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

[Damiano]

Is it possible that the route will be like in 2008 when Cancellara won?

 

[Christian]

Does anyone know what Cunego's GT of choice is next year? He looked great in this year's TdF, hope he can repeat that

 

[roundabout]

Tour again.

 

[Parrulo]

Tour again.

actually he will ride the giro, at least that's what i read in an article somewhere

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

actually he will ride the giro, at least that's what i read in an article somewhere

Plans have changed. He'll ride the Tour and skip the Giro...

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10599/Damiano-Cunego-looking-for-more-of-the-same-in-2012.aspx

 

[Parrulo]

Plans have changed. He'll ride the Tour and skip the Giro...

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10599/Damiano-Cunego-looking-for-more-of-the-same-in-2012.aspx

what the hell is he thinking? he only got seventh this year because every1 and their mother crashed out of the race and he lost a ton of time in the ITT, next year with more time trial and less mountains and more competition he won't even top 10 . . .

he should just focus on the giro, vuelta, the worlds and the italian one day races trying to win another GdL. . .

btw this post comes from one of the biggest il principe fanboys around so . . .

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

what the hell is he thinking? he only got seventh this year because every1 and their mother crashed out of the race and he lost a ton of time in the ITT, next year with more time trial and less mountains and more competition he won't even top 10 . . .

he should just focus on the giro, vuelta, the worlds and the italian one day races trying to win another GdL. . .

btw this post comes from one of the biggest il principe fanboys around so . . .

I think Lampre decided otherwise, not Cunego. Scarponi is their top dog now and has a better chance to win the Giro, so it's only a logical choice.

Cunego could still top 10 if a bunch of GC contenders crash out. The Tour is getting more dangerous by the year, so who knows.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

what the hell is he thinking? he only got seventh this year because every1 and their mother crashed out of the race and he lost a ton of time in the ITT, next year with more time trial and less mountains and more competition he won't even top 10 . . .

he should just focus on the giro, vuelta, the worlds and the italian one day races trying to win another GdL. . .

btw this post comes from one of the biggest il principe fanboys around so . . .

cunego has no free say in this of course. scarponi is their man and giro is most important race so no cunego. seems logical to me

 

[Christian]

Matti Breschel to focus on Amstel Gold and LBL instead of Flandres and Roubaix:

http://www.cyclismactu.fr/news-2012-matti-breschel-a-de-nouvelles-courses-en-tete-21123.html

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Matti Breschel to focus on Amstel Gold and LBL instead of Flandres and Roubaix:

http://www.cyclismactu.fr/news-2012-matti-breschel-a-de-nouvelles-courses-en-tete-21123.html

What the.. That's very weird. Even though I think he can do well in those races, surely Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix fit him better?

 

[Eric8-A]

Matti Breschel to focus on Amstel Gold and LBL instead of Flandres and Roubaix:

http://www.cyclismactu.fr/news-2012-matti-breschel-a-de-nouvelles-courses-en-tete-21123.html

He's probably doing those to avoid the possible dangers of the cobbles.

 

[theyoungest]

Matti Breschel to focus on Amstel Gold and LBL instead of Flandres and Roubaix:

http://www.cyclismactu.fr/news-2012-matti-breschel-a-de-nouvelles-courses-en-tete-21123.html

The Danish source only says he's skipping Paris-Roubaix. Which makes more sense, also from a team perspective. Without Breschel, they're left with no one for Flanders.

 

[Lupetto]

The time trial finishes above the city of Alès. Last km of this tt should be around 10-12%.

 

[Gloin22]

hi seda, yes im doing the tour down under, sardinia, paris nice to start.

To that's the start for Geraint Thomas. He isn't sure he will do Classics yet.

 

[El Pistolero]

Matti Breschel to focus on Amstel Gold and LBL instead of Flandres and Roubaix:

http://www.cyclismactu.fr/news-2012-matti-breschel-a-de-nouvelles-courses-en-tete-21123.html

Lol, classic example of bad rabo influence on cyclists. Oscar Freire is still trying to win AGR lol

Though it makes sense for him to do AGR with the Worlds next year on the same roads. But skipping Flanders and Roubaix is stupid.

 

[Christian]

Paris-Nice: Final Mountain ITT on Col d'Eze?

According to information obtained by cyclism'actu, the final stage of Paris-Nice should be a mountain ITT on the col d'Eze.

