2014 Vuelta al País Vasco, stage 5: Eibar > Markina-Xemein 160km

[Kokoso]

That is what I thought to, great win for Swifty, was Nieve even in group, I didnt see him

1 61 NIEVE, Mikel SKY 04h 05′ 46″ + 08′ 50″

 

[Kokoso]

1 61 NIEVE, Mikel SKY 04h 05′ 46″ + 08′ 50″

Ah, what Speedy Gonzales I am

 

[sacrifice&hardwork]

Never mind! Too slow!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

no, Nieve lost 9 minutes today

Jesus. That's desperately poor. I hope there's some reason for that beyond bad form. What the hell are Sky going to be like at the Giro?

 

[del1962]

Jesus. That's desperately poor. I hope there's some reason for that beyond bad form. What the hell are Sky going to be like at the Giro?

Looks like they will be stage hunting with Swift

 

[Vino's Mum]

Good to see Swifty's preparations for stage 2 of the TDF (finishing in his home town) are going well.

Jenkin Road, anyone?

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Swift is down to ride Amstel Gold on the Sky website. Ridiculous as it may sound, he could be a contender there. As for the Giro, he will need some support in the bigger bunch sprints as his positioning has been awful all year.

 

[EnacheV]

If the hilly classics are not run very hard there could be some more wow moments like this. Remember that he has stamina (MSR).

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Swift is down to ride Amstel Gold on the Sky website. Ridiculous as it may sound, he could be a contender there. As for the Giro, he will need some support in the bigger bunch sprints as his positioning has been awful all year.

About an hour ago, those first two sentences would have had people summoning the men in white coats. Doesn't sound quite so nuts now, but still, there's no way that Amstel will be slow enough for him to hang on.

As for positioning, some help couldn't hurt but the basic problem is he just doesn't have the raw speed.

 

[del1962]

Good to see Swifty's preparations for stage 2 of the TDF (finishing in his home town) are going well.

Jenkin Road, anyone?

That would be someting special for a Rotherham lad.

He's not from New York City he's from Rotherham

 

[Jelantik]

Nieve lost 8:50 to Swift

This shows what the burning desire to win can pull out.

Kennaugh, Kiri DNF yesterday because of fatigue, Nieve looks like it's December already. Like wtf training they are doing.

not everyone responded well with sky training method? remember kiryenka last year tdf? DNF for fatique. JTL didn't go anywhere last year in his classic? And now Nieve. He might be fatique already.

on the other hand. Swift looks like benefited from his sky training regime.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Last two days of racing shows British riders are the new Tour de Force!!

 

[dlwssonic]

Glad that samu is finally building form. Hope for evans and tejay to climb the GC ladder tomorrow with some strong TT showings

 

[BigMac]

Costa lost 13 more minutes today. We might see him in the break tomorrow. Oh wait...


Very poor display of sportsmanship here in País Vasco. A week to forget. Since he didn't manage to get in the break he decided to drop 3 climbs from the final. He never mentioned feeling bad or having bad legs so the only explanation is that he didn't want to work. Typical him I guess. Sad nevertheless.

 

[del1962]

Costa lost 13 more minutes today. We might see him in the break tomorrow. Oh wait...


Very poor display of sportsmanship here in País Vasco. A week to forget. Since he didn't manage to get in the break he decided to drop 3 climbs from the final. He never mentioned feeling bad or having bad so the only explanation is that he didn't want to work. Typical him I guess. Sad nevertheless.

If your not feeling bad you don't have to mention it.

 

[search]

not everyone responded well with sky training method? remember kiryenka last year tdf? DNF for fatique. JTL didn't go anywhere last year in his classic? And now Nieve. He might be fatique already.

on the other hand. Swift looks like benefited from his sky training regime.

Nieve crashed a couple of days ago, lost time yesterday, can't timetrial anyway, so he propably just didn't care anymore

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Costa lost 13 more minutes today. We might see him in the break tomorrow. Oh wait...


Very poor display of sportsmanship here in País Vasco. A week to forget. Since he didn't manage to get in the break he decided to drop 3 climbs from the final. He never mentioned feeling bad or having bad legs so the only explanation is that he didn't want to work. Typical him I guess. Sad nevertheless.

Still better than Gesink who inexplicably drops out again, even being in reasonable position (18th is with a good TT still top 10 possible)...
Gesink looks more and more like Andy Schleck 2013 abandoning everywhere

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Are the Schlecks in yet?

 

[BigMac]

If your not feeling bad you don't have to mention it.

Exactly...? Since he didn't mention in his diary feeling bad, I assume he was feeling ok and din't want to work for his team.

 

[Jelantik]

Nieve crashed a couple of days ago, lost time yesterday, can't timetrial anyway, so he propably just didn't care anymore

still.. he got a rare chance to lead the team. At least try not to get beaten by a sprinter Where's the spirit 'fight until you drop'. Swift showed that today. For that chapeau for Swift. He saved sky's week from being disaster.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Are the Schlecks in yet?

yep, just building for the Ardennes.

92 CHERNETCKII Sergei Team Katusha 17:26

Looks like the pace and multiple climbs took him out today.

 

[VeloHuman]

Still better than Gesink who inexplicably drops out again, even being in reasonable position (18th is with a good TT still top 10 possible)...
Gesink looks more and more like Andy Schleck 2013 abandoning everywhere

In Gesink's defense, the guy actually wins races from time to time, places highly in others. I think he's going through a bit of an identity crisis at the moment, trying to figure out whether he should be a Grand Tour rider or the kind of guy who wins one-day climbing races and stages.

Given your location, I'm sure it's a touchy subject Just trying to be positive!

 

[Jspear]

Glad that samu is finally building form. Hope for evans and tejay to climb the GC ladder tomorrow with some strong TT showings

Definitely hoping Tejay climbs up the standings as well tomorrow. Is Cadel time trialing as well as he used to?

 

[Sykhrzon]

I thought Swift was a Degenkolb-like type of sprinter, not the Sagan kind. He should take EBH's place (who doesn't seem to deliver).

Impressive Tony Martin as well. He is getting better and better at climbing. Maybe he should focus on something other than just the TT.

Valverde seemed to be the strongest uphill today. Maybe Contador is under pressure? 12 seconds is nothing. Last year there were appreciably large gaps in the final TT. Surprises can happen. You would have expected Porte to win it, but Quintana was clearly the best of the GC riders. 23 seconds faster than Lil' Richie. 40 seconds on Henao who is not a bad time trialist, especially not on a hilly course.

 

[Sykhrzon]

And BMC now has a great chance to get three men in the top 10. It will almost certainly happen.