2012 Volta ao Algarve

[El Pistolero]

TBH he was still in good form then after winning sans sebatien and going on to win the national tt, something as you mentioned he is not a specialist at.

From the fact that Gilbert won the nats tt it shows he is evidently a pretty good time trialist and full credit to EBH for beating gilbert by the amount he required in order to win. That is how he will need to time trial if he wants to win any stage race especially this one and beat the likes of contador, so it certainly doesn't detract from EBH's accomplishment in beating Gilbert

Belgian nats time trial was fairly hilly.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

yeah gilbert is not really an outstanding ttr, like the dutch belgium aren't really taking the world by storm in the itt.

--

anyway hoping poels can be ok here. Or rather get soem form, I wanna see him do well in t-a

 

[auscyclefan94]

yeah gilbert is not really an outstanding ttr, like the dutch belgium aren't really taking the world by storm in the itt.

--

anyway hoping poels can be ok here. Or rather get soem form, I wanna see him do well in t-a

Do you see Poels being a good stage racer or classics rider or both, Timmy?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I don't know, but I do think TA is a rce which plays to his characteristics.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

José João Mendes to win the GPM.

 

[greenedge]

Yet to win a stage race of this stature?
He has won Eneco which is a world tour stage race unlike this race

It's flatter and had less quality competitors.

Besides as El Pistolero says he is up against Contador, Martin and riders i like to call from his own team, he will have to ride for. I think the course is too tough for him, even though i do agree he has good early season form.

 

[canyonball]

RTP2 have their schedule up on its site for this competition.

Live coverage on RTP2 for 15, 16 and 17 Feb from 15.30 to 17.00 ( one hour and a half seems too good to be true...if it is, oh my...) No indication for 18 and 19th, though. Let's wait a little bit more, as it might be included on the weekend's show "Desporto 2".

I read Eurosport will also broadcast the race

 

[jens_attacks]

RTP2 have their schedule up on its site for this competition.

Live coverage on RTP2 for 15, 16 and 17 Feb from 15.30 to 17.00 ( one hour and a half seems too good to be true...if it is, oh my...) No indication for 18 and 19th, though. Let's wait a little bit more, as it might be included on the weekend's show "Desporto 2".

I read Eurosport will also broadcast the race

eurosport?probably 15 min highlights as always.

well it looks that fortunately i'm wrong algarve will be live on eurosport 2

1st stage 45 minutes live from 16;45 CET
2nd stage 45 minutes live from 16;45 CET
3rd stage 30 minutes recorded from 17;00 CET

i hope eurosport will also show e3 harelbeke,that's a must now.

 

[El Pistolero]

eurosport?probably 15 min highlights as always.

well it looks that fortunately i'm wrong algarve will be live on eurosport 2

1st stage 45 minutes live from 16;45 CET
2nd stage 45 minutes live from 16;45 CET
3rd stage 30 minutes recorded from 17;00 CET

i hope eurosport will also show e3 harelbeke,that's a must now.

Don't forget it's on a Friday now.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

RTP2 have their schedule up on its site for this competition.

Live coverage on RTP2 for 15, 16 and 17 Feb from 15.30 to 17.00 ( one hour and a half seems too good to be true...if it is, oh my...) No indication for 18 and 19th, though. Let's wait a little bit more, as it might be included on the weekend's show "Desporto 2".

I read Eurosport will also broadcast the race

Massive, massive improvement. Also, RTP coverage means Marco Chagas commentating.

 

[Parrulo]

Massive, massive improvement. Also, RTP coverage means Marco Chagas commentating.

yay algarve finally has live coverage!!!!! they were very very close to getting it last year, and the organization promised they would have it this year, but i never thought they would actually deliver

 

[Parrulo]

Rui Costa is going to ride leading movistar and is aiming at a top 10 placing, i am going with a podium tho

 

[iZnoGouD]

Rui Costa and Tiago Machado on podium would be cool

 

[Parrulo]

Rui Costa and Tiago Machado on podium would be cool

indeed, even better if machado managed to win, with the itt i think he has a better chance then costa. would also be a big boost for portuguese cycling

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Caja Rural are going, so Hernâni Broco to round out the podium after winning on Malhão!

Personally, I wish they'd include an MTF on Monte Figo at the Cerro de São Miguel - it's midway between Loulé, Faro and Tavira, and is 3,5km at 9,1%, so a bit tougher than Malhão, and would redress the climbing/time trialling balance a bit.

 

[airstream]

Sorry, is that climb really named in honor of Luis Figo or it's just a coincidence?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Just a coincidence. That isn't really coincidental, since it's a fairly common word. Unless you want to also consider that Santiagomendi in Gipuzkoa was named after Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago. Though that would be pretty cool.

 

[Christian]

There is the Montée Laurent Jalabert and the Salita Charly Gaul ... maybe in Argentina somewhere there is a Monte Maradona?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

There is the Montée Laurent Jalabert and the Salita Charly Gaul ... maybe in Argentina somewhere there is a Monte Maradona?

You'd expect it to be cyclists, though, no? Not just randomly named after big sporting characters from the country. Monte Agostinho would be more likely, don't we think?

 

[skidmark]

Rui Costa is going to ride leading movistar and is aiming at a top 10 placing, i am going with a podium tho

I thought Costa was riding Haut Var? Admittedly, it would make more sense for him to ride Algarve, but I had read startlists for Haut Var with him on them.

 

[EddytheBoss]

not to be off topic, but do anyone know the lineup??

 

[canyonball]

I thought Costa was riding Haut Var? Admittedly, it would make more sense for him to ride Algarve, but I had read startlists for Haut Var with him on them.

From what I understand, Haut Var was initially on his schedule, but there was a change of plans with the late inclusion of Movistar to Algarve. He will be one of possible team leaders. According to Rui Costa's website, their roster is:

Movistar Team (no particular order)
Rui Costa
David Arroyo
Marzio Bruseghin
Jonathan Castroviejo
José Herrada
Sergio Pardilla
Rubén Plaza
Branislau Samoilau.

Still no official startlist.

Oh...and like I suspected the last two stages will be shown live on RTP2, during the Desporto 2 show. And it should be possible to have a live stream going around.

 

[trevim]

Rui Costa
David Arroyo
Marzio Bruseghin
Jonathan Castroviejo
José Herrada
Sergio Pardilla
Rubén Plaza
Branislau Samoilau.

Movistar always looks like this: a ridiculous strong team with lots of good riders and no leader.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Movistar always looks like this: a ridiculous strong team with lots of good riders and no leader.

Mainly because a certain Mr. A Valverde Belmonte is not riding. There is clearly a team leader there now.

For 2011 for much of the year they looked like that, sure, and especially in the second half of the season after Tondó's death and Soler's injury, but the numbers game is good for them.

If he has recovered from his injuries and is the same rider he was beforehand, Rubén Plaza could win the race. The climb is well within his range and he's a good time triallist, and he has history in Portugal as well.

 

[maltiv]

It's going to be interesting to see Sky's tactics for this race. With Wiggins, Froome, Nordhaug, Porte and EBH (even Löfkvist or Sivtsov) they have an insane amount of guys who could do well here. I imagine Nordhaug will still be the strongest climber, but given his mediocre TT he'll probably have to help some of the other guys.

A bit surprised to see that they're not bringing a single guy who can help EBH in the sprints, without a leadout he is usually quite useless. Had they brought someone like G he'd probably take a couple of stages considering the sprint lineup doesn't seem to be that impressive.