Contador or Schleck.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

like I said he is useful, but nibbles has rarely used his domestiques to destroy a field, but rather control the tempo for his liking. Kreuziger domestique in that vuelta has always been overrated, again he made little difference to the guys in front. Just because a rider is at the front of a pack does not mean he is drilling it.

 

[The Hitch]

like I said he is useful, but nibbles has rarely used his domestiques to destroy a field, but rather control the tempo for his liking. Kreuziger domestique in that vuelta has always been overrated, again he made little difference to the guys in front. Just because a rider is at the front of a pack does not mean he is drilling it.

He kept Mosquera at 10 seconds on that stage Barredo won where it was pouring down, so pace can't have been too slack.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Maybe one overrates Mosquera.
I mean he is good, but nothing special. 2010 had an extradionary weak line up.
Like I said, he barely took anytime of the front groups. Just another good, but nothing impressive domestique performance.

 

[Netserk]

Riis have announced that Contador won't ride any classics next year

 

[roundabout]

Look on the brighter side. Maybe he'll actually race after the Tour for the first time in years.

 

[Cimber]

Riis have announced that Contador won't ride any classics next year

Ye I was also hoping he would do the ardenne classics ): will prolly be some spanish 1 week races and then finishing with TA before taking a break before the Tour preps start.

 

[Cimber]

yes I take that bet no matter if rider crashes or is sick.

Your Schlecklet avatar "expires" at the end of the year, ye? Really cant stand it any more

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Maybe one overrates Mosquera.
I mean he is good, but nothing special.

He climbed at Gesink's level at the '08 and '09 Vuelta. So yeah.

 

[auscyclefan94]

He climbed at Gesink's level at the '08 and '09 Vuelta. So yeah.

That's because gesink is good but nothing special.

 

[theyoungest]

He climbed at Gesink's level at the '08 and '09 Vuelta. So yeah.

Wow, he climbed at the level of someone in his first GT... impressive stuff.

 

[Havetts]

He climbed at Gesink's level at the '08 Vuelta. So yeah.

Fixed that for you..

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Your Schlecklet avatar "expires" at the end of the year, ye? Really cant stand it any more

I intend to keep it

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

That's because gesink is good but nothing special.

Uh yeah.... that's what I meant.

Fixed that for you..

2009 as well. Mosquera was only slightly better overall.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Wow, he climbed at the level of someone in his first GT... impressive stuff.

For sure.

Schleck was mighty impressive in his first GT also. Has hardly improved since then. Same is true for Gesink... hasn't improved much as a climber.

 

[theyoungest]

For sure.

Schleck was mighty impressive in his first GT also. Has hardly improved since then. Same is true for Gesink... hasn't improved much as a climber.

Look, I know you're not a fan, but if you don't see the difference between Gesink's climbing in the 2008 Vuelta and the 2009 edition, you're blind.

2009 as well. Mosquera was only slightly better overall.

You mean based on two mountain stages, disregarding the stages where Gesink actually gained time on him?

 

[roundabout]

Who was it that crashed before the first set of mountains in 09? Mosquera or Sanchez?

 

[will10]

Look on the brighter side. Maybe he'll actually race after the Tour for the first time in years.

Yes, he's riding the Olympic TT and the Vuelta.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Look, I know you're not a fan, but if you don't see the difference between Gesink's climbing in the 2008 Vuelta and the 2009 edition, you're blind.

Gesink has never climbed better than at the 2009 Vuelta. No disagreement there. But Mosquera was still slightly better than him. And I think we can agree that Mosquera is no top climber, right? A 2011 Cobo would have dropped him for sure on any of those climbs.

You mean based on two mountain stages, disregarding the stages where Gesink actually gained time on him?

Like I said, overall, so not disregarding any mountain stages before Gesink crashed. Mosquera gained more time on Gesink than vice versa.

They were about at the same level climbing wise, like I said. As was Valverde.

 

[roundabout]

Gesink was 5 seconds faster by my count if we include Xorret de Cati so I would say they were even.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Gesink was 5 seconds faster by my count if we include Xorret de Cati so I would say they were even.

Still 2 seconds slower by my count, if we include that one, but that's not a proper climb, IMO, so I didn't take that one into consideration.

 

[theyoungest]

Still 2 seconds slower by my count, if we include that one, but that's not a proper climb, IMO, so I didn't take that one into consideration.

Say what? Taaramae will tell you it's the most proper climb he's ever seen

It's not suited to either Gesink or Mosquera, but we can say that Gesink handled that much better.

Anyway, I don't agree with you about Schleck either (he's definitely improved a lot since that first Giro, yes he's plateaued now, but that's 4 years along the line).