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

[maltiv]

Why? The hills of Flanders are too much for him, while lesser riders than him have made the podium in Roubaix. In both races it's mostly the distance that will do him in, or has done in the past.

He shouldn't focus on either. He's horrible on cobbles. The fact is that he's barely made the top 50 in P-R the last couple of years. I don't think the distance is the problem, if that were the case, then he'd be good in E3, G-W, Omloop etc. But he isn't. In fact, RVV was probably the classic last year where he was strongest (the distance didn't do him in, but the fact that he tried to follow Cancellara and Sagan...)

The only chance EBH has of a big win is to fluke a MSR victory Ciolek-style, but that probably won't happen when he's not peaking for the race at all.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

He shouldn't focus on either. He's horrible on cobbles. The fact is that he's barely made the top 50 in P-R the last couple of years. I don't think the distance is the problem, if that were the case, then he'd be good in E3, G-W, Omloop etc. But he isn't. In fact, RVV was probably the classic last year where he was strongest (the distance didn't do him in, but the fact that he tried to follow Cancellara and Sagan...)

The only chance EBH has of a big win is to fluke a MSR victory Ciolek-style, but that probably won't happen when he's not peaking for the race at all.

With P-R being hyped strongly in Norway (I'm guessing a bit), could it be hes being led down this alley?

Has he ever talked about how he feels on the cobbles?

(note: I'm pro hyping P-R in general)

 

[theyoungest]

He shouldn't focus on either. He's horrible on cobbles. The fact is that he's barely made the top 50 in P-R the last couple of years. I don't think the distance is the problem, if that were the case, then he'd be good in E3, G-W, Omloop etc. But he isn't. In fact, RVV was probably the classic last year where he was strongest (the distance didn't do him in, but the fact that he tried to follow Cancellara and Sagan...)

The only chance EBH has of a big win is to fluke a MSR victory Ciolek-style, but that probably won't happen when he's not peaking for the race at all.

He just seemed cooked, in the few flashes we saw of him in Paris-Roubaix. I think the combination of a hard race and the distance is just too much.

MSR might be an option, but not on the new course. The 'classic' most suited to him is probably Amstel, on the new course which is pretty similar to the worlds last year.

 

[maltiv]

With P-R being hyped strongly in Norway (I'm guessing a bit), could it be hes being led down this alley?

Has he ever talked about how he feels on the cobbles?

(note: I'm pro hyping P-R in general)

Yes. P-R is the only popular classic in Norway.

Earlier in his career he always said he thought he was bad on the cobbles (in fact, he considered it his weakest point as a rider). Even after winning G-W he admitted that he was very uncomfortable on cobbles. I think there was a massive pressure from everyone that he should focus on cobbled classics after that win (which had nothing to do with cobbles tbh). Unfortunately he was convinced. Winning G-W is the worst thing that has happened to him in his career imo.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador:
Volta ao Algarve 19/02-23/02
Paris-Nice 9/03-16/03 OR Tirreno-Adriatico 12/03-18/03
Volta a Catalunya 24/03-30/03 OR Criterium International 29/03-30/03
Volta al Pais Vasco 7/04-12/04
Criterium du Dauphiné 8/06-15/06
Tour de France 5/07-27/07
Vuelta a España 23/08-14/09
2 month rest period

 

[jens_attacks]

Contador:
Volta ao Algarve 19/02-23/02
Paris-Nice 9/03-16/03 OR Tirreno-Adriatico 12/03-18/03
Volta a Catalunya 24/03-30/03 OR Criterium International 29/03-30/03
Volta al Pais Vasco 7/04-12/04
Criterium du Dauphiné 8/06-15/06
Tour de France 5/07-27/07
Vuelta a España 23/08-14/09
2 month rest period :confused

is this something like he would do in 2009? cause i remember like it(except vuelta of course)
i hope he can go better at le tour. those 2 months, magic should happen!

 

[Cimber]

Contador:
Volta ao Algarve 19/02-23/02
Paris-Nice 9/03-16/03 OR Tirreno-Adriatico 12/03-18/03
Volta a Catalunya 24/03-30/03 OR Criterium International 29/03-30/03
Volta al Pais Vasco 7/04-12/04
Criterium du Dauphiné 8/06-15/06
Tour de France 5/07-27/07
Vuelta a España 23/08-14/09
2 month rest period :confused

They elaborated on that, and explained that its cos he normally has his allergy problems in that periode, so instead he will train in high Mountains where he wont have as much problems with it

 

[Netserk]

is this something like he would do in 2009? cause i remember like it(except vuelta of course)
i hope he can go better at le tour. those 2 months, magic should happen!

Yeah, just with Castilla y Leon instead of Catalunya.

