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

[Libertine Seguros]

OK, that seems fair enough, Mende will open up gaps. Hopefully they have quite a selective Alpes-Maritîmes stage on the penultimate day but without a mountaintop finish, maybe a bit like the Fayence stage in 2009.

 

[El Pistolero]

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

Boom will be better than Breschel next year

Just look at the races Breschel rode this year. If I were you I wouldn't expect too much from him in the spring classics next year.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

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

i agree, but I gotta give boom credit, I think the guy did show decent progress this year. Still doubtful cobbles are his best area tho.

 

[theyoungest]

Boom will be better than Breschel next year

Just look at the races Breschel rode this year.

You mean the Vuelta, where he was immediately among the best climbers in a hilly stage?

If I were you I wouldn't expect too much from him in the spring classics next year.

I don't think he'll have a Haussler-like season, if that's what you mean... he was already much stronger than Haussler in those three Vuelta stages he rode.

i agree, but I gotta give boom credit, I think the guy did show decent progress this year. Still doubtful cobbles are his best area tho.

I agree about the progress... I do think he's best on cobbles though. Some people would have us believe he'd be better in the Ardennes... maybe if he sheds 10 kilos.

 

[El Pistolero]

You mean the Vuelta, where he was immediately among the best climbers in a hilly stage?

Clearly, that stage totally says it all! He'll be among the best at LBL because a totally flat stage with a little bump in it is a hilly classic!

In reality, he was 130th on the stage that finished on Valdepenas de Jaen and 160th on the Siera Nevada. Hasn't raced since because he broke his finger(?). That's not the best way to start the winter.

I think he'll be weaker than he was in 2010 even if he has no injuries. There's just no way that this season won't have an impact on next year. I'm not saying his season will be as crappy as this year. I'm merely saying that in my opinion Lars Boom will be better at the classics than Breschel because of this lackluster and injury-filled season.

 

[roundabout]

He didn't finish wherever he was supposed to finish to show that he can be good in hilly races on a stage ending with a 30km climb.

Clearly says it all.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

You mean the Vuelta, where he was immediately among the best climbers in a hilly stage?


I don't think he'll have a Haussler-like season, if that's what you mean... he was already much stronger than Haussler in those three Vuelta stages he rode.


I agree about the progress... I do think he's best on cobbles though. Some people would have us believe he'd be better in the Ardennes... maybe if he sheds 10 kilos.

well I think a lot of it comes down to the way he prepares himself and moulds his body. He obviously wants to succeed in the cobbles, so speculating on his ardennes potential is probably not viable.

ANyway at this point I am happy for him to concentrate on cobbles, maybe littles hills and easier stage races also.

 

[El Pistolero]

He didn't finish wherever he was supposed to finish to show that he can be good in hilly races on a stage ending with a 30km climb.

Clearly says it all.

A group of 31 people finished together, most of the top 10 of Lombardia were in it.

 

[theyoungest]

Clearly, that stage totally says it all! He'll be among the best at LBL because a totally flat stage with a little bump in it is a hilly classic!

I'm talking about the stage Lastras won, not sure what stage you're talking about.

Also, where did I mention LBL? I was talking about his form, which a more discerning reader might have understood.

In reality, he was 130th on the stage that finished on Valdepenas de Jaen and 160th on the Siera Nevada. Hasn't raced since because he broke his finger(?). That's not the best way to start the winter.

He had also barely raced before this Vuelta where, as I said, he clearly showed good form. Some riders can train themselves into form, apparently Breschel is one of them.

I think he'll be weaker than he was in 2010 even if he has no injuries. There's just no way that this season won't have an impact on next year. I'm not saying his season will be as crappy as this year. I'm merely saying that in my opinion Lars Boom will be better at the classics than Breschel because of this lackluster and injury-filled season.

Yes, he's likely to be weaker than 2010, but he was absolutely flying then.

 

[roundabout]

A group of 31 people finished together, most of the top 10 of Lombardia were in it.

And those who didn't race the Vuelta would also have finished in the first group?

Of course Breschel himself finished top-10 on the toughest Worlds course since Duitama after doing the Vuelta.

 

[roundabout]

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.

Unless something has changed split stages are not allowed in WT races.

 

[El Pistolero]

And those who didn't race the Vuelta would also have finished in the first group?

Of course Breschel himself finished top-10 on the toughest Worlds course since Duitama after doing the Vuelta.

I'm not saying Breschel is incapable of having good results at hilly races. Merely saying that this year will have an impact on his spring campaign in 2012.

If he can ride an injury free season this year he'll surely be ready by the time the WC starts.

