2014 Volta ao Algarve, Feb 19-23 (2.1)

[BigMac]

He escaped with Paul Martens, and got 2nd. Out of 2.

Oh I so want this to be in my signature, but It might be offencive for Tiago



Also, it seems Kwia had a go on the last hill, but eventually got brought back by Lampre after Costa responded.

Proud for Rui, leading his mate to victory. Sacha says: "It was a dream for me to have Rui Costa in his world champion’s jersey leading me out" ; "I don’t think I’ve got much chance of holding onto the leader’s jersey given the profile of tomorrow’s stage, but I hope that I can hand it on to Rui. Let’s hope that he can win tomorrow’s stage".

 

[trevim]

He is better than qingai/langkawi stuff. Even then, what counts for a lot of teams is the number of victories. If Madiot says in l'equipe he expects 40 victories from his team, i suppose he was not thinking exclusively of GT/WT but that the sprint at Haut Var has merits too.
So it seems that Modolo delivers where Ferrari did not last year

I believe in the importance of having a guy in the team that can perform all year long in smaller races, providing wins for the team and keeping the morale high. Just look at how teams like Saxo-Tinkoff, without a decent sprinter, do in terms of victories: they simply don't win races.
My point was just that Modolo is yet to win consistently in the WT. Hopefully he can turn it around this year: races like Catalunya, Poland and even Beijing usually have poor sprinting fields so he might be able to pick up some wins. Oh and a top10 in San Remo would be cool too.

 

[trevim]

Rafael Reis DNF

 

[trevim]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ao-algarve-2014/stage-1/photos/293284
"Where's the road back to the top?"

 

[BigMac]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ao-algarve-2014/stage-1/photos/293284
"Where's the road back to the top?"

Very good one trevim .

 

[jens_attacks]

c'mon guys there gotta be some highlights

i think rui will win overall

 

[BigMac]

c'mon guys there gotta be some highlights

i think rui will win overall

Searching, I am confident I'll find something.

 

[Escarabajo]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ao-algarve-2014/stage-1/photos/293284
"Where's the road back to the top?"

"oooops, wrong person, I thought you were somebody else"

 

[BigMac]

Looking at the cameraman on this photo, It seems there will be some higlights, or at least I hope so.

 

[del1962]

So Cav still in holiday mode

 

[Roude Leiw]

I believe in the importance of having a guy in the team that can perform all year long in smaller races, providing wins for the team and keeping the morale high. Just look at how teams like Saxo-Tinkoff, without a decent sprinter, do in terms of victories: they simply don't win races.
My point was just that Modolo is yet to win consistently in the WT. Hopefully he can turn it around this year: races like Catalunya, Poland and even Beijing usually have poor sprinting fields so he might be able to pick up some wins. Oh and a top10 in San Remo would be cool too.

Fair comment, I would think that he will start winning at WT level, his support is much better at Lampre.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

alright after Lampre's dominance on stage 1, we have this one coming up which might offer the best race action in the entire event (all invisible to the human eye of course).

Action starts at at 10:50 (CET) and ends approx. 16:30.

Going with Spilak or Kwia here.

 

[BigMac]

If Costa takes the win tomorrow It could pretty much be game over. He already has 6 seconds on the likes of Kwiatkowski and Contador and the stage winner gets 10 sec bonus.

Time bonuses are as follows:

winner: 10-6-4

int. sprint: 6-4-3

 

[jens_attacks]

1 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida 3:51:46
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida 0:00:00
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team
4 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Team Europcar 0:00:00
5 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
6 Arnaud Demare (Fra) Fdj.Fr
7 Edgar Pinto (Por) La Aluminios - Antarte

edgar pinto to annihilate the field tomorrow

that or rui costa wins

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

1 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida 3:51:46
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida 0:00:00
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team
4 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Team Europcar 0:00:00
5 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
6 Arnaud Demare (Fra) Fdj.Fr
7 Edgar Pinto (Por) La Aluminios - Antarte

edgar pinto to annihilate the field tomorrow

that or rui costa wins

Portugal is the new colombia of super duper mega climbers?

 

[will10]

Would be cool to see Costa get a win under his belt early.

 

[trevim]

Edgar Pinto would contend on his August shape but not in February. My wishes: Contador please. Rui Costa. The rest comes after
My brain tells Kwiat though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

If Costa takes the win tomorrow It could pretty much be game over. He already has 6 seconds on the likes of Kwiatkowski and Contador and the stage winner gets 10 sec bonus.

Time bonuses are as follows:

winner: 10-6-4

int. sprint: 6-4-3

kwiatkowski can eaislu take 30 seconds or more on costa in itt alone so bs

 

[Parrulo]

kwiatkowski can eaislu take 30 seconds or more on costa in itt alone so bs

The itt is only 13k long. So while he can probably do it, i don't really think "easily" is the right way to describe it.

In last years 34k ITT kwia only took 40 seconds on Costa.

 

[BigMac]

kwiatkowski can eaislu take 30 seconds or more on costa in itt alone so bs

If Costa takes the win tomorrow It could pretty much be game over. He already has 6 seconds on the likes of Kwiatkowski and Contador and the stage winner gets 10 sec bonus.

Because I don't know how is Costa's TT atm, plus the wind will be a factor, plus...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

kwiatkowski can eaislu take 30 seconds or more on costa in itt alone so bs

the ITT is only 1/3rd of the length it was last year. So don't be so sure

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

the ITT is only 1/3rd of the length it was last year. So don't be so sure

in 13 km flat kwiatkowski can easily take 30 seconds in costa, and no doubt 16. you will see.

 

[trevim]

in 13 km flat kwiatkowski can easily take 30 seconds in costa, and no doubt 16. you will see.

Maybe he won't have to. He's riding super well as shown in Mallorca; I believe he may take the jersey tomorrow already.

 

[trevim]

Stage 1 highlights:
http://www.rtp.pt/noticias/index.php?article=718184&tm=3&layout=122&visual=61

 

[Jancouver]

Stage 1 highlights:
http://www.rtp.pt/noticias/index.php?article=718184&tm=3&layout=122&visual=61

Thanks!

There is my boy!
And NO! I'm not talking about Alberto but my boy Paco