2013 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco, Stage 1: Elgoibar - Elgoibar 156.5 KM

[Miburo]

Who will win this? The first of 4 stage wins for Porte?

GC action? Maybe, let's hope the descent is technical. What's the weather gonna be like btw?

 

[jens_attacks]

JTL's first win of the season

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Ulissi ftw.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Porte the most hyped rider on the forum?

Anyway, Gilbert or Cunego FTW.

What time is the earliest TV?

 

[Ruudz0r]

Ratto! (it has to be right one time!)

 

[UselessToo]

Albasini or Velits FTW

 

[Roderick]

Cunego and Ulissi to take one and two

 

[jonan92]

Hi all from the Basque Country

GC action? Maybe, let's hope the descent is technical. What's the weather gonna be like btw?

The descent is quite difficult, mostly when the road is wet. There is a high possibility of heavy rain during this first stage. We will keep an eye on 5th and 6th stage, because there is a chance of having some falling snow in them

BTW, the name of the town is Elgoibar, it's Basque, not Spanish, so the "el" it's not an article in this case.

 

[Sasquatch]

Albasini will be lead out to take the win.

 

[Aguirre]

it's raining here and expects rain whole day. Considering this, the stage is very demanding, the pair Endoia (3 km 11%) and Azurki (known here as Little Mortirolo) will just kill some legs. Then inmediately Calvario.

San Miguel is a well know climb, they go with big gear there, descent is tricky... Sammy Sanchez for the win today

 

[manafana]

bumpy road, dont see anyone with a view to the belgium classics going for too much on descent.

Im thinking someone like impey or ratto can win.

 

[Descender]

It's not El Goibar, it's Elgoibar. It's in Basque, not in Spanish so it has nothing to do with the article El.

EDIT: I see it's already been remarked before.

 

[Eshnar]

Title fixed...

 

[Miburo]

Title fixed...

Yea thanks, normally i don't make race threads but it wasn't up yet.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Perfect for TGBM, except he's sick at home.

Oh well. Porte to ride everyone at 5 minutes

 

[Peccio89]

Very though combo of climb in the middle of the stage, probably there won't be any action since those two climbs are pretty far from the finish but they will certainly leave some pain in the leg of the riders that will be felt in that last bump.

Expecting something from Samu and Cunego in the final.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Thought it would start next week

Well, hopefully Tony can finish top ten in the GC

 

[serfla]

What's going on with Flo?
I've expected 50% of all posts here to be hers.
Her activity dropped significantly, and while I could understand it in threads unrelated to Contador, I can't get it here.
I'm starting to worry. Don't lose your faith, Flo!

As for the race and the stage, Schleck is riding and it should be good training for him. Would be encouraging to see some improvement. Besides Schleck, Leopard's bringing a nice gang there.
After the campaign on the Mediterranean Sky's leading force, no doubt.
But I think there's enough individual quality in the rest of the teams, also.

This stage could be good for Samuel Sanchez, but I'm not sure about his form yet.
Maybe Cunego. He was good lately.

 

[wwabbit]

What's going on with Flo?
I've expected 50% of all posts here to be hers.
Her activity dropped significantly, and while I could understand it in threads unrelated to Contador, I can't get it here.
I'm starting to worry. Don't lose your faith, Flo!

It's better this way... trust me.

 

[infeXio]

Please don't encourage her to resume it

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Endoia is a brutal little climb. Quite cool to have one of the intermediates outside the original Jai-Alai frontón. Last climb is not too strenuous. Expect a winner from somebody less tightly marked or a sprint of a small group of likely contenders.

 

[Miburo]

If Contador has good legs i think he'll attack. That's how he is.

He can be real great at these kinda climbs, look a gap in tour '11.

I think Contador is at his best at 6% climbs

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Really looking forward to this stage, and the whole of Pais Vasco. Will be an awesome race.

 

[hayzer114]

Saxo to mind Contador through the climbs with Rogers setting pace before allowing Roche to go in the finale for the win. (Hopefully)

 

[Aguirre]

well, weather has changed, now is dry, not rain, and if doesnt rain the race will be different,

ulissi and spilak are contenders for today's stage and for the overall... too