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

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'm sure Gesink loves the North-American tarmac the best.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I'm sure Gesink loves the North-American tarmac the best.

It must be some of the only tarmac he hasn't found himself lying down on at some point.

 

[Don Johnson]

I expect Gesink to win a Big Grand Tour someday. How does someone like Boom, Kuiper, or a top class climber learn to climb, being born in the flatlands, racing there and training there?
Genetics? Serious training in the wind?

 

[El Pistolero]

I expect Gesink to win a Big Grand Tour someday. How does someone like Boom, Kuiper, or a top class climber learn to climb, being born in the flatlands, racing there and training there?
Genetics? Serious training in the wind?

Boom, top class climber.

He'll be lucky not to get owned by Stybar in the hilly stage of the Tour of Belgium.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

hhahaha thats hilarious

 

[Don Johnson]

Boom, top class climber.

He'll be lucky not to get owned by Stybar in the hilly stage of the Tour of Belgium.

Really. You did not see Boom ride a mountainous stage(Vuelta) in an 80 mile breakaway and win. You don't think Boom can't climb if he sets his mind to it.
Look at Kuiper, 2nd in Tour winner of Alp Du ez. Or Henk Luberding.

Boom is just primed to win Roubaix, that is his focus. He can do well wherever.
But then again with a moniker like el pistelero. there is no compititon, no one can climb like Alberto.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

there's a lot of wind in the netherlands, that's kinda the same as riding uphill at times

but all-in-all it's down to genetics. And talentful young dutch riders have the ability to ride in spain, italy, etc if they are good enough, so they get used to mountains early

 

[Fowsto Cope-E]

Sagan only put in about 30 seconds on Kristen Armstrong today. Ouch

 

[The Hitch]

there's a lot of wind in the netherlands, that's kinda the same as riding uphill at times

but all-in-all it's down to genetics. And talentful young dutch riders have the ability to ride in spain, italy, etc if they are good enough, so they get used to mountains early

Wow man
Looks like gesink owned, today. well done.

 

[Califootman]

Sagan only put in about 30 seconds on Kristen Armstrong today. Ouch

Armstong was quicker than almost half the guys around the course... she would've been in 65th place on the day. Admittedly the motivation probably wasn't there for some of those guys... but still not a bad performance.

 

[Parrulo]

well after today i think it's safe to assume nibali isn't here to win

also lol machado continuing his impressive streak of disappointing performances that started in the algarve itt

i hope gesink wins this, he needs the confidence boost

 

[BillytheKid]

The final GC podium? Not in any respective order.

Van Garderen
Gesink
Talansky

Tommy D possible as well. Others?

 

[Wigwan]

Geniez dead last at over 8 minutes? Is he that bad in TT or he jsut didn't care?

 

[cineteq]

The final GC podium? Not in any respective order.

Van Garderen
Gesink
Talansky

Tommy D possible as well. Others?

Van Garderen and Talansky will fade, Nibali and Danielson have a chance to be on the podium.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Van Garderen and Talansky will fade, Nibali and Danielson have a chance to be on the podium.

Gesink looks to be in great position to win.

Nibali can still challenge, to be sure.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Impressive by gesink! Still not confident tho, hopefully he has recovered enough to have some good climbing legs.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Van Garderen and Talansky will fade, Nibali and Danielson have a chance to be on the podium.

I think it's likely that one or other of Van Garderen and Talansky will pop badly on Baldy, but I also think it's likely that one of them wont and will be on some step of the podium. Gesink has to be the favourite.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Danielson seems to be in a good spot and might be on the podium. I'll bet he is climbing better than Papy and Levi.
Nibs...could resurge ..hard to say, but I would't mind seeing him win.

 

[BillytheKid]

Danielson seems to be in a good spot and might be on the podium. I'll bet he is climbing better than Papy and Levi.
Nibs...could resurge ..hard to say, but I would't mind seeing him win.

Even Papy says he was bad, bad today. He might go early on the Angeles climb to reshuffle the deck today, they might even let him go. Of course it would not work to the end, but it would make for better racing.

Nibali still a threat with Levi right on his wheel.

 

[Yingge]

Hopefully, with the Tour de Sagan over (maybe!!), we might actually see some racing over the next few days, assuming they don't all take it easy over the climbs.

 

[thehog]

Danielson seems to be in a good spot and might be on the podium. I'll bet he is climbing better than Papy and Levi.
Nibs...could resurge ..hard to say, but I would't mind seeing him win.

I'd love Tommy D to win!

 

[meat puppet]

Didn't see the race but am obviously very happy for Gesink. Well done!

I still think that despite the injuries, and barring new ones of course, he will feature in the Tour. Clearly a podium candidate.

Too bad Horner didn't have it. His rolleyes about Bottle's leg was golden.

 

[Kwibus]

Serious, Robert is a great guy, I saw him riding around here a while back, riding with his Rabo banks, he speaks English well, and they all come around even Kuiper, Pedro Horrillo, Boom etc.
About GT, just a pun. But, I thought the Europeans watched this race seriously.
About time that a European whose team has business concerns here wins, great for the sport.

I think that 'we euros' take this race seriously since last year. When it was finally a proper tough race.
I will definately be cheering if Gesink wins it.
Don't call it a GT though else we will come roaring in and flame you like hell

 

[Kwibus]

The final GC podium? Not in any respective order.

Van Garderen
Gesink
Talansky

Tommy D possible as well. Others?

I'd replace van Garderen with Nibali or Danielson.

 

[Froome19]

Nibali still a threat with Levi right on his wheel.

Levi has got no chance, generally if he is in good form that will be shown up by his TT as he is more a rider who tempo rides up climbs so he is not like other riders who will do bad TTs and still go good on climbs. I see him a more of a TT rider who will do well on the climbs depending on how well he Time trials. And as his TT was poor I find it hard to see him affecting GC.