2014 Tour of California May 11-18

[Pricey_sky]

Nice win for Cav, let's not forget this is only his 2nd race back after a long absence, he is nowhere near top shape and yet continues to win.

No doubt Kittel is looking awesome right now but it would take a fool to rule Cav out come July, with no Giro in his legs and his few weeks break he will be fresher than he's been for a good few years.

 

[stefank]

Nice win for Cav, let's not forget this is only his 2nd race back after a long absence, he is nowhere near top shape and yet continues to win.

No doubt Kittel is looking awesome right now but it would take a fool to rule Cav out come July, with no Giro in his legs and his few weeks break he will be fresher than he's been for a good few years.

If Cav is not yet in top shape due to a long absence, how is a few weeks break supposed to help?

 

[Pricey_sky]

If Cav is not yet in top shape due to a long absence, how is a few weeks break supposed to help?

Because once he is in top form in July the enforced break will mean he is fresher that had he done the Giro and all the usual prep races he normally did. It just means at this moment he is playing catch up. Hope that clears it up?

 

[Bavarianrider]

If Omega is smart they wouldn't use Cavendish in the Tour.
No point in building your whole team around a guy that'll get his *** kicked by the almighty Kittel

 

[Pricey_sky]

If Omega is smart they wouldn't use Cavendish in the Tour.
No point in building your whole team around a guy that'll get his *** kicked by the almighty Kittel

You may be right but you could say the same about Nibali, Tejay, Valverde ect against Froome and Contador. Its a good job nobody in the peleton adopts that attitude!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

You may be right but you could say the same about Nibali, Tejay, Valverde ect against Froome and Contador. Its a good job nobody in the peleton adopts that attitude!

The Hotsteppers could send Cav in a couple of early morning breaks....

Anyway I'm sure Cav will step up and give Kittel a proper battle.

 

[jens_attacks]

you can't step up on kittel unless cav puts huge chunks of muscle to improve his power. he can't be more aero either. his luck is that he will have a better train than kittel but it won't guarantee anything, it will be a german massacre(sorry for the words,people of the world)

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Impressive riding by Boonen, btw.

Kittel and Cav are riding exactly the opposite schedule as last year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

you can't step up on kittel unless cav puts huge chunks of muscle to improve his power. he can't be more aero either. his luck is that he will have a better train than kittel but it won't guarantee anything, it will be a german massacre(sorry for the words,people of the world)

Cav needs to spend June in the gym.

Cut out the soda pops and pies.

 

[Walkman]

you can't step up on kittel unless cav puts huge chunks of muscle to improve his power. he can't be more aero either. his luck is that he will have a better train than kittel but it won't guarantee anything, it will be a german massacre(sorry for the words,people of the world)

Cav will be mighty strong in the Tour. And with a proper lead out a lá HTC powered by Tony Martin and maybe even Boonen, I'd say he will be hard to beat.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Meh, even if Kittel is 4 bike lengths behind a Cavendish beater (Viviani), he still wins.

Can't see how Cavendish can beat that.

 

[miketrout27]

Meh, even if Kittel is 4 bike lengths behind a Cavendish beater (Viviani), he still wins.

Can't see how Cavendish can beat that.

Cavendish has Petacchi, which I think is a better leadout guy than Degenkolb.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Cavendish has Petacchi, which I think is a better leadout guy than Degenkolb.

I think Renshaw will be Cav's last lead out guy for the Tour.

 

[sir fly]

I think Renshaw will be Cav's last lead out guy for the Tour.

Me too.
Petacchi is very useful addition to the train. Very experienced and can hold the top speed from the distance. There I see his role. But Renshaw is the one who'll be launching Cavendish from couple of hundreds meters to the line.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

If you have 2 ex green jerseys and a Champs-Élysées winner in your lead out, but still have one better than those three, and all that will be lead by the best TTer in the world, you should be settled.

 

[Bavarianrider]

So Phinney vs Wiggins today. Don't think anyone will come within 30 seconds to them. or am i overlooking somebody?

 

[roundabout]

Maybe Sergent and/or Dennis

 

[hfer07]

Cav is fading- not that rapidly but the competition has gotten better. I do agree about the lack of rational behind building the entire Tour team around him since the green jersey is out of his reach this year too & stage wins there are going to get harder to achieve

 

[Dazed and Confused]

So Phinney vs Wiggins today. Don't think anyone will come within 30 seconds to them. or am i overlooking somebody?

Howson perhaps. Zirbel could go ballistic as well.

Boom? Within 30s over 20km? Could be doable.

 

[red_flanders]

I thought Wiggins and Boonen looked great yesterday. Both fit, fluid and hammering. This version of Wiggins is much easier to root for, the guy driving echelons, riding well at Roubaix, etc. he has dropped a bunch of weight since then.

Great to see guys really trying to win this other than the odd second-tier US rider (Leipheimer, TJVG, etc.).

 

[VeloHuman]

Rohan Dennis as well.

 

[red_flanders]

I thought Wiggins and Boonen looked great yesterday. Both fit, fluid and hammering. This version of Wiggins is much easier to root for, the guy driving echelons, riding well at Roubaix, etc. he has dropped a bunch of weight since then however. That's a bit odd.

Great to see guys really trying to win this other than the odd second-tier US rider (Leipheimer, TJVG, etc.).

Also enjoying VDV's commentary. What a contrast to hear what guys are actually doing/thinking during the race than the standard Phil/Paul/Bobke drivel.

 

[Scott SoCal]

I thought Wiggins and Boonen looked great yesterday. Both fit, fluid and hammering. This version of Wiggins is much easier to root for, the guy driving echelons, riding well at Roubaix, etc. he has dropped a bunch of weight since then.

Great to see guys really trying to win this other than the odd second-tier US rider (Leipheimer, TJVG, etc.).

This.

The run in to Sacto was very compelling, but the stages where cross-winds tear the peloton apart usually are.

At any rate, once VdV was over being nervous he was pretty insightful. Totally agree on Wiggins... if he's gonna trade pulls with Tomeke then Ima gonna get the popcorn ready.

 

[red_flanders]

This.

The run in to Sacto was very compelling, but the stages where cross-winds tear the peloton apart usually are.

At any rate, once VdV was over being nervous he was pretty insightful. Totally agree on Wiggins... if he's gonna trade pulls with Tomeke then Ima gonna get the popcorn ready.

Totally, all great stuff!

Yeah, VdV's delivery isn't fluid or polished yet, and they have breaks where you can tell neither of them knows what to say, but Phil's a pro if nothing else and will help him along.

I like VdV's enthusiasm and insight. Great change of pace from the over-the-top and usually totally confusing comments from Bobke. He can be a lot of fun too, but VdV is looking at it from the "I'm glad I'm not dealing with this hammer-fest today" perspective of the recently retired. He knows these guys as fellow riders and knows who's really doing what.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Average speeds should be really high. 20km/h flat, few turns. 53km/h maybe.
Of course the wind could be very decisive in thos one if it changes over the hours of the race.