2015, 69th Tour de Romandie: April 28 to May 3 (WT)

[rm7]

Re: Re:

GC anyone? Can't find it anywhere.

http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour_de_Romandie_2015_Stage_5_General_Classification

Thanks.

Such a shame Tinkoff did a bad TTT. No top10 for Majka i guess.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

The Froome yo-yo/time-trialing his way up mountains thing seems to have developed because his team was so tired and unprepared in the Vuelta.

Also, Froome was not at 100% after his TdF injury. The scenario is very similar to this race. Froome is probably not quite at the level he has been for the past two years in Romandie, but he is on an upward curve.

Last year's Tour team was laughably poor apart from Porte and Nieve.

I think you're forgetting about the guy who paced Porte across the cobbles and drove the break in the second Alpine stage to give Nieve a shot at the win (but as you can see from my avatar, I'm biased). He's probably been "lying on the beach" for the last couple of weeks and so is not in shape here, but he'll be back for the tour. Kiryenka is pretty solid too.

As for tomorrow, it'll be an intruiging fight for the GC win between Zacharin and Dawg. The better the weather, the better for Dawg. Martin looks in good shape, so it's bets off for the stage win.

I consider Thomas to be a great member of a Tour team, but not for pacing Froome up the important mountains when the racing gets serious. I'd consider him inferior in that regard to perhaps Sitsov, Lopez, Zandio, and definitely Kiryenka, Poels, Koenig, Porte, Henao, Roche, Kennaugh and probably others I've forgotten, whereas last year he would have been expected to be 3rd-5th most important domestique in the mountains, when he might only be Sky's 10th best climber in reality.

 

[rhubroma]

Ban watt meters, I mean this is getting silly. Froomey just dangling of the back, to then pace the favorites up the climb head down on the meter. Come on!

Let them race without information.

 

[ILovecycling]

I hope that this Syroboil toll is not banned yet.I have won a terrible risky avatar bet today

He is! And that is better than you winning your avatar bet.

yep but at least...........And Still Undefeated Floy...ehm ILovecyclinggg

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

The Froome yo-yo/time-trialing his way up mountains thing seems to have developed because his team was so tired and unprepared in the Vuelta.

Also, Froome was not at 100% after his TdF injury. The scenario is very similar to this race. Froome is probably not quite at the level he has been for the past two years in Romandie, but he is on an upward curve.

Last year's Tour team was laughably poor apart from Porte and Nieve.

I think you're forgetting about the guy who paced Porte across the cobbles and drove the break in the second Alpine stage to give Nieve a shot at the win (but as you can see from my avatar, I'm biased). He's probably been "lying on the beach" for the last couple of weeks and so is not in shape here, but he'll be back for the tour. Kiryenka is pretty solid too.

As for tomorrow, it'll be an intruiging fight for the GC win between Zacharin and Dawg. The better the weather, the better for Dawg. Martin looks in good shape, so it's bets off for the stage win.

I consider Thomas to be a great member of a Tour team, but not for pacing Froome up the important mountains when the racing gets serious. I'd consider him inferior in that regard to perhaps Sitsov, Lopez, Zandio, and definitely Kiryenka, Poels, Koenig, Porte, Henao, Roche, Kennaugh and probably others I've forgotten, whereas last year he would have been expected to be 3rd-5th most important domestique in the mountains, when he might only be Sky's 10th best climber in reality.

You must be trolling,if not your hilarious about G.capabilities.He finished that 2013 TDF after that heavy crash with a fractured pelvis,still helping Froome.Last year he finished on 22 on TDF.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

Ban watt meters, I mean this is getting silly. Froomey just dangling of the back, to then pace the favorites up the climb head down on the meter. Come on!

Let them race without information.

Let's blame watt meters.Sure they are the cause they wasted the penultimate climb,that everybody was riding happy in Froome train,except the brave Pinot and Zakarin.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

The Froome yo-yo/time-trialing his way up mountains thing seems to have developed because his team was so tired and unprepared in the Vuelta.

Also, Froome was not at 100% after his TdF injury. The scenario is very similar to this race. Froome is probably not quite at the level he has been for the past two years in Romandie, but he is on an upward curve.

Last year's Tour team was laughably poor apart from Porte and Nieve.

I think you're forgetting about the guy who paced Porte across the cobbles and drove the break in the second Alpine stage to give Nieve a shot at the win (but as you can see from my avatar, I'm biased). He's probably been "lying on the beach" for the last couple of weeks and so is not in shape here, but he'll be back for the tour. Kiryenka is pretty solid too.

As for tomorrow, it'll be an intruiging fight for the GC win between Zacharin and Dawg. The better the weather, the better for Dawg. Martin looks in good shape, so it's bets off for the stage win.

I consider Thomas to be a great member of a Tour team, but not for pacing Froome up the important mountains when the racing gets serious. I'd consider him inferior in that regard to perhaps Sitsov, Lopez, Zandio, and definitely Kiryenka, Poels, Koenig, Porte, Henao, Roche, Kennaugh and probably others I've forgotten, whereas last year he would have been expected to be 3rd-5th most important domestique in the mountains, when he might only be Sky's 10th best climber in reality.

You must be trolling,if not your hilarious about G.capabilities.He finished that 2013 TDF after that heavy crash with a fractured pelvis,still helping Froome.Last year he finished on 22 on TDF.

What does that have to do with pure climbing ability?

