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

[Jungle Cycle]

Soul Brazil in a 41km of TTT against wt teams... oh boy...

 

[Tonton]

Just catching up, and yeah Davide got a big win. FDJ this year is much stronger, splitting the team in units and beefing up the sprinters group: it's paying off. FDJ is now trying to weight on races versus going with the flow. It may backfire at times, like Pinot at TA/Terminillo, but that's the right attitude. Like in PN and FDJ riding up front, chasing, taking big responsibilities. I'm so happy for Davide. I hope Jacopo gets one too. Forza Italia!

 

[Jagartrott]

*A lot* of precipitation is expected later in the week(end).

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Also, is it just me, or does this race always seem super underwhelming despite the names turning up? Never really enjoyed it compared to P-N, T-A, Pais Vasco... doesn't feel like a big race for some reason.

I feel the same way, it's always underwhelming and I never care very much about this race.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Also, is it just me, or does this race always seem super underwhelming despite the names turning up? Never really enjoyed it compared to P-N, T-A, Pais Vasco... doesn't feel like a big race for some reason.

I feel the same way, it's always underwhelming and I never care very much about this race.

At this point I'd much rather watch the classics Wednesday and Friday over the two MTFs on the same days despite my favourite rider is racing. Hmm...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Trek is ahead of Katusha in the day ranking by the way, so it's probably just a mistake they they (for some reason) were swapped in the overall team ranking

Great, a mistake that will force them to start earlier today
Do bonus seconds not count towards the team classification, by the way?

Edit: actually, I've looked at the road book and it says that in the event of a draw, they will look at the number of 1st places in the daily team classification, number of 2nd places in the daily team classification etc. and then at the best individual rider in GC. So that would explain why Katusha is ahead, they didn't add up the positions nor did they look at the position of the 3rd rider.

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

*A lot* of precipitation is expected later in the week(end).

I thought so from the forecasts - could cause havoc with skinny climbers getting their racing legs.

 

[portugal11]

This race is always underwhelming because in the past we had (and we still have) riders like purito and valverde that were always looking for uphill sprints to gain 3/4 seconds (in almost every mountain/hilly stage)...

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

This race is always underwhelming because in the past we had (and we still have) riders like purito and valverde that were always looking for uphill sprints to gain 3/4 seconds (in almost every mountain/hilly stage)...

That has nothing to do with why it is a disappointing race at all, lol. If anything Valverde animated the race in 2015 and won 3 stages.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

This race is always underwhelming because in the past we had (and we still have) riders like purito and valverde that were always looking for uphill sprints to gain 3/4 seconds (in almost every mountain/hilly stage)...

That has nothing to do with why it is a disappointing race at all, lol. If anything Valverde animated the race in 2015 and won 3 stages.

Winning stages is not exactly animating the race, lol I don't remember much about the 2015 edition except that Richie won and Piti took bonus seconds on the last stage to get onto the podium.
I do agree with portugal11 that such a "negative" (YMMV) way of racing can have a big impact on how the race is perceived.

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

This race is always underwhelming because in the past we had (and we still have) riders like purito and valverde that were always looking for uphill sprints to gain 3/4 seconds (in almost every mountain/hilly stage)...

That has nothing to do with why it is a disappointing race at all, lol. If anything Valverde animated the race in 2015 and won 3 stages.

I'm assuming the emphasis was made on the race being way more spectacular if someone takes big solo wins in mountain stages instead of stealing a few seconds in hilly sprints.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Just catching up, and yeah Davide got a big win. FDJ this year is much stronger, splitting the team in units and beefing up the sprinters group: it's paying off. FDJ is now trying to weight on races versus going with the flow. It may backfire at times, like Pinot at TA/Terminillo, but that's the right attitude. Like in PN and FDJ riding up front, chasing, taking big responsibilities. I'm so happy for Davide. I hope Jacopo gets one too. Forza Italia!

Since Reichenbach will have his opportunity at the Vuelta, I hope Cimolai will have his chances too.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I'm assuming the emphasis was made on the race being way more spectacular if someone takes big solo wins in mountain stages instead of stealing a few seconds in hilly sprints.

Isn't that normal? I'm sure if you were to ask people to name a stage of the 2014 Tirreno, most people would name the Guardiagrele stage and very few the Cittareale stage, even though both were won by the same rider.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Just catching up, and yeah Davide got a big win. FDJ this year is much stronger, splitting the team in units and beefing up the sprinters group: it's paying off. FDJ is now trying to weight on races versus going with the flow. It may backfire at times, like Pinot at TA/Terminillo, but that's the right attitude. Like in PN and FDJ riding up front, chasing, taking big responsibilities. I'm so happy for Davide. I hope Jacopo gets one too. Forza Italia!

Really happy for Cimo and Vichot did huge work for him. Love it!

 

[Lexman]

so when do they start?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

This race is always underwhelming because in the past we had (and we still have) riders like purito and valverde that were always looking for uphill sprints to gain 3/4 seconds (in almost every mountain/hilly stage)...

