2012 Volta ao Algarve

[Zam_Olyas]

1ª ETAPA February 15
DUNAS DOURADAS – ALBUFEIRA 151 km

2ª ETAPA February 16
FARO – LAGOA 188 km

3ª ETAPA February 17
CASTRO MARIM – MALHÃO (Loulé) 194.6 km

4ª ETAPA February 18
VILAMOURA – TAVIRA 186.3 km

5ª ETAPA February 19
CR/ INDIVIDUAL
LAGOA – PORTIMÃO 25 km
profile - http://www.voltaalgarve.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/etapa_5.jpg

SOURCE :- http://www.voltaalgarve.com/?page_id=46
Pro Tour
AG2R – FRA
BMC - USA
GARMIN-BARRACUDA - USA
LOTTO-BELISOL - BEL
OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP - BEL
RABOBANK - HOL
RADIOSHACK-NISSAN - LUX
SAXO BANK - DIN
SKY - GBR
VACANSOLEIL - HOL

Pro Continental
RUSVELO - RUS
TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN-MERCATOR - BEL
UNITED-HEALTHCARE - USA

Continental
EFAPEL-GLASSDRIVE - POR
LA-ANTARTE-ROTA DOS MÓVEIS - POR
ONDA-BOAVISTA - POR
CARMIN-PRIO – POR

 

[LaFlorecita]

No MTF??

 

[auscyclefan94]

Good race for Teejay van Garderen. Obviously Contador will feature.

 

[Lupetto]

Has Tony Martin written all over it. Don't think Contador can beat him here.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Has Tony Martin written all over it. Don't think Contador can beat him here.

Tony will lose lots of time on the Malhao.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Tony will lose lots of time on the Malhao.

It's less than 3k. He'll make up for the time he loses with a fabulous TT.

 

[Lupetto]

Tony will lose lots of time on the Malhao.

Don't think so.

http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=19837

 

[auscyclefan94]

If the climbers really go for it they will drop him.

 

[LaFlorecita]

If the climbers really go for it they will drop him.

But he won't lose "lots of time".

 

[maltiv]

Looking at last years results the climb could even be easy enough for EBH to stay within a manageable distance for the GC, but that won't happen since he will ride for Wiggins. Anyway, Tony Martin will win this quite easily unless he loses more than a minute on the hilltop finish, which I highly doubt. Obviously hard to predict though since he hasn't raced yet this season.

 

[will10]

If the climbers really go for it they will drop him.

They went for it last year and didn't. Malhao is not that hard.

 

[theyoungest]

If the climbers really go for it they will drop him.

On this kind of climb, and this early in the season, Tony is one of the better climbers himself, so I doubt it.

Looking at last years results the climb could even be easy enough for EBH to stay within a manageable distance for the GC, but that won't happen since he will ride for Wiggins. Anyway, Tony Martin will win this quite easily unless he loses more than a minute on the hilltop finish, which I highly doubt. Obviously hard to predict though since he hasn't raced yet this season.

If EBH has to pace Wiggo up the mountain, I don't know if that will hurt his own chances. He does that even without Wiggo.

 

[Kvinto]

as far as i remember Alto Malhao is about 3km-8.8% but it's indeed an early season and 25km of time trialing will take its toll for climbers while it favours riders like T.Martin

 

[iZnoGouD]

1. Tony Martin
2. Alberto Contador
3. Tiago Machado

 

[LaFlorecita]

1. Tony Martin
2. Alberto Contador
3. Tiago Machado

Agree about place 1 and 2, but third could be anybody really.

 

[Reuell]

I guess you people have missed the news that The Giant will be returning to procycling level here, with all the talk of Martin and Contador winning...
The greatest Dutch talent of his age will be riding his first race for United Healthcare.
He will bag this one easy peasy

 

[will10]

I guess you people have missed the news that The Giant will be returning to procycling level here, with all the talk of Martin and Contador winning...
The greatest Dutch talent of his age will be riding his first race for United Healthcare.
He will bag this one easy peasy

Great to see him back riding, will be interesting to see how he gets on this season. Wouldn't expect too much here though.

 

[Forunculo]

1. Tony Martin
2. Alberto Contador
3. Tiago Machado

Contador being a new Poulidor in these lesser races?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador being a new Poulidor in these lesser races?

Well, you can't expect him to lose no time or just a few seconds to Martin in a time trial. He'll lose dozens of seconds and how can he make up for it without a proper MTF?

 

[Forunculo]

Well, you can't expect him to lose no time or just a few seconds to Martin in a time trial. He'll lose dozens of seconds and how can he make up for it without a proper MTF?

I just kidding he is the Andy Schleck of this races

 

[LaFlorecita]

I just kidding he is the Andy Schleck of this races

Don't you dare EVER say that again.

 

[trevim]

They went for it last year and didn't. Malhao is not that hard.

Last year Contador wasn't even in form for that race. I mean Cummings and Van Garderen finished in the same time. In 2010 Contador put 22s on Leipheimer and 30s on Kloden, Sanchez and Purito.

Tony Martin should be one of the favourites anyway. I'm just saying the MTF is enough to create some distance between climbers and TT guys like Martin making the last stage potentially very entertaining.

 

[Havetts]

Don't you dare EVER say that again.

It is obvious he is just in those races because he has to and he always gets second cause he doesnt care.

 

[Forunculo]

Don't you dare EVER say that again.

Ouch I'm sorry

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ouch I'm sorry

It's okay.