 

[Pentacycle]

is this something like he would do in 2009? cause i remember like it(except vuelta of course)
i hope he can go better at le tour. those 2 months, magic should happen!

It's almost like 2007 and 2009. Btw magic will already happen sooner than you might think

 

[Ferminal]

is this something like he would do in 2009? cause i remember like it(except vuelta of course)
i hope he can go better at le tour. those 2 months, magic should happen!

How will he be at his best without Tour of California!?

Contador 2012, Quintana and Horner 2013 pretty well debunked the idea that you have to be "race fit" going into a GT.

 

[BigMac]

Eddy Boss in 2014, @CafeRoubaix twitter

Boasson Hagen in 2014: Mallorca Challenge, Oman, Omloop, Kuurne, Tirreno, Sanremo, E3 Prijs, Gent-Wevelgem, Flanders, Roubaix.

 

[greenedge]

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

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

The only problem with that is he sucks on the short punchy stages

He can still salvage his season in America if he goes bad at the TDF.

A top 8 or around there would be a good result with the less heavy ITT route, harder climbs and stronger competition.

 

[Wallenquist]

Coquard: Qatar, Oman, Paris Nice, San Remo, Wevelgem and probably Tour de France

 

[Christian]

Tour of Norway (2.HC) May 21 – May 25:

Stage 1: Larvik – Larvik
Stage 2: Drøbak – Sarpsborg
Stage 3: Arnes – Elverum
Stage 4: Brumundal – Lillehammer
Stage 5: Undecided

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...ms-four-of-its-five-stages.aspx#ixzz2mJFiFV9d

I did not follow this race last year, but I remember that there was a discussion about the finish in Lillehammer, whether it was going to be an uphill finish by the ski jump. Did they end up doing that?
I was in Elverum two years ago, it's pretty flat as far as I remember

 

[Christian]

Fabio Felline for 2014:

Felline has a detailed plan for 2014 as well, at least for spring campaign. Tour Down Under, Tour of the Mediterranean, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and finally Milan-San Remo will be the Turin-borned rider's schedule. Of course, he'll target Giro as well. Felline got two second places in stages of 2012 and 2013 Giro, respectively. Next year he'll surely hope he can finally win one.

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

 

[Flamin]

I dunno if this is old news, but Cav won't race Milan-Sanremo in 2014. Damn, they really ****ed things up with this silly Pompeiana climb.

 

[Gloin22]

They'll change the route for 2015 I hope back again. Loads of riders already said the route is basically **** now, so hopefully they can react to that.

And as a rider pointed out, old route could had 20 possible winners at times, this one has around 3-4 at best.

 

[Arredondo]

I'd liked the fact that MSR was a race were there was the big question: is the race to hard for the sprinters this year, or not? La Primavera is a race where Cav can win, or a rider like Pozzatto/Gerrans, or a climber with a good sprint like Valverde and JRod (although they never won or did well of course). The diversity of potential winners, and the fight sprinters-rouleurs, makes this race of classic one.

I doubt if that Pompeiana climb is that decisive. Still some k to go after the summit. Why not the old route?

 

[karlboss]

I'd liked the fact that MSR was a race were there was the big question: is the race to hard for the sprinters this year, or not? La Primavera is a race where Cav can win, or a rider like Pozzatto/Gerrans, or a climber with a good sprint like Valverde and JRod (although they never won or did well of course). The diversity of potential winners, and the fight sprinters-rouleurs, makes this race of classic one.

I doubt if that Pompeiana climb is that decisive. Still some k to go after the summit. Why not the old route?

I don't think the change will do much to liven the race up but it will make sure no sprinters not named Sagan are there at the end. Matthews might surprise.
I'm interested in what Wiggins rides, I think a dig at the tour is possible, with a long ITT and cobbles in his favour, and the MTFs may not cough up too much time especially if Sky control the race, we could well see Wiggins very close to winning it. Really depends where his head is at.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Bayernrundfahrt 2014

http://www.bayern-rundfahrt.com/etappen.html

 

[Ferminal]

Given this time you aren't publicly dismayed, does it mean they've done a half-reasonable route?

(don't have time to look)

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

 

[theyoungest]

A case where a race becoming WorldTour is a good thing, since I believe every WT stage race is required to have at least one uphill finish. Apparently they're already testing it.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Given this time you aren't publicly dismayed, does it mean they've done a half-reasonable route?

(don't have time to look)

Well, there is an Uphill finish/small MTf type of stage as you can see. Haven't had anything this selective like this in the last 20 years or so. Therefore, it's at least not exactly the same type of route as usual.

 

[Christian]

Given this time you aren't publicly dismayed, does it mean they've done a half-reasonable route?

(don't have time to look)

Let's see what Libertine thinks of this