That has nothing to do with why it is a disappointing race at all, lol. If anything Valverde animated the race in 2015 and won 3 stages.

I'm assuming the emphasis was made on the race being way more spectacular if someone takes big solo wins in mountain stages instead of stealing a few seconds in hilly sprints.

Yes, but thats simply not possible in this race, it comes down to seconds whether it is Purito, Valverde, Contador, Porte or whoever. He just came across as Valv/Purito = boring race which is wrong - its just the way the race is

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

This race belongs into May or June. This March slot didn't help the race at all, as all attention is shifting between post-San Remo discussions and pre-Flanders classics debate. When I started following cycling the Setmana Catalana was held in this week - a far more suiting event for this time of the year with a couple of lazy sprint stages, glorious breakaway actions (Aitor Silloniz!) and the odd MTF. I do also think that putting the Volta in this week played a part in killing the Critérium International by absorbing much needed big names from the French race. So thanks for that.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

This race belongs into May or June. This March slot didn't help the race at all, as all attention is shifting between post-San Remo discussions and pre-Flanders classics debate. When I started following cycling the Setmana Catalana was held in this week - a far more suiting event for this time of the year with a couple of lazy sprint stages, glorious breakaway actions (Aitor Silloniz!) and the odd MTF. I do also think that putting the Volta in this week played a part in killing the Critérium International by absorbing much needed big names from the French race. So thanks for that.

So which slot exactly do you want to put it in? I have a hard time finding a good one in May-June.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

so when do they start?

14:53 Funvic is off

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

This race is always underwhelming because in the past we had (and we still have) riders like purito and valverde that were always looking for uphill sprints to gain 3/4 seconds (in almost every mountain/hilly stage)...

That has nothing to do with why it is a disappointing race at all, lol. If anything Valverde animated the race in 2015 and won 3 stages.

I'm assuming the emphasis was made on the race being way more spectacular if someone takes big solo wins in mountain stages instead of stealing a few seconds in hilly sprints.

Yes, but thats simply not possible in this race, it comes down to seconds whether it is Purito, Valverde, Contador, Porte or whoever. He just came across as Valv/Purito = boring race which is wrong - its just the way the race is

totally agree. the only thing i didn't quite get is why another tub of critisism was directed exactly at Valverde and Purito. if there's nothing memorable in some edtion of Volta Catalunya, all the big riders are responsible for racing being underwhelming, not only puncheurs.

 

[Ricco']

Even when Dan Martin won with a solo attack from far in 2013 the race wasn't very spectacular. It all comes down to TV broadcast, if they know how to show the race it's going to be very good but when they have one moto with the bunch, another in front and then a helicopter showing pictures from the stratosphere, it's going to be boring.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh but when I was on high school and on the first years of the university I had time to come home at night and see the full replay of the majority of the races and I could always rely on Catalonia to put me to sleep in the middle of the broadcast. Now I only see the bits I can when I have a more free day of work.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think as Ricco says the TV broadcast plays a big role. It's not just Catalunya, also for example Pais Vasco and Tour de Suisse, despite being two of the major one-week stage races, never make a big impression on me. They don't feel as "important" as for example Paris-Nice, Tirreno or Dauphiné while I would rate them very highly on paper.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

This race is always underwhelming because in the past we had (and we still have) riders like purito and valverde that were always looking for uphill sprints to gain 3/4 seconds (in almost every mountain/hilly stage)...

That has nothing to do with why it is a disappointing race at all, lol. If anything Valverde animated the race in 2015 and won 3 stages.

Valverde animated the race ....
He animated the race in one stage where contador was playing with porte and the rest. In the other wins he won by sprinting... Wheelsucking and waiting for uphill sprints/sprints in reduced groups is a valid tactic but I will never support a rider like him and by your logic, attacking one time is already a signal of animating a race... so quintana entertained le tour 2016 because he attacked on mont ventoux...

 

[dacooley]

the first volta catalunya I've seen was probably 2005. back then the race was held in may during the giro which didn't raise its prestige either. as has been noted multiple times, the key problem is nauseeating level of broadcasting. this flaw is quite intrinsic to all italian / spanish races. unlike aso, they are not willing to sell its product really well. what's the major reason for that, lack of money or anything else, i don't know

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

the first volta catalunya I've seen was probably 2005. back then the race was held in may during the giro which didn't raise its prestige either. as has been noted multiple times, the key problem is nauseeating level of broadcasting. this flaw is quite intrinsic to all italian / spanish races. unlike aso, they are not willing to sell its product really well. what's the major reason for that, lack of money or anything else, i don't know

The only real criticism I have with the Giro coverage, is that too often there are reception problems with the helicopter, otherwise RAI's coverage is fine. If you want the blockbuster that the Tour has become, then you'd loose the genuine cycling aspect of the Giro. Then the Italians are simply not as adept as selling their "grandezza" as well as the French their "grandeur." Just listen to the difference in national anthems.