53rd Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - 1-6 April 2013

[Afrank]

What if Froome doesn't win the Tour? All of a sudden he may fancy another crack at the Vuelta. I don't think his leadership is a certainty just yet if this scenario was to arise. He will probably leave anyway as his contract is up at the end of the year.

Just can't see him putting up with another season doing domestique work for the likes of Froome at T-A and Wiggins at Catalonia with his role in the major races being marginalised with the shackles on.

Well, if Froome fails at the Tour and wants to target the vuelta again it will be just like 2012 I think, Froome will be in the mix the first couple weeks than fall back.

I agree that it's not certain at this point though. Giving Henao and Uran leadership for the Vuelta would be the smartest decision. But then again, this is Sky, they lost the 2011 Vuelta because they made Froome work for Wiggins, and Wiggins probably truly believes he can win all 3 grand tours in a single season (plus he wants to win PR and LBL ). Hopefully both the Colombians leave Sky (I think they will), they deserve more than Sky can offer.

 

[jaylew]

Porte is currently at a much higher level than what Henao will ever be. And Porte is getting ambitious. Can't see Porte working for Henao at this time, but we will see.

Too bad Ryo is on suspension. I'd love to see his response to that. Can you really say that at this point? Henao is just beginning his career.

richie was and is a real talent. i saw it from the moment i've seen him on monte grappa. he was all chubby but he had that determination to torture himself,could see in his eyes. and that is what is needed the most if you want to be the top rider,forget the vo2max and junior results. i said back in 2010 and 2011 that richie porte will win grand tours but i guess you know well that he left triathlon at 21 or something so apples and oranges

I thought the same after watching that Giro and I figured it would take him a few years but I thought he had strong GT potential. I also remember many laughing and dismissing his chances. That said, he still hasn't done anything for himself in a GT since then but I think it's only a matter of time.

 

[The Hitch]

Too bad Ryo is on suspension. I'd love to see his response to that. Can you really say that at this point? Henao is just beginning his career.

Not really. Henao is 25, he just spent a lot of years in Colombia. Which if ryo were here he would tell you has a significantly higher level than Europe

 

[jaylew]

Of course I know how old he is and his history. I just disagree with that assessment of the Colombian scene.

 

[movingtarget]

Yes Porte has done well in shorter stage races but not many can do it for three weeks. Probably won't know for sure about Porte until he leads a team in the Giro next year. I think he has always been underestimated, good TT rider and he now is climbing much better. Not all riders cope with the stress of being team leader either. I thought his seventh in the Giro 2010 was a good ride even though he got in the break and picked up big time. Difficult race and conditions and he handled it pretty well at the time.

 

[wwabbit]

I think henao deserves a chance to lead the team , is a great talent

Only in a stage race without an ITT, IMO.
He probably should have led Sky in Catalunya. Wiggins simply has no chance in a stage race without ITT.

 

[rhubroma]

no way a sky will win this. not their favourite terrain.valverde,alberto or samu ftw!

Yes because of the amount of punchy climbs, with lots of opportunities to set up ambushes, insidious traps, etc.: the terrain does not suit the manic controled, energy outputs to shut down the race for their winner philosophy.

Contador, Rodriquez or Valverde should be able to derail the Sky train. And let's hope it's the same at the Giro with others.

 

[greenedge]

I will go with Contador to win.

 

[Miburo]

Contador, Rodriquez or Valverde should be able to derail the Sky train. And let's hope it's the same at the Giro with others.

Purito and piti are not riding this, right?

Contador's team should be able to do some damage. His team can't be better mountain-wise even if some are not in form it's still insanely strong.

If Sky shows that it has a better team...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Too bad Ryo is on suspension. I'd love to see his response to that. Can you really say that at this point? Henao is just beginning his career.

lol, no not really of course.

But, Porte is currently the strongest allround rider in the peloton. Better than Froome imo.

 

[Gloin22]

lol, no not really of course.

But, Porte is currently the strongest allround rider in the peloton. Better than Froome imo.

