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

[jens_attacks]

No way you lose minutes to Valverde on Mende. If Tony loses more than 30 seconds I'd be surprised..

mende is a hard climb.only if they soft-pedal it,tony will be there in a 30-40 seconds difference otherwise hell no.but it's early in the year,tony might make it

 

[El Pistolero]

Read an interesting interview about BMC and Gilbert:

Both Gilbert and Hushovd had to promise before they signed a contract to help Evans in the Tour.

Lelangue wants to make Gilbert a more complete rider and is not interested in winning the same races 5 times in a row, except Liège-Bastogne-Liège maybe. He says Gilbert has a lot of potential in stage races.

Lelangue forced Gilbert to ride the Dauphiné this year to better prepare for the Tour.

Apparantly Hushovd will still do the Tour.

Gilbert wants to ride both the road race and the time trial at the Olympics.

Gilbert and Van Avermaet have talked their problems out, they have no more problems with each other anymore. He'll work for Gilbert in some races and get his own chances in other races.

Evans will work for Gilbert in April, he'll also start in the Amstel Gold Race. No discussion about this according to Evans, he'll work for Phil in the Ardennes.

Hushovd will work for Gilbert at the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Lelangue will use the one leader, 2 luitenants(guys like GVA) and 5 helpers system in his races.

 

[Parrulo]

well if that is all true than lelangue did a pretty good job organizing the 3 big boys of his team for the entire season from the start, should avoid troubles during the season.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Lelangue will use the one leader, 2 luitenants(guys like GVA) and 5 helpers system in his races.

This is not a good strategy for Milan - San Remo, IMO. Especially if this year's route has an additional "climb."

Who will be the sole leader in that race?

 

[El Pistolero]

This is not a good strategy for Milan - San Remo, IMO. Especially if this year's route has an additional "climb."

Who will be the sole leader in that race?

Hushovd said that's the only race where they'll both be leader. It will depend on who's the strongest of the day he said.

 

[jens_attacks]

now i'm worried that phil won't peak for san remo and vlaanderen just the ardennes again.which will be extremely lame and i won't like it

 

[maltiv]

This is not a good strategy for Milan - San Remo, IMO. Especially if this year's route has an additional "climb."

Who will be the sole leader in that race?

M-SR is fairly uncomplicated in my opinion. Hushovd does nothing, Gilbert and GVA attack. If that doesn't work out then Hushovd will do the sprint with their assistance.

 

[El Pistolero]

now i'm worried that phil won't peak for san remo and vlaanderen just the ardennes again.which will be extremely lame and i won't like it

He has always said he'll peak for the Ardennes again. He never let out otherwise.

But don't worry, he could already have won the Ronde last year if he would have just waited for Ballan(team-mate now) after the Bosberg and he also lost some energy because he had a flat tire right after Hushovd(again team-mate!) attacked the peloton which led to a counter-attack by Boonen and Cancellara.

Peaking for San Remo would be the most stupid thing to do for someone like Phil.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Bauke Mollema
Challenge Mallorca
Ruta del Sol (Vuelta Andalucia)
Paris Nice
Vuelta a Pais Vasco
Amstel Gold
Fleche Wallone
Liege Bastogne Liege
Tour de Romandie
Tour de Suisse
Dutch National champs.
Tour de France

Steven Kruijswijk
Challenge Mallorca
Ruta del Sol
Tirreno Adriatico
Vuelta a Pais Vasco
Amstel Gold
Fleche Wallone
Liege Bastogne Liege

(rest not known yet, but I assume either Dauphine/Suisse and then Dutch Ch and Tour)

 

[theyoungest]

(rest not known yet, but I assume either Dauphine/Suisse and then Dutch Ch and Tour)

I think all three (Gesink, Kruijswijk, Mollema) will go on altitude training together and then to the Tour de Suisse.

 

[El Pistolero]

Still surprised there are cyclists who rather do Suisse than the Dauphiné. Especially because the Dauphiné usually has similiar routes as the Tour. Like last year's time trial. Andy Schleck didn't even check the time trial out last year(except on the morning of the Tour time trial)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Like last year's time trial. Andy Schleck didn't even check the time trial out last year(except on the morning of the Tour time trial)

Don't be surprised. It's Andy Schleck.

 

[theyoungest]

Still surprised there are cyclists who rather do Suisse than the Dauphiné. Especially because the Dauphiné usually has similiar routes as the Tour. Like last year's time trial. Andy Schleck didn't even check the time trial out last year(except on the morning of the Tour time trial)

It's not so much the race in itself, as the fact that it's closer to the Tour. Works better for some. You can't go back on training camp after Suisse (or it's a very short one).

