2016 Eneco Tour (WT): Sept 19 - 25th

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I hope, I am wrong, but I am afraid that the TTT will have too much impact on GC (like in Tirreno - Adriatico without the queen stage).

Yeah, it's a bit silly to put over 20 kms TTT in races without at least two very selective stages. If one team has a poor TTT, their rider might not even make top10 overall despite achieving better cumulative time than any other rider in the remaining stages.

I always read that stage races never have enough TT kms - I also read that TT's sort out the most rounded stage rider - For me it's logical that every stage race has a TTT,seeing that it's the team that helps the GC rider achieve results - So if you want an al-round GC rider then you should expect similar from the team.

 

[Jagartrott]

Weather is supposed to be calm, with little rain and always around 20 °C.
Wellens must be cursing.

 

[Anderis]

Re: Re:

I hope, I am wrong, but I am afraid that the TTT will have too much impact on GC (like in Tirreno - Adriatico without the queen stage).

Yeah, it's a bit silly to put over 20 kms TTT in races without at least two very selective stages. If one team has a poor TTT, their rider might not even make top10 overall despite achieving better cumulative time than any other rider in the remaining stages.

I always read that stage races never have enough TT kms - I also read that TT's sort out the most rounded stage rider - For me it's logical that every stage race has a TTT,seeing that it's the team that helps the GC rider achieve results - So if you want an al-round GC rider then you should expect similar from the team.

Don't get me wrong, I really like TTTs and I wouldn't mind a proper one in every GT. But every route should be balanced and if there is not much opportunity to gain big ammount of time elsewhere, longish TTTs make the route unbalanced as it is the case in this year's Eneco, which not only doesn't have any big mountain, but even the classic-like stages don't seem to be as hard as in the previous years.

 

[Thepirateisgood]

Re: Re:

I hope, I am wrong, but I am afraid that the TTT will have too much impact on GC (like in Tirreno - Adriatico without the queen stage).

Yeah, it's a bit silly to put over 20 kms TTT in races without at least two very selective stages. If one team has a poor TTT, their rider might not even make top10 overall despite achieving better cumulative time than any other rider in the remaining stages.

I always read that stage races never have enough TT kms - I also read that TT's sort out the most rounded stage rider - For me it's logical that every stage race has a TTT,seeing that it's the team that helps the GC rider achieve results - So if you want an al-round GC rider then you should expect similar from the team.

That's nice. I really hope that logic stops with you, because what you are effectively saying are that if you have a strong(expensive) team, then the differences should always be even higher what with an TTT thrown in for good measure. I think you take the "there's not an 'I' in team" way too far.

For this event though, the TTT and the profile is made this way for Doha, nothing else.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So...by how many minutes will Wellens win?

little chance to none without a proper ardennes stage this year

 

[F e r o x]

Missing the Ardennes already.

TT will decide everything. It's difficult to take back a lot of time on the Flanders route.

 

[Domulec]

Re:

They may as well not do the TTT. Etixx cannot lose with that team surely.

BMC has GVA, Dennis, Küng, Oss, Quinziato, Phinney, Rosskopf and Bohli. I think they will give Etixx a good run for their money and set up GVA as the favourite to win the race.

 

[Breh]

Yes, BMC looks very strong for the TTT, GVA's ITT is not too shabby and Flanders.

 

[Orbit501]

Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaYVo89mmY

:lol: And I opened the link expecting to relive a Wellens wonder win.

Anyway, back to this year. I too can't wait.

Battle between Ion Izagirre & GVA for me. Both very strong TTT, GVA shouldn't lose too much time on the short ITT. Might all come down to what bonifications GVA can nick when all said and done.

Two sprint scenarios I'm curious about:

Kittel has apparently been sick recently. Will Boonen end up being the man, as he was for the Belgium classic recently?

I wonder how Matthews will slot in in the pure bunch sprints with Ewan there? He's pretty tasty on short TT's and the reduced bunch sprints later will obviously suit him. They should go half decent in the TTT too, so that could leave Matthews with a real shot at GC.

 

[liamito]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaYVo89mmY

I wonder how Matthews will slot in in the pure bunch sprints with Ewan there? He's pretty tasty on short TT's and the reduced bunch sprints later will obviously suit him. They should go half decent in the TTT too, so that could leave Matthews with a real shot at GC.

Perfect situation for this race with the Golden Kilometre thing.

