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

[Libertine Seguros]

I thought only young neo pros did cobbled classics at Movistar xd

Generally yes, or the token Frenchmen when they were Caisse, or the old rouleur domestiques. Txente García was Mr. Break of the Day in at least one cobbled classic annually for a long time. But then, Andrey Amador nearly podiumed Gent-Wevelgem last year!

I guess Movistar feel they are going to shift a few of their better climbers into token rides in the cobbled classics with the Tour having some cobbles in it this year, while the Izagirre brothers probably would actually demand to do the cobbles, rather than volunteer cos nobody else wants to.

 

[the asian]

Any idea on Rolland's schedule?

Now that EC are a WT team will he ride the Giro, or will he only appear in July?

 

[Ferminal]

http://biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=68359

wtf Sky depriving us of the annual Malhao show. I guess Haut Var will be in honour of JTL.

 

[MatParker117]

With Sky heading to Cali in May I think Mr Dombrowski will be leading that effort.

 

[Christian]

Tour Méditerranéen announced:

Stage 1 – Thursday 13 February: Argeles sur Mer – Montagnac, 196.3km
Stage 2 – Friday 14 February: Cadolive – Rousset, 170.6km
Stage 3 – Saturday 15 February: Lambesc – St Remy de Provence, 63km
Stage 4 – Saturday 15 February: St Remy de Provence - St Remy de Provence (ITT), 18.2km
Stage 5 – Sunday 16 February: Bendol – Toulon (Mont Faron), 192.7km

Looks nice! In theory I think they took all the right decisions. One day less hopefully means they don't have to cancel any stages. The half-stage and ITT in St. Rémy has a lot of potential, depending on the parcours. MTF on the finishing stage sounds good too. Now we just have to hope for decent weather!

I will go watch it in St. Rémy, should be fun!

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Shortening a race is never a good sign of the financial health of the race.

Anyway, the parcours is nice. The first half-stage into St. Rémy may feature some climbing in the Alpilles - but I doubt that. The ITT will be pan-flat. Mt Faron will decide everything as always.

 

[Wallenquist]

Degenkolb:

GP la Marseillaise,
Etoile de Bèsseges,
Tour Méditerranéen
Paris-Nice
Northern Classics

 

[Christian]

Shortening a race is never a good sign of the financial health of the race.

Anyway, the parcours is nice. The first half-stage into St. Rémy may feature some climbing in the Alpilles - but I doubt that. The ITT will be pan-flat. Mt Faron will decide everything as always.

re: shortening. It's better than having to cancel a stage because you can't get your sh*t together though. This way I hope everything can run smoothely.

Bolded: I hope so, too!

 

[JRanton]

http://biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=68359

wtf Sky depriving us of the annual Malhao show. I guess Haut Var will be in honour of JTL.

Can't believe it! Awful news! The birth place of UK Postal will not be honoured.

 

[Parrulo]

Talking about Algarve, the starting list already has a few good names

http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Volta_ao_Algarve_2014-Startlist

 

[jens_attacks]

will eurosport ever broadcast it live again?

 

[Netserk]

Contador and Costa 1st and 2nd.

*Depending on the length of the ITT.

 

[trevim]

Talking about Algarve, the starting list already has a few good names

http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Volta_ao_Algarve_2014-Startlist

I thought Costa was going to Dubai instead of Algarve, even if they are in different dates.

 

[BigMac]

I thought Costa was going to Dubai instead of Algarve, even if they are in different dates.

He is going to ride both Dubai and VaA. Thre is more than month between Dubai and P-N, so why not.

Also, for the first half of the season, Nelson Oliveira has got the exact same schedule as Rui Costa, including the Ardennes. An engine for the first Km's of the three races.

 

[trevim]

He is going to ride both Dubai and VaA. Thre is more than month between Dubai and P-N, so why not.

Also, for the first half of the season, Nelson Oliveira has got the exact same schedule as Rui Costa, including the Ardennes. An engine for the first Km's of the three races.

That's better I guess although I think Oman would be a better race to prepare for the Ardennes. I just hope he isn't being pushed by sponsors to race random races.

 

[Parrulo]

Dubai starts on the 2nd of Feb, Algarve on the 19th, so it's roughly 2 weeks between each race.

This year Algarve is back to 5 stages, the first and fifth will be flat stages. The second will have some hills but it is still not known how hard it will be, it is known however that it will be over 200km's which is nice for February. The third stage will be the time trial which will probably be much shorter than it was last year. The forth stage is the Malhão finish, it is not known if they will go 2 times over Malhão like they have done the last 3 years, or if they will go for an harder route.

Also for the portuguese guys that know the Algarve region, there are some rumours about foia on the second stage, any climbs around there?

 

[BigMac]

That's better I guess although I think Oman would be a better race to prepare for the Ardennes. I just hope he isn't being pushed by sponsors to race random races.

It is likely that he is in Dubai due to sponsors wanting him to. By the end of the '13 (before it was known that he would ride in Dubai) he said he was going to start the season in Algarve.

Dubai starts on the 2nd of Feb, Algarve on the 19th, so it's roughly 2 weeks between each race.

This year Algarve is back to 5 stages, the first and fifth will be flat stages. The second will have some hills but it is still not known how hard it will be, it is known however that it will be over 200km's which is nice for February. The third stage will be the time trial which will probably be much shorter than it was last year. The forth stage is the Malhão finish, it is not known if they will go 2 times over Malhão like they have done the last 3 years, or if they will go for an harder route.

Also for the portuguese guys that know the Algarve region, there are some rumours about foia on the second stage, any climbs around there?

Seems like a nice route! It's already good without the TT on the last day.

And Fóia is the highest village in the Algarve, in the Serra do Monchique, so yes, there are plenty of climbs around.

In case they are actually using Fóia and not some climbs around, it is probable that it is going to be a MTF, in the Miradouro da Fóia, above 900m sea level. There is plenty of space up there.

 

[Bernhard]

Roman Kreuziger
Oman
Strade Bianche
Tirreno-Adriatico
Milan-San Remo
Amstel
Fleche
LBL
Romandy

 

[McLovin]

Any news about Paris Nice route? Or route presentation day? Can't find anything on the internet.

 

[Ferminal]

Any news about Paris Nice route? Or route presentation day? Can't find anything on the internet.

Surprised Thomas @ Velowire doesn't have anything up yet...

The presentation is usually late Jan/early Feb.

 

[theyoungest]

Any news about Paris Nice route? Or route presentation day? Can't find anything on the internet.

The news is that it's only rolling stages, no MTF, and no time trial. At least, according to Andrew Talansky.

 

[karlboss]

Roman Kreuziger
Oman
Strade Bianche
Tirreno-Adriatico
Milan-San Remo
Amstel
Fleche
LBL
Romandy

I like these for Kreuziger. Suits him well and looks a solid build up to the Tour.

 

[Eshnar]

Urán:

Mallorca
Oman
Tirreno
Catalunya
Giro

 

[MartinGT]

Urán:

Mallorca
Oman
Tirreno
Catalunya
Giro

Nice, really looking forward to seeing how he does this season.

 

[CycloAndy]

Urán:

Mallorca
Oman
Tirreno
Catalunya
Giro

Looks very light without Trentino?