2020 Tour Colombia 2.1 - February 11-16

[SafeBet]

So he mistimed the sprint? Thanks. However, I think Higuita actually does have a faster sprint than Alaphilippe. That does explain Bernal.

He had to open the sprint early to catch Carapaz, who otherwise would have most likely won the stage.

 

[Red Rick]

So he mistimed the sprint? Thanks. However, I think Higuita actually does have a faster sprint than Alaphilippe. That does explain Bernal.

Carapaz had attacked, so Ala had to move super early to catch him. Once they caught him Higuita easily took the sprint in the final 200m or so.

 

[Koronin]

Carapaz had attacked, so Ala had to move super early to catch him. Once they caught him Higuita easily took the sprint in the final 200m or so.

Thanks.

 

[Joelsim]

That was a great last few kms. Really entertaining. Higuita looked very strong.

 

[JosephK]

Is Higuita 2020's Pogacar? His situation with the team is a little different--I don't even know if he'll be slated for one of the grand tours. Higuita may be the more explosive climber but might not be as strong with time trials, just going by his diminutive size and the natural disadvantage on ITTs that comes with that. Still . . . he hung with the other EF guys in the winning team time trial on the opening stage.

 

[SafeBet]

Higuita surely had a great 200 final meters, but the most impressive rider today was Richard Carapaz. He was the one forcing the selection early and the final attack was absolutely brutal.

Be very afraid, Giro contenders. Sky Carapaz might be an improved version of Movi Carapaz.

 

[Wvv]

Also kudos to Martinez. Silly crash, got back although the finale was opened up bigtime already, and finished a decent fourth in the end.

Higuita is not faster than Alaphilippe, look at the sprints the Frenchman won last year. And today wasn't a normal sprint as well. Heads off to the Colombian anyway, nice win.

 

[jaylew]

Good finale with two weird 2 crashes in the final 8k. Alaphillipe kinda led out Higuita and Bernal but Higuita especially had a super strong kick in the end. Agree that Carapaz was super, super strong with two attacks in the last few ks. It was good to see Chaves in there as well.

Here's a link to the final 42k:

http://www.steephill.tv/players/you...ashboard=tour-colombia&id=kFHJk3UMPIk&yr=2020

 

[christopherrowe]

31 Colombians in the Top 50 on the stage.

 

[Anderis]

31 Colombians in the Top 50 on the stage.

To actually make it remarkable we need some context.

Only 28 Colombians in the bottom 92 on the stage.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So... Alba pretty decent, lost 40 seconds. Ardilla, lost a minute. But Rubio lost 7 and a half minutes? Anybody know what happened?

31 Colombians in the Top 50 on the stage.

But there were only 19 non-colombians on the startlist!
(i'm kidding)

 

[yaco]

Higuita is a special talent who will won big races, though dont see him as a GT stage winner. Likely to ride the TDF.

 

[sir fly]

Quite a speeding to the line.
Bridging with the panache from Alaphilippe despite staying short of breath to finish the job off. Somewhere lower he might've done it, I feel.
Different sort of obstacle on Sunday, looking forward to seeing the selection there and EF vs. Ineos (it seems).

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Higuita is a special talent who will won big races, though dont see him as a GT stage winner. Likely to ride the TDF.

Didn't he already win a stage in last year's Vuelta? Assuming you meant GT winner, and not GT stage winner, I tend to agree. He seems very punchy and made for one-day races.

 

[tobydawq]

Also kudos to Martinez. Silly crash, got back although the finale was opened up bigtime already, and finished a decent fourth in the end.

Higuita is not faster than Alaphilippe, look at the sprints the Frenchman won last year. And today wasn't a normal sprint as well. Heads off to the Colombian anyway, nice win.

Maybe we should also look at how Higuita sprints when making a comparison between them.

He seems really, really fast for his type of rider.

 

[RedheadDane]

Didn't he already win a stage in last year's Vuelta? Assuming you meant GT winner, and not GT stage winner, I tend to agree. He seems very punchy and made for one-day races.

Yeah, he did.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Didn't he already win a stage in last year's Vuelta? Assuming you meant GT winner, and not GT stage winner, I tend to agree. He seems very punchy and made for one-day races.

I assumed that's what he meant. Not a GT (stage race) winner, but a GT stage winner.

 

[yaco]

Higuita is an ordinary ITTer which will make GC at a GT to be problematic - Will be interested to see how he matches up against Sosa, though i rate Higuita higher.

 

[Red Rick]

Higuita vs Bernal for all the marbles tomorrow probably.

 

[Joelsim]

Higuita is an ordinary ITTer which will make GC at a GT to be problematic - Will be interested to see how he matches up against Sosa, though i rate Higuita higher.

It’s difficult to know what type of ITTer he is yet, we’ll only know once he’s done one in a race that he’s targeting the GC.

 

[roundabout]

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/ruta-del-sol/2019

4 s/km slower than Wellens in an ITT with more than 300 meters of climbing

 

[Joelsim]

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/ruta-del-sol/2019

4 s/km slower than Wellens in an ITT with more than 300 meters of climbing

I suspect there will have been no wind-tunnel at that point. I’m sure he’ll improve. He managed to stick with the team in the ITT.
Way too early to judge IMO so far.

 

[yaco]

I suspect there will have been no wind-tunnel at that point. I’m sure he’ll improve. He managed to stick with the team in the ITT.
Way too early to judge IMO so far.

Reckon Sosa is a worse at the ITT.

 

[Red Rick]

Higuita seems like one of those climbers who could go for top 10s but not wins and will either end up a really good stage hunter or domestique or leader in secondary races.

Maybe he has potential in hard classics?

 

[sir fly]

Lengthy sprints this week.
Molano on top of every one.
The field determines the shape of action, probably.