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

[TANK91]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm that avatar doesn't look right. . . .

Spilak have a word if it's dry Froome will never struggle on a dscent and if it's wet Froome will have to drop him like a stone again. The best one is back ladies and gentleman

 

[jens_attacks]

A shame the race doesn't have any uphill descents. I heard those were extra tricky

lagos de covadonga says hello

 

[Anderis]

Talansky tends to do very well in this race, I'm a bit surprised he's been omitted in quite a bit of posts about favourites here.

He was 2nd in 2012, almost beat Wiggins during ITT, which was quite of an achievement in that year. In 2011, his first year in WT, he finished 9th, which would have been something more like 5th or 6th if not a crash during prologue.

He was also strong this year in Catalunya, so it's possible he will come in the very good form here.

EDIT: Oh, I checked the data and I conclude Talansky would've finished 2nd in 2011 if not that crash. He lost 1:02 in prologue, while all decent riders lost between 0:10-0:15. So he lost about 50 seconds in this crash, which would move him into 2nd in GC at the end of the race. Not bad for a neo-pro. Even a win was possible if the was somewhere in the top8 during prologue, which was unlikely, but not impossible considering he is kinda TT specialist.

 

[Butterhead]

I can´t recall having seen Tanel Kangert in any race this spring, or he just kept his head down and out of sight?

I think Kwiat will have this in the bag, and can finish off the first half of the season with a nice GC win. I would be surprised if Froomey shows up in any kind of form that could make him win this race, he havent raced for weeks, so my 2 cents on Kwiat.

 

[Ferminal]

When is Kwiatkowski going to stop racing...

 

[Von Mises]

I can´t recall having seen Tanel Kangert in any race this spring, or he just kept his head down and out of sight?

He was ill (back problems) and did not race.

 

[NaturalClen]

When is Kwiatkowski going to stop racing...

he does look like a duracell bunny

 

[Dazed and Confused]

When is Kwiatkowski going to stop racing...

He's on a 100 race day schedule.

Seriously though they have him lined up for TdF, which means he will likely go to CdD or TdS as well.

According to CQ, he normally does 58 race days or about 10k every year.

He is currently on 26 race days this year.

Looks possible, but lets see how crazy it gets.

 

[NaturalClen]

He's on a 100 race day schedule.

Seriously though they have him lined up for TdF, which means he will likely go to CdD or TdS as well.

According to CQ, he normally does 58 race days or about 10k every year.

He is currently on 26 race days this year.

Looks possible, but lets see how crazy it gets.

However, 1 day races count as 1 day but it's pretty clear 1 day in a stage race <> 1 day of a 1day race

And he did a lot of 1 day races, in which he went full gas.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

However, 1 day races count as 1 day but it's pretty clear 1 day in a stage race <> 1 day of a 1day race

And he did a lot of 1 day races, in which he went full gas.

Very similar to last year. Many one day races last year, perhaps even more than this year. At least in spring.

Also the demand on GC riders makes a difference. Kwia is not riding stages races to clock up training days. Hes has been "on" every day.

Point is the demand is not out of the ordinary, at least not yet.

 

[SafeBet]

I can´t recall having seen Tanel Kangert in any race this spring, or he just kept his head down and out of sight?

He rode both Fleche and Liege.

When is Kwiatkowski going to stop racing...

I was thinking about this as well.
His form must be coming down at some point.

 

[Akuryo]

He rode both Fleche and Liege.



I was thinking about this as well.
His form must be coming down at some point.

It did not come down last year: 2nd in Algarve, 4th at Amstel, 5th at Fleche, National Road Race Championships, 2nd in the National Time Trial Championships, 11th in the Tour and winner of the TTT at the Worlds.

 

[ILovecycling]

Can Kwiatkowski maintain his form?
Otherwise Froome or Van Garderen ftw.

 

[SafeBet]

It did not come down last year: 2nd in Algarve, 4th at Amstel, 5th at Fleche, National Road Race Championships, 2nd in the National Time Trial Championships, 11th in the Tour and winner of the TTT at the Worlds.

Last year he took a huge break after Liege though.
Riders can have multiple peaks during the same year. But can't hold the same peak forever.

 

[Akuryo]

Last year he took a huge break after Liege though.
Riders can have multiple peaks during the same year. But can't hold the same peak forever.

Agreed, but he was in form for all of the important races (except of Liege, of course).

 

[theyoungest]

EDIT: Oh, I checked the data and I conclude Talansky would've finished 2nd in 2011 if not that crash. He lost 1:02 in prologue, while all decent riders lost between 0:10-0:15. So he lost about 50 seconds in this crash, which would move him into 2nd in GC at the end of the race. Not bad for a neo-pro. Even a win was possible if the was somewhere in the top8 during prologue, which was unlikely, but not impossible considering he is kinda TT specialist.

The wind picked up for the favourites in that TT. Earlier starters had a considerable advantage, as did Talansky.

I agree with you that Talansky is a podium candidate for this race, that final TT seems to be good for him.

 

[BigMac]

Sorry for the avatar Parrulo, it's only until the start of the Giro.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

so the Prologue:

will be fast.

Castro appears to be co leading movistar. Is he ready after the Colombian vacation?

 

[Matdum94]

Froome might as well gain a few seconds ahead of TJ and Spilak in this ITT

 

[Butterhead]

Froome might as well gain a few seconds ahead of TJ and Spilak in this ITT

based on what???
You have no idea what kind of form he´s in.

 

[Grupetto1]

A 5k prologue with a chest cold is less than ideal...

 

[search]

a cold? Does anyone really believe he even went to Belgium?! ASO asked Sky to line up Froome for the 100th edition - and so they did.

 

[ppanther1]

Curious to see how Zoidl manages after collarbone issues(?).

He broke it once again, but i am also curious how he does. Hoping for a top20 in Giro, if he could deal with the 3 weeks.

 

[Matdum94]

based on what???
You have no idea what kind of form he´s in.

Maybe not good in climbing form, but I'm sure doing the ITT isn't as hard as climbing, he can certainly gain form easily in the ITT.

 

[Matdum94]

A lot of Froome haters and doubters here. I know cyclers who are good make people jealous.