 

[Orbit501]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaYVo89mmY

I wonder how Matthews will slot in in the pure bunch sprints with Ewan there? He's pretty tasty on short TT's and the reduced bunch sprints later will obviously suit him. They should go half decent in the TTT too, so that could leave Matthews with a real shot at GC.

Perfect situation for this race with the Golden Kilometre thing.

Not sure where they're all placed, but didn't the break hoover up nearly all the golden kilometer bonus seconds last year?

If not for the break then would be interesting to see GVA and Bling battle for the seconds. Not sure whether Sagan will be too interested. Could even see Tom D, Tony Martin and Izagirre have little pops off the front if things are tight on GC and the situation presents itself.

 

[42x16ss]

Does anyone else see Ferrari and Bouhanni causing a pileup in the sprint on the first stage? Lucky Cav won't be there to add to the fun

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaYVo89mmY

:lol: And I opened the link expecting to relive a Wellens wonder win.

Anyway, back to this year. I too can't wait.

Battle between Ion Izagirre & GVA for me. Both very strong TTT, GVA shouldn't lose too much time on the short ITT. Might all come down to what bonifications GVA can nick when all said and done.

Two sprint scenarios I'm curious about:

Kittel has apparently been sick recently. Will Boonen end up being the man, as he was for the Belgium classic recently?

I wonder how Matthews will slot in in the pure bunch sprints with Ewan there? He's pretty tasty on short TT's and the reduced bunch sprints later will obviously suit him. They should go half decent in the TTT too, so that could leave Matthews with a real shot at GC.

I suspect Ewan will go for the pure sprinter's stages with Matthews focusing on the TT and the second half of the race. If he can survive the two hilly stages (and he should) then he's a genuine chance for GC.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Does anyone else see Ferrari and Bouhanni causing a pileup in the sprint on the first stage? Lucky Cav won't be there to add to the fun

When was the last time Bouhanni caused a mass-crash? He's no Cav.

 

[tomorrow]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaYVo89mmY

I wonder how Matthews will slot in in the pure bunch sprints with Ewan there? He's pretty tasty on short TT's and the reduced bunch sprints later will obviously suit him. They should go half decent in the TTT too, so that could leave Matthews with a real shot at GC.

Perfect situation for this race with the Golden Kilometre thing.

Not sure where they're all placed, but didn't the break hoover up nearly all the golden kilometer bonus seconds last year?

If not for the break then would be interesting to see GVA and Bling battle for the seconds. Not sure whether Sagan will be too interested. Could even see Tom D, Tony Martin and Izagirre have little pops off the front if things are tight on GC and the situation presents itself.

Well, sagan wants the WT Rankings lead back from quintana, so ho will care.

 

[Jagartrott]

Benoot had hoped to hitch a ride with Sagan's private jet, but that wasn't possible for some reason, so was driven - 1000 km, to arrive at 6.30 this morning...

 

[SKSemtex]

Re:

I hope, I am wrong, but I am afraid that the TTT will have too much impact on GC (like in Tirreno - Adriatico without the queen stage).

The race is taylor-made for GVA. Enough km to level the bunus seconds for sagan second places in bunch sprints and wins in hilly stages.
I have already put my money on GVA.
However Tinkoff TTT will not be that bad like the one in Vuelta.

 

[tomorrow]

Re: Re:

I hope, I am wrong, but I am afraid that the TTT will have too much impact on GC (like in Tirreno - Adriatico without the queen stage).

The race is taylor-made for GVA. Enough km to level the bunus seconds for sagan second places in bunch sprints and wins in hilly stages.
I have already put my money on GVA.
However Tinkoff TTT will not be that bad like the one in Vuelta.

well, and the TTT is no too long too, Sagan and Bodnar should be enough to do some monster pulls. However, the problem could be for them in some of their team mates, who would not be able to follow them(e.g. Baska). I am not sure, time of which riders counts? Fifth?

 

[tomorrow]

btw, I just looked closer to the profile of the last stage. I am aware that last year there were nearly no differencies(GvA had basically no chance on fighting with Wellens), but if GvA and especially Sagan smells the chance, they will probably attack from far out, which could end in nice spectacle. Together, they could make tens of seconds on the rest. Let's hope, neither of them is first in GC before this stage.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

live stream http://slipstreaming.tv/

 

[GP Blanco]

Danny van Poppel just crashed.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

lead-out train
rocket science
today
with these roads - minus Sky

 

[GP Blanco]

Groenewegen takes it

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[Jagartrott]

There just wasn't enough room. Perhaps 4-5 guys were able to sprint 100%.