Paris-Nice has not featured a mountain ITT since 1995, when Laurent Jalabert won the overall. This particular climb is known for its irregularity, as it contains passages for real climbers but also flatter sections, which have already permitted some rouleurs to win. It is not yet known whether this will be considered as a full stage, or whether there will be a short road stage in the morning.

http://www.cyclismactu.fr/news-paris-nice-2012-contre-la-montre-final-sur-le-col-d-eze-21139.html

This climb featured in stage 2 of the 2009 Tour de France, and was classified as category 3. Cavendish won the stage and Tony Martin was the first to pass the col d'Eze.

 

[Christian]

Profile from Nice (9,9 km @ 4,9%) (click on image to enlarge):

http://www.cyclo-challenge.fr/col.php?Id_col=156&PHPSESSID=6befad52bdd15878f1d2378f8a284882

Profile from Beausoleil (11 km @ 3%):

http://www.cyclo-challenge.fr/col.php?Id_col=158&PHPSESSID=5b567a4df657b7f81e5db95a27d259bb

 

[greenedge]

Lol, classic example of bad rabo influence on cyclists. Oscar Freire is still trying to win AGR lol

Though it makes sense for him to do AGR with the Worlds next year on the same roads. But skipping Flanders and Roubaix is stupid.

I agree that him skipping both those races is annoying.
He does pack a good sprint but he is really good on the cobbles as well so it's a real pity he is missing them.

 

[theyoungest]

I agree that him skipping both those races is annoying.
He does pack a good sprint but he is really good on the cobbles as well so it's a real pity he is missing them.

Except that he's not. Just Roubaix. He'll ride Flanders.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

The Danish source only says he's skipping Paris-Roubaix. Which makes more sense, also from a team perspective. Without Breschel, they're left with no one for Flanders.

Boom will co-lead the team, though, or lead the team in the highly unlikely event that Breschel is injured.

I take it the new route is much harder, though? Regardless, Boom will still target it, although Roubaix is obviously his main target. You have to throw him a bone sometimes even though he will come up short. Rabobank cannot afford to lose him right now.

 

[The Hitch]

Profile from Nice (9,9 km @ 4,9%) (click on image to enlarge):

http://www.cyclo-challenge.fr/col.php?Id_col=156&PHPSESSID=6befad52bdd15878f1d2378f8a284882

Profile from Beausoleil (11 km @ 3%):

http://www.cyclo-challenge.fr/col.php?Id_col=158&PHPSESSID=5b567a4df657b7f81e5db95a27d259bb

I guess a mountain tt isnt a waste of a mountain if its 3%. Good idea.

Be a good idea to have 2 stages in a row since that Nice - Nice stage they use as the finish all the time aint half bad, though on the other hand I don't know if too many people will watch 2 stages in a day outside of gts, and we also tend to get a great Tirreno stage on that day so maybe it would be too much good stuff concentrated into a few hours when we could have it spread out over a few days.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Boom will co-lead the team, though, or lead the team in the highly unlikely event that Breschel is injured.

I take it the new route is much harder, though? Regardless, Boom will still target it, although Roubaix is obviously his main target. You have to throw him a bone sometimes even though he will come up short. Rabobank cannot afford to lose him right now.

I will make a bet here that breschel will be injured again next year and fail the classics

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Note that it's actually 5km @ 5,8% from Beausoleil followed by a few km of flat.

The Nice-Nice stage could easily be shortened by simply having a much shorter run around to the base of La Turbie. Though if they're going with a mountain TT and then shorter stage on the final day I'd much rather said mountain TT be to Mont Agel (ca. 9km @ 6,5%):

 

[theyoungest]

Boom will co-lead the team, though, or lead the team in the highly unlikely event that Breschel is injured.

I take it the new route is much harder, though? Regardless, Boom will still target it, although Roubaix is obviously his main target. You have to throw him a bone sometimes even though he will come up short. Rabobank cannot afford to lose him right now.

He'll target it, I'm sure But he's not on Breschel's level.

 

[The Hitch]

Though if they're going with a mountain TT and then shorter stage on the final day I'd much rather said mountain TT be to Mont Agel (ca. 9km @ 6,5%):

They are doing Mende next year. A big mountain tt to throw Tony Martin off the podium isn't really necessary. 5k at 5.8% is good enough though the 4% option would be more interesting.