2012 Volta ao Algarve

[canyonball]

On a one week race like this, I would rate them very similar. Of course there are factors other than talent that can get in the way, being February. Rui Costa has already said he didn't spend much time on the TT bike this year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

On a one week race like this, I would rate them very similar. Of course there are factors other than talent that can get in the way, being February. Rui Costa has already said he didn't spend much time on the TT bike this year.

i think machado is a much better tt specialist but we'll see

 

[greenedge]

Congrats to Ciolek ( CQ points my way ). Now all i need is Porte to win and Costa to somehow finish top 5 ( GC to get a good score ).

Nice lead-in by Trentin.

 

[Parrulo]

i think machado is a much better tt specialist but we'll see

ya he is, costa has been ignoring his time trial for over a year now and has been focusing on his climbing instead so he improves his chances at the ardennes, so machado will obviously do much better then costa tomorrow.

iirc costa's last good itt performance was on the dauphine grenoble itt where he was 10th

 

[Bavarianrider]

Stage:

1. Tony Martin
2. Bradley Wiggins
3. Porte

Gc:

1.Porte
2. Martin
3. Costa

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Stage:

1. Tony Martin
2. Bradley Wiggins
3. Porte

Gc:

1.Porte
2. Martin
3. Costa

Costa to pass Machado, and hold off Wiggins?

Not buying it.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Any word on why Froome DNS yesterday?

 

[Froome19]

Any word on why Froome DNS yesterday?

Didn't want to be totally shattered working for Porte?

 

[Kvinto]

Didn't want to be totally shattered working for Porte?

Hmm, there is something about it. He has done a lot of work for Porte, as whole the team did (maybe except of Wiggins who worked in front only for these ~1-1.5km on Malhao)

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Hmm, there is something about it. He has done a lot of work for Porte, as whole the team did (maybe except of Wiggins who worked in front only for these ~1-1.5km on Malhao)

I can't see a problem, unless Porte is kidding himself that he isn't going to be Wiggins/Froome's personal valet for 3 weeks this July.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Any word on why Froome DNS yesterday?

Planned not to finish the race, because he wanted to let somebody else win a race at some point this year.

 

[Kvinto]

I can't see a problem, unless Porte is kidding himself that he isn't going to be Wiggins/Froome's personal valet for 3 weeks this July.

I don't know how about Porte's GT illusions but it seemed a bit weird that Froome (who is expected to be a leader in PN) was involved in domestique work thus much while Wiggo was rather spared...

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Planned not to finish the race, because he wanted to let somebody else win a race at some point this year.

Don't be silly, he's not JTL.

 

[Froome19]

I don't know how about Porte's GT illusions but it seemed a bit weird that Froome (who is expected to be a leader in PN) was involved in domestique work thus much while Wiggo was rather spared...

Probably part of Sky's "hands on everone works for the leader" moto especially as EBH the leader at the time was also made to work for Porte, Wiggins was probably spared because he's in better form than anyone but Porte (possibly EBH) ,as will be shown by the TT today, and anyway its common knowledge that Wiggins is the true GT leader for Sky in any GT he wants to race

 

[Kvinto]

Probably part of Sky's "hands on everone works for the leader" moto especially as EBH the leader at the time was also made to work for Porte, Wiggins was probably spared because he's in better form than anyone but Porte (possibly EBH) ,as will be shown by the TT today, and anyway its common knowledge that Wiggins is the true GT leader for Sky in any GT he wants to race

i think so too and thus i should have written 'Froome (who was expected to be a leader in PN)'

Porte and Wiggo should lead the Sky in Paris-Nice

 

[Bavarianrider]

Any information on the wind conditions?

 

[canyonball]

Forecasts show a weak wind coming from the north, so the riders will get it from the back for a bit and then from the side.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Forecasts show a weak wind coming from the north, so the riders will get it from the back for a bit and then from the side.

Thanks, that should seal the deal for Porte.

 

[maltiv]

Interestingly this will be EBH's third stage race in a row in which he wins the point jersey. Can't blame him for not being consistent, at least

 

[El Pistolero]

I love this picture, you can see how happy Trentin is.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I love this picture, you can see how happy Trentin is.

Yeah that's great. Understandable that he's happy - he did an amazing leadout.

 

[Kvinto]

Yeah that's great. Understandable that he's happy - he did an amazing leadout.

I think he showed that he has speed to sprint himself. It's good for a future classics' star

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Yeah that's great. Understandable that he's happy - he did an amazing leadout.

Well, hard to know what sort of job he did - the guy at 3rd wheel through the corner decided that stage.

 

[Kvinto]

Well, hard to know what sort of job he did - the guy at 3rd wheel through the corner decided that stage.

True, but he was really fast. I had even some doubts Ciolek can hold on his wheel at first

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Costa to pass Machado, and hold off Wiggins?

Not buying it.

costa is an underrated ttr mind you.