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

[theyoungest]

Wasn't Kwiatkowski going to peak for the Ardennes? Why on earth is he in stellar shape already?

 

[Gloin22]

Look at him last year.. he was extremely good from Tirreno to Ronde and Ardennes..

He came great base peak fitnes.

 

[BigMac]

Contador podium looks good.

wonder if he will be able to drop Kwiatkowski on Malhao though.

Very hard to tell, for now It's about damage loss for tomorrow's TT.

Wasn't Kwiatkowski going to peak for the Ardennes? Why on earth is he in stellar shape already?

He is not quite in stellar shape, when he attacked on the base of the climb, no one followed him immediately (which was a mistake ofc), so when he crossed the summit, he just time trialed his way to the win. Costa and Conta have their own fault for neither one of them winning today.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Wasn't Kwiatkowski going to peak for the Ardennes? Why on earth is he in stellar shape already?

because that's quickstep. be in top form in february to win all the meaningless races and never to be seen again after march although in kwiatkowski's case he also has a very high base level I think

 

[trevim]

Good to see "portuguese" riders like Pinto and Prades performing in Algarve. The season isn't all about August, this race is a great chance for them to show their skills and maybe make the jump out of Portugal.

 

[Parrulo]

Well without live pictures is hard to judge performance but look at Contador's Max heart rate:

 

[BigMac]

...Machado 30th. Hoping for him to do something on the Malhão climb.

 

[Parrulo]

...Machado 30th. Hoping for him to do something on the Malhão climb.

Talk about peaking at 25. . . . it has been downhill ever since

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Good to see "portuguese" riders like Pinto and Prades performing in Algarve. The season isn't all about August, this race is a great chance for them to show their skills and maybe make the jump out of Portugal.

ofm are returning from volta brasil. they should be in prettyb good forming after the hard racing there. prades rode there and surprises me here. but don't know if he was one of the best or wa sin an attack earlier on the climb

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Would like to see good video of the last 30km of the stage today. Anyway TT coming:

Kwia could win this as well, but der Panzerwagen saved a bit of energy today.

Who else?

 

[trevim]

ofm are returning from volta brasil. they should be in prettyb good forming after the hard racing there. prades rode there and surprises me here. but don't know if he was one of the best or wa sin an attack earlier on the climb

Banco BIC - Carmim rode Dubai too.
I think Arkaitz Duran and Ricardo Vilela were the best guys in Brazil.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Banco BIC - Carmim rode Dubai too.
I think Arkaitz Duran and Ricardo Vilela were the best guys in Brazil.

yes but prades was in many breaks

 

[BigMac]

Talk about peaking at 25. . . . it has been downhill ever since

True. Is there any logical explanation for his performances (or lack of them)? Or did he really peak at 25? Seems so bizarre.

 

[Parrulo]

True. Is there any logical explanation for his performances (or lack of them)? Or did he really peak at 25? Seems so bizarre.

Honestly i don't know. After so much time i just treat his performance as a running gag rather than something that actually concerns me.

 

[Miburo]

Wasn't Kwiatkowski going to peak for the Ardennes? Why on earth is he in stellar shape already?

If one can keep that form it's him, dude is a monster.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If one can keep that form it's him, dude is a monster.

What if this is his base (good) form and he can still up it another level... then they should all worry

 

[BigMac]

Honestly i don't know. After so much time i just treat his performance as a running gag rather than something that actually concerns me.

Looking at the way he now races it even looks like he's just there for no reason, lost in the middle of the peloton heading the way the pack goes. So apathetic it drives me crazy.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

What if this is his base (good) form and he can still up it another level... then they should all worry

He will only get better from here. Its unavoidable.

 

[Miburo]

What if this is his base (good) form and he can still up it another level... then they should all worry

Wouldn't be surprised, this dude might be even better than sagan. He's just so good, what he did at flanders last year was some crazy stuff for example.

And his climbing is good too although i don't think he'll be a GT-winner. Just my feeling.

 

[sucotash]

"To start a season like this is always really nice," Kwiatkowski said. "I worked so much on my climbing going into the season, I trained really hard with guys like Michal Golas in Spain, and I'm seeing a lot of improvements right now and it's great to have wins that prove it. For this race, the last 60 kilometers were tricky. It was not easy to stay in the front, but the team kept me there comfortably. That was the key of the race, to stay in front. Tinkoff-Saxo was doing the rhythm and they had a few guys working before the last climb. I had Michal Golas at the bottom of the last climb with me. On the last climb Alberto Contador attacked with about 700 meters until the summit. I just followed him. When I looked back, no one was following us. I knew I had some energy reserved in the legs and went on my own. I knew there was a descent and a false flat after the climb, so if I attacked at the top of the climb I could get an advantage. Because, it's not easy to chase back after that point. I did my own pace until the finish. It was really hard to get to the line, but I arrived and I am very happy with this victory. Algarve is only my second race this season and I'm thrilled as I've done a lot of work to get here. Since the beginning of the year I've also had such great support from my teammates and I want to thank them again today."


Michal after the stage

 

[ItalianGigolo]

Anyone else than Martin for tomorrow stage? Maybe Malori or Kelderman? I remember the russian Ovechkin was pretty good time trialist too.

 

[Popchu]

Anyone else than Martin for tomorrow stage? Maybe Malori or Kelderman? I remember the russian Ovechkin was pretty good time trialist too.

Kwiatkowski...

 

[Baldwin]

What if this is his base (good) form and he can still up it another level... then they should all worry

I don't wanna scary you guys but Kwiatkowski's goals are Ardennes and Tour de France. So he's just warming up.

After 4 years in pro peleton, efforts start to pay off. Last year he said it's all about patience, he trains with power meter is incredibly talented and knows what to do on the road.

His focus are stage races, tomorrow's tt is technical, changes of pace all the time, think he can even beat Martin there.

Also, he realizes that he is the one Poland is looking at. Cycling recives very limited attention in Poland and he's trying to change it. That's why he founded a club and cycling academy and is promoting the sport. My only concern, a tiny one, is the pressure - he's very strong mentaly and you can see that when you talk to him but he has to handle a lot.

 

[trevim]

ofm are returning from volta brasil. they should be in prettyb good forming after the hard racing there. prades rode there and surprises me here. but don't know if he was one of the best or wa sin an attack earlier on the climb

I like the fact that he had to take the hard way, from the low levels instead of going from juniors to the WT level. He really deserves what he's getting.

 

[Baldwin]

When he turned U-23, he went to Italy but was all by himself - no trainer, no help and everyone was going faster. When he got to RadioShack, they let him develop.