2012 Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6: Offida-Offida 181km

[BillytheKid]

To bad today's finish is not 5K at 9.8% we might see this again.

http://www.steephill.tv/2012/tirreno-adriatico/photos/stage-05/#252-PIC264442231.jpg

No Sierra Road either in the Cali this year. You wanna know why? They could figure how to move the whole d$$$ climb downtown for a finish. Business Chamber types. Utterly Hopeless.

 

[Swede1]

“In the final kilometers when Nibali went, I had to decide which card to play since there were so many bonus seconds available on the line. If I chased Nibali too hard but faded at the end, Kreuziger would have gained more seconds than just the bonus seconds, so I decided to give away something to Nibali to better protect the jersey.” Horner

Unless Liquigas-Cannondale can outwit Radio Shack Nissan and Astana...etc
tomorrow/today. It looks to be Horner vs. Kreuziger in a short ITT.

Still, it could be a dangerous day, but there's to many teams in the running and the danger men should stay together to final climb. RSN will have to work, but should find help from Astana and teams in the fight for a third on the podium. Nibali may not find as much help as he wants because this Stage has Sagan written all over it.

I would have rather Horner countered Nibali today, but then he's right.
Roman could have popped him gaining the win, seconds, and bonus seconds while Horner would have ended most likely third or worse as they might have all come back together.

Horner is the polar opposite of a Valverde among climbers.

I liked the way Horner pull out his radio in the final K because he might have had more sense than his director in the moment.

Why they sent the U.S. Professional Champion, Matthew Busche, to race at West Flanders, I am still pondering. Busche was the final set up for Horner's stage win on Sierra Road (5K/ average 9.8%) at the Cali last year. Busche could have been a climbing asset needed here.
__________________

Probably because they sent riders who are doing sanremo and the cobbled classics to tirreno adriatico. Busche definitely is not. But I agree Horner could use some climbing help.

 

[phanatic]

This stage looks tailor made for an EBH vs Sagan showdown. Yet the Nibali v Sagan storyline is just as ripe. Even if Sagan helps pull il squalo to the finish, I imagine he would have to take the win again just so no other team gets it.

 

[maxmartin]

I believe Nibali's TT improved quite a bit during the winter, in the Tour de San Luis 22k tt, he only lost 23 seconds to Levi. I actually think he can pull back 12 seconds against Horner in 10k. (Assuming horner's tt is the same level as last year, but you never know). Kreuziger flat TT is below both Nibali and Horner.

“In the final kilometers when Nibali went, I had to decide which card to play since there were so many bonus seconds available on the line. If I chased Nibali too hard but faded at the end, Kreuziger would have gained more seconds than just the bonus seconds, so I decided to give away something to Nibali to better protect the jersey.” Horner

Unless Liquigas-Cannondale can outwit Radio Shack Nissan and Astana...etc
tomorrow/today. It looks to be Horner vs. Kreuziger in a short ITT.

Still, it could be a dangerous day, but there's to many teams in the running and the danger men should stay together to final climb. RSN will have to work, but should find help from Astana and teams in the fight for a third on the podium. Nibali may not find as much help as he wants because this Stage has Sagan written all over it.

I would have rather Horner countered Nibali today, but then he's right.
Roman could have popped him gaining the win, seconds, and bonus seconds while Horner would have ended most likely third or worse as they might have all come back together.

Horner is the polar opposite of a Valverde among climbers.

I liked the way Horner pull out his radio in the final K because he might have had more sense than his director in the moment.

Why they sent the U.S. Professional Champion, Matthew Busche, to race at West Flanders, I am still pondering. Busche was the final set up for Horner's stage win on Sierra Road (5K/ average 9.8%) at the Cali last year. Busche could have been a climbing asset needed here.
__________________

 

[theyoungest]

“In the final kilometers when Nibali went, I had to decide which card to play since there were so many bonus seconds available on the line. If I chased Nibali too hard but faded at the end, Kreuziger would have gained more seconds than just the bonus seconds, so I decided to give away something to Nibali to better protect the jersey.” Horner

Unless Liquigas-Cannondale can outwit Radio Shack Nissan and Astana...etc
tomorrow/today. It looks to be Horner vs. Kreuziger in a short ITT.

Still, it could be a dangerous day, but there's to many teams in the running and the danger men should stay together to final climb. RSN will have to work, but should find help from Astana and teams in the fight for a third on the podium. Nibali may not find as much help as he wants because this Stage has Sagan written all over it.

I would have rather Horner countered Nibali today, but then he's right.
Roman could have popped him gaining the win, seconds, and bonus seconds while Horner would have ended most likely third or worse as they might have all come back together.

Horner is the polar opposite of a Valverde among climbers.

I liked the way Horner pull out his radio in the final K because he might have had more sense than his director in the moment.

Why they sent the U.S. Professional Champion, Matthew Busche, to race at West Flanders, I am still pondering. Busche was the final set up for Horner's stage win on Sierra Road (5K/ average 9.8%) at the Cali last year. Busche could have been a climbing asset needed here.
__________________

If you look at Busche's results in WorldTour races, he's not much of a climbing asset.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Horner continues to tear up the accepted physiological rule book.
First, his age, now the fact that he's come into his first race, after three-quarters of a year out, with great, great form.
Better even than those with significant racing miles already under their belts.

