2013 Speculation (and confirmation) thread - rider schedules and parcours

[gregrowlerson]

You mean Valverde will win?

Who else... Van Garderen? It will be a Paris-Nice with a historically weak field, it seems. And without a single former winner.

No Kloden?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Maybe it's time for De Gendt to win this one.

 

[theyoungest]

Maybe it's time for De Gendt to win this one.

From his own team, Westra would be the more logical option.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Frank Schleck, Uran, Samuel Sanchez and Kreuziger are likely podium contenders, too, I guess. The field will be strong, surely.

Not sure about Tony Martin, though. I mean, it will likely feature a 1st category MTF and no flat ITT to make up for that.

 

[theyoungest]

When Martin won it, he was one of the strongest climbers as well. And the Montagne de la Lure isn't the hardest climb in the world, after all Luis Leon got 3d there the last time around.

We don't know anything about possible TTs in the race so far.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

When Martin won it, he was one of the strongest climbers as well. And the Montagne de la Lure isn't the hardest climb in the world, after all Luis Leon got 3d there the last time around.

There were no long climbs when Martin won.

As to Sanchez, he also got 6th on Arrate. The guy was clearly juiced to the eyeballs. There's no way Martin can keep up with the likes of Frank Schleck.

We don't know anything about possible TTs in the race so far.

True, but the Col d'Eze TT seems a logical assumption for now.

 

[theyoungest]

A final stage Nice-Nice is pretty logical as well. I.e. we don't have a clue.

And there certainly was a long climb when Martin won. Guys like Mollema and F. Schleck got dropped. As did Luis Leon.

 

[jens_attacks]

col de la mure was a 20 minutes long climb, montagne de lure is a 35 minutes
barring any fast improvement by tony martin, i can't see him losing less than 3 minutes on it. only if they will go tempo which won't happen

 

[theyoungest]

But the Col de la Mure was steeper. Lure is a tempo climb. Heck, even Voigt lost just 1'30 to Contador on that thing. How will a good Martin lose more, certainly since Contador isn't riding?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

A final stage Nice-Nice is pretty logical as well. I.e. we don't have a clue.

And there certainly was a long climb when Martin won. Guys like Mollema and F. Schleck got dropped. As did Luis Leon.

The Col D'Eze TT was a huge success, though. So we do have a clue.

I don't think 7 kms is long and Frank Schleck was clearly off-form. Mollema has never been a reliable GC rider so I don't know why you bring him up. As for Sanchez, like I said, he only could contend because he was on the juice.

 

[theyoungest]

Lol, what's your point? Tony M was among the best climbers, but everyone else sucked/was off form? And Sanchez did great on Lure because he's a doper? Yeah, cause F. Schleck isn't.

You're an expert at adapting reality to fit your argument, I give you that.

 

[Ferminal]

It doesn't matter, he's not going to be first over the line on Montagne de Lure so he still needs a reasonable sized TT to win... there was one in 2011 but how many other years recently?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Lol, what's your point? Tony M was among the best climbers, but everyone else sucked/was off form? And Sanchez did great on Lure because he's a doper? Yeah, cause F. Schleck isn't.

You're an expert at adapting reality to fit your argument, I give you that.

I didn't say that everyone else sucked. I thought that was obvious as T. Martin wasn't the best climber in that race.

Yes, Tony Martin in freak form can win on such a course, though, even if the best climbers are in great form. However, Martin CAN'T win if the course features an MTF like Lure and it isn't off-set by a fairly long flat(ish) TT. He'll easily lose a minute on Lure, if not much more.

 

[jens_attacks]

me too i want col d'eze itt to stay for ever if it's possible. it's just legendary and great.

 

[staubsauger]

Hmm Voeckler, Gesink and De Gendt in the mix. It seems that this could become a very nice Paris - Nice for me, as one of my favorites would probably win it

 

[theyoungest]

Wilco Kelderman: TDU, Ruta del Sol, Almeria, Paris-Nice, Criterium Int., Romandie, Giro d'Italia.

 

[trevim]

One of my favourite riders, Mikel Nieve, going for the Tour this year. Now that everyone questions Euskaltel identity, Nieve is one of the keepers: a true lone climber, a crap time trialist and a taste for epicness. His schedule:
Challenge Mallorca (3-6 febrero)
Tour del Mediterráneo (6-10 febrero)
Vuelta a Andalucía (17-21 febrero)
París-Niza (3-10 marzo)
Volta a Catalunya (18-24 marzo)
GP Miguel Indurain (30 marzo)
Vuelta a Castilla y León (10-14 abril)
Tour de Romandía (23-28 abril)
Then I suppose he'll ride Suisse or the Dauphine. After the Tour, he plans on helping Sanchez and Anton D) at the Vuelta. The real question is: which is the most epic stage of the Tour? I'm sure he'll be attacking from at least 150km out. Seriously, if he can't ride for GC, I hope he targets KOM alongside an epic stage win!

 

[Eshnar]

The real question is: which is the most epic stage of the Tour?

the real answer is: There is none.
The ASO answer is: Alpe ofc.

 

[trevim]

the real answer is: There is none.
The ASO answer is: Alpe ofc.

Both good answers. Nieve will have to be happy with a stage win at Ventoux throw furious winds and rain

 

[jens_attacks]

tour of oman first race
wants to peak in il giro. again. hopefully this time with succes

 

[GP Blanco]

Michael Matthews will ride this year's Giro d'Italia. He will target stage 16, 17, 18 and 19.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/spo...thews-crack-at-giro-glory-20121231-2c2ye.html

 

[GP Blanco]

Wilco Kelderman: TDU, Ruta del Sol, Almeria, Paris-Nice, Criterium Int., Romandie, Giro d'Italia.

Sensible schedule for a 21 year old rider. It would have been too much to include a longer stage race at the end of March/beginning of April.

 

[the asian]

Does anybody know whether Vini Fantini are invited for Langkawi this year?

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Dirk Bellemakers:

03-01-2013 Trainingskamp (3-9 januari)
14-01-2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo etappe 1
15-01-2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo etappe 2
16-01-2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo etappe 3
17-01-2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo etappe 4
18-01-2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo etappe 5
19-01-2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo etappe 6
20-01-2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo etappe 7
27-01-2013 GP Marseillaise
30-01-2013 Ster van Bessèges etappe 1
31-01-2013 Ster van Bessèges etappe 2
01-02-2013 Ster van Bessèges etappe 3
02-02-2013 Ster van Bessèges etappe 4
03-02-2013 Ster van Bessèges etappe 5-6
17-02-2013 Ruta del Sol, proloog
18-02-2013 Ruta del Sol, etappe 1
19-02-2013 Ruta del Sol, etappe 2
20-02-2013 Ruta del Sol, etappe 3
24-02-2013 Clasica de Almeria
01-04-2013 Ronde van het Baskenland, etappe 1
02-04-2013 Ronde van het Baskenland, etappe 2
03-04-2013 Ronde van het Baskenland, etappe 3
04-04-2013 Ronde van het Baskenland, etappe 4
05-04-2013 Ronde van het Baskenland, etappe 5
06-04-2013 Ronde van het Baskenland, etappe 6
10-04-2013 De Brabantse Pijl
14-04-2013 Amstel Gold Race
17-04-2013 De Waalse Pijl
21-04-2013 Luik-Bastenaken-Luik
04-05-2013 Giro d'Italia (4-26 mei) (ovb)
23-06-2013 NK Kerkrade

 

[classicomano]

louis Delahaije ‏@CoachLuicito

New record: @lars_boom. 547 watts in maxtest. #readyfortheseason

Ready for Roubaix