2012 Tour Down Under Stage 5: McLaren Vale - Old Willunga Hill 151.5km

[Fetisoff]

Pardon my ignorance but... which Russian one day racer do you mean? Can't think of one TBH (don't shoot!)

Kolobnev

 

[jens_attacks]

kolobnev,pistolero is a big fan

 

[El Pistolero]

kolobnev,pistolero is a big fan

Glad he's gone yes

 

[issoisso]

“We’re not a sprinters’ team,” said the Spaniard. “In a one-on-one sprint, Alejandro would beat Gerrans, as he would beat Petacchi, Freire, Boonen etc. Probably the only one he wouldn’t beat is Cavendish

Say again Iván?

 

[theyoungest]

Kolobnev

Ah okay, forgot about him, sorry. But... you blame them for that?

 

[Fetisoff]

Ah okay, forgot about him, sorry. But... you blame them for that?

Well not exactly, he's responsible for his own clinic issues, but the way the situation was handled by the team wasn't great either, and among other things caused the departure of one of the two promising young guys I mentioned before (Silin).

 

[Kwibus]

Gotta love Rabobank. Kelderman says he felt good, but got caught out in the crosswinds after the first time up Willunga. He's learning Rabo tactics pretty quick

Hey stop it! After you stopping me from bashing Rabo tactics you are starting yourself

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It's good to learn this way for Wilco. It's not the U23 where you can easily make up for mistakes like that.

 

[Kwibus]

Let's be fair, this isn't Plumelec here. Piti hasn't returned at the same strength he left... yet.

He's beaten a field where very few people are in any kind of form and in a race that not too many people of his style of rider care about. It's like when people were getting upset about Stefan Schumacher winning the time trial in Asturias last year; a guy who was stomping Cancellara by a minute when doped SHOULD be able to beat the likes of Sergey Shilov and Hugo Sabido when clean. And so it is here. Piti should be able to beat the likes of Simon "I've managed to come in the bottom end of the top 10 in every Ardennes Classic by making sure you don't know I'm there and never actually doing anything, you know!" Gerrans if he's on any kind of form.

Yes yes Libertine. We all are very well aware that it's just the TDU....
And yes we all know few riders have top form, but Gerrans certainly has form since he only just became national champion.
It doesn't matter. Valverde won't be in topform either, but he did win after a 2 year suspension. That's just great.
No matter if it's the TDU, which actually was contested quite fiercely this year with aggresive riding despite the tiny hills.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes yes Libertine. We all are very well aware that it's just the TDU....
And yes we all know few riders have top form, but Gerrans certainly has form since he only just became national champion.
It doesn't matter. Valverde won't be in topform either, but he did win after a 2 year suspension. That's just great.
No matter if it's the TDU, which actually was contested quite fiercely this year with aggresive riding despite the tiny hills.

Seems to me Valverde actually had the benefit on some riders here. If we can believe everything that's been told in the media Valverde has trained really hard last 1.5 years. He looks skinnier than ever and was more motivated than any other cyclist in this Tour Down Under. Perhaps he will peak too soon lol. It's not very wise to be so good in January if you want to ride a good GC in the Tour.

 

[theyoungest]

Hey stop it! After you stopping me from bashing Rabo tactics you are starting yourself

When they really suck so obviously, it's hard to sugarcoat it Although Kelderman can't be blamed for this, it's his first pro race... Luis Leon is the one who fails time and again. And Frans Maassen, who always undergoes a race rather than making it.

Well not exactly, he's responsible for his own clinic issues, but the way the situation was handled by the team wasn't great either, and among other things caused the departure of one of the two promising young guys I mentioned before (Silin).

Why? Silin a personal friend of Kolobnev?

 

[mewmewmew13]

I really enjoyed watching the last few k's last night...a very well-timed Movistar team.

I was happy for Valverde's win...a hugely emotional comeback for him.

He really looks so different, does anyone else think so?? I know he's super low weight but his face just looks so changed....

 

[Parrulo]

I really enjoyed watching the last few k's last night...a very well-timed Movistar team.

I was happy for Valverde's win...a hugely emotional comeback for him.

He really looks so different, does anyone else think so?? I know he's super low weight but his face just looks so changed....

he looks older, depression can do that to you, and looking at his reaction on the post race interview he must have been depressed during his ban and maybe was compensating it by training like a maniac. depressed people tend to overcompensate with something depending on the person.

 

[mewmewmew13]

he looks older, depression can do that to you, and looking at his reaction on the post race interview he must have been depressed during his ban and maybe was compensating it by training like a maniac. depressed people tend to overcompensate with something depending on the person.

ya, maybe.
He definitely looks aged...
The stress of being banned would be overwhelming for most...guilty or not it would take a toll on your health. That and all the stress of the legal cr**.

 

[jens_attacks]

I really enjoyed watching the last few k's last night...a very well-timed Movistar team.

I was happy for Valverde's win...a hugely emotional comeback for him.

He really looks so different, does anyone else think so?? I know he's super low weight but his face just looks so changed....

i was scared when i saw how thin he is.but still the same kick while sprinting.it's definitely him.

 

[unsheath]

Rabo tested him, and found out his VO2max is through the roof... unfortunately he showed it nowhere on the road last year. He chose to return to Jayco to better prepare for the Olympics, but Rabo said they would remain interested if he got some results. Which I guess he did now

But if he doesn't go to Greenedge, I don't know who will.

Perhaps the logical replacement for Robbie Mc when he retires mid year. May as well have all top 4 pursuiters in the same team.

 

[Kwibus]

he looks older, depression can do that to you, and looking at his reaction on the post race interview he must have been depressed during his ban and maybe was compensating it by training like a maniac. depressed people tend to overcompensate with something depending on the person.

Most depressed people have a hard time doing anything at all as they feel blank and don't have any motivation.
I haven't heard of a depression that leads to extreme activity. Beat me if I'm wrong.

 

[Kwibus]

Perhaps the logical replacement for Robbie Mc when he retires mid year. May as well have all top 4 pursuiters in the same team.

He showed some climbing potential this TDU though. Not sure if showing climbing potentional in the TDU means anything at all though.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He showed climbing potential in those rabo-tests as well. I mean 7 w/kg is insane

 

[Kwibus]

He showed climbing potential in those rabo-tests as well. I mean 7 w/kg is insane

Ok let's start a Rohan Dennis hype! Future TDF Winner!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

In all fairness, Theo Eltink scored 7.1w/kg on the same test tho best GT achievement...24th in the Vuelta

 

[Kwibus]

In all fairness, Theo Eltink scored 7.1w/kg on the same test tho best GT achievement...24th in the Vuelta

I know. Numbers doesn't mean they can actually do it.

 

[mb2612]

In all fairness, Theo Eltink scored 7.1w/kg on the same test tho best GT achievement...24th in the Vuelta

I'm starting to think Rabobank just made up some really big numbers to impress everybody.

 

[La Pandera]

"Alessandro Valverdee," really?

For whatever reason, Phil has always pronounced his name that way. Baffling that no one has bothered to correct him.

 

[La Pandera]

Agreed!

@ACF This would make a great choice for your avatar considering he's beating the Aussie hope for the stage in the photo.