2013 Volta ao Algarve (14th-17th February), 2.1

[Ryo Hazuki]

I guess the one still in the peloton must be their best rider igor silva

112 201 SILVA Igor SELEÇÃO NACIONAL DE ANGOLA 5:07:29 m.t.

indeed

 

[theyoungest]

The only thing in the way of Blanco was Rabobank. Is it possible that a sponsor makes such demands that the team will have such a bad time? Great start of the season. Let's hope they keep this up when the real season starts on Het Volk.

You can mainly see it in the fact that Gesink will focus on the Giro, that would never have happened on Rabobank. But other than that, they won a lot of races in the early 2011 season as well (Langeveld in the Omloop, remember?)... and not much more after that.

 

[trevim]

You can mainly see it in the fact that Gesink will focus on the Giro, that would never have happened on Rabobank. But other than that, they won a lot of races in the early 2011 season as well (Langeveld in the Omloop, remember?)... and not much more after that.

It just seems to me that the guys are taking a more soft and less nervous approach. And yeah I remember that win from Langeveld, great ride indeed.

 

[Der Effe]

"Paul Martens wins the openings stage in the Volta Algarve. He countered an attack of Tiago Machado (RadioShack Leopard), who jumped on one kilometer from the finishline. Both stayed clear from the bunch in the last 500 meters descent. The peloton sprint was dominated by Theo Bos. With Bos finishing on a 3rd place it's a great start of this race for the Blanco Pro Cycling Team."

 

[Cycle Chic]

Let's not go ahead of ourselves

Why the Black Winged Kite ??

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Recap.
Last few kms were messy with riders taking short cuts etc.
Good win by Martens, but hopefully the action will be better during stage 2.

 

[wirral]

I can't find a decent profile of today's finish anywhere.

This is last year's run into Lagoa. I don't know if it is the same finish or not.

 

[Ferminal]

It's just a couple of tiny rollers, think uhh... Cap Frehel 2011.

 

[wirral]

Thanks, the official website is not really much help.

 

[MADRAZO]

50 EN125: à direita, para Faro BA 0,2 191,0 4,0 15:46 15:32 15:20
100 Separador: pela direita, para Lagoa BA 2,4 193,4 1,6 15:50 15:36 15:23
95 Lagoa - rotunda: pela esquerda, para a Meta Final BA 1,2 194,6 0,4 15:51 15:38 15:25
100 Meta Final / Arrivée - Câmara Municipal de Lagoa 0,4 195,0 0,0 15:52 15:38 15:25

There is altitude in the timescedual, and the end 4kms should be 2,4 kms of 2 % and then 1,6 kms flat

Should not really trouble the sprinters at all

 

[theyoungest]

Video from last year. Rather sketchy finish, once again. If OPQS get it right this time, should be no prob for Cav.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Stage 2 preview: Lagoa → Lagoa, 195 km (hilly/rollers)
February 14 update: Lagoa is another regular host of this race. Stage 2 starts out hilly and finishes with some rollers. Normally, there is an small uphill finish in Lagoa and a rough calculation using this year's stage timetable reveals the last 400m averages 10%.

http://www.steephill.tv/volta-ao-algarve/

 

[jens_attacks]

actually machado looked pretty strong yesterday.my pick for the win today

 

[Cycle Chic]

Different finish line to last year. Same as the start line.

 

[Rui Quinta]

Today is for sprinters

 

[karaev]

anybody knows when this stage should end?

 

[Oltean_RO]

...It has allready started!...

L.E. Ah my bad. It should end at 15:30 (local time)

 

[Oltean_RO]

This guys are in front. They have a 1:30 minutes gap.
Dmitry Kozontchuk (Katusha), Sep Vanmarcke (Blanco), Ricardo Garcia (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Manuele Boaro (Saxo-Tinkoff), Bertjan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM), Omar Fraile (Caja Rural), Dalivier Ospina (Colombia), Thomas Metcalfe (Carmine-Tavira), Hugo Sabido (LA-Alumínios Antarte) and Alejandro Marque (OFM-Fifth of sandpaper).

 

[LaFlorecita]

This guys are in front. They have a 1:30 minutes gap.
Dmitry Kozontchuk (Katusha), Sep Vanmarcke (Blanco), Ricardo Garcia (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Manuele Boaro (Saxo-Tinkoff), Bertjan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM), Omar Fraile (Caja Rural), Dalivier Ospina (Colombia), Thomas Metcalfe (Carmine-Tavira), Hugo Sabido (LA-Alumínios Antarte) and Alejandro Marque (OFM-Fifth of sandpaper).

Manuele

 

[Rui Quinta]

Marque, Metcalfe and Sabido are on the front today and was in break last Sunday in "Prova de Abertura"-Season opener Portugal

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

This guys are in front. They have a 1:30 minutes gap.
Dmitry Kozontchuk (Katusha), Sep Vanmarcke (Blanco), Ricardo Garcia (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Manuele Boaro (Saxo-Tinkoff), Bertjan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM), Omar Fraile (Caja Rural), Dalivier Ospina (Colombia), Thomas Metcalfe (Carmine-Tavira), Hugo Sabido (LA-Alumínios Antarte) and Alejandro Marque (OFM-Fifth of sandpaper).

good luck bringing such a big group back

 

[iZnoGouD]

They will because Sabido is dangerous

 

[will10]

Omega aren't gonna chase until after the climb. Could be interesting.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

they are all pretty good climbers and rouleurs in front too

 

[Sylvester]

They will because Sabido is dangerous

I guess most WT teams don't really know a rider like Sabido.

Not the strongest of breaks although riders like Marque, Vanmarcke and Boaro (and actually most of the others, to a lesser extent) are good rouleurs.