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

[Flamin]

Decent stage. Sick ride by Grivko and Gruzdev. Real hardmen.

And Greipel should obviously go to Doha as leader.

 

[gospina]

Being lazy, so cut and paste from the Nairo thread regarding UCI Individual points:
Sagan: 599, Quintana: 609. 10 points.
Sagan current position in GC: 1.
Eneco Tour Number of stages left: 2 (TTT doesn't count).
Eneco Tour points per stage: 6,4,2,1,1.
Eneco Tour final GC points: 100,80,70,60,50,40,30,20,10,4
Ill Lombardia final points: 100,80,70,60,50,40,30,20,10,4

If Sagan wins another stage and comes in top 2 on the other, then it's simple for Quintana: Do one better than Sagan does in Eneco GC at Lombardia. If Sagan wins Eneco Tour (very possible), Quintana is done. If He gets top 3, Nairo has to finish top 3 at Lombardia. Lombardia happens to be one of my favorite races (who can forget Purito winning in the rain or the time that every rider named in the Colombian Worlds team finished in top 20). This just adds more reason to watch the final monument

 

[MacBAir]

I want to see Sagan to go to Lombardia, even if just for the sake of it. Tinkoff has a terrible team, and there is room for a great strong guy like him to go on a breakway. Lot's of hills = Lot's of descents.

Let's see. Usually the favorites don't win. It's cycling. (Zaugg who?)

 

[trucido]

Re: Re:

Have posted for a while that Sagan nearly always finds himself in the prime position to contest the final - When will riders learn to find Sagan's wheel.

Ive never seen a fight for Sagans wheel in a sprint, ever.. And there is a reason why.

There is always a fight for 3 wheels in a sprint , Kittels, Cavs and Kristoffs.. Cause they go straight and strong .. And are always to rely on. (mostly)

Quite simply because the others may have the power but not the technical ability to follow him.

You need nous not technical ability to follow Sagan's wheel.

If you watch Sagan freelance his way in the final km of a sprint stage, very frequently you'll see there is a fair amount of technical skill required to follow his line.

It's not so simple as "find Sagan's wheel and stick to it".

 

[Anderis]

Re:

Lombardia happens to be one of my favorite races (who can forget Purito winning in the rain or the time that every rider named in the Colombian Worlds team finished in top 20).

Excuse me, when did that happen?

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Lombardia happens to be one of my favorite races (who can forget Purito winning in the rain or the time that every rider named in the Colombian Worlds team finished in top 20).

Excuse me, when did that happen?

2012. Top 25
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=23436

 

[gospina]

Re: Re:

Lombardia happens to be one of my favorite races (who can forget Purito winning in the rain or the time that every rider named in the Colombian Worlds team finished in top 20).

Excuse me, when did that happen?

2012. Top 25
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=23436

The main group towards the end of the race had all 6 selected with 20km to go, if I remember.
Then they split. Lead group had Uran, Henao, Quintana as well as Sammy Sanchez, Purito, Contador. All came in together minus purito, who broke away and won. Duarte, Rubiano, Anacona came in with the chase group along with Nibali and Basso. They came in at the same time, so I remember as top 20, I was wrong, it was top 25.

Now, all the top Colombian riders for that year were in WT teams minus Duarte who was the Colombia Coldeportes leader that year. There were other colombians from Coldeportes participating but they were not part of the colombian world team.
Fast forward to 2016 and Duarte is back in Colombia, and we all know what happened to Atapuma, Chaves, Pantano, who were NOT protected by Coldeportes in most races.

for Lombardia 2016:
It will be nice if Purito wins to close his career although he came out of "retirement" for this Lombardia so not sure if he is going to push it. It will be nice if Contador wins to finish the Saxo-Tinkoff team on a high note.

That being said, Quintana has a good shot at winning this, so does Nibali. I believe Uran is racing this as well but he hasn't been really supported by the team and I'm guessing he may not continue with them.

Sagan has no chance.

 

[Carstenbf]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUYUKhRyv8Y

Near disastrous moto incident today. Surprised it isn't mentioned here.

 

[Velolover2]

BMC are mega-favorite for today's stage, right?

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

BMC are mega-favorite for today's stage, right?

Although Lotto-NL (Van Emden, Kelderman, Roglič) could be a serious challenger.

 

[Brullnux]

Etixx too have a chance

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

Etixx too have a chance

The absence of the extra man (powerhouse Boonen) will be felt, surely.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Etixx too have a chance

The absence of the extra man (powerhouse Boonen) will be felt, surely.

Yeah you're right, I forgot about that.

 

[MacBAir]

Every time I saw a team reckoning of Paris Roubaix, a TTT, a chaotic sprint... I miss the bright orange from the carrots

 

[snccdcno]

Movistar have a real good team for this as well.

 

[MrTea1976]

I don't think Sagan will be top 5 by the end of the stage. Movistar, Jumbo, BMC and Etixx will all beat Tinkoff today.

 

[saganboss]

Re:

I don't think Sagan will be top 5 by the end of the stage. Movistar, Jumbo, BMC and Etixx will all beat Tinkoff today.

maybe you should watch tinkoff's team, this is not vuelta

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

Greipel timed it wrong. Exciting sprint. Congrats to Sagan.

If Cav had done the same to Demare as Sagan did, imagine what would have happened?

You mean the same to Sagan as Demare did, right?

Nah i dont, Demare tried to hold Kristoff wheel .. Sagan headbutted him, to me all fair in a sprint .. But if Cav did this, thats my point..

https://youtu.be/G6NrxJbSOO8?t=2923

Sagan did not headbutt him. Nor he did push him. He gets Kristoff's wheel and that's it.

 

[Netserk]

BTW I think Sagan should be very careful on the hills today. He can wreck his own team.

 

[KGB]

Nah he will do TTT on his mountain bike then rest of his team has chance to keep his wheel.

 

[KGB]

Re: Re:

Greipel timed it wrong. Exciting sprint. Congrats to Sagan.

If Cav had done the same to Demare as Sagan did, imagine what would have happened?

You mean the same to Sagan as Demare did, right?

Nah i dont, Demare tried to hold Kristoff wheel .. Sagan headbutted him, to me all fair in a sprint .. But if Cav did this, thats my point..

https://youtu.be/G6NrxJbSOO8?t=2923

Sagan did not headbutt him. Nor he did push him. He gets Kristoff's wheel and that's it.

Demare should be happy was only Sagan.If there is Nacer then ......

 

[saganboss]

so the 4th rider counts?

 

[wheresmybrakes]

If its the 5th one, someone is gonna get a kicking on the bus!

 

[johnymax]

Re: Re:

I don't think Sagan will be top 5 by the end of the stage. Movistar, Jumbo, BMC and Etixx will all beat Tinkoff today.

maybe you should watch tinkoff's team, this is not vuelta

Still there are 4-5 teams better for a TTT in this Eneco Tour. But for Sagan the place is not important. Limiting the time loss is all that matters for him today.

Prediction: 1.BMC, 2.Movistar, 3.Lotto-Jumbo.

 

[Ruby United]

If its the 5th one, someone is gonna get a kicking on the bus!

It's 4th