2016 Critérium du Dauphiné, 2.UWT, June 5-12

[lenric]

I'm expecting a Bouhanni vs Cavendish confrontation in the Tour. Followed by Sagan with a *** eating grin winning the green jersey again.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Fraile ftw

 

[jmdirt]

Re:

Just watched it after reading the posts here. A whole lot of commotion about basically nothing. I expected WAY worse the way people here were talking. Officials made the right call.

So you're OK with head butts?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-penalties-come-from-criterium-du-dauphine-sprint-but-riders-call-foul/

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Just watched it after reading the posts here. A whole lot of commotion about basically nothing. I expected WAY worse the way people here were talking. Officials made the right call.

So you're OK with head butts?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-penalties-come-from-criterium-du-dauphine-sprint-but-riders-call-foul/

Not sure why you're linking that article. I've read it. Wasn't anything I haven't seen a bunch, it just had a few in succession. If you want to give out some fines to all 3 guys who headbutted, fine but nothing past that.

 

[Jagartrott]

Re: Re:

There shouldn't be.

No one would have dared to pull this trick on Cippo's train. No one. The thing would have turned into an all-out fight. A bloody mess.

Why should Nacer get no respect? And I'm no fan of his: more of a fan of Gaviria and Demare.

It's an un-written rule, maybe, but it's a rule: make you own train or stay behind my train. Don't try to squeeze inside my train.

Simple.

It's not Cofidis who broke the rule.

Agreed that Bouhanni was not really to blame here.
But as for the 'why should Nacer get no respect?'. Well, he behaved like a little sh*t in the past often enough to get himself a bad reputation. He shouldn't be surprised then that there's animosity against him in a situation such as this. Not really fair perhaps, but quite understandable.

It's like Pepe with Real Madrid. Even when he's right, he's perceived to be wrong.

 

[Praying Mantis]

Stage 2, Crêches-sur-Saône → Chalmazel - Jeansagnière (168 km, Hilly)

Tuesday, June 7th - Stage info - Startlist - Live ticker - Weather, Start - Weather, Finish
Starts at 12:50 - Live video 15:50 - Finish at 17:10 (CEST)

Profile:

Mountain passes & hills:
Km 13.5 - Col de Durbize 4.5 kilometre-long climb at 4.8% - category 3
Km 52.0 - Col de la Croix Nicelle 5.6 kilometre-long climb at 6.5% - category 2
Km 154.0 - Côte de Saint-Georges-en-Couzan 7.5 kilometre-long climb at 5.6% - category 2
Km 168.0 - CHALMAZEL-JEANSAGNIÈRE 6.8 kilometre-long climb at 3.7% - category 3

Current standings:

All 176 riders still racing.

 

[Homo Helveticus]

My prediction for yesterday's stage was almost completely correct. If the race organizers hadn't been afraid of giving Cofidis their just desserts, it would have been a Nostradamus-like prediction, but maybe they were afraid Cofidis would headbutt them instead. It sends a very bad message to the peloton, headbutt all you like and there'll be no consequences.

 

[the delgados]

Re:

My prediction for yesterday's stage was almost completely correct. If the race organizers hadn't been afraid of giving Cofidis their just desserts, it would have been a Nostradamus-like prediction, but maybe they were afraid Cofidis would headbutt them instead. It sends a very bad message to the peloton, headbutt all you like and there'll be no consequences.

My prediction is if there was ever a poll for best username on this forum, you would win by a landslide.
I would vote early and often.

 

[LaFlorecita]

That last 1.5km looks perfect to lose time if you're poorly positioned. I bet 1 or 2 GC contenders will lose time. I'll go for Aru (bold, I know )

 

[rune1107]

Hopefully Valgren gets to ride his chance. Looks like the perfect stage for him!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Hopefully Valgren gets to ride his chance. Looks like the perfect stage for him!

It is and he seems in monster shape considering his 2 performances the first 2 days. Lets see - I'm a little conflicted if Sky will send people like Landa, Henao, Poels etc. up the road and if so, Valgren's only job will be to catch them again.

 

[rune1107]

Re: Re:

Hopefully Valgren gets to ride his chance. Looks like the perfect stage for him!

