52nd Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta (18-22 February)

[tobydawq]

Hector Alvarez should think twice which WT team he should be signing up soon. It looks like he would just become a "launch pad" of either Ayuso, or Skjelmose at Ldl-Trek. His power in leading the GC group for majority of the climb is really worthy of consideration. He was only relieved by Verona in front for a kilometer and then went back to work in front to launch Ayuso for his final attack.

Wasn't it Kämna who took over after Verona?

 

[AlfaLum]

Hector Alvarez should think twice which WT team he should be signing up soon. It looks like he would just become a "launch pad" of either Ayuso, or Skjelmose at Ldl-Trek. His power in leading the GC group for majority of the climb is really worthy of consideration. He was only relieved by Verona in front for a kilometer and then went back to work in front to launch Ayuso for his final attack.

If the last few years have proven anything it is that these Young Potential Stars are doing fine at the powerhouses in Cycling.

I really dont understand the narrative that these guys should move away from a team if they are not the first captain. Alvarez is progressing very nicely at Lidl-Trek and is already getting chances and riding results in smaller races.

There is no problem with him being a launching pad in bigger races for better races quite often during the season. He can develop, and his level increases he will get more chances and if he gets on par with the likes of Skjelmose or even Vacek he will captain the bigger races. And that is also exactly the level he needs to be to have a good chance of winning those races.

Same with Morgado, who really gets a lot of chances at UAE already, but for example failed to deliver himself in the second part of last season. The road for Morgado to be the second man in the spring classics is open, but he needs to be at least the same level as Wellens for those races to ride results. But if he is of that level he will also ride results at UAE.

 

[jotafap]

If the last few years have proven anything it is that these Young Potential Stars are doing fine at the powerhouses in Cycling.

I really dont understand the narrative that these guys should move away from a team if they are not the first captain. Alvarez is progressing very nicely at Lidl-Trek and is already getting chances and riding results in smaller races.

There is no problem with him being a launching pad in bigger races for better races quite often during the season. He can develop, and his level increases he will get more chances and if he gets on par with the likes of Skjelmose or even Vacek he will captain the bigger races. And that is also exactly the level he needs to be to have a good chance of winning those races.

Same with Morgado, who really gets a lot of chances at UAE already, but for example failed to deliver himself in the second part of last season. The road for Morgado to be the second man in the spring classics is open, but he needs to be at least the same level as Wellens for those races to ride results. But if he is of that level he will also ride results at UAE.

Agreed. I also don’t see the need to rush such young riders into a leadership role at any team, they might as well develop first within a strong structure.

 

[Cycling111]

The question is how developed Morgado is, considering he physically looked like a pro in his junior days.

Everyone's sport-live will be different, but I think someone like Morgado won't have a very long career and his best years will likely be when he's very young.

 

[Faserr]

A 20-minute MTF is not a short, punchy final. The Combloux MTF where Pogacar deleted everyone at Dauphiné last year was also 20 minutes and Lipowitz finished third there. This was simply a bad showing.

The Combloux stage was a totally different stage. A lot of mountains not just a snooozer with a hard climb at the end.
Even the climbs at the end were different. The last climb at Dauphine was longer and steady.

 

[Faserr]

Wasn't it Kämna who took over after Verona?

Yes. It was Kämma.

 

[Netserk]

A 20-minute MTF is not a short, punchy final. The Combloux MTF where Pogacar deleted everyone at Dauphiné last year was also 20 minutes and Lipowitz finished third there. This was simply a bad showing.

we didnt really see who was most affected by nuggets crashing, but just like foia last year it doesnt really say all that much about riders further down

 

[KZD]

Ganna should take the TT but the main focus will be on the GC battle. Almeida, Ayuso and Seixas are all good time trialists but I think Almeida will be slightly faster as he is usually very strong on flat TTs.

 

[mikks]

Agree with others. Lipowitz was the only real disappointment. All the others were more or less as expected.

 

[Cycling111]

First interesting reference to calculate how fast this time trial can be.

1

PRICE-PEJTERSEN Johan

22.47,997

22.47,997

51.4

 

[Tim Cahill]

Hard to predict since its early, no idea if these guys have practiced on the tt bike and where they are in their form, going for something like this;

Ganna
Soderqvist +5
Ayuso +30
Almeida +35
Seixas +40
Riccitello/Onley could end up in Narnia, Mcnulty depends if hes injured, though he wasn't too good in the tt 2 weeks ago.

 

[Cycling111]

Ganna starts. It won't be shown on the broadcast.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Caja rural's tour de France GC threat Abel badlerstone starting in a minute

 

[Squire]

Hard to predict since its early, no idea if these guys have practiced on the tt bike and where they are in their form, going for something like this;

Ganna
Soderqvist +5
Ayuso +30
Almeida +35
Seixas +40
Riccitello/Onley could end up in Narnia, Mcnulty depends if hes injured, though he wasn't too good in the tt 2 weeks ago.

Gaps between the favourites look sensible to me. No idea how much ahead the true specialists will be. Maybe not by that much. Ayuso did beat Ganna in the Tirreno TT after all. DFM could be in the mix too, despite losing to the best TT-er in the world at the nationals.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Söderqvist -24 at T1, Ganna coming up soon

 

[Salvarani]

Of course the Swede is faster than the Dane... duh

 

[RedheadDane]

Of course the Swede is faster than the Dane... duh

Time of the miracles is not over yet.








(Asgreen still coming.)

 

[Salvarani]

Time of the miracles is not over yet.








(Asgreen still coming.)

I will take Söderqvist on that one

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Time of the miracles is not over yet.

(Asgreen still coming.)

Maybe Asgreen could win that battle if they were riding horses, but not on bikes.

 

[RedheadDane]

Maybe Asgreen could win that battle if they were riding horses, but not on bikes.

And they were doing... like... dance moves...?
Didn't he ride dressage? Not known for its speed...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

And they were doing... like... dance moves...?
Didn't he ride dressage? Not known for its speed...

That's why I didn't claim he would be certain to win.

Anyway, Ganna is in the lead at T1.

 

[Salvarani]

Söderqvist crushed it

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Ganna increased his lead by a couple of seconds. Now we'll soon see if Küng's Tudor set up is working for him.

 

[Samamba]

Ganna beats him, winner probably known, unless Kung can beat him.
But Soderqvist seems to have made another step in the TT. He's coming closer and closer

 

[RedheadDane]

So, it's gonna be one of those TTs where we don't actually get to see the winner ride because images only start late?