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

[Pricey_sky]

This GC could go down to the final days sprint and bonuses. Sky would do well to let a big break go tomorrow and stay away.

 

[etymology]

Re:

Pozzovivo for a good Giro and, on the face of it, Porte is the strongest at the moment.

contador/porte even at worst with edge to contador. remember that porte - unlike contador - has been riding with a team.

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

This GC could go down to the final days sprint and bonuses. Sky would do well to let a big break go tomorrow and stay away.

I doubt it because if the bunch stays together then non of the frontrunners have a chance in the sprints, while I don't see the terrain for attacking by them. I bet the race is already decided, though hope I'm wrong.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I just don't understand how people always blast Bala. He started attacking at 11km to go!

well, there's yer' problem right there, carol. attacking with ELEVEN (11) km to go after making the move that split the peloton to begin with...some nerve, that valverde. why, imagine if riders did stuff like that all the time...actual racing might happen with regularity!!

I don't see anyone criticizing Valverde.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

How did Lopez get there? There were 7 in the winning break, then the two BMCs joined them, but there was every indication of a substantial gap behind the group that never exceeded 9 members. If the other eight were working hard to close Valverde down, how did he close them down?

And not just how, but why? He had no overall worth protecting, and was never going to be able to do anything for Porte in the remaining distance after such an effort. Team classification?

 

[bala v]

Grande Alejandrooo!!! Some classy riding...

 

[ray j willings]

Valverde super today. He's made some big time as well. Looking good for the overall. To strong for all of them.
Moviestar just need to keep on top of things.

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

Pozzovivo for a good Giro and, on the face of it, Porte is the strongest at the moment.

contador/porte even at worst with edge to contador. remember that porte - unlike contador - has been riding with a team.

Oh, I'd like to see it that way too. Still, at the present moment, I think Port is marginally better. At the same time I don't see him having much room to improve and he hasn't yet demonstrated that he can survive a grand tour without a bad day. On the other hand, Contador's team needs to seriously step up and he needs to increase his fitness to arrive at last year's condition. If both things occur then he is back as the undisputed favorite. We'll see.

 

[bala v]

Re: Re:

This GC could go down to the final days sprint and bonuses. Sky would do well to let a big break go tomorrow and stay away.

I doubt it because if the bunch stays together then non of the frontrunners have a chance in the sprints, while I don't see the terrain for attacking by them. I bet the race is already decided, though hope I'm wrong.

Didnt watched stage 2?

 

[gmedina]

Re: Re:

Pozzovivo for a good Giro and, on the face of it, Porte is the strongest at the moment.

contador/porte even at worst with edge to contador. remember that porte - unlike contador - has been riding with a team.

Oh, I'd like to see it that way too. Still, at the present moment, I think Port is marginally better. At the same time I don't see him having much room to improve and he hasn't yet demonstrated that he can survive a grand tour without a bad day. On the other hand, Contador's team needs to seriously step up and he needs to increase his fitness to arrive at last year's condition. If both things occur then he is back as the undisputed favorite. We'll see.

How about Uran? He has been right there with Porte/Contador...and with the long TT, we might be in for a wild ride.

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

This GC could go down to the final days sprint and bonuses. Sky would do well to let a big break go tomorrow and stay away.

I doubt it because if the bunch stays together then non of the frontrunners have a chance in the sprints, while I don't see the terrain for attacking by them. I bet the race is already decided, though hope I'm wrong.

Didnt watched stage 2?

Well, Bala, you're boy is an exception, especially given that the pure sprinters are second and third tier in this race. It could be interesting.

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

Pozzovivo for a good Giro and, on the face of it, Porte is the strongest at the moment.

contador/porte even at worst with edge to contador. remember that porte - unlike contador - has been riding with a team.

Oh, I'd like to see it that way too. Still, at the present moment, I think Port is marginally better. At the same time I don't see him having much room to improve and he hasn't yet demonstrated that he can survive a grand tour without a bad day. On the other hand, Contador's team needs to seriously step up and he needs to increase his fitness to arrive at last year's condition. If both things occur then he is back as the undisputed favorite. We'll see.

