2012 Volta ao Algarve

[Eric8-A]

I don't Martin's capable of pulling that much time on Porte. His best chances are a run at the podium in which Wiggo will also be contesting. But I think Porte has the overall safely in the bag.

 

[Midnightfright]

Ryo Hazuki wants a word

He's playing with fire by not mentioning Mr Henao.

 

[Michele]

I don't Martin's capable of pulling that much time on Porte. His best chances are a run at the podium in which Wiggo will also be contesting. But I think Porte has the overall safely in the bag.

I think it was el Pistolero who reported that Martin got some knee problems this winter and started his season slower than usual so I wouldnt expect much but just a decent ride.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

With Wiggins going for the Tour and with Froome possibly doing both the Tour and Vuelta i an just wondering is Porte doing the Giro?

No, that's Konstantin's gig, (and sergio in the mind of this forum).

 

[Eric8-A]

I think it was el Pistolero who reported that Martin got some knee problems this winter and started his season slower than usual so I wouldnt expect much but just a decent ride.

This can be good news for me knowing he might not win the time trial.

 

[theyoungest]

No, that's Konstantin's gig, (and sergio in the mind of this forum).

I think Steven de Jongh mentioned Sivtsov is on the shortlist for the Tour. Don't know if that's true, and what that means regarding the Giro, but there you go.

 

[iZnoGouD]

yeah Tony Martin is not in the best shape because of overtraining problems he had and stuff but it's 25 km, it will be hard to take tt victory away from him.

Machado vs Porte will be fun, Porte seems better but i think Machado can surprise, at least that's what i hope tough 12 seconds is a lot of time

 

[Wilba60]

Porte seems to have lost weight though and he didn't ride a particularly good time trial at the Aussie nationals (was a month ago mind).

This is Tony Martin we're talking about here. You have to say he has a chance.

"Rogers' time of 46:36:30 was enough to give him the new mark, however Durbridge powered across the finish line 16 seconds better off. Porte was next, possibly struggling in the windy conditions with his comparatively smaller frame (47:39.38) before Meyer moved into the silver medal position with his ride, pushing Rogers back to the bronze."

I thought Porte was pretty good in the Aussie Nationals and for a very early season race he did come up against some very good time trialists in Durbridge, Meyer, Rogers and Hepburn in windy conditions.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Wind direction will be crucial. If the wind is coming more from the abck, it's a walk in the park for Porte. If it comes more from the front it'll be interesting.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

It's 2/3rds there, 1/3rd back, so there'll likely be a bit of both.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Quite a lot of the guys on Sky looked strong today. Nordhaug and Löfkvist put in some massive turns pulling in the breakaway-guys. Kosta and Zandio worked their a**es off, EBH, Froome and Wiggo laid more groundwork for Porte as well. Too bad it can't be copied in a GT, but impressive nevertheless.
Most impressive was Porte though, the way he parked Machado was stellar. Porte is probably the best acquisition of Sky, ever. Still young, a credible GC-guy for a lot of years to come, and infinitely more sympathetic than Cav.

Another thing, look out for EBH on the ITT on Sunday!

I doubt that. I say watch the Giro when a certain Sergio Henao rides

 

[Lupetto]

Last year's Paris-Nice TT over 27k.

1 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 0:33:24
2 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:20
3 Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:00:29
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack 0:00:46
5 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:55
6 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:57
7 Andrew Talansky (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:01:05
8 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:01:10
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack
10 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad 0:01:29

 

[The Hitch]

So often in these situations the guy who wins the mtf wins the ttp especially in shorter smaller stage races. its a question of form confidence and the will to go all out.. This has been achieved even by people like Robert gesink. So when it comes to richie porte probably one of the top 5 tters in the world, expect a comfortable win.

 

[jens_attacks]

km 22,7: Meta Volante em Loulé:
1.º Michal Kwatowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
2.º Rui Costa (Movistar)
3.º Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky)

rui costa takes some seconds i guess?

 

[iZnoGouD]

he will need them for tomorrow

 

[WL Irish]

The following fugitives have about 2:10 at 72km in

Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Jan Bakelants e Matthew Busche (RadioSahck-Nissan), Sergio Pardilla (Movistar), Matti Breschel (Rabobank), Mikael Cherel (Ag2r La Mondiale), Greg van Avermaet (BMC), Jesus Hernández (Saxo Bank), Bjorn Leukemans (vacansoleil-DCM) e Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Caja Rural).

Hernandez is the best placed at a minute down

 

[roundabout]

Good group.

 

[Trofinios]

The following fugitives have about 2:10 at 72km in

Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Jan Bakelants e Matthew Busche (RadioSahck-Nissan), Sergio Pardilla (Movistar), Matti Breschel (Rabobank), Mikael Cherel (Ag2r La Mondiale), Greg van Avermaet (BMC), Jesus Hernández (Saxo Bank), Bjorn Leukemans (vacansoleil-DCM) e Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Caja Rural).

Hernandez is the best placed at a minute down

Strong group. Team Sky will have to work pretty hard I guess.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Jesus!!!!!

 

[WL Irish]

agreed. Looks like the gap is out to 2:52 min at 100km

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

I'd love to see these guys duke it at the end, but I'm guessing they don't have much of a shot.

Anyone have any ideas on how big of a problem that bump at the end is going to be? A bunch kick of sorts, with maybe of the few pure sprinters gone?

 

[will10]

Jesus!!!!!

Wow. Well, this isn't getting tiresome.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

agreed. Looks like the gap is out to 2:52 min at 100km

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

I'd love to see these guys duke it at the end, but I'm guessing they don't have much of a shot.

Anyone have any ideas on how big of a problem that bump at the end is going to be? A bunch kick of sorts, with maybe of the few pure sprinters gone?

It looks to me like they're going over to the village of Santo Estevão, which would make it a few kilometres of uphill false flat, with the main "climb" being about 1,5km long and averaging only 3-4%. They may have a bit more false flat after that to join up with the N270 back into Tavira. A pity as if they'd been prepared to add another 20km or so onto the distance they could have done the Alto do Azinheiro (I'm not expecting a Cerro de São Miguel MTF), which would have been hard enough to dislodge some people and encourage speculative attacks, but far enough out that the bunch would be favourite to make the catch.

 

[Trofinios]

Anyone have any ideas on how big of a problem that bump at the end is going to be? A bunch kick of sorts, with maybe of the few pure sprinters gone?

Still 10k left after the bump. So I doubt it will have much of an impact. But if the escape still have a decent lead Sky might put the hammer down on the climb and continue to go hard after the climb, which could split the bunch.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Yeh Sky could put the hammer down

 

[Trofinios]

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