2014 Speculation (and confirmation) thread - rider schedules and parcours

[Opalius]

I know Chaves program will be San Luis, Langkawi, Catalunya, Pais Vasco, and he will compete at the Vuelta (instead of Giro and Tour)

Interesting. Source?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Trittico Lambardo

http://www.cicloweb.it/news/2013/11...amento-a-settembre.html#.UozGXnzI6vY.facebook

 

[JRanton]

Is swapping T-A with Paris-Nice mentioned, as I thought Porte would do T-A for his Giro prep?

No, Porte is riding P-N again.

 

[BigMac]

No, Porte is riding P-N again.

What a fool. Costa will obliterate him.

Nah, good thing he will be riding P-N. Will do for some good entretaining and competition. If he shows good form in Algarve, he is the favourite to win P-N again.

 

[Arredondo]

Interesting. Source?

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/esteban_chaves_i_was_afraid_my_career_ended/

 

[Parrulo]

Not very interesting for most, but i really want to see what Silvestre can do next year on the cobbled classics Canc doesn't ride, like Omloop, Dwars etc.

He won't lead but since he has a nice sprint it could be interesting.

I also wonder if Contador will go back to PN or will ride TA again.

 

[BigMac]

Not very interesting for most, but i really want to see what Silvestre can do next year on the cobbled classics Canc doesn't ride, like Omloop, Dwars etc.

He won't lead but since he has a nice sprint it could be interesting.

I also wonder if Contador will go back to PN or will ride TA again.

It is! Honestly i am looking forward to his debut and hope he can perform well in the coming spring. Lots o' talent in there.

 

[trevim]

And to think I had the opportunity to steal Silvestre's bike

 

[Christian]

Not very interesting for most, but i really want to see what Silvestre can do next year on the cobbled classics Canc doesn't ride, like Omloop, Dwars etc.

He won't lead but since he has a nice sprint it could be interesting.

Interesting to me! My theory is that Trek will participate in more "smaller" races and send squads of youngsters... thus I am hoping Silvestre will get his shot at some races! Cause I really don't think he stands a chance at mass sprints of any kind, he needs to be race leader at a classic and go all out for himself in order to make a result. Great rider, I really hope he can make it!

And to think I had the opportunity to steal Silvestre's bike

lulz - when was that? Volta a Portugal?

 

[Christian]

A. Schleck - Tour of Oman
F. Schleck - Tour Down Under (not San Luis )
Bob Jungels - Dubai Tour (New RCS race, 5-8 February)

 

[trevim]

Interesting to me! My theory is that Trek will participate in more "smaller" races and send squads of youngsters... thus I am hoping Silvestre will get his shot at some races! Cause I really don't think he stands a chance at mass sprints of any kind, he needs to be race leader at a classic and go all out for himself in order to make a result. Great rider, I really hope he can make it!



lulz - when was that? Volta a Portugal?

No. It was in a cyclotourist race where Silvestre and Andre Cardoso were taking part. They left their bikes right next to me and went for a coffee

 

[theyoungest]

A. Schleck - Tour of Oman
F. Schleck - Tour Down Under (not San Luis )
Bob Jungels - Dubai Tour (New RCS race, 5-8 February)

He'll be confronted with that other eternal kisser of the ground, Gesink.

Gesink's program:

TDU
Oman
Tirreno
Amstel
California
Dutch TT champs
Dutch road champs
TDF

 

[jens_attacks]

old willunga hill will be quite the battle i guess. i feel frank schleck will be aready very strong. and we know gesink is always strong on other continents except europe.

 

[Christian]

Calvin Watson, Aussie neo-pro at Trek Factory Racing:

I have a good idea of my race program for the first part of the season and I am very happy with it. I will start at the Tour Down Under in January then head over to Europe and begin racing in the lower level races (not WorldTour) to begin with. My program is structured for me to continually progress and my big target will be the Tour of Romandie where I will test myself against a high quality WorldTour field.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2013/11/calvin-watson-on-the-trek-factory-racing-team-camp/

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

old willunga hill will be quite the battle i guess. i feel frank schleck will be aready very strong. and we know gesink is always strong on other continents except europe.

yet strangely did well on steep hills inside europe (emilia x2). So yeah, willingu hill will suit him

 

[maltiv]

yet strangely did well on steep hills inside europe (emilia x2). So yeah, willingu hill will suit him

Come on. Even Gesink himself has admitted that he's better outside of Europe.

Can't wait for him to win on Willunga hill and the subsequent hyping of him being a TDF favorite

 

[Afrank]

Calvin Watson, Aussie neo-pro at Trek Factory Racing:



http://cyclingtips.com.au/2013/11/calvin-watson-on-the-trek-factory-racing-team-camp/

Nice read, thanks for posting.

 

[theyoungest]

Come on. Even Gesink himself has admitted that he's better outside of Europe.

Can't wait for him to win on Willunga hill and the subsequent hyping of him being a TDF favorite

If he happens to win the TDU, all you'll read in Holland will be just that: he can only win sh.t small races outside of Europe.

 

[Arnout]

Calvin Watson, Aussie neo-pro at Trek Factory Racing:



http://cyclingtips.com.au/2013/11/calvin-watson-on-the-trek-factory-racing-team-camp/

Hiking and wearing bunny suits. They sure know how to party at Saxo

If he happens to win the TDU, all you'll read in Holland will be just that: he can only win sh.t small races outside of Europe.

Which is fair enough considering he only wins sh.t small races outside of Europe.

 

[Christian]

This website lists Tour de Romandie for Andy's schedule, but doesn't actually say anything about it in the article. So I'm not sure what to think of it. But if it's true it could be interesting, since it starts 2 days after LBL, so he should be in good shape.

The only time he did this race was in 2007, finished 8th overall. Race was won by... Thomas Dekker

http://www.wort.lu/de/view/es-ist-das-klassische-rennprogramm-52937fbee4b0f8040cceaf9f

 

[greenedge]

If he happens to win the TDU, all you'll read in Holland will be just that: he can only win sh.t small races outside of Europe.

Can't wait for him to win on Willunga hill and the subsequent hyping of him being a TDF favorite

Evans

There will be a good field next year/ the last 3 years (Meyer's break) have been good.

 

[theyoungest]

Which is fair enough considering he only wins sh.t small races outside of Europe.

Yes, although he used to combine it with winning sh.t small races inside of Europe

The only time he did this race was in 2007, finished 8th overall. Race was won by... Thomas Dekker

Yes, it seems hilarious now, but there was a time when Dekker was quite a good rider... with some people the effect of clinic material is really quite spectacular.

 

[Flamin]

Tommeke's start of the season, same as before his super spring 2012: San Luis, Qatar and Oman before Omloop.

He's been training for almost 3 months. So expect him in very good shape already in Omloop.

 

[Afrank]

TJVG will Skip Cali and follow a traditional build up to the Tour as his main objective.

Instead, van Garderen will lock horns with the likes of Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) at Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandie and the Criterium du Dauphine.

Smart decision to skip Cali IMO.

And on the topic of BMC young guns/future team leaders, seems that Phinney has a good shot at making the Tour team. Would be a good dom for Tejay, especially for the cobble stage.

“He realises that he needs to get off to a good start, focus on the time trials, right from January and have a big push for the Classics. Then he can take time to prepare for the Tour de France and possible selection. He realises that he doesn’t have a surefire place in the Tour and that he’s going to have to fight for his position.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-garderen-to-skip-california-in-tour-de-france-build-up

 

[Christian]

Probably the right move I would say, though I did enjoy his performance in California this year! Hopefully this will enable him to do (much) better in the Tour.