2012 Tour of Oman (14th - 19th of February), 2.HC

[ferryman]

Eurosport showing yesterdays mtf.

This is what Carton Kirby had to say when Andy appeared on screen.

" Andy Schleck, well, been busy, good supporting role Andy Schleck tries to lay as much as he possibly can down and and does so on behalf of others I think you might say , but not gonna be a good finish for Andy Schleck today thats for sure".

WTF???? Andy Schleck a team player who isnt suited to mtfs? Is Kirby totally mad?

Take it to the Andy hater thread. Too many of these threads are getting bunged up by these let's have another dig at Andy whilst I'm here posts.

 

[Ruudz0r]

The entire climb.

Thanks that was what I was looking for

also thanks to killswitch

 

[The Hitch]

Take it to the Andy hater thread. Too many of these threads are getting bunged up by these let's have another dig at Andy whilst I'm here posts.

Its not a dig at Andy its a dig at Kirby. Schleck is not the one who said something stupid here (for a change )

 

[Froome19]

Eurosport showing yesterdays mtf.

This is what Carton Kirby had to say when Andy appeared on screen.

" Andy Schleck, well, been busy, good supporting role Andy Schleck tries to lay as much as he possibly can down and and does so on behalf of others I think you might say , but not gonna be a good finish for Andy Schleck today thats for sure".

WTF???? Andy Schleck a team player who isnt suited to mtfs? Is Kirby totally mad?

Maybe he considered it to steep and short for Schleck to really do much, of course its common knowledge that Schleck prefers longer and more regular MTFs..

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Maybe he considered it to steep and short for Schleck to really do much, of course its common knowledge that Schleck prefers longer and more regular MTFs..

As is proven by his only real high profile victory to date outside of that controversial Tour being in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, of course.

 

[roundabout]

After a 20km solo.

 

[Froome19]

As is proven by his only real high profile victory to date outside of that controversial Tour being in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, of course.

Indeed Schleck's main asset is his recovery and endurance so therefore he is much better in a 250km classic which tires eveybody out.
Why did noone try to counter the Schlecks-Gilbert move in liege, they must have known it was the winning one, the answer is because they were too tired and only the Schlecks and Gilbert had the energy left.
Schleck also commented that the reason he couldn't drop Evans on Alpe de huez was because it was too short (no need to comment)
Therefore on a flattish stage with just a steepish mountain at the end Schleck's main advantage won't come into play as greatly as it would on a longer and more draining MTF.
It would also explain why Schleck seems to be better at breaks than at normal riding (and thus another reason why he won Liege)
It would seems as if Kirby is just a but underestimated imo

 

[Parrulo]

love how nibali simply attacked once set the pace for a few hundred meters to see how every1 was doing and then attacked again and went alone to the finish line. i think he has improved over the winter both his climbing and itt and will surprise every1 this season.

 

[El Pistolero]

He won't. He'll ride at the same level as last 2 years, but might win a Tour stage now with the descent finishes.

 

[The Hitch]

He won't. He'll ride at the same level as last 2 years, but might win a Tour stage now with the descent finishes.

And what level is that? podium? Top 5. Top 10?

 

[Lanark]

After a 20km solo.

Which started on the incredibly steep Roche Aux Faucons.

 

[roundabout]

Which started on the incredibly steep Roche Aux Faucons.

Yeah, but how come nobody talks about his great time trialing ability based on that race?

I would say challenging Rebellin on the Mur is more indicative of what Schleck can (could?) do on the short climbs.

 

[El Pistolero]

And what level is that? podium? Top 5. Top 10?

Top 5, podium possible, but I don't think he'll make it with all those time trials.

 

[Lanark]

Yeah, but how come nobody talks about his great time trialing ability based on that race?

I would say challenging Rebellin on the Mur is more indicative of what Schleck can (could?) do on the short climbs.

Because a solo is not a time trial, but a steep hill is a steep hill. His performance in the Fleche a couple of days earlier is more prove that he can do really well on short, steep stuff, although I don't see how it's really more indicative.

 

[El Pistolero]

Schleck would do pretty well in a hilly time trial in the province of Liège in his July form. But his solo can't be compared with a time trial because you're ignoring 230km of racing then

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Indeed Schleck's main asset is his recovery and endurance so therefore he is much better in a 250km classic which tires eveybody out.

Yes, because Liège-Bastogne-Liège is so well known for its long, gradual climbs...

Schleck can climb perfectly well when it's short and steep. He just needs a stage that's jagged enough to tire the others out and make use of that recovery, not any particular type of climb at the end.

 

[roundabout]

Because a solo is not a time trial, but a steep hill is a steep hill. His performance in the Fleche a couple of days earlier is more prove that he can do really well on short, steep stuff, although I don't see how it's really more indicative.

Fleche is a shorter easier race. It's less about endurance and more about the 3-minute power at the end.

Of course, the counter argument would be that the climb is too difficult for some of the uphill finishers.

My time trial reference is a bit tongue in cheek. But after 235km it's a different ballgame. Both climbing and riding on the flat. I am not really sure if there are difficult stages this long in grand tours anymore. At least since Zomegnan was given the boot.

 

[greenedge]

Happy that Velits won.

Nice sprint by Kittel.

 

[Oliver]

Happy with the good performances of Nibali & Velits. I hope both of them will have a great year!

 

[issoisso]

The comparisons to time trials are also ignoring a very important aspect:

How well a rider goes on the flat isn't a perfect indication of how well he goes in a TT. Aerodynamic position on a TT bike plays a massive part.

As an example Flecha is pretty damn powerful on the flat, but the fact that he isn't flexible enough to have an aero position on the TT bike means he sucks in TTs.

 

[PeterB]

Intermediate sprint mystery revealed (?)

The photo of the intermediate sprint in stage 6 can be seen here http://photos.grahamwatson.com/2012RaceUpdates/Tour-of-Oman-Stage-6-Al-Khawd/21255394_6T5fVM#!i=1717470797&k=fwPx7RL&lb=1&s=M

Looks like Boonen clearly first, Sagan not sprinting anymore but he's too much ahead of Nibali. Velits seems to be closer to the line than Nibali (if only they had a regular line there).

Does anybody know about a better picture or even a video?

 

[wirral]

PeterB

Thanks for the link.

Is Sagan on the brakes there? It's difficult to tell.