 

[greenedge]

Yes, he's likely to be weaker than 2010, but he was absolutely flying then.

And Cancellara could not even let him win RVV like Boonen did with Devolder.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

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

Yeah, I was being sarcastic. I think so, too.

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

Obviously. Though Boom won't be the sole leader* as was often the case with Freire in AGR. It's not like Rabobank believed in his chances, either. Maybe they did at first, though. But all in all it was because Freire wanted to lead the team there. Same with Boom, I think...



If Breschel is fit to start, that is.

 

[greenedge]

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

Ok thx. I wonder at the P-N course 2012, whether they will include any stages that will feature in the TDF in 2013?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Tour of Romandie route announced (Biciclismo)

24 abril. Prólogo: Laussane, 3,34 kms

25 abril. 1ª etapa: Morges - La Chaux-de-Fonds, 184,5 kms
km 95,2, Les Bugnenets (2e cat.);
km 159,1 côte de la Sagne (2e cat.)
km 173,1, Communal de la Sagne (3e cat.)

26 abril. 2ª etapa: Montbéliard - Moutier, 149,1 kms
km 53,1, Bourrignon (3e cat.)
km 84,2, Les Ecorcheresses (2e cat)
km 123,5, La Caquerelle (2e cat).

27 abril. 3ª etapa: La Neuveville - Charmey, 157,6 kms
km 59,9, Arrisoules (3e cat.)
km 103,2, Le Châtelard (2e cat.)
km 125, Treyvaux (3e cat.)

28 abril. 4ª etapa: Bulle- Sion, 184 kms
km 36,5, Col des Mosses (1ère cat.)
km 128, Basse-Nendaz (2e cat.)
km 137, Veysonnaz (1ère cat)
km 160, St-Martin (1ère cat.)

29 abril. 5ª etapa: Crans-Montana - Crans-Montana, 16,5 kms
GPM km 8,5.

Looks to be a tough route. No easy stages.

 

[roundabout]

Far better than 11 but nowhere near as good as I thought.

Edit: the final TT

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/77336

Last part of stage 4

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/77338

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Far better than 11 but nowhere near as good as I thought.

Edit: the final TT

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/77336

Last part of stage 4

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/77338

That's quite the descent in that time trial. Quite steep for most of the way. Very unusual.

The road stages are weak, though.

 

[roundabout]

Going the other way around in the TT makes more sense but I doubt that the video would show stage 5 backwards

 

[theyoungest]

Going the other way around in the TT makes more sense but I doubt that the video would show stage 5 backwards

The other way around would be quite a hard TT. Either way, it's a weird course.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

The other way around would be quite a hard TT.

Too hard for the Tour of Romandie, apparently. They seem dead-set on easy courses, year after year. Understandable, but one decent mountain stage wouldn't hurt.

it's a weird course.

Out of the ordinary, but great, IMO. Makes you wonder how much risks the contenders for the stage and the overall are willing to take with the Tour and Olympics in mind. I can't think of any recent ITT that had a descent this long at these percentages.

 

[Ferminal]

Far better than 11 but nowhere near as good as I thought.

Edit: the final TT

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/77336

Last part of stage 4

http://www.tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/77338

I think it's pretty average, still completely decided by the time trials.

Stage 1 could be interesting, 2 and 3 seem more like the usual Romandie "sprint" stages. 4 a bit of an improvement as the Queen stage.

 

[El Pistolero]

Too hard for the Tour of Romandie, apparently. They seem dead-set on easy courses, year after year. Understandable, but one decent mountain stage wouldn't hurt.



Out of the ordinary, but great, IMO. Makes you wonder how much risks the contenders for the stage and the overall are willing to take with the Tour and Olympics in mind. I can't think of any recent ITT that had a descent this long at these percentages.

Tour de Romandie is just a race for people preparing for the Giro or for the Ardennes guys who want to cash in on their current form.

 

[roundabout]

I think it's pretty average, still completely decided by the time trials.

Stage 1 could be interesting, 2 and 3 seem more like the usual Romandie "sprint" stages. 4 a bit of an improvement as the Queen stage.

Good news

They are climbing from Mollens to Aminona so the last stage will pretty much be an uphill TT and my profile is back to front

http://www.tourderomandie.ch/documents/F_CommuniqueTDR.pdf

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Good news

They are climbing from Mollens to Aminona so the last stage will pretty much be an uphill TT and my profile is back to front

http://www.tourderomandie.ch/documents/F_CommuniqueTDR.pdf

They might as well skip the first 5 days then.