2013 Tour of Oman (11th-16th February), 2.HC

[UncleTupelo]

Do sagan and gallopin have the same ability in long climbs? I think van avermaet is worse than these two.

I think Gallopin has more ability on the longer climbs than Sagan, I think he clung on for a 5th last year on this stage.

 

[Miburo]

Do sagan and gallopin have the same ability in long climbs? I think van avermaet is worse than these two.

I think gallopin is better, but it's sagan and if he really wants to defend it he might go far.

Van avermaert sucks on long climbs, count on him out.

You can also count the other guys out. Contador will win this.

The guy was 4th in an uphill sprint, if he does that he has very good legs

 

[UncleTupelo]

Thoughts on tomorrow people?

Alberto must win for sure. Who will be best of the rest?

 

[Afrank]

Yeah, good luck with hanging with Contador...

Whether he hangs with Contador or not, I'm just glad that he will try to.
After all, he's got to get used to climbing with the big boys if he's going to contend for grand tour GC's in the future.

 

[Afrank]

Thoughts on tomorrow people?

Alberto must win for sure. Who will be best of the rest?

Nibali and Froome I expect to be up there competing with Contador; maybe Pozzovivo too, depending on his form. It'll will be interesting to see how Dombrowski goes. Gallopin will surly be trying to hang in there as long as he can, he probably is looking at the GC.

 

[gruppeto993]

contador will definately win this. Im just wondering whether sagan and gallopin will be able to hold onto 2nd and 3rd in the GC. I think Contador will gain enough time over everyone else to secure the overall win. Man I wish this race was on TV! What idiots! and cancellara tweeted about it too!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Thoughts on tomorrow people?

Alberto must win for sure. Who will be best of the rest?

Well it's not sure of course

 

[pedromartins]

It's going to be great watching Sagan pulling a "Nibali" and crawl his way back to wining position.

 

[UncleTupelo]

Nibali and Froome I expect to be up there competing with Contador; maybe Pozzovivo too, depending on his form. It'll will be interesting to see how Dombrowski goes. Gallopin will surly be trying to hang in there as long as he can, he probably is looking at the GC.

ahh yes Dombrowski, a bit of a young pocket rocket I hear, I assume he'll be hampered with Froome duties?

 

[Afrank]

ahh yes Dombrowski, a bit of a young pocket rocket I hear, I assume he'll be hampered with Froome duties?

Most likely, although Froome doesn't need as much help on the climbs as Wiggo, so I'm hoping he is given a bit more freedom.

 

[UncleTupelo]

Gallopin 16 sec ahead of Alberto at the moment. I think Gallopin is really pumped for this but its a big ask to limit that tomorrow.

 

[airstream]

Well, I don't think Froome is ready to compete against Contador principally. Maybe he will try to do something on pride, but I don't think so. Nibali will try certainly.

 

[barmaher]

Set up beautifully for tomorrow.

Contador, Froome, Nibali, Evans for overall. With the added spice of Sagan and Gallopin possibly hanging on. Oman puts on consistently good parcours,and is rewarded with strong field and a great race.

I think Evans will ride well tomorrow.

 

[gruppeto993]

Yeah I really doubt he'll be able to hold off Alberto with a 16 sec lead. Mathew Bushe is the team's best climber here so he should just pace gallopin for as long as he can. The guy deserves a win. Btw what are stages are left after tomorrow? Are they sprints?

 

[maltiv]

I think Elissonde might go well tomorrow, he's been riding quite good so far and tomorrow's stage should suit him.

Hopefully the other 52 kg climber in the race, Pozzovivo, can do a decent ride as well.

 

[theyoungest]

Set up beautifully for tomorrow.

Contador, Froome, Nibali, Evans for overall. With the added spice of Sagan and Gallopin possibly hanging on. Oman puts on consistently good parcours,and is rewarded with strong field and a great race.

I think Evans will ride well tomorrow.

I don't think so. Evans in good form would have finished closer on today's stage.

 

[Afrank]

Yeah I really doubt he'll be able to hold off Alberto with a 16 sec lead. Mathew Bushe is the team's best climber here so he should just pace gallopin for as long as he can. The guy deserves a win. Btw what are stages are left after tomorrow? Are they sprints?

Stage 6 will probably be a sprint. Stage 5 has Bousher Alamrat which they climb 3 times before a descent to the finish, might provide a good springboard for a break. Not sure how hard the climb is though, so it might be another Sagan win, it'll be enough to drop Kittel though.
The profiles are on the first page.

 

[UncleTupelo]

Yeah I really doubt he'll be able to hold off Alberto with a 16 sec lead. Mathew Bushe is the team's best climber here so he should just pace gallopin for as long as he can. The guy deserves a win. Btw what are stages are left after tomorrow? Are they sprints?

I think stage 5 is a tad lumpy at the backend, but a sprint. Stage 6 for sure a sprint.

 

[Bushman]

Is there a profile of the climb? It's not very long, is it?

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

I think Elissonde might go well tomorrow, he's been riding quite good so far and tomorrow's stage should suit him.

Hopefully the other 52 kg climber in the race, Pozzovivo, can do a decent ride as well.

Yeah, would like to see Pozzovivo doing well on Green Mountain. Look forward to seeing him at the Giro

 

[rghysens]

Is there a profile of the climb? It's not very long, is it?

No real profile, but it's 6km @ 10%, more or less.

 

[Miburo]

No real profile, but it's 6km @ 10%, more or less.

That steep

No way Sagan will survive this.

Edit: Here's a profile.

 

[airstream]

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Sir Brad country/profile.

 

[Orbit501]

Sagan: “The final ascent is a hard climb. I will wait for attacks from the GC riders, both for the stage win and overall leadership. I know it will be hard to keep the jersey, but above all, it will be a useful test to understand my resistance on these climbs"

Sounds like he'll try to hang on at least.

I read that too and the romantic in me thought it sounds great that he might just try to give it a go at hanging on. I'd love to see that happen.

Then I read this :
"It's a real climb tomorrow," he said. "It's six kilometres long. I don't think I'll be up there or be able to defend my lead."

Last year he was second on GC behind Greipel going into this stage with 12" on Gallopin & 28" on Velits. Sagan lost about 6 minutes on Green Mountain and Velits took over the GC 1" ahead of Nibali, who won the stage. This year the field is stronger too.

Conclusion? - Sagan will most likely not defend GC tomorrow and content himself with getting another stage win on stage 5 instead.