2012 Tour of California May 17 stage 5: Bakersfield ITT 29.6 km

[theyoungest]

Yeah, normally I'd say Gesink puts himself in pole position. But as mentioned above, it has happened before

But he has a point to prove, that always helps. He also did in Quebec, and lo, he nearly beat Gilbert.

 

[classicomano]

Sjezink has got this is in the bag people .. game over man, game over.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Most of us Gesink fans are not though

Yup, it will be shivering and a lot of fear the coming days. I can see him get lost on Big Bear Lake or drop off the first steep gradient on Mount Baldy

Pretty good TT for him. So i don´t see him dropped. I am already far ahead, thinking of a good TdF.

 

[The Sheep]

Yeah, normally I'd say Gesink puts himself in pole position. But as mentioned above, it has happened before

But he has a point to prove, that always helps. He also did in Quebec, and lo, he nearly beat Gilbert.

I hope he has a point to prove in the tour.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

The whole thing is Gesink's to lose now. If he has his climbing legs, it's hard to see too many of those behind putting him in real difficulty on a climb.

Garmin at least have a couple of options, so they have room for some tactical funny business. And Horner will have to attack like a maniac if he wants to win. TJVG will be good. But really, a near top form Gesink should be one of the best couple of climbers there and he has a lead.

I hope that Horner does in fact want something out of this, and attacks in the net few days. He can spice up some possibly tame racing. Same thing with Nibali

 

[goggalor]

Hope you don't mind, but I' stealing that as a signature... Great.

I don't mind, but Phil might!

 

[Havetts]

Sagan doesnt even look like he cares about this TT

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Gesink to win it from here, imo.

 

[patrick767]

The whole thing is Gesink's to lose now. If he has his climbing legs, it's hard to see too many of those behind putting him in real difficulty on a climb.

Garmin at least have a couple of options, so they have room for some tactical funny business. And Horner will have to attack like a maniac if he wants to win. TJVG will be good. But really, a near top form Gesink should be one of the best couple of climbers there and he has a lead.

Is Gesink usually a better climber than TJVG? I thought TJ was pretty solid there too. I'd call the two of them the favorites now. Leipheimer is in striking distance but his performance indicates he's off form somewhat, so I doubt many people think he can close the gap. Horner shot himself in the foot today.

What about Nibali? He can be a huge climber. I don't know if he came to California to win though or just to prep. Anyone know?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Will Sagan finish one spot ahead of Haussler again?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Is Gesink usually a better climber than TJVG?

Yes. He is.

Gesink has a top 5 in the Tour to his name.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Is Gesink usually a better climber than TJVG? I thought TJ was pretty solid there too. I'd call the two of them the favorites now. Leipheimer is in striking distance but his performance indicates he's off form somewhat, so I doubt many people think he can close the gap. Horner shot himself in the foot today.

What about Nibali? He can be a huge climber. I don't know if he came to California to win though or just to prep. Anyone know?

Cannondale

......

 

[classicomano]

Sagan taking a stroll.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Is Gesink usually a better climber than TJVG? I thought TJ was pretty solid there too. I'd call the two of them the favorites now. Leipheimer is in striking distance but his performance indicates he's off form somewhat, so I doubt many people think he can close the gap. Horner shot himself in the foot today.

What about Nibali? He can be a huge climber. I don't know if he came to California to win though or just to prep. Anyone know?

Lol are you serious.
If Gesink has any kind of climb legs like in his best days, Van Garderen can't even dream of keeping his wheel.

However, since Gesink broken his leg this winter, he hasn't climbed on his old level yet. So that will be waiting & see.
If Gesink has his old level I think everyone can pack up and go home

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

What about Nibali? He can be a huge climber. I don't know if he came to California to win though or just to prep. Anyone know?

Nibali went to the front to pull back Duarte and Roche yesterday, which isn't the sort of thing you'd expect him to be doing if he was there to win.

 

[Havetts]

Aww yea Sagan

 

[hrotha]

Hahahaha, hilarious

 

[Rocksteady]

What is the age for the best young rider? 25?

 

[cineteq]

GC Contenders
David ZABRISKIE GRM
Tejay VAN GARDEREN BMC +34
Robert GESINK RAB +40
Andrew TALANSKY GRM +48
Peter VELITS OPQ +49
Thomas DANIELSON GRM +1.07
Levi LEIPHEIMER OPQ +1.44
Vincenzo NIBALI LIQ +1.52
Christopher HORNER RNT +2.50

 

[Kazistuta]

Chuck Sagan IS cool!

 

[Havetts]

Huge huge huge props towards Jens Voigt at 40 years old. Working each day for his team, thinking of retiring and then he still finishes 2nd.. Incredible!!!! _O_

 

[offbyone]

What was sagan's time?

 

[c&cfan]

peter is just awesome, isn't he?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Zabriskie indicating that he paced himself relatively easily to the half way point, which would explain why so many people were close to him at that point and then fell way off.

Jens' time looks great now.

 

[theyoungest]

Sagan is cool, but it's cooler if you can do that when you've actually won. Now it's just a bit lame to take it easy on a TT when you have a 40 second buffer on GC.