2014 Tirreno Adriatico, Stage 5: Amatrice - Guardiagrele: 192 km

[SKSemtex]

What a race, what a stage, what a attack, what a champion!

It is impsossible not to love the stage like this even if you are the hardcore Froome or Quintana fan.

Last but not least Sagan beating Kwiatko but also Anton, Machado, Rolland, Basso on the stage like this is very prommising for the future of cycling, in spite of the fact he had a lot of energy saved from stage 4.

 

[ralphbert]

Last but not least Sagan beating Kwiatko but also Anton, Machado, Rolland, Basso on the stage like this is very prommising for the future of cycling, in spite of the fact he had a lot of energy saved from stage 4.

How depressing must it be for basso when Sagan trundles past on a stage like this? I miss rabo-basso. There were signs at the last veulta he might still be in there somewhere but the cold removed him from the race. Booo.

 

[Flamin]

I haven't seen anything from this stage yet and I don't know who won. I'll watch it in the evening, but judged by the number of comments it was a great day so, could someone inform me when to tune in exactly? thanks!

 

[rghysens]

I definitely dont think that Evans, Gilbert or Purito did long range attacks at any race

OHV 2008 (or was it 2009?), that was about 50km. OT off course.
Regarding this stage: it wouldn't surprise if we see smoking brakepads again if some riders are going up HC climbs come july.

 

[movingtarget]

Credit where it's due. He made his rivals look second rate today. Some performance. I wonder if Froome had the TV on ? Also gutsy rides by the breakaway. I'm sure they will sleep well tonight.

 

[Echoes]

OHV 2008 (or was it 2009?), that was about 50km. OT off course.

Stage 1 Tour of Belgium 2010 was 100+km, among other things ...

Evans at the Worlds or at the sb stage at the Tour of Italy

Rodriguez in Lombardy.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Kreuziger is I think better TTer, so it's only very slim chance for Peraud.

WHAHAHAHAAH @ kreuziger being a better itt than peraud.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Look at it http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour_de_France_2013_Stage_17_Chorges http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour_de_France_2013_Stage_11_Mont_Saint_Michel
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=112448
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=109919
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=109859
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=107505
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=106996
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Paris_nice_2010_Prologue_Montfort_l_Amaury
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=105672
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=105858
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour_de_France_2009_Stage_1_Monaco
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=104991
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=104870
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=102426
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Post_Danmark_Rundt__2007_Stage_4
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=101584
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=101479

So while he isn't very good, I'd say definitely better than Peraud.

lol @ posting mountain itt results here. I won't even bother posting perauds itt results but they are a ton better. the fanboy is strong with this one I guess

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

one big factor will be contador is a good descender and froome isn't he can really put the pressure on froome in the tour that way with a long range attack

 

[Cimber]

one big factor will be contador is a good descender and froome isn't he can really put the pressure on froome in the tour that way with a long range attack

Nah it wont be a problem. Froome will just make Wiggins do the descending for him. That will especially be benificial if its raining.

 

[podunavac]

one big factor will be contador is a good descender and froome isn't he can really put the pressure on froome in the tour that way with a long range attack

Contador's descending supremacy is just a myth.
He's already tried to distance Froome on the descents during the last Tour and it ended... Well, in a ditch.
This what we're watching at Tirreno is enough to presume that the Tour is going to be nothing alike the last year.
And there's also the tactics. The area where Froome has huge problems.
Stories about descending are needless.

 

[The Hitch]

Stage 1 Tour of Belgium 2010 was 100+km, among other things ...

Evans at the Worlds or at the sb stage at the Tour of Italy

Rodriguez in Lombardy.

I'm not surprised that for a fan of races no one cares about, 10k counts as a long distance.

For real cycling fans, long distance is 20k minimum and more like 30k+

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Contador's descending supremacy is just a myth.
He's already tried to distance Froome on the descents during the last Tour and it ended... Well, in a ditch.
This what we're watching at Tirreno is enough to presume that the Tour is going to be nothing alike the last year.
And there's also the tactics. The area where Froome has huge problems.
Stories about descending are needless.

