2012 Volta ao Algarve

[ferryman]

Didn't see the race but I really expected Matti to be faster than those two. Good signs of progressing from him though. Was he caught too far behind or what?

It was a bit of a twisty finish where position going into the final bend was key. Meersman had a good position and also jumped first. GVA was just about on his wheel and reacted first. Breschell was, if I remember, a bit on the outside of them and a bit back and just didn't have the position or legs/time to get to them.

 

[Thomsena]

It was a bit of a twisty finish where position going into the final bend was key. Meersman had a good position and also jumped first. GVA was just about on his wheel and reacted first. Breschell was, if I remember, a bit on the outside of them and a bit back and just didn't have the position or legs/time to get to them.

Ok. Cheers for that.

 

[theyoungest]

who is jetse bol?

What kind of forum administrator are you?

 

[ferryman]

Froome now 7s up on Brad

Strange looking at the full results. 4 Sky guys in the 1st Group and Brad bringing up the rear of the rest in the 2nd. He was looking pretty well protected a few Ks out so a bit of a mystery to me what happened at the end to cause the split

 

[YannickQ]

It was a bit of a twisty finish where position going into the final bend was key. Meersman had a good position and also jumped first. GVA was just about on his wheel and reacted first. Breschell was, if I remember, a bit on the outside of them and a bit back and just didn't have the position or legs/time to get to them.

It did seem like Breschel didn't really went full out in the sprint like he was thinking the finish line was further away.

 

[maltiv]

Wout Poels in group 1. Ready to pwn the living f.ck out of everyone on the Malhao

I guess he could try, but Lars Petter Nordhaug is going to win on Malhao

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I guess he could try, but Lars Petter Nordhaug is going to win on Malhao

Nordhaug won in Mallorca, nice. But this is a whole different level. It's not the same as finishing 2nd on Angliru

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Nordhaug won in Mallorca, nice. But this is a whole different level. It's not the same as finishing 2nd on Angliru

Correct, it's a 2500m sprint. Mallorca is rather more relevant.

I hope he dances on the podium.

 

[maltiv]

Nordhaug won in Mallorca, nice. But this is a whole different level. It's not the same as finishing 2nd on Angliru

That was 6 months ago though, so doesn't say anything about his form today. Obviously Poels is a much better climber on paper. I mean Contador is a ridiculously much better climber than Cummings too but look who won this climb last year.

You're probably right though, I just really hope that Nordhaug continues to deliver results on the road which corresponds to the values he can produce in testing

 

[theyoungest]

I guess he could try, but Lars Petter Nordhaug is going to win on Malhao

No chance, against Stephen Cummings.

PS is it possible to find a nickname for Cummings which doesn't sound like a 70s porn star?

 

[canyonball]

Correct, it's a 2500m sprint. Mallorca is rather more relevant.

I'll keep this in mind next time Cav wins one of his 500 m sprint. Not that this is relevant for this conversation. I just felt like saying it out loud.

 

[Kvinto]

it appears to be a roundabout 200m before the finish line tomorrow

 

[Libertine Seguros]

it appears to be a roundabout 200m before the finish line tomorrow

Same finish as used the last 2 years, site of André Greipel's greatest triumph, in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP7zJ_FtiCo

So what if it's February, that's an impressive win.

 

[FujiAnton]

Same finish as used the last 2 years, site of André Greipel's greatest triumph, in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP7zJ_FtiCo

So what if it's February, that's an impressive win.

The finish used the last 2 years was in Lagos, tomorow the stage finishes in Lagoa. It's a stage that suits a rider like EBH or Haussler.

 

[Kvinto]

Same finish as used the last 2 years, site of André Greipel's greatest triumph, in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP7zJ_FtiCo

So what if it's February, that's an impressive win.

I'm not quite sure to be honest. Greipel won a stage in Lagos, tomorrow's one ends in Lagoa or it is the same

EDIT: no, it's not the same and the roundabout exists

 

[FujiAnton]

No, tomorrow it's a new finish.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

My mistake. They did Lagoa-Lagos in the stage on that finish last year (the one Degenkolb won), hence the confusion.

 

[El Pistolero]

Clearly peaking much too early. Kinda like Rabobank last year

So what Monument will Rabobank win this year?

 

[Kwibus]

So what Monument will Rabobank win this year?

Pretty much all of them.

M-SR - Breschel
RvV- Breschel
Roubaix - Boom
LBL - Mollema

Really!

 

[theyoungest]

Pretty much all of them.

M-SR - Breschel
RvV- Breschel
Roubaix - Boom
LBL - Mollema

Really!

I think Breschel will do really well. He looks sharp. As for Boom, he's throwing pretty much his entire spring into the dustbin by not riding any prep races.

 

[Der Effe]

I think Breschel will do really well. He looks sharp. As for Boom, he's throwing pretty much his entire spring into the dustbin by not riding any prep races.

Agreed on both points. But in case of Boom, what else could he do? His girlfriend could give birth to their firstborn any minute so I understand he stays home and is not racing Algarve or Ruta del Sol. Maybe it'll work out well for him. He can now use Omloop and such as his 'preparation' for Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix.

Ps. Rabobank will, as usual, not win a thing of importance. The Rabobank managing director(s) will personally knock them off their bikes if it looks like they're winning.

 

[Kwibus]

I think Breschel will do really well. He looks sharp. As for Boom, he's throwing pretty much his entire spring into the dustbin by not riding any prep races.

Well I wasn't serious ofcourse, but your right about both.

I hope Breschel will win a race this spring. A race like E3 or dwars door Vlaanderen would be fine allready. I think he will be up there in all races. Let's hope he doesn't crash.

I just posted a comment on a dutch site about Boom that I don't expect much of him this spring. His first road race will be Omloop...
This weekend he will ride a cross again.

 

[theyoungest]

Agreed on both points. But in case of Boom, what else could he do? His girlfriend could give birth to their firstborn any minute so I understand he stays home and is not racing Algarve or Ruta del Sol. Maybe it'll work out well for him. He can now use Omloop and such as his 'preparation' for Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix.

Yeaaa... no. I don't think so.

Ps. Rabobank will, as usual, not win a thing of importance. The Rabobank managing director(s) will personally knock them off their bikes if it looks like they're winning.

If any of the riders currently on the team gets into a position to either get knocked off their bike or win a big race, that would already be quite surprising. The "as usual" bit I don't agree with, you must have forgotten about Milan-San Remo or the Giro, for instance (they weren't that long ago...)

 

[dlwssonic]

GVA has some form! watch out for him in the rest of the slightly uphill sprints and the rolling stages.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Talking about Boom..he now will ride the Cauberg cyclocross this weekend

Yeah...that's good preparation. Not