2015-Volta Ciclista a Catalunya(2WT) 23-29.03

[etymology]

whoops - previous post should read "whining about coverage MISSING porte's attack..."

 

[rm7]

It's obvious that Porte coudn't follow Contador when he attacked on 6-7 %. These lower gradients should favourise Porte. He was paced up, where Contador had used a lot of energy, but no doubt he is stronger than last year.

But where the hell was Contadors teammates????

 

[JRanton]

Contador didn't have the legs. Simple as that really.

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

It's obvious that Porte coudn't follow Contador when he attacked on 6-7 %. These lower gradients should favourise Porte. He was paced up, where Contador had used a lot of energy, but no doubt he is stronger than last year.

But where the hell was Contadors teammates????

This is basically what I was getting at on all accounts.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

With the nature of the final three stages, Dan Martin must be favourite.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Without that big turn from Kiriyenka Porte would not have caught up with Contador....looks like Contador just wanted test his legs for the last time before Giro

If you look when Contador passed Kiri Porte was just 5 seconds behind and closing, he'd have caught him anyway.

Nah, I don't think so. But with Sky and BMC well represented I think he possibly hesitated going too early with TJ to then not risk being worked over by these teams. Or perhaps he just f-kd up?

Not sure, think Contador went too earlier but maybe he had to, Porte seemed to just pace up well and go hard in the final 500metres. He was never more than 5-6 seconds behind him and with Contador fading would surely have caught up anyway, although maybe would then not have put distance between them at the top.

 

[Carols]

Re:

I don't think there was one single shot of De Clercq who is now in the leader's jersey. They didn't even get him crossing the line. Pathetic coverage.

So true and not a single mention either. I never knew he was there!

Kudos to Tejay, nice move young man!

Sky know how to use their strength in numbers and Saxo used up their guys blowing it apart early. Contador gave all he had, he had to go early, and it just wasn't quite enough today. He will be back .

 

[Rollthedice]

So, did Froome arrived yet?

 

[Escarabajo]

Porte would have catched Contador without Kiri IMHO. But it is true that the lower gradients helped him.

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

Without that big turn from Kiriyenka Porte would not have caught up with Contador....looks like Contador just wanted test his legs for the last time before Giro

If you look when Contador passed Kiri Porte was just 5 seconds behind and closing, he'd have caught him anyway.

Nah, I don't think so. But with Sky and BMC well represented I think he possibly hesitated going too early with TJ to then not risk being worked over by these teams. Or perhaps he just f-kd up?

Martin and Kelderman caught Contador.

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

Contador didn't have the legs. Simple as that really.

True, but there are other dynamics. Cycling is not always that black and white. Now Froome surely didn't have the legs. Contador had good legs, just not enough to on his own take on the whole opposition on a climb that offered time to recover, come back and with the help of a teammate that can make a huge difference if you can get back on terms with a rival that just expended a huge effort.

Porte definitely has excellent form, but if he were in Contador's position would he have been able to win?

 

[del1962]

So no time bonafacations on this stage

 

[etymology]

Re:

Contador didn't have the legs. Simple as that really.

contador's legs were fine. same cannot be said for the rest of his team.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

I don't think there was one single shot of De Clercq who is now in the leader's jersey. They didn't even get him crossing the line. Pathetic coverage.

He was the first Lotto over the line, I think circa 30ish seconds behind the winner.

What I didn't get was having a camera with Rolland, but otherwise the coverage was ok once Zoidl and Danielson were cuaght and the second camera bike appeared out of nowhere

 

[roundabout]

Re:

So no time bonafacations on this stage

There were. Porte got 5 seconds on time plus 2 extra in bonuses to be 7 seconds ahead of Contador on GC

 

[ferryman]

Porte Giro, TDF double? Only joking but I wonder if he will leave Sky if he has TDF ambitions in the next few years..

 

[del1962]

Re: Re:

So no time bonafacations on this stage

There were. Porte got 5 seconds on time plus 2 extra in bonuses to be 7 seconds ahead of Contador on GC

Yeah sorry my mistake

 

[JRanton]

Re: Re:

Contador didn't have the legs. Simple as that really.

contador's legs were fine. same cannot be said for the rest of his team.

He didn't have the legs to win the stage or beat Porte is what I meant. Of course his shape is decent but far from the best Contador.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Porte Giro, TDF double? Only joking but I wonder if he will leave Sky if he has TDF ambitions in the next few years..

It will depend in how he does as a leader in the Giro. He didn't do well at the Tour last year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Nice powerful attack by Berto, 30s full gas

 

[etymology]

Re: Re:

Contador didn't have the legs. Simple as that really.

contador's legs were fine. same cannot be said for the rest of his team.

He didn't have the legs to win the stage or beat Porte is what I meant. Of course his shape is decent but far from the best Contador.

the way the last climb played out - no, he did not have the legs to win the stage. that is tough for anyone when their are 8 legs working against two legs!

 

[JRanton]

Re:

Without that big turn from Kiriyenka Porte would not have caught up with Contador....looks like Contador just wanted test his legs for the last time before Giro

You know that's not true. Contador was struggling (and couldn't catch TJ) by the time Porte reached Kiryienka's wheel. He'd fired all of his bullets with the earlier attack whereas Porte saved his final one for the decisive moment of the climb.

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

With the nature of the final three stages, Dan Martin must be favourite.

Lol how so?

 

[the sceptic]

Re:

Porte Giro, TDF double? Only joking but I wonder if he will leave Sky if he has TDF ambitions in the next few years..

I think he knows that if he leaves sky he will also leave the magical gains behind and find himself back in the gruppetto again..

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

Without that big turn from Kiriyenka Porte would not have caught up with Contador....looks like Contador just wanted test his legs for the last time before Giro

If you look when Contador passed Kiri Porte was just 5 seconds behind and closing, he'd have caught him anyway.

Nah, I don't think so. But with Sky and BMC well represented I think he possibly hesitated going too early with TJ to then not risk being worked over by these teams. Or perhaps he just f-kd up?

Martin and Kelderman caught Contador.

And then Porte, no? The point I was trying to make was that Contador was in a very bad position (with no teammates!) against some very tough opponents, on not ideal terrain and didn't have quite the strength to reel back TJ and definitively drop Porte, at which point he was at great risk to loose time to some of his opponents. In fact that's what happened.