Contador can (almost) follow Nibbles. Froome I am more doubtful can, bot oh well, we will se wont we

 

[movingtarget]

one big factor will be contador is a good descender and froome isn't he can really put the pressure on froome in the tour that way with a long range attack

We hear the same about Nibali. But Nibali, who is a great descender, rarely wins because of his descending ability. Contador is willing to try unexpected things and in the era of race radios and not many risks being taken tactically, his rivals can't seem to handle it. Rodriguez in the 2012 Vuelta ? Of course you have to have the form to make it work which Contador does at the moment. Froome and Wiggins are awkward on descents but so are plenty of other riders including the Schlecks. Contador and Valverde seem to be the only GC riders in good form at the moment. Not sure how the Paris Nice winner will go in the GTs but he is also looking good also.

 

[del1962]

Contador can (almost) follow Nibbles. Froome I am more doubtful can, bot oh well, we will se wont we

Will Froome and Contador wait for Nibbles to get up the mountain

 

[podunavac]

Contador can (almost) follow Nibbles. Froome I am more doubtful can, bot oh well, we will se wont we

We've already seen, I'm afraid.
The thing we really want to see, and haven't been able to witness, is uphill battle.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Will Froome and Contador wait for Nibbles to get up the mountain

oh ye of little faith, AC might shine atm, but we all know when the big guns get togheter this July it will be a italian/british battle

(just kidding, AC will win now that he has gotten a personal trainer from Sky)

 

[The Hitch]

Contador's descending supremacy is just a myth.
He's already tried to distance Froome on the descents during the last Tour and it ended... Well, in a ditch.
This what we're watching at Tirreno is enough to presume that the Tour is going to be nothing alike the last year.
And there's also the tactics. The area where Froome has huge problems.
Stories about descending are needless.

you can't look to one example of one descent and draw all your conclusions on that.

Contador crashed on Manse. So? Cancellara has crashed also while trying to get a technical advantage. Does that mean he is the technical side of riding? No, he's won races with it. Gilbert crashed in Lombardia. Nibali also crashed on a descent in Lombardia? Are none of these riders good descenders?

Contador crashed on Manse but he did distance Froome on Alpe descent though it was worthless. Contador hasn't shown much descending skill most of the time but he has at times shown it and he has shown he is willing to take risks on descents. Froome, by complaining about the descent suggests he is far less willing to do that.

 

[podunavac]

you can't look to one example of one descent and draw all your conclusions on that.

Contador crashed on Manse. So? Cancellara has crashed also while trying to get a technical advantage. Does that mean he is the technical side of riding? No, he's won races with it. Gilbert crashed in Lombardia. Nibali also crashed on a descent in Lombardia? Are none of these riders good descenders?

Contador crashed on Manse but he did distance Froome on Alpe descent though it was worthless. Contador hasn't shown much descending skill most of the time but he has at times shown it and he has shown he is willing to take risks on descents. Froome, by complaining about the descent suggests he is far less willing to do that.

O.K.
What can we say about the claim that descents are terrain where Contador will/can make advantage based on what we've seen so far?

 

[Kokoso]

WHAHAHAHAAH @ kreuziger being a better itt than peraud.

Anyway, in short TTs, or prologues or what Kreziger has some great results.
Tomorrow is what matters. Peraud is maybe in shape of his life, Kreuziger is building for classics.

 

[Eshnar]

Contador can (almost) follow Nibbles.

Didn't look like he could at all on the Giau downhill.

 

[Pentacycle]

Anyway, in short TTs, or prologues or what Kreziger has some great results.
Tomorrow is what matters. Peraud is maybe in shape of his life, Kreuziger is building for classics.

Those past great results in other races don't count now. On paper Kreuziger has to worry about his podium, because Pérauds form seems to be on the rise, and the S.Benedetto TT doesn't suit him at all. Which has been been proven over the last two years.

 

[Kokoso]

Those past great results in other races don't count now.

So am I right when saying that tomorrow is what counts or not?

 

[icefire]

Didn't look like he could at all on the Giau downhill.

Who needed to follow Nibali then with Fedaia and Gardeccia still ahead?

And don't forget who made baby Schleck call for a ban on downhill finishes

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Didn't look like he could at all on the Giau downhill.

Belive you me, I would not mind if Nibbles put 2 min into AC in a downhill in the tour, but atleast in my opinion ACs chances at following Nibbles is greater than Froomes, and that is what count when the AC Nibali combo attacks from 60km out in the tour