It is and he seems in monster shape considering his 2 performances the first 2 days. Lets see - I'm a little conflicted if Sky will send people like Landa, Henao, Poels etc. up the road and if so, Valgren's only job will be to catch them again.

Yeah i thought the same. But hopefully Contador is well positioned, and Valgren will have a shot at going for it, if no Sky riders are in front.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Hopefully Valgren gets to ride his chance. Looks like the perfect stage for him!

It is and he seems in monster shape considering his 2 performances the first 2 days. Lets see - I'm a little conflicted if Sky will send people like Landa, Henao, Poels etc. up the road and if so, Valgren's only job will be to catch them again.

Yeah i thought the same. But hopefully Contador is well positioned, and Valgren will have a shot at going for it, if no Sky riders are in front.

I hope that Sky will employ that tactic and Valgren needs to work - that makes for a better race

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

Hopefully Valgren gets to ride his chance. Looks like the perfect stage for him!

It is and he seems in monster shape considering his 2 performances the first 2 days. Lets see - I'm a little conflicted if Sky will send people like Landa, Henao, Poels etc. up the road and if so, Valgren's only job will be to catch them again.

Yeah i thought the same. But hopefully Contador is well positioned, and Valgren will have a shot at going for it, if no Sky riders are in front.

There is chance it will be to much of climbing for Valgren to stay with best. Anyway Kreuziger is usually the last man to take care about Contador, I don't see why Valgren wouldn't go for it if there is a opportunity.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

this valgren guy has to be so overrated. what on earth has he shown he will be able to follow on a 7 km climb?

 

[Popchu]

What about Sondre Holst Enger today? Don't know how far his climbing abilities reach, but he was great in Tour of Norway.

 

[Taxus4a]

I hope the day and the battle would be enough hard to see some dkifferences, but it looks like a day to Allaphillpe or Dan Martin to take some seconds and no more.

Of course SKY can play with some riders an put in difficulty Saxo

 

[May0maniac]

Could be a good stage for Gerrans, if he has some kind of shape.

 

[MADRAZO]

Re:

this valgren guy has to be so overrated. what on earth has he shown he will be able to follow on a 7 km climb?

On a easy climb like this it should not be a problem, unless ridden very hard, a lot worse climbers than Valgren will have a chance, the problem will be how he should win the sprint against riders like Boasson Hagen, Gerrans, Alaphilippe and so on.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Judging by his TT, Gasparotto seems to be in AGR form. I'd say it's between him and Alaphillippe

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

I hope the day and the battle would be enough hard to see some dkifferences, but it looks like a day to Allaphillpe or Dan Martin to take some seconds and no more.

Of course SKY can play with some riders an put in difficulty Saxo

They could try, but they do not have a better team on a stage like today. As have been said, that last climb is great for Valgren, while Kreuziger should be quite good on this sort of terrain too.

 

[maltiv]

Re:

What about Sondre Holst Enger today? Don't know how far his climbing abilities reach, but he was great in Tour of Norway.

This is actually his first race at WT-level, so will be interesting to see how he goes. I suspect the finish is too hard for him though, particularly considering the level of competition here.

 

[Bushman]

Re:

this valgren guy has to be so overrated. what on earth has he shown he will be able to follow on a 7 km climb?

I believe it will be too much climbing for him yes. He only once did something notable on longer climbs (in PN a couple of years back) and that was in rainy conditions where he is usually strong.

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

I hope the day and the battle would be enough hard to see some dkifferences, but it looks like a day to Allaphillpe or Dan Martin to take some seconds and no more.

Of course SKY can play with some riders an put in difficulty Saxo

They could try, but they do not have a better team on a stage like today. As have been said, that last climb is great for Valgren, while Kreuziger should be quite good on this sort of terrain too.

Frankly, Kreuziger would be on such climb better than Valgren if ridden hard from bottom. I mean all the 20 kms, or at least 6,5 kms.

 

[ElPico]

Well let's see what happen today. I don't expect so much between the favourites. I think this stage will be won by an Etixx, Alaphilippe or Martin depending on the climb speed.