2013 Tour de Suisse, Stage 7: Meilen - La Punt 206 Km

[hoerpi]

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Hopefully both Anton and Andy will find their legs of old times tomorrow. My bet is that Frank will fight for his life and manage to stay in yellow.

 

[Netserk]

Mollema to win in a two-man sprint against Kreuziger.

 

[BigMac]

Sagan to drop everyone in the last climb.

 

[liamito]

Hopefully Scarponi, probably Martin I would say.

 

[Parrulo]

I think Kreuziguer will drop everyone on the climb and put himself in yellow.

Costa will imo suffer on the climb.

Between, who remembers this glorious ride?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N96zDaDTjE

Shame he isn't on this years race so he could play domestiqye for Costa once again

 

[Afrank]

Andy to take the win from the break.
Frank to turn himself inside out and keep yellow. Costa and Kreuziguer to make Frank earn it though.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

The last km of Albulapass will be really fast...











...because everybody will be trying to get in front of Pinot.

 

[BigMac]

Andy to take the win from the break.
Frank to turn himself inside out and keep yellow. Costa and Kreuziguer to make Frank earn it though.

I think we both know Andy will abandon today

 

[trevim]

Great reminder @Parrulo. This was probably the best mountain ride from Gesink ever, just before his best GT performance ever. He was explosive enough back then, not this diesel Basso style he's now.
Anyway about this stage:
1) I hope Mollema proves himself as true a climber since lots of people think he's more of a puncheur. I like to think of him as a climber and better GT material than Kelderman or Krujswijk.

2) Rui Costa: lots of suffering waiting for him: he hasn't looked in the same shape as last year (winning Verbier like a boss in front of pure climbers). At the end of the day, I'm happy if he keeps his podium chances.

3) Kreuziger, the one I want to win the stage. He has been riding agressively, his teams needs points and I'm a bit of a fanboy. So let's go!

4) Outsiders I want to do well/win: Daniel Martin and Thibaut Pinot. And Andy Schleck, seriously.

On a side note: after riding pointless breaks in the Giro flat stages, I see that Ricardo Mestre is riding this too, probably dead tired considering where he has been finishing the stages. What is Euskaltel trying to do? Burn him out and dump him later in the year? Using him for his points alone and to fill roosters? Really considering and touching of them

 

[Afrank]

I think we both know Andy will abandon today

Nah, that Andy's is long gone.

 

[Parrulo]

Cyclismactu posted an interview with Costa today and he said that unlike last year, where he was in top shape for the Tour de Suisse, this year he is pointing everything at the tour.

That is why i think he won't manage to keep up with Kreuziguer. Even in top shape he never was a great climber for the big climbs, in some sub top shape form i don't think he can climb with someone like kreuziguer or Pinot.

Between link to the whole interview here:
http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-interview-faria-da-costa-beaucoup-de-rivaux-33297.html

 

[auscyclefan94]

Mathias Frank is looking very strong so I will say he will take the win.

 

[Taxus4a]

I hope Mollema could take time, and Andy be on the fight for the stage.

 

[Rajna31]

What do you think about Spilak's chances? In his Romandie-form, I think he would be a favourite for this but he didn't show much so far.

 

[Parrulo]

What do you think about Spilak's chances? In his Romandie-form, I think he would be a favourite for this but he didn't show much so far.

Temperatures have been getting higher according to Rui Costa, and according to some posters here Spilak really hates hot temperatures.

 

[qwerty16]

2) Rui Costa: lots of suffering waiting for him: he hasn't looked in the same shape as last year (winning Verbier like a boss in front of pure climbers). At the end of the day, I'm happy if he keeps his podium chances.

Was he that great last year? In the remaining mountain stages he was struggling and was saved by having a great Valverde at his disposal. I don't think he is any worse than last year.

 

[Taxus4a]

What do you think about Spilak's chances? In his Romandie-form, I think he would be a favourite for this but he didn't show much so far.

I think now there are another people stronger, but he could do well.
He did a very strong spring anyway.
He is better with rain.

 

[Parrulo]

Was he that great last year? In the remaining mountain stages he was struggling and was saved by having a great Valverde at his disposal. I don't think he is any worse than last year.

He was bad on the stage to Arosa but according to himself that was more of a bad day caused by a hot day after successful days of col then because of bad climbing legs.

The following day to Sorenberg (?) he was stronger then Valverde on the big climb where Schleck went away. And from getting dropped by a group of about 20 riders the previous day, he was amongst the best 5 the following.

But he was in some really great shape last year, just look at his itt.

 

[TubularBills]

Sagan to drop everyone in the last climb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrmTFCfe6w8

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Low temperatures in Albulla.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Let's see...

Mathias Frank - Not a real bet at this level.

Roman Kreuziger and Rui Costa - Allround guys likely to suffer in a 30 kms climb.

Bauke Mollema - Puncheur. Lacks endurance, not a stage for him.

Dan Martin - Uphill finisher. He doesn't have the engine. Lost minutes with the favorites in the last kilometers of Port Ainé (Catalunya)

Thibaut Pinot - The only real climber of the Top10. Great recovery at this part of the race and good resistency and climbing skills. So he is the man for the win in spite of the descent.

 

[manafana]

I like Pinot, all about whether he wants to spend the energy.

 

[Parrulo]

Jason Mercier predicted Pinot for the win?

 

[gooner]

Dan Martin - Uphill finisher. He doesn't have the engine. Lost minutes with the favorites in the last kilometers of Port Ainé (Catalunya)

I don't know about that.

Of course he was going to lose time in the last Kms of the climb. He was in a huge breakaway from earlier in the day and was the only the rider to hold on in the end. That was one of the best rides of the year.

 

[Ferminal]

Lol, he climbed as fast as Rodriguez and Quintana despite being in the break and going solo from the bottom. How that is proof of not having an "engine" (whatever it means in this context) I have no idea. If he was in that form here he would win comfortably.