 

[Havetts]

Don't be surprised. It's Andy Schleck.

Opportunity to bash Andy, better not leave it.

 

[theyoungest]

Opportunity to bash Andy, better not leave it.

Surprisingly, I don't think there are any Andy Schleck fangirls on this forum? There's a lot of them, so what are the odds.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Opportunity to bash Andy, better not leave it.

Of course. I must grab every opportunity with both hands.

I love Andy-bashing almost just as much as Alberto-fangirling.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Surprisingly, I don't think there are any Andy Schleck fangirls on this forum? There's a lot of them, so what are the odds.

There is one, but I haven't seen her in a while. Logically, it's no longer July, so no Andy.

 

[will10]

Still surprised there are cyclists who rather do Suisse than the Dauphiné. Especially because the Dauphiné usually has similiar routes as the Tour. Like last year's time trial. Andy Schleck didn't even check the time trial out last year(except on the morning of the Tour time trial)

Depends what racing they've done before. Plus Suisse finishes a week closer to the Tour, suits some more than others I suppose. Don't think there's much in it between doing one or the other really.

 

[hoerpi]

According to a Swedish interview the schedule for Tomas Löfkvist will be

Challenge Mallorca
Volta ao Algarve
Tirreno-Adriatico
Milan-San remo (maybe!)
Tour of the Basque Country
Amstel Gold Race
Flèche Wallone
LBL
Something in may (yes, that is what it says...)
Tour de Suisse
and then Tour de France if he has the form.


I read it as no Giro at least. He also says that it's nice to be back with Cav.

 

[El Pistolero]

It's not so much the race in itself, as the fact that it's closer to the Tour. Works better for some. You can't go back on training camp after Suisse (or it's a very short one).

Yes, that as well of course, but the fact that the time trial was the same last year was very important as well.

 

[maltiv]

According to a Swedish interview the schedule for Tomas Löfkvist will be

Challenge Mallorca
Volta ao Algarve
Tirreno-Adriatico
Milan-San remo (maybe!)
Tour of the Basque Country
Amstel Gold Race
Flèche Wallone
LBL
Something in may (yes, that is what it says...)
Tour de Suisse
and then Tour de France if he has the form.


I read it as no Giro at least. He also says that it's nice to be back with Cav.

Surely that would be Tour of Norway.

 

[JRanton]

According to a Swedish interview the schedule for Tomas Löfkvist will be

Challenge Mallorca
Volta ao Algarve
Tirreno-Adriatico
Milan-San remo (maybe!)
Tour of the Basque Country
Amstel Gold Race
Flèche Wallone
LBL
Something in may (yes, that is what it says...)
Tour de Suisse
and then Tour de France if he has the form.


I read it as no Giro at least. He also says that it's nice to be back with Cav.

Yeah, he'll probably go to Norway like Maltiv said.

Talking of the Giro and Sky, Eisel has said he will be doing it with Cav.

So that's Cav, Eisel, Thomas, Henao, Siutsou, Dowsett, Swift and Appollonio all pretty much confirmed for the Giro.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kennaugh is the 9th rider because he's on the same programme as Swift and Thomas for the Olympics. Maybe someone like Zandio, Pate, Barry or Knees would be included to add a bit more experience because otherwise that's a pretty young squad.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Still surprised there are cyclists who rather do Suisse than the Dauphiné. Especially because the Dauphiné usually has similiar routes as the Tour. Like last year's time trial. Andy Schleck didn't even check the time trial out last year(except on the morning of the Tour time trial)

I'd prefer them to do Dauphiné also, but as youngest mentioned I guess it comes down to what works for who.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Still surprised there are cyclists who rather do Suisse than the Dauphiné. Especially because the Dauphiné usually has similiar routes as the Tour. Like last year's time trial. Andy Schleck didn't even check the time trial out last year(except on the morning of the Tour time trial)

I don't think Schleck even rode the whole course as it was raining at some points so he jumped in the car.

 

[hatcher]

Yeah, he'll probably go to Norway like Maltiv said.

Talking of the Giro and Sky, Eisel has said he will be doing it with Cav.

So that's Cav, Eisel, Thomas, Henao, Siutsou, Dowsett, Swift and Appollonio all pretty much confirmed for the Giro.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kennaugh is the 9th rider because he's on the same programme as Swift and Thomas for the Olympics. Maybe someone like Zandio, Pate, Barry or Knees would be included to add a bit more experience because otherwise that's a pretty young squad.

Definitely expecting Kennaugh to ride it alongside the other Olympians.