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

[Ferminal]

Upon closer inspection I don't mind Stage 6. The sequence of hills provides ample opportunity to race and the final one is quite rampy. I guess it's a bit like the finish a couple of years back where Gilbert got Poels on the line, very good stage that was (although it was harder and longer).

 

[Parrulo]

i can't find the profile for last years chieti stage but looking at the small profile of the entire race it seems, just like feminal said, that there is a bigger run in then there was last year

 

[Netserk]

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

Stage 5:

Stage 6:

 

[Ferminal]

I see what they've done, it's probably better, the first half of the climb into Chieti is now a big ramp too.

 

[Eshnar]

I'm at the mobile so I'm not sure... It seems the road to Chieti is shorter but flatter than last year. overall seems a good route.

 

[Miburo]

prati di tivo:

passo lanciano:

Seems pretty good to me, stage 5 can be very awesome.

 

[theyoungest]

prati di tivo:

passo lanciano:

Seems pretty good to me, stage 5 can be very awesome.

You don't remember the same stage from last year?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Upon closer inspection I don't mind Stage 6. The sequence of hills provides ample opportunity to race and the final one is quite rampy. I guess it's a bit like the finish a couple of years back where Gilbert got Poels on the line, very good stage that was (although it was harder and longer).

It looks like there's less than 400 meters of altitude gain in the last 40 kms. The last 8 kms or so are flat, too. I'm guessing that Sky and Saxo can control this one

 

[Miburo]

You don't remember the same stage from last year?

where do you think i got the profile from?

 

[Netserk]

where do you think i got the profile from?

Cyclingcols.com ?

 

[Leendert82]

Who would be favorite with this TA profile?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Who would be favorite with this TA profile?

Contador.

But I rate Froome equally. That seems to be a minority opinion, though.

 

[hoerpi]

Contador.

But I rate Froome equally. That seems to be a minority opinion, though.

If the problems with Bilharzia aren't disturbing him too much I rate Froome higher with the TTT.

 

[theyoungest]

Contador.

But I rate Froome equally. That seems to be a minority opinion, though.

Because it makes no sense. Froome has never won a stage race.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Because it makes no sense. Froome has never won a stage race.

Yes, I was aware that he didn't but Dauphine showed that he can be competitive in a one-week stage race. He doesn't have Wiggins to worry about anymore, either.

 

[Ferminal]

It looks like there's less than 400 meters of altitude gain in the last 40 kms. The last 8 kms or so are flat, too. I'm guessing that Sky and Saxo can control this one

But the 40km before that has 6 climbs 4 of which have steep ramps. If the desire is there, anything is possible.

 

[theyoungest]

Does anyone know what Rabo/Blanco's Flemish classic specialists (Boom, Vanmarcke, Wynants) racing schedule will be? Can't seem to find any info...

Lars Boom:
Tour Méditerranéen, Haut Var, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix.

Sep Vanmarcke:
Challenge a Mallorca, Volta ao Algarve, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix.

 

[the asian]

Lars Boom:
Tour Méditerranéen, Haut Var, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix.

Sep Vanmarcke:
Challenge a Mallorca, Volta ao Algarve, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix.

They aren't doing MSR?

 

[theyoungest]

They aren't doing MSR?

Apparently not. I think Luisle had it on his program (if they've not benched him by then), and probably Mark Renshaw.

 

[the asian]

Boonen getting better. Will ride Tour of Oman.

http://www.omegapharma-quickstep.com/en/news/show/boonen-getting-better-will-ride-tour-of-oman/1035

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Boonen getting better. Will ride Tour of Oman.

http://www.omegapharma-quickstep.com/en/news/show/boonen-getting-better-will-ride-tour-of-oman/1035

Good, will be needed in solid form for the cobbles.

 

[Parrulo]

Rui Costa confirmed his first 3 races:

Mallorca
Algarve
Paris Nice

after that i guess Pais vasco and the ardennes

 

[Gloin22]

Rui Costa confirmed his first 3 races:

Mallorca
Algarve
Paris Nice

after that i guess Pais vasco and the ardennes

Should have a nice chance for a win at PN, ideal prep for it as well. Tbh I can see him winning a stage at least in all of 3 of those races ( if you count Mallorcas 4 day stage race that is )

 

[Parrulo]

well winning a stage in each may be a stretch but i could see him fighting for the overall in alvarve and PN although with 34k of itt it will be tough to beat martin and porte in algarve.

PN should be interesting tho without any big gun that i can think of and montagne de lure to drop martin.

i also think he is having a lighter schedule this year, as he hinted that after the tour his form was on the downhill all the way till the end of the season, after all his season was over 20 race days/5000 Km longer then the longest season he had before.

so it should be something like:

Mallorca
Algarve
Paris Nice
Pais Vasco
Ardennes
Romandie
Suisse
Tour
Canadian races
Worlds
Lombardy

which would be around 70 racing days with some smaller races around the year as well.

 

[Parrulo]

Talking about PN, who should be the favourites?

I know we still don't have parcours but the col de eze ITT and montagne de lure seem pretty much confirmed rumours. And being this PN, this 2 stages + the prologue should be all there is in terms of GC decisive stages.

Since most top guys are skipping it either for TA (Contador, Nibali, froome, evans, scarponi and cunego just to name a few) or for different racing scedules ( Wiggins and Valverde) we will have a very open race.

so who are the favourites?

Costa?
TJVG?
Porte?
Rogers?
Kreuziguer?
Taramae?
Pinot?
Rolland?