 

[rick james]

Re:

Ban watt meters, I mean this is getting silly. Froomey just dangling of the back, to then pace the favorites up the climb head down on the meter. Come on!

Let them race without information.

weird post

 

[arvc40]

Re: Re:

Ban watt meters, I mean this is getting silly. Froomey just dangling of the back, to then pace the favorites up the climb head down on the meter. Come on!

Let them race without information.

weird post

Does not seem weird to me.

 

[arvc40]

From reading the posts during the stage today I was under the impression Froome had gone away but it seems he finished with small group. Must go watch footage !

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Ban watt meters, I mean this is getting silly. Froomey just dangling of the back, to then pace the favorites up the climb head down on the meter. Come on!

Let them race without information.

weird post

Care to elaborate on what you mean?

 

[HelloDolly]

Someone said his Vuelta 2014 SKY team was weak...I remember Deignan riding everyone but the top 5 off his wheel in the last week...not sure how that is weak

This Romandie team had Vivanni & Pate who are never gong to be there in a mountainous stage race
Rowe & Thomas who are off the back of a very hard classics seasons
Stannard who did some sterling work yesterday
Kennaugh who was totally unfit and retired yesterday (even though not injured or sick ?)
Roche who crashed hard on Sunday but stayed alone with Froome on every stage until today
But for all this team 'faults' they manged to win the TTT and that could end up being the difference between Froome winning or losing

So come July ..Froome is going ot need a top TTT team with some strong riders on the cobbles and riders who can bring him and keep at the front or dangerous terraine until the climbs set in ...Thomas, Stannard, Roche are good at this
He is going to have to make sure he is safe at all times ...again Stannard & Roche are good at this
If there is pacing early on a MTF I favour Kiri & NIeve and possibly Roche

At the final end of the day ...Porte and a fit Poels

Though Henao & Konig are very good riders I am not aware of any great domestiqe work they have done....So if fit I would actually prefer Kennaugh

 

[arvc40]

So Froome demonstrated his Uphill TT ability but maybe he needed to pull a little earlier to take GC. Could be close. Nobody able to put him in trouble once he started his pursuit.

Stage winner Pinot did a nice race there. Deserved.

Expected Froome to be up the road and winning but it is what it is.

 

[Escarabajo]

Quintana clearly does not care about the results. He did not have to work for anyone. Only follow wheels. He is testing himself and putting more miles. He had no chance in this race since Stage 1. He is doing this with one objective in mind. And we all know what that objective is.

 

[SeriousSam]

To deepen his fear of Froome so that when the Tour comes around, he will be utterly terrified every time the Dawg barks?

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Quintana clearly does not care about the results. He did not have to work for anyone. Only follow wheels. He is testing himself and putting more miles. He had no chance in this race since Stage 1. He is doing this with one objective in mind. And we all know what that objective is.

It seems everyone in Froome's group felt the same. Good practice for Froome for the TT anyway.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re: Re:

Ban watt meters, I mean this is getting silly. Froomey just dangling of the back, to then pace the favorites up the climb head down on the meter. Come on!

Let them race without information.

weird post

Nibali has always said that SRM's can ruin real racing.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20168

 

[SkyTears]

Raining now and raining all day, i think Zakarin has won it. I don't think any of the established GC guys will take any risks, like in Vuelta 2014 last stage.

 

[manafana]

Guys Zakarin is 66/1 to win this stage, thats got be tempting for sure.

How good was Pinot love it when pressure is off he thrives

 

[SkyTears]

Zakarin 4.50 to win TDR

bookmakers are clueless and don't watch weather report. Froome will not push it and risk a fall on slippery roads. easiest money ever.

If however Froome wins overall that should bury forever the "Froome doesn't like rain or doesn't know to handle his bike in rain". but chances for that are minimal.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

Zakarin 4.50 to win TDR

bookmakers are clueless and don't watch weather report. Froome will not push it and risk a fall on slippery roads. easiest money ever.

If however Froome wins overall that should bury forever the "Froome doesn't like rain or doesn't know to handle his bike in rain". but chances for that are minimal.

He really doesn't like the rain

 

[pastronef]

I wonder if many of them will go with a road bike with clip-on TT bars and disc wheel.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Don't forget. Last year Nibali ended his Tour of Romandie in 5th, 1 min 48 secs behind CF.

He seems to be exactly on the same path as in 2014. I think we will be able to tell only in July.

Last year he needed Quintana to be absent and Froome and Contador to crash out. Odds on Contador Froome and Quintana all crashing out? Same odds as Nibali winning TdF

 

[search]

Re:

Zakarin 4.50 to win TDR

If however Froome wins overall that should bury forever the "Froome doesn't like rain or doesn't know to handle his bike in rain". but chances for that are minimal.

I also don't think Froome will take it, but it doesn't necessarily need to be Zakarin who wins it then, Spilak and Pinot are still in touch as well, and both capable to do a decent time trial. Pinot also did a recon of the course last week, which should be a huge advantage

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re:

Zakarin 4.50 to win TDR

bookmakers are clueless and don't watch weather report. Froome will not push it and risk a fall on slippery roads. easiest money ever.

If however Froome wins overall that should bury forever the "Froome doesn't like rain or doesn't know to handle his bike in rain". but chances for that are minimal.

those are terribly low odds. it goes beyond me why anyone would bet anywhere else than betfair