2015 Vuelta stage 5: Rota > Alcalá de Guadaíra 167.3km

[Finn84]

Of the four riders mentioned by PremierAndrew, Sagan has best tally of stages in shorter WT stages, especially in Switzerland (11 wins). Greipel has a good tally of TdU stages. Kittel had that one dominant year in Poland. Cavendish is the weakest of the four with two Tirreno and one Switzerland stage.

 

[glassmoon]

Re:

Welp, looks like one it's best I don't watch.

Allez Nacer. Club Slovak Barbosa like a baby seal.

Nah, Naser will need sticky bottle for the last 750m and will get 100 francs fine

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

Ewan to really get amongst it, top 3 minimum. It's taken the very top sprinters (Cav, Kristoff, Kittel, Greipel) to beat him, and it's still early, so fatigue shouldn't be an issue.

Sorry but I have to disagree. All his wins have been at non-WT level with few 2nd level, let alone elite level, sprinters present. At this point, he lacks the physical strength to sustain top pace and is likely to be washed away even if he makes it to the finish.... which is far from certain.

He's had issues holding the pace of WT peletons to date & GT is another step up in pace & intensity gain; something the Yates twins found last year ..... and they were a helluva lot further developed physically than Ewan. I expect this Vuelta to be a hard, harsh learning experience ..... for as long as he's able to stay in.

In short, "he ain't ready for prime-time" ..... and I have distinct doubts whether he ever really will be as a sprinter & he's not good enough going uphill to suggest classics at this point.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Ewan to really get amongst it, top 3 minimum. It's taken the very top sprinters (Cav, Kristoff, Kittel, Greipel) to beat him, and it's still early, so fatigue shouldn't be an issue.

Sorry but I have to disagree. All his wins have been at non-WT level with few 2nd level, let alone elite level, sprinters present. At this point, he lacks the physical strength to sustain top pace and is likely to be washed away even if he makes it to the finish.... which is far from certain.

He's had issues holding the pace of WT peletons to date & GT is another step up in pace & intensity gain; something the Yates twins found last year ..... and they were a helluva lot further developed physically than Ewan. I expect this Vuelta to be a hard, harsh learning experience ..... for as long as he's able to stay in.

In short, "he ain't ready for prime-time" ..... and I have distinct doubts whether he ever really will be as a sprinter & he's not good enough going uphill to suggest classics at this point.

Huh? This is only his third WT race this year, he crashed out of Catalunya and it took Kittel to beat him at Poland. It also took Kristoff to beat him at Norway where he got two 2nds by less than a wheel. Cav barely edged him out in Turkey and he finished ahead of Modolo, Greipel, Ratto and Bos.

Then there's the 2 firsts, 3 2nds against guardini, Chicchi, Sutton and Pettachi at Langkawi. Not bad at all for such a small kid who only turned 21 last month.

 

[greenedge]

@Premier Andrew- doesn't he have 8 GT stage wins over the last 5 years?

Nacer FTW- he's such a fighter and if he doesn't crash he can win.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Ewan to really get amongst it, top 3 minimum. It's taken the very top sprinters (Cav, Kristoff, Kittel, Greipel) to beat him, and it's still early, so fatigue shouldn't be an issue.

Sorry but I have to disagree. All his wins have been at non-WT level with few 2nd level, let alone elite level, sprinters present. At this point, he lacks the physical strength to sustain top pace and is likely to be washed away even if he makes it to the finish.... which is far from certain.

He's had issues holding the pace of WT peletons to date & GT is another step up in pace & intensity gain; something the Yates twins found last year ..... and they were a helluva lot further developed physically than Ewan. I expect this Vuelta to be a hard, harsh learning experience ..... for as long as he's able to stay in.

In short, "he ain't ready for prime-time" ..... and I have distinct doubts whether he ever really will be as a sprinter & he's not good enough going uphill to suggest classics at this point.

Huh? This is only his third WT race this year, he crashed out of Catalunya and it took Kittel to beat him at Poland. It also took Kristoff to beat him at Norway where he got two 2nds by less than a wheel. Cav barely edged him out in Turkey and he finished ahead of Modolo, Greipel, Ratto and Bos.