How?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

How?

My impression from the races this year.

Only thing missing is making Porte a GC captain.

 

[Kokoso]

Saxo could rule this, doing Sky. Contador and Kreuziger for 1 - 2 (or the other way round).

 

[gregrowlerson]

The Shack have a good team for this race, and it's the perfect kind of route for Kloden and Horner nowadays to get a good result (hilly rather than mountainous). Possibly a top 5 for one of them, although Horner was recently ill in Catalunya I think. Probably won't even see Andy in the top 20 though.

Very important event for Saxobank to show some strength. I agree with others that Kreuziger could go for the overall here as well as Contador, especially if Alberto is still not 100%. I think that Porte will hold his form here for a strong result and Rodriguez will be hard to beat.

But I'll predict:
1. Porte
2. Kreuziger
3. Rodriguez
4. Contador
5. Kloden (perhaps wishful thinking, but has had a solid season thus far, and it's just two years since he won this)

 

[CraZyCaLL]

The Shack have a good team for this race, and it's the perfect kind of route for Kloden and Horner nowadays to get a good result (hilly rather than mountainous). Possibly a top 5 for one of them, although Horner was recently ill in Catalunya I think. Probably won't even see Andy in the top 20 though.

Very important event for Saxobank to show some strength. I agree with others that Kreuziger could go for the overall here as well as Contador, especially if Alberto is still not 100%. I think that Porte will hold his form here for a strong result and Rodriguez will be hard to beat.

But I'll predict:
1. Porte
2. Kreuziger
3. Rodriguez
4. Contador
5. Kloden (perhaps wishful thinking, but has had a solid season thus far, and it's just two years since he won this)

Don't know how Rodriguez can lose to Kreuziger, anyway Purito don't ride Pais Vasco this year

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

How?

Have you not noticed how the number 2 guy at Sky becomes the Prince across the water around here - next year when Porte is given a GT to lead people will be saying Kiriyenka is the strongest guy...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Have you not noticed how the number 2 guy at Sky becomes the Prince across the water around here - next year when Porte is given a GT to lead people will be saying Kiriyenka is the strongest guy...

well, several riders who join Sky seems to go from peloton fodder to top class GC material rather quickly, so why not the man from Belarus.

(I will stick to Porte no matter)

 

[maltiv]

well, several riders who join Sky seems to go from peloton fodder to top class GC material rather quickly, so why not the man from Belarus.

(I will stick to Porte no matter)

Don't be ridiculous, Kiryienka has never been "peloton fodder".

 

[The Hitch]

Yeah kirkyenka unlike the others actually was a top rider

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Yup, don't mix him up with that scrub Ritchie. Useless tosser had a poor season after getting a top 10 in his first ever GT as a neo pro, so he must be total ****.

Obviously I realise he was in a breakaway to get that position. If you remove the breakaway time from everyone involved, he would still be top 10, but that's just sophistry and so he clearly didn't earn it at all.

 

[Ferminal]

What is the Giro? I never saw him in July.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Don't be ridiculous, Kiryienka has never been "peloton fodder".

GT wise.
Aged 32.
16th in Vuelta as best result.
Otherwise nowhere near the business end in any GT.

It will have to be another significant transformation to get Kiryienka on a GT Podium.

note: Peloton fodder is perhaps not meant as negative as you may think.

 

[cineteq]

Kiryienka has always been a natural borg, unlike the Skyborgs.

 

[roundabout]

I kinda like him, don't know why really, but the guy sort of came out of nowhere circa 2006-2007.

 

[Jelantik]

Have you not noticed how the number 2 guy at Sky becomes the Prince across the water around here - next year when Porte is given a GT to lead people will be saying Kiriyenka is the strongest guy...

well, now we can see for sure if Porte is the same level as contador . If he is.. then game over, since froome is one level above Porte. Kiriyenka is the strongest guy. Did you not see him in Crit? he did a mamoth pull in the last mountain stage... Imagine if he wasn't, he can hang with Froome and Porte just fine probably