2014 68th Tour de Romandie, April 29 to May 4 - WT

[JRanton]

Can only laugh out big time on that. Fuglsang is a very good descender with his MTB background.

Uran has always been quite inconsistent. He was good in Oman but hasn't shown anything since. I'd still back him to be top 5 in the Giro though.

 

[Pentacycle]

+1.

He has been taking it too easy since Oman. He should make better effort unless he is too afraid of the third week of the Giro.

It's not easy to build form when you're suffering from nasty stomach bacteria.

 

[pigoonse]

This race is not necessarily a mirror of what form these guys will carry into Le Tour. As a Nibali fan since 2009, I am not worried. Also used to him getting undervalued here. He was not better than Wiggo or Froomester in 2012 TdF but he was on the podium. My man is a very consistent GC rider. There is still almost 2 months for him to get in form.

Not saying I think he will win TdF this year but he'll try and do what he can to make the race interesting - because he loves riding a bike.

My pick for TdF so far is Contador.

 

[murali]

So? He was struggling and you could see that, often losing more than 8 meters on the the last rider in his group. Doesn't mean he always does.

I didnt think that Fugslang was struggling. he had his teammate doing the chase. He was happily sitting back. And he did attack immediately after the descent. unfortunately, he couldn't get away. I would say misfired tactics, and not bad skills.

 

[Escarabajo]

It's not easy to build form when you're suffering from nasty stomach bacteria.

I hope that you are right and that it is the reason for being behind his top form.

 

[Netserk]

No he was bought back eventually he had a little gap if he is so elit he would stay off front. He is better in wet you no that he has a lot of bottle on wet descents look at Giro crashed.

Where was he brought back?

At the end of the descent he had 30s (edit: actually a full minute) to Froome and Wiggo. Maybe that's not a gap according to you, but it is to me.

Remember this:

Your the ridcolous one. What happend in the TDF 2012 on descents Nibali was attacking like crazy never could get a gap, why? Because it was dry show me any stage were Nibali has been with a rider and literally dropped him on a descent?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hmm, Ten Dam dropped almost instantly on the last climb, but finished ahead of people who held on much longer. Look at where Trofimov finished...

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Nice ride by Herrada today. His best climbing performance?

 

[RichieTheBest]

Where was he brought back?

At the end of the descent he had 30s (edit: actually a full minute) to Froome and Wiggo. Maybe that's not a gap according to you, but it is to me.

Remember this:

Advantage gotta be backed up with the gained time otherwise its no use to talk about this

 

[Netserk]

Advantage gotta be backed up with the gained time otherwise its no use to talk about this

What are you talking about? Did you read what I responded to?

 

[Beech Mtn]

He did lift his hand for a sec after crossing the line

Then he was obviously dedicating the stage win to his great idol, Cadel Evans.

 

[RichieTheBest]

What are you talking about? Did you read what I responded to?

I want to say there's a big difference: a rider who is allowed to go away for a little while and a rider putting the time into his rivals on a descent. As to Grand Colombier stage we get the situation numero uno.

 

[martinvickers]

Damn I'm watching the post race discussion on Sky and it beats everything that's been on Dutch TV for years in terms of cycling discussion. They actually give attention to non-countrymen, that's not something you will see ever (apart from stage winner) on the NOS.

Pains me to say it, but Sky, for all their conflict of interest, made that programme far more enjoyable than Eurosport. Thought the format worked well; some actual, you know, analysis. Discussed chances and form of non-Brits. Hell, they might make this work.

That said, much as I hate Liggett, I do enjoy the overall ITV presentation come Tour time. Just like Imlach, i guess, from his Gridiron days!

p.s. That's four mainstream broadcasters in UK and Ireland (you can get BBC and ITV in the south - joys of the Agreement!) all covering high end cycling in one form or another - BBC olympics and worlds, ITV tour and Vuelta (as well as women's tour and Tob and stuff), Sky have done a decent start on their stuff and there's always Eurosport for when you feel nostalgic... not so many years ago, if you'd claimed four mainstream broadcasters would show live cycling, they'd call you mad. Hell, I remember being grateful for channel 4 highlights!

 

[the sceptic]

I would say the commentary on sky is far superior to british eurosport as well.

 

[whittashau]

How the hell is Basso still this out of form?

 

[JRanton]

I think Garmin expected much better from Talansky today. I believe they were the team that made the race really difficult early on together with Katusha.

Nice ride by Zoidl. Strong team performance by IAM Cycling and Movistar (as usual).

Porte in the bus again. Nieve was ''there'' but wasn't able to contribute on the final climb. Lopez pretty good.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think Garmin expected much better from Talansky today. I believe they were the team that made the race really difficult early on together with Katusha.

Nice ride by Zoidl. Strong team performance by IAM Cycling and Movistar (as usual).

Porte in the bus again. Nieve was ''there'' but wasn't able to contribute on the final climb. Lopez pretty good.

Talansky had a mechanical. He was in the Costa/Nibali group before that. He could've placed 3rd for all we know. Really bad luck

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

I would say the commentary on sky is far superior to british eurosport as well.

I agree, I'll be watching the Giro on Sky, fed up of listening to Kirby all the time. Much prefer the guy on Sky.

 

[JRanton]

Talansky had a mechanical. He was in the Costa/Nibali group before that. He could've placed 3rd for all we know. Really bad luck

True, but I think they may have even expected him to be able to go with Spilak and Froome. This was his big pre-Tour target.

 

[the sceptic]

How the hell is Basso still this out of form?

Isnt Basso sucking in Romandie a sign he will do well in the giro?

 

[Publicus]

So what the heck is going on with Porte? last year he was viaing to be Junior Dawg and now he's coming in with the sprinters?

 

[McLovin]

Huuuuuuuge gaps.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Huuuuuuuge gaps.

Makes you think doesn't it.
In the Ardennes they say the helpers are so strong that it's normal 40 man are in Ans..
But here the same helpers take care of 90% of the pack and the same leaders make huge gaps on the final climb.
Ofcourse long climbs are different from short ones but..

If leaders went full out in ardennes, or if Sanchez rides 100% full force from 50km out in Liege we're left with 3 men max in ans

 

[manafana]

Hmm, Ten Dam dropped almost instantly on the last climb, but finished ahead of people who held on much longer. Look at where Trofimov finished...

their were parts of the climb that were every man for himself, zoidl was part of a 4 man group at the bottom of roche, izguirre, voeckler and blew them out o the water over the whole climb.

 

[NaturalClen]

Kwiat exploded prediction .... check
Easy Froome GC win .... check (assuming he doesn't fall from the bike in ITT)

And "Froome can't descend" myth busted again

Nice to see a good Tdf battle coming up in July!

edit : also awesome racing by Froome and Spilak.