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2017 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, March 20-26, WT

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Valv.Piti

Valv.Piti

Aug 3, 2015
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Seriously also try to compare the time gaps in P-N and Catalunya this year to last year.

While I know big timegaps = proof of a entertaining and hard race isn't 100% true and that the TTT also played a very big part, its very good signs for the 2017-season. The classic season as a whole has also been amazing so far as well.
 
Mr.White

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LaFlorecita said:
So to conclude: the TTT experiment was a failure. It only increased the normal gaps tenfold. That wouldn't have been a huge issue if the rest of the race had been designed to balance out the TTT, but it was the usual parcours on which seconds can be gained, not minutes. It didn't help that the strongest rider was on one of the strongest TTT teams, but that was always a likely scenario and should have been taken into consideration. Just imagine how boring the race would have been if Movistar hadn't been punished. It would have been unwatchable. So please, let this be a lesson, no more of this.
Click to expand...

I agree it was much longer than it should be. 15-20km is more than enough for a race like this. But in this particular race, TTT was not much of an issue. TJ had 45sec on Froome and Thomas, 58 on Valverde, and 1.13 on Contador. We had one really tough climb where time gains can be very big, as that was the case (TJ lost almost 2min). So to conclude, TTT didn't destroyed this race, but only due to Movistar punishment. In the future this should be avoided.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

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Re: Re:

Mr.White said:
LaFlorecita said:
So to conclude: the TTT experiment was a failure. It only increased the normal gaps tenfold. That wouldn't have been a huge issue if the rest of the race had been designed to balance out the TTT, but it was the usual parcours on which seconds can be gained, not minutes. It didn't help that the strongest rider was on one of the strongest TTT teams, but that was always a likely scenario and should have been taken into consideration. Just imagine how boring the race would have been if Movistar hadn't been punished. It would have been unwatchable. So please, let this be a lesson, no more of this.
Click to expand...

I agree it was much longer than it should be. 15-20km is more than enough for a race like this. But in this particular race, TTT was not much of an issue. TJ had 45sec on Froome and Thomas, 58 on Valverde, and 1.13 on Contador. We had one really tough climb where time gains can be very big, as that was the case (TJ lost almost 2min). So to conclude, TTT didn't destroyed this race, but only due to Movistar punishment. In the future this should be avoided.
Click to expand...
100% agree.
 
Forever The Best

Forever The Best

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Re:

LaFlorecita said:
So to conclude: the TTT experiment was a failure. It only increased the normal gaps tenfold. That wouldn't have been a huge issue if the rest of the race had been designed to balance out the TTT, but it was the usual parcours on which seconds can be gained, not minutes. It didn't help that the strongest rider was on one of the strongest TTT teams, but that was always a likely scenario and should have been taken into consideration. Just imagine how boring the race would have been if Movistar hadn't been punished. It would have been unwatchable. So please, let this be a lesson, no more of this.
Click to expand...
A 41 km TTT is way too long for a GT, let alone a one-week stage race for GC riders.
Though a 41 km TTT would be pretty cool in a 1-week rouleur-puncheur race. A cobbled stage or two, a dirt stage (ala Tro Bro Leon or Dwars door Het Hageland), a hilly stage or two, a long TTT, a 20-30 km ITT and one or two flat stages with chances of crosswinds.
 
RedheadDane

RedheadDane

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Dekker_Tifosi said:
2qlg68l.png


:p
Click to expand...

What's that got to do with Catalunya?
 
El Pistolero

El Pistolero

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Tonton said:
Valverde was just spotted riding towards Belgium. He should be catching the BOD in the next twenty minutes or so: no doubt, he'll win GW :D .
Click to expand...

He would've gotten dropped super hard if he raced there. His big advantage, his sprint, would be his main weakness in the cobbled classics. He's not faster than Degenkolb, Kristoff, Boonen, Demare, Sagan, GVA, etc.

He's also not the most explosive rider on these Flemish bergs (just look at that one time he rode E3 Harelbeke).
 
D

Dan2016

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Valv.Piti said:
Overall, definitely a much more entertaining race overall than usual. Actually a very good race the last days.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's been good stuff. I've actually never watched this race before.
Very classy ride by Valverde. Like him more than I used to.

Stand out comedy moment for me was Valverde freewheeling round that hairpin uphill. :D
 
B

Brullnux

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Re: Re:

Mr.White said:
infeXio said:
RedheadDane said:
Dekker_Tifosi said:
2qlg68l.png


:p
Click to expand...

What's that got to do with Catalunya?
Click to expand...

Previous example of a rider winning several stages in the same short stage race
Click to expand...

What is the same in Danmark Rundt and Volta? Light years of difference
Click to expand...

In the same race, not the same prestige/difficulty. As in, he won a lot of stages in the same race.
 
D

Dan2016

Jul 21, 2016
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Re: Re:

LaFlorecita said:
Dan2016 said:
Proper classy ride by Valverde. Great win.

What the hell was the Dawgy doing? Just an ego attack or something?
Click to expand...
Tried to win the stage. Kudos to him for trying.
Click to expand...

You're right, kudos to him, I was thinking that when watching it (even though I don't like him)
Just seemed in the end like a half-arsed attempt at winning stage. Made no attempt to stay in the group when caught. I think he just did it for show. Naughty Dawgy.
 
mariposa

mariposa

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Re:

LaFlorecita said:
So to conclude: the TTT experiment was a failure. It only increased the normal gaps tenfold. That wouldn't have been a huge issue if the rest of the race had been designed to balance out the TTT, but it was the usual parcours on which seconds can be gained, not minutes. It didn't help that the strongest rider was on one of the strongest TTT teams, but that was always a likely scenario and should have been taken into consideration. Just imagine how boring the race would have been if Movistar hadn't been punished. It would have been unwatchable. So please, let this be a lesson, no more of this.
Click to expand...
I agree 100%. No more long TTTs please.
I like Movistar and Valverde but I was sort of relieved after they were penalised. This was partly because I thought that if they had kept the stage win and lead after all the surrounding controversy any win would have been tainted in some people's eyes. Mainly however I think it made Movistar attack and made the race overall so much more interesting.
 
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