But that was also in a one off stage. The most decisive factor in challenging for a GT is being able to consistently stay with the best in the mountains, without a single really bad day. Loads of riders - including many non contenders - can put in one or two great days in the mountains during a GT, but it's completely different doing it for three weeks.spiritualride said:In the 2016 Giro he countered an attack from Nibali on a MTF and beat him by 20 seconds and also beat the other GC contenders. I don't think a rider can be capable of that and be a "long way off"... ranked below Landa ??? I guess we'll see what happens in May.
This wasn't your proper mountain climb.spiritualride said:In the 2016 Giro he countered an attack from Nibali on a MTF and beat him by 20 seconds and also beat the other GC contenders. There are plenty of other examples of mountain stages of him performing on level of the GC contenders in a grand tour. While also being a great TT and improved climbing since then. I don't think a rider can be capable of that and be a "long way off"... ranked below Landa ??? I guess we'll see what happens in May.
Geraint Too Fast said:Nice gift from Castroviejo.
Red Rick said:Headwind doesn't help you get a gap and increase it with smaller group compared to a larger one.
spiritualride said:In the 2016 Giro he countered an attack from Nibali on a MTF and beat him by 20 seconds and also beat the other GC contenders. There are plenty of other examples of mountain stages of him performing on level of the GC contenders in a grand tour. While also being a great TT and improved climbing since then. I don't think a rider can be capable of that and be a "long way off"... ranked below Landa ??? I guess we'll see what happens in May.
Stop playing with my blood pressure AlexandreAlexandre B. said:Pinot desperately weak on hilly finales again.
This rider frustrates me so much.
del1962 said:The thing is Dumoulin with a decent team would never have lost the amount of time on a Vuelta stage, his lack of decent climbing domestiques will count against him like Kruiwijk last year? Though Kruiwijk was even stronger
StryderHells said:del1962 said:The thing is Dumoulin with a decent team would never have lost the amount of time on a Vuelta stage, his lack of decent climbing domestiques will count against him like Kruiwijk last year? Though Kruiwijk was even stronger
It wasn't a lack of climbing Doms that cost Kruijswijk in last years Giro, it was the crash which cost him a podium and possibly the race but I still think Nibali would of overcome him in the end. Dumoulin won't have a strong team but it won't be his team that will cost him in the Giro, all he has to do is hang on on in the high mountains, attack on the smaller climbs which he's shown that he can so and then go all out in the TT's. This season he's put more effort training as a climber unlike last season and preparing for that 2015 Vuelta, I don't think he has a hope to claim a podium but he can finish inside the top 10 by the time the race ends which would be a good achievement looking at the possible Giro field.
StryderHells said:del1962 said:The thing is Dumoulin with a decent team would never have lost the amount of time on a Vuelta stage, his lack of decent climbing domestiques will count against him like Kruiwijk last year? Though Kruiwijk was even stronger
It wasn't a lack of climbing Doms that cost Kruijswijk in last years Giro, it was the crash which cost him a podium and possibly the race but I still think Nibali would of overcome him in the end. Dumoulin won't have a strong team but it won't be his team that will cost him in the Giro, all he has to do is hang on on in the high mountains, attack on the smaller climbs which he's shown that he can so and then go all out in the TT's. This season he's put more effort training as a climber unlike last season and preparing for that 2015 Vuelta, I don't think he has a hope to claim a podium but he can finish inside the top 10 by the time the race ends which would be a good achievement looking at the possible Giro field.
del1962 said:StryderHells said:del1962 said:The thing is Dumoulin with a decent team would never have lost the amount of time on a Vuelta stage, his lack of decent climbing domestiques will count against him like Kruiwijk last year? Though Kruiwijk was even stronger
It wasn't a lack of climbing Doms that cost Kruijswijk in last years Giro, it was the crash which cost him a podium and possibly the race but I still think Nibali would of overcome him in the end. Dumoulin won't have a strong team but it won't be his team that will cost him in the Giro, all he has to do is hang on on in the high mountains, attack on the smaller climbs which he's shown that he can so and then go all out in the TT's. This season he's put more effort training as a climber unlike last season and preparing for that 2015 Vuelta, I don't think he has a hope to claim a podium but he can finish inside the top 10 by the time the race ends which would be a good achievement looking at the possible Giro field.
Obviously without the crash Kruijswijk would have been ok, but after the crash had he had stronger teammates he could have limited his losses and even caught Nibali.
Similarly with stronger teammates at the Vuelta Dumoulin is not left isolated, so limits hi losses.
Baldinger said:What's the last km like today? Looks slighty uphill.