Then there's the 2 firsts, 3 2nds against guardini, Chicchi, Sutton and Pettachi at Langkawi. Not bad at all for such a small kid who only turned 21 last month.

I often agree with you & respect your views but I will have to differ with you most astringently with regards to Ewan.

To answer, your points:

- Langkawi: Pettachi was once the top of the tree but that was a long time ago & the rest ..... not even 2nd tier.
- Turkey: Second to Cav - yes ...... on one stage. Nowhere for the other sprint stages.
- Poland: Kittel was the only top liner there; rest 2nd/3rd tier
- Norway: Again, Kristoff the only top liner. The rest lower tier or quick punchy riders.

Sorry but I think he's grossly over hyped, especially by Australians, and I have major doubts that he'll ever live up to most of it. Yes, he's brought in a sack of wins this year but how many of them in races that have any international credence ..... La Rioja & to a degree Langkawi.

Yes, he can be quick and MAY be capable of a high finish on a one-off basis ..... but against the big boys on a day-in/day-out basis; I have major doubts whether he'll ever be strong enough or have a big enough engine.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

@Premier Andrew- doesn't he have 8 GT stage wins over the last 5 years?

Nacer FTW- he's such a fighter and if he doesn't crash he can win.

Er yeah, mb. Forgot to add his win two days ago

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

what is Dombrowski up to?? Is he hurt or saving himself?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

what is Dombrowski up to?? Is he hurt or saving himself?

He lost 7 minutes or so on the first stage so I guess he either crashed or was held up by the crash. Not sure why anyone would expect much of anything from him here though.

 

[jens_attacks]

Joe doesn't care for GC, quite a disapointment...

Today, vamos barberoooo

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

what is Dombrowski up to?? Is he hurt or saving himself?

He lost 7 minutes or so on the first stage so I guess he either crashed or was held up by the crash. Not sure why anyone would expect much of anything from him here though.

Oh I don't expect much. But losing 1.42 yesterday (considering the length of the climb) seems strange to me. So I wondered.

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

That final ramb is 500m at 6%, maye or may not do some damage to the likes of Nacer. It also seems like the finish line is placed right after a corner?

what is Dombrowski up to?? Is he hurt or saving himself?

He lost 7 minutes or so on the first stage so I guess he either crashed or was held up by the crash. Not sure why anyone would expect much of anything from him here though.

Oh I don't expect much. But losing 1.42 yesterday (considering the length of the climb) seems strange to me. So I wondered.

Think he will do better in altitude, with less heat too.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Dirkprovin - erm...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Ewan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Wow that was really something. Made it look so very easy.

 

[Afrank]

Ewan! Awesome ride!

 

[ILovecycling]

Nahh there is no justice really..

 

[jsem94]

That was some speed...

 

[Eagle]

Ewan wins

 

[TomLPC]

Looked like a few time gaps in that one?

 

[Broth3r]

A man of his word.

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

Ewan massive sprint. Sagan a little disappointing given perfect leadout

 

[DBotero]

Wow nice one for Ewan!

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Ewan to really get amongst it, top 3 minimum. It's taken the very top sprinters (Cav, Kristoff, Kittel, Greipel) to beat him, and it's still early, so fatigue shouldn't be an issue.

Sorry but I have to disagree. All his wins have been at non-WT level with few 2nd level, let alone elite level, sprinters present. At this point, he lacks the physical strength to sustain top pace and is likely to be washed away even if he makes it to the finish.... which is far from certain.

He's had issues holding the pace of WT peletons to date & GT is another step up in pace & intensity gain; something the Yates twins found last year ..... and they were a helluva lot further developed physically than Ewan. I expect this Vuelta to be a hard, harsh learning experience ..... for as long as he's able to stay in.

In short, "he ain't ready for prime-time" ..... and I have distinct doubts whether he ever really will be as a sprinter & he's not good enough going uphill to suggest classics at this point.

Hmmm.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Wow Ewan absolutely smoked them, great sprint. Looked like there may be a few gaps as they rolled in.