2014 Tour de Suisse: Stage 8: Delémont→Verbier (219 Km)

[trevim]

Too be honest with this level neither 3 will manage to do anything relevant at the Tour.

It's the Nibali approach

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Do you think he should try for GC in the Vuelta? Or a more relaxed approach chasing stage wins?

he should and will aim for gc. that's why they don't take him to the tour.

 

[Gloin22]

Mat White also said in interviews they trully believes in Chaves. They want to bring him very slowly because they know he's got great potential. In the Vuelta he will be their team leader, and i can't see a lot of better climbers around there.

Rodriguez, Betancur, Contador, Quintana, Uran ...

 

[Arredondo]

You wonder how much time Froome or Contador would have taken here.

Or any of the Giro guys.. Aru, Kelderman, Majka, they'd all win easily

You underestimate Chavez. In base he's a lot better climber then Kelderman, or Majka, and even Aru i think.

 

[murali]

what will they put today i wonder. snoozefest until 500 meters to the top. legendary davide formolo attacks...

what a disgrace of a day

Look at the bright side.

Tony Martin manages to hold on to Yellow jersey today. he managed improved his 2009 performance in this & finish top-10.

 

[rainman]

Why did FDJ pull on the front at the peloton before the final climb then?

because europcar and ag2r were up there? French rivalries lol

 

[trevim]

he should and will aim for gc. that's why they don't take him to the tour.

Oh well that makes some sense: if they wanted him to chase stages if could have done so in the Tour, specially this year without a TTT

 

[Arredondo]

Rodriguez, Betancur, Contador, Quintana, Uran ...

Betancur isn't, just the same as Uran. The only better climber on paper is Quintana, and perhaps Rodriguez because of his age and maturity. But Purito is going to ride the Tour, so he isn't as fresh as Chaves in the Vuelta. Contador the same.

Chaves is young, so a bad day is possible. And his TT isn't really good, he will lose quite a lot of time there ofc.

 

[jens_attacks]

i don't think tony was that awesome,the rest was just weak. the best todays climbed at 6 w/kg that's not a lot at all. have to verify it though. i watched it on a stream..

 

[Potomac]

What's with the horns on teh podium girl?

 

[murali]

What happened to Astana? are they riding this race at all?

 

[Akuryo]

Among those listed, ppl should not confuse Velits as peter velits, who can hold on a bit in the climbs. this is Martin Velits. he is not a climber at all.

I know that. Thats why I listed the names. Neither of them is a good climber. Trentin may comer over some hills but the rest of them is just a help for Tony in the flat parts.

 

[dirkprovin]

Do you think he should try for GC in the Vuelta? Or a more relaxed approach chasing stage wins?

Bring him on 'easy' and don't set ridiculous expectations this season. Certainly give him 'protection' in the peleton and look to place him favourably at the foot of the major climbs and then see what he's up for on that particular day.

Over the next season at least, I'd rather they set the GC aspirations for either he or the Yates twins at 1 week tour level (either WT or the likes of TOC or Turkey). At this point, whilst not horrible TTers, none of them are at the level to seriously contend with the "big boys". Given OGE's depth in TTers and emphasis on TTT, I suspect this is an area where considerable work may be done with all three.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You underestimate Chavez. In base he's a lot better climber then Kelderman, or Majka, and even Aru i think.

He is, but he didn't have the Giro in his legs. Don't forget the Giro superform thing

 

[Jagartrott]

Neither Frank nor Costa is an explosive rider. I'll be very interested in seeing just how far Martin can go when he really makes the effort. It's hard to tell, as normally he has no interest in trying to follow uphill. Now he has, so I wonder if these guys can shake him off just like that.

He did confirm what I thought.
I felt that (1) Martin seemed in really good shape, (2) he looked very lean and slim, (3) he did seem to feel comfortable on the climbs throughout this TdS. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Parrulo]

i don't think tony was that awesome,the rest was just weak. the best todays climbed at 6 w/kg that's not a lot at all. have to verify it though. i watched it on a stream..

Ya awful level. It looked much slower than 2012.

 

[whittashau]

Formolo again impressive. He's still ridiculously young too.

 

[Arredondo]

He is, but he didn't have the Giro in his legs. Don't forget the Giro superform thing

Yeah sure, but last weekend of Suisse is something else then first weekend of Dauphiné. Ok, Kruiswijk won on Triesenberg in 2011 after his fantastic Giro, but it's alsways unsure if a ''Giro-rider'' can hold his best form till the end of the TDS.

But you're right about the Post-Giro form.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

You wonder how much time Froome or Contador would have taken here.

Or any of the Giro guys.. Aru, Kelderman, Majka, they'd all win easily

Yes very weak field. Tony Martin is going to win GC pretty comfortably unless someone is stronger than they cared to show today.

 

[Hakkapelit]

I know that. Thats why I listed the names. Neither of them is a good climber. Trentin may comer over some hills but the rest of them is just a help for Tony in the flat parts.

So Tonys teammates arent **** compared to ACs in Dauphine cause those were supposed to be better while these aren't, or what is it you are trying to convey?

 

[dirkprovin]

Do you think he should try for GC in the Vuelta? Or a more relaxed approach chasing stage wins?

Bring him on 'easy' and don't set ridiculous expectations this season. Certainly give him 'protection' in the peleton and look to place him favourably at the foot of the major climbs and then see what he's up for on that particular day.

Over the next season at least, I'd rather they set the GC aspirations for either he or the Yates twins at 1 week tour level (either WT or the likes of TOC or Turkey). At this point, whilst not horrible TTers, none of them are at the level to seriously contend with the "big boys". Given OGE's depth in TTers and emphasis on TTT, I suspect this is an area where considerable work may be done with all three.

 

[hfer07]

Chavez= the next Quintana without a doubt - mark my words

He will be the next Colombian GT winner even before Uran.

OGE has a pure diamond- just hope they realize it take good care of him

 

[johnymax]

A great win for Chaves. Tony! He's a beast. What a fantastic rider. Nice showing by Formolo again.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Some guys already took the time on the climb..

5 minutes slower than 2009. But they also said that the last 4km where about the same pace as Andy in 2009 (Contador still a kit faster).
Its in the first 5.5km the peloton went really slow.

 

[Parrulo]

Some guys already took the time on the climb..

5 minutes slower than 2009. But they also said that the last 4km where about the same pace as Andy in 2009 (Contador still a kit faster).
Its in the first 5.5km the peloton went really slow.

Really? Even worse than i thought

In 2012 with the rain and with a tougher stage they were only 1 minute slower than Contador.