2013 Tour de Suisse, Stage 9: Bad Ragaz - Flumserberg 26.8 Km

[Afrank]

Dont make me laugh. I have never wrote something like this.

Costa is overrated when 80% people say he's going to win in spite of the presence of Tejay Van Garderen. And thats'all.
Not specific words... it's simply that all people here talk like he's a super-rider and really is a wheelsucker who could have never won the past Suisse without the support of Valverde.

11 professional victories. More than 50 active professional riders with better palmares.

Tejay is no 2012 Wiggins than can easily beat everyone here by minutes. He is a minute back of Costa, that's quite a bit to make up. It's not overhyping at all to think that Costa can take the GC here with almost half the course being uphill, which should suit him well.

 

[Telmisartan]

Fancy Costa for the GC,something niggling me about TJ's interview that was on during today's stage,he tipped Frank to win,is that genuine or is he playing mind games to take the pressure off himself.Kreuziger has a shot at it but Costa for me.

 

[Red Rick]

11 pro victories
- GC Tour de Suisse 2012
---stagewins (2010.2012.2013)
- GP Cycliste Montreal 2011
- GC Dunkerke 2009
---stagewin at the Tour 2011.

He also has more than a couple of 2nds behind big names at that time. Not clearly overrated here. Not sure where you're trying to get.

About the guys younger than him, maybe they do, but 80% of those whom your thinking off don't have victories as important.

+, Costa also shoul've won the combativity award along with Barredo during the 2010 Tour

 

[trevim]

Because that was the hype he got this season, and guess what, he mostly delivered. He is so hyped that i, and some other unbearable hypers, expected him to lose time yesterday because the mountain was too hard for him. . . jesus the hype is so unbearable it almost burns. And when has he been talked up for GT's and stuff like that?

Even the portugueses in here don't trust all that much in his climbing skills, myself included. That's how much he's hyped. I completely agree with you: at the start of the season I thought, this year he may get a top10 in a monument and some good placings on WT 1 week stage races, not even expecting him to win any of them. The only thing where I really think Rui Costa is amongst the 10 best riders in the world: tactical skills.

Anyway for tomorrow: Thibaut Pinot. Hopefuly Kreuz and Costa on the podium as well.

 

[trevim]

TJ certainly. Maybe not enough for the overall, but for the podium surely.
Monfort might put a fast score on the board.
Schleck should ride the climb competitively, but I'm not convinced he will.

Come on, no one here believes it's possible for Andy to ride hard in 2 stages of the same race. That's saved only for the Tour

 

[Gugashwill]

Come on, no one here believes it's possible for Andy to ride hard in 2 stages of the same race. That's saved only for the Tour

Only the climb, c'mon!
It's just 10 kilometers.

Then two at the Tour.

 

[trevim]

Only the climb, c'mon!
It's just 10 kilometers.

Then two at the Tour.

Knowing Andy I really doubt it

 

[Kokoso]

Although Kreuziger also delivers a lot of bad ITT's.

But he never did bad MTT.

 

[Gugashwill]

Knowing Andy I really doubt it

Then, it's just two at the Tour after time trials?

 

[trevim]

Then, it's just two at the Tour after time trials?

I don't know
I like Andy and I really hope he does well. God knows he need a couple of good climbers to give Froome a run for his money.

 

[Rajna31]

I wouldn't underestimate Frank's chances here. He was 9th at the ToC TT, and this one is more mountainous and he is in a slightly better shape. Plus he is riding for the TdS, he should be super-motivated. It will be difficult to keep Costa & co. at bay but I think he has a shot.

Cam Meyer could also be interesting, has benn climbing very well and he is obviously one of the best on the flat part. Might have a chance to podium at the stage.

 

[taiwan]

Scarponi will win.

I have forseen it

 

[webvan]

Hard to see how TVG can't win that...TOP3 for Pinot, he's on fire!

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Scarponi will win.

I have forseen it

Difference between very good and merely decent TTer on the flat section could easily be a minute - it's a full 10 miler before they start climbing.

If TJVG is on his TT form from last tour, he'll need to climb pretty badly to finish behind Scarponi (although a minute on a 30 minute climb is not a massive amount, admittedly).

 

[caricas]

costa for gc.
kangert for stage

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Don't really care about the result because this race is full of no marks, but love the stage.

True test; strongest all round rider wins.

 

[BigMac]

Don't really care about the result because this race is full of no marks, but love the stage.

True test; strongest all round rider wins.

Is this the meaning of no-marks?

— n
slang ( Brit ) an insignificant or worthless person

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Is this the meaning of no-marks?

— n
slang ( Brit ) an insignificant or worthless person

In context, it means the field is pretty weak, with non of the top GC riders.

 

[BigMac]

In context, it means the field is pretty weak, with non of the top GC riders.

thanks, was pretty curious about that one since i never saw someone use it.

 

[manafana]

im in the pinot can go well camp, his all round tt is improving and hes proved solid in uphill ones.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

No one bit the first time, so I'll try again.

Will everyone be switching bikes at the bottom of the climbs? They should have a prize for best transition.

Easily a minute on the flat for riding a TT bike, but you'll lose 30 seconds on weight alone if you keep it for the climb.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

In context, it means the field is pretty weak, with non of the top GC riders.

July will judge it.

Dont forget here are the 2010 TDF "winner" and the climbing sensation and the fifth of the past Tour.

So is too early for make this statement.

 

[Gugashwill]

No one bit the first time, so I'll try again.

Will everyone be switching bikes at the bottom of the climbs? They should have a prize for best transition.

Easily a minute on the flat for riding a TT bike, but you'll lose 30 seconds on weight alone if you keep it for the climb.

GC aspirants and stage hunters should ride their tt machines.
Whether they should switch, depends on comfort. The switch shouldn't take more than 20 seconds. Finding the rhythm again, additional half minute.
All the rest can ride regular road bikes. More comfortable for the climb.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Van Gaderen for the stage and the GC.

Agreed, I think he will obliterate the opposition.

Crans Montana ITT was when Mollema did the entire hilly season after already being 3rd in Basque and top 10 in all hilly classics. I remember he was pretty much exhausted in that ITT. He should do better now.

That being said, Costa, Kreuziger and Van Garderen are normally superior in that category. Although Kreuziger also delivers a lot of bad ITT's.
And Pinot could have a good day here.

Frank, I don't believe in...but he'll stay on the podium

Costa will win the GC tho

I fear Frank will drop down to 6th or 7th overall. He can do a decent itt when he wants to but I fear many of the others are going to ride better than him.

 

[Rajna31]

No one bit the first time, so I'll try again.

Will everyone be switching bikes at the bottom of the climbs? They should have a prize for best transition.

Easily a minute on the flat for riding a TT bike, but you'll lose 30 seconds on weight alone if you keep it for the climb.

Most GC guys switched bikes at ToC too, where the climb was shorter and easier, so I'll assume everyone, who wants to achieve anything will do that here as well.