How about Uran? He has been right there with Porte/Contador...and with the long TT, we might be in for a wild ride.

True but a climber usually wins the Giro, even with this year's TT. And while Uran is good, with Contador at his best, no way does he not loose several minutes in the mountains in a 3 week tour. Uran has improved well with his TTing, but I don't see him setting off fireworks in the mountains. But the more flavor in the pot, the better!

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Omg. This was the little version of the "Ten Little Indians"... First gone Paterski, then Rolland, and now DeClercq. I really thought one of them could survive until the end. I mean none of them necessarily is a bad climber.

 

[DBotero]

Valverde providing top racing again,wtf is wrong with the guy I hope he continues to do it all year long

 

[shalgo]

WTF was Contador thinking there? Valverde didn't even really attack, he just maintained his speed. Rather than stay on his wheel, Contador just stopped pedaling and gestured at the people behind him.

 

[Miburo]

Re:

WTF was Contador thinking there? Valverde didn't even really attack, he just maintained his speed. Rather than stay on his wheel, Contador just stopped pedaling and gestured at the people behind him.

Why would contador go after him? It's not his responsibility.

 

[Arredondo]

Valverde providing top racing again,wtf is wrong with the guy I hope he continues to do it all year long

Milan San Remo onfortunately didn't gave the impression he will do it in the biggest races.

 

[shalgo]

Re: Re:

WTF was Contador thinking there? Valverde didn't even really attack, he just maintained his speed. Rather than stay on his wheel, Contador just stopped pedaling and gestured at the people behind him.

Why would contador go after him? It's not his responsibility.

It's not a matter of "going after him," why would he just let a gap open for no reason?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

WTF was Contador thinking there? Valverde didn't even really attack, he just maintained his speed. Rather than stay on his wheel, Contador just stopped pedaling and gestured at the people behind him.

Why would contador go after him? It's not his responsibility.

It's not a matter of "going after him," why would he just let a gap open for no reason?

I'm sure there was a reason, else he would not have done it

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

WTF was Contador thinking there? Valverde didn't even really attack, he just maintained his speed. Rather than stay on his wheel, Contador just stopped pedaling and gestured at the people behind him.

Why would contador go after him? It's not his responsibility.

It's not a matter of "going after him," why would he just let a gap open for no reason?

Some Boni seconds are gone. And bait porte to close the gap.

Makes a lot of sense

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

WTF was Contador thinking there? Valverde didn't even really attack, he just maintained his speed. Rather than stay on his wheel, Contador just stopped pedaling and gestured at the people behind him.

Why would contador go after him? It's not his responsibility.

It's not a matter of "going after him," why would he just let a gap open for no reason?

Some Boni seconds are gone. And bait porte to close the gap.

Makes a lot of sense

But also out of all those in the lead group Porte could let Valverde go a little as he was over 30 seconds behind, same with Uran whereas he couldn't let Pozzo or Contador go.

 

[hfer07]

Marvelous victory by Piti- which ended up being with a great panache. funny how Contador can make his rivals lose the race by not pulling the pace & allow attacks to happen-not his fault though- perhaps fed up with the load on his shoulders to carry the others to the finish line.

 

[jaylew]

Nice! The green bullet strikes again! And I thought the GC was over for him after losing time in that crash.

This is actually turning out to be a hell of a race.

 

[DBotero]

Valverde providing top racing again,wtf is wrong with the guy I hope he continues to do it all year long

Milan San Remo onfortunately didn't gave the impression he will do it in the biggest races.

I still think that guys like him and J.Rod still have a word to say and can get some big wins this year

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

WTF was Contador thinking there? Valverde didn't even really attack, he just maintained his speed. Rather than stay on his wheel, Contador just stopped pedaling and gestured at the people behind him.

Why would contador go after him? It's not his responsibility.

It's not a matter of "going after him," why would he just let a gap open for no reason?

Some Boni seconds are gone. And bait porte to close the gap.

Makes a lot of sense

Valverde is faster than Porte anyway and was one of the furthest back on GC in that group.

Seems more like he let the gap open up for future favors.