Unless he has a mishap today, I can't see either Kreuziger or Nibali being able to claw the necessary seconds back.
Roman hasn't done a decent ITT since???
Is Nibs over a second a km better than Chris?

 

[theyoungest]

Horner continues to tear up the accepted physiological rule book.
First, his age, now the fact that he's come into his first race, after three-quarters of a year out, with great, great form.
Better even than those with significant racing miles already under their belts.

Unless he has a mishap today, I can't see either Kreuziger or Nibali being able to claw the necessary seconds back.
Roman hasn't done a decent ITT since???
Is Nibs over a second a km better than Chris?

Horner always arrives in top form with little to no racing under his belt. Evans used to be like that as well

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

nibali said he trained and improved his itt alot. in san luis he showed. but it's only 9 km. kreuziger is relatively good in short itt's but he's very overrated. horner wins this let's hope

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gilbert out of tirreno with a fever.

 

[analo69]

Matti to win in a sneak-attack 10 km from finish. You heard it here first.

Damn. I was going to call Matti.

On a serious note. I actually think he can win. He is/was one of the best riders on a finish like this one and he is getting onto shape for the coming classics. This year he will ride all the cobbled classics (but not roubaix) and the hilly classics. So he has a long spring season ahead of him.

 

[taiwan]

This stage looks tailor made for an EBH vs Sagan showdown.

Now that you mention it, I'll be very interested to see if any of Farrar, Goss or Greipel hang on late into the stage. It's possible - they all have pretensions as classics riders, and that would be a good indicator of form.

 

[Lexman]

Visconti .

To be honest i expected a lot more of him, what's up with Visconti??

 

[Lexman]

Gilbert out of tirreno with a fever.

where did you read or heard it?

 

[Machu Picchu]

where did you read or heard it?

BMC Racing Team ‏ @BMCProTeam
#TirrenoAdriatico Stage 6: BMC Racing Team's Philippe Gilbert (fever) has withdrawn from the race.


BMC Racing Team ‏ @BMCProTeam
BMC Racing Team's Dr. Max Testa: "We thought it was better decision – so as not to impact his performance in Milan-San Remo – to stop him."

 

[Lexman]

ok Gilbert confirmed here

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/120312_TA_Gilbert_opgave

 

[Lexman]

Freire FTW, GVA 2nd, Nibali 3rd

 

[Machu Picchu]

also...

BMC Racing Team ‏ @BMCProTeam
Dr. Testa: "I can tell you if today was the start of Milan-San Remo, he (Gilbert)would have started."

 

[search]

Damn. I was going to call Matti.

On a serious note. I actually think he can win. He is/was one of the best riders on a finish like this one and he is getting onto shape for the coming classics. This year he will ride all the cobbled classics (but not roubaix) and the hilly classics. So he has a long spring season ahead of him.

I think he's well suited to this terrain today but I doubt his form is good enough. There are some riders with similar capabilities and better form, Oscar Gatto and Boasson Hagen for example. Let alone Sagan.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

is ebh really going for a breakway?

 

[BillytheKid]

If you look at Busche's results in WorldTour races, he's not much of a climbing asset.

Busche's a neo pro true, but I don't think he is being use very well. Maybe that's a process of paying your dues and having to work on the flat only to be no good on the climbs. RSN have other climbers who could fill the role anyway.

Cancellara has played a big role. Keeping Chris up front on stage 4 was crucial. The team has done well. Busche easily could have stepped up on the flanks of Cancellara. Stats don't reflect who get's a "free" ticket at the front and those who have to fight to be there. Horner gave big credit to him of Stage 4.

 

[movingtarget]

Horner continues to tear up the accepted physiological rule book.
First, his age, now the fact that he's come into his first race, after three-quarters of a year out, with great, great form.
Better even than those with significant racing miles already under their belts.

Unless he has a mishap today, I can't see either Kreuziger or Nibali being able to claw the necessary seconds back.
Roman hasn't done a decent ITT since???
Is Nibs over a second a km better than Chris?

Yeah Kreuziger is not the TT rider he used to be and Nibali is not that good either. I think it's Horner's to lose.

 

[BillytheKid]

Yeah Kreuziger is not the TT rider he used to be and Nibali is not that good either. I think it's Horner's to lose.

I wonder how much time Horner's spent on the TT bike recently? He looked a little shaky in the TTT from what I could see.

 

[taiwan]

To be honest i expected a lot more of him, what's up with Visconti??

Looks like he's less strong than last year, but this will be the stage that suits him most, and he's free to get in the break now that he's way down on time.

We'll know early on today whether he's interested.

 

[cineteq]

Yeah Kreuziger is not the TT rider he used to be and Nibali is not that good either. I think it's Horner's to lose.

This year, stage 4 Tour of San Luis 19.5km
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:22:33
2 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:23
3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone 0:00:38
4 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:00:39
5 Magno Prado Nazaret (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab 0:00:44
6 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:01

 

[Machu Picchu]

No ebh today, another non-starter preparing for Milan-San Remo