2012 Volta ao Algarve

[trevim]

Hard to believe that portuguese media don´t give a **** of attention to this competition!!!

That's not true. Specially this year. There will be TV coverage for the first time on RTP.

 

[birthmark]

Interest in the competition is surelly growing, but its still kind of short. The schedulling of the Alto do Malhão stage to Saturday would have benefited the promotion of the race, I think. Still, what a great line up. Tony Martin / Tiago Machado will be the guys to beat..

 

[iZnoGouD]

If the climb was a bit longer it would be much more exciting

 

[Der Effe]

Rabobank team:

Carlos Barredo
Jetse Bol
Matti Breschel
Stef Clement
Rick Flens
Luis Leon Sanchez
Paul Martens
Bram Tankink

 

[iZnoGouD]

top 3 for this race? i have no doubts Martin is going to win, Machado probably takes 2nd place, who gest 3rd?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Martin v. Kloden v. Froome
+ some TV coveage
what's not to like

 

[Ruvu75]

Costa or Broco will be third

 

[TeoSheva]

Rabobank team:

Carlos Barredo
Jetse Bol
Matti Breschel
Stef Clement
Rick Flens
Luis Leon Sanchez
Paul Martens
Bram Tankink

so Barredo is here and not in Andalucia: any hope now to see Wilco in Andalucia?

EDIT: no way... Boom is replacing him

 

[theyoungest]

so Barredo is here and not in Andalucia: any hope now to see Wilco in Andalucia?

EDIT: no way... Boom is replacing him

Yes, Boom will become a father this week, that's why they've switched.

 

[canyonball]

just seen the startlist,is this the first race for nuno ribeiro?does anyone know if he trained in this period of time?

It's hard for the portuguese teams to be a factor here, IMO. With the exeption of a few riders who took part in San Luis (Mestre for instance), all the others are going into Volta ao Algarve with only 143 km of racing in their legs- Prova de Abertura (Loule), last Sunday.

That was Nuno Ribeiro's first race, coincidently. Don't know about his form (it was bunch sprint, not exactly his terrain), but during his suspension, he said in some interviews he was training everyday.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Excellent. Nuno to win on Malhão, then, by half a wheel over a really overrated rider on soulless corporte team, but lose the GC to self-same overrated rider on soulless corporate team thanks to Efapel not placing him in the top 25 on a flat stage, and the forums to explode with rage at this doper coming back and winning.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Malhao

If the climb was a bit longer it would be much more exciting

If you saw / knew the terrain that they are riding that day, you wouldnt say that. Its like a mini version of the Alps out there - its a super stage and great finish.

 

[iZnoGouD]

I know the climb if it was longer it would be easier to drop Tony Martin and then 1st place would be harder to predict

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Yes, Boom will become a father this week, that's why they've switched.

yes, and I assume boom would like some more racing in the legs before omloop.

 

[jens_attacks]

Excellent. Nuno to win on Malhão, then, by half a wheel over a really overrated rider on soulless corporte team, but lose the GC to self-same overrated rider on soulless corporate team thanks to Efapel not placing him in the top 25 on a flat stage, and the forums to explode with rage at this doper coming back and winning.

sadly can't see that although i like the pozzovivo of portugal.the level will be pretty high and i doubt he can do a valverde.
my portuguese hope for winning a stage was sergio ribeiro but i heard he's sick...it would be awesome to see him beating boasson hagen,breschel or whoever is here.

it will be tony martin vs sky for gc

 

[Parrulo]

race goes live at 15:30 GMT today so that's 16:30 CET

 

[Mellow Velo]

race goes live at 15:30 GMT today so that's 16:30 CET

Deep joy for Eurosport watchers. We get Mr Kirby's inane ramblings.

 

[FujiAnton]

Today stage have 350m@8.5% inside the final kilometer, so i bet Ciolek or GVA.

 

[jens_attacks]

Today stage have 350m@8.5% inside the final kilometer, so i bet Ciolek or GVA.

that would be perfect for a fit sergio ribeiro

 

[kanari]

Today stage have 350m@8.5% inside the final kilometer, so i bet Ciolek or GVA.

Haussler or EBH could chaallenge as well.

 

[FujiAnton]

that would be perfect for a fit sergio ribeiro

Absolutely, it's a pity he being out of form. No way to match guys like Ciolek, GVA, EBH, Haussler, with only one day of race.

 

[MartinGT]

Deep joy for Eurosport watchers. We get Mr Kirby's inane ramblings.

Its not on UK Eurosport

 

[theyoungest]

Today stage have 350m@8.5% inside the final kilometer, so i bet Ciolek or GVA.

I think this stage is the same every year, it's usually a sprint for strongmen. Last year it wasn't, because Gilbert attacked before that ramp.

 

[User Guide]

Its not on UK Eurosport

O yes it is eurosport 2 @15:45

 

[WL Irish]

http://www.voltaalgarve.com/?page_id=599

We've got ticker-age if anyone is interested. Looks like a group of 5 off the front:

Michael Cherel (Ag2r La Mondiale), Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank), Sven Vandousselaere (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), Sérgio Sousa (Efapel-Glassdrive) e Ricardo Mestre (Carmin-Prio-Tavira).

Although a few minutes before that Jason McCartney was OTF with a few of these guys, too. I hope they just forgot to mention him and he still is OTF.

Since there is no other action and I could use a work break, an amusing anecdote. I showed up for a group ride in Iowa City (where McCartney lives) once, and wondered who this poser dude was with a full Discovery kit, bike, and no helmet. I made a couple of jokes about how pro this dude was, and he then proceeded to rip all of our legs off. It then occurred to me that it was McCartney, and then I felt like the tool, ha ha.