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

[Zam_Olyas]

Mick will put up a good fight and he will finish second.

 

[Forunculo]

91 . CONTADOR, Alberto
92 . SÖRENSEN, Chris
93 . HERNANDEZ, Jesus
94 . ROGERS, Michael
95 . ROCHE, Nicholas
96 . ZAUGG, Oliver
97 . KREUZIGER, Roman
98 . PAULINHO, Sergio Migu

Saxo sends the possibly TDF squad? Blank two spots for sky? spot for either Froome or wiggin's? or Uran?

For a hilly race this is a monster team in theory but we are waiting a solid performance from TST since the start of the season.

I guess Bjarne wants the first success at the Basque at any cost.

 

[ILovecycling]

With this squad Saxo has to destroy skyboys.If not ,its a serious problem.

 

[Jelantik]

With this squad Saxo has to destroy skyboys.If not ,its a serious problem.

on paper they should. If they can't destroy sky 'B' team.. god knows what happen in TDF. I hope Saxo won't officially become the new "2013 version of BMC". All star stud, with no results. I'm hoping to see Rogers show some sparks. Kreuziger was 5th in GP indurain. So he got some good form.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

No TGBM

Now it's up to the Butcher

 

[Fight.The.Power]

No sign that Wiggins is riding this from Ciclissimo. 2 slots left for Sky however. If he doesn't take part maybe he is out of shape or is realling going for the Tour?s This Pais Vasco seems perfect for Pre-Giro training??

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

No sign that Wiggins is riding this from Ciclissimo. 2 slots left for Sky however. If he doesn't take part maybe he is out of shape or is realling going for the Tour?s This Pais Vasco seems perfect for Pre-Giro training??

I'd say training would be even better as pre-Giro training.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Hi Waterloo, yes fair point. Just realised he is doing Trentino v Nibali.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

well, well, well, Sky going in with a team of six in a stage race.

Looks like leadership to me.

Lets see what Porte can do with less support.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

well, well, well, Sky going in with a team of six in a stage race.

Looks like leadership to me.

Lets see what Porte can do with less support.

They might be a bit shy if they have to control the race all day, but if they just want to set the right pace in the last climb of the day they have an absolutely ideal top 3 riders.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

They might be a bit shy if they have to control the race all day, but if they just want to set the right pace in the last climb of the day they have an absolutely ideal top 3 riders.

probably depends on how early (if?) they get the leaders jersey.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No TGBM

Now it's up to the Butcher

way too hard for Tom-Jelte.

Mollema not starting really hurts Blanco's WT ranking. Because the higher Mollema would end up the better car order they get in the Ardennes classics.

 

[Miburo]

way too hard for Tom-Jelte.

Mollema not starting really hurts Blanco's WT ranking. Because the higher Mollema would end up the better car order they get in the Ardennes classics.

And what are they gonna do there?

Besides that's not as relevant as in the cobbles classics.

 

[theyoungest]

way too hard for Tom-Jelte.

Mollema not starting really hurts Blanco's WT ranking. Because the higher Mollema would end up the better car order they get in the Ardennes classics.

I think the car ranking is based on their highest ranked rider in the race. Slagter is currently 7th in the WT, and he'll ride the Ardennes races, so they should be alright. The main problem is that Mollema is their only guy who you can really count on to do anything in those races.

They're screwed in Roubaix though, they're 17th in line, like they were today in Flanders.

 

[stefrees]

Edmondson and Boswell are guys 7 and 8 according to their own website

 

[Aguirre]

nope, sky goes with only six riders. Basque radio is saying organisers are angry with the team what they think is disrespecfull with the race (I agree).

Radio commentators very critical with "the best team of the world"

 

[del1962]

Sky's team is certainly weaker than their P-N, Catalunya or T-A teams. Boswell, Dombroski have shown very little and the same could be said about JTL and Zandio, Edmunsson is stlll very young. Obvioulsy Henao and Kiryienka will give Richie Porte strong support.

 

[jens_attacks]

nope, sky goes with only six riders. Basque radio is saying organisers are angry with the team what they think is disrespecfull with the race (I agree).

Radio commentators very critical with "the best team of the world"

kiry can do the work of half the saxo team so the organizers are silly

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

nope, sky goes with only six riders. Basque radio is saying organisers are angry with the team what they think is disrespecfull with the race (I agree).

Radio commentators very critical with "the best team of the world"

It's mainly just stupid for a race they could win, but I don't expect them to take the lead on the road anyway, so I can't see it costing them too much.

Basques would know about disrespecting races anyway, the sort of stellar show they put on in Belgium each year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

nope, sky goes with only six riders. Basque radio is saying organisers are angry with the team what they think is disrespecfull with the race (I agree).

Radio commentators very critical with "the best team of the world"

every team should have 6 riders only.

Besides I still expect Porte to close the deal or get very close.

 

[del1962]

It's mainly just stupid for a race they could win, but I don't expect them to take the lead on the road anyway, so I can't see it costing them too much.

Basques would know about disrespecting races anyway, the sort of stellar show they put on in Belgium each year.

Sounds to me like if this race wasn't on the World Tour Sky would not be there, perhaps some of the Sky Riders like JTL can have a more free role though.

 

[roundabout]

It's a pretty prestigious race. Not sure how they ended up with 6 starters though.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

It's a pretty prestigious race. Not sure how they ended up with 6 starters though.

They've got 10 men tied up in Belgium and both their Giro and Tour leaders not racing. They don't believe racing is good preparation for future races so won't just sub people in for unplanned races.

All in all a recipe for this sort of thing happening - the fact they had 3 neopros on the start list to begin with shows the priority they were giving this one.

 

[Aguirre]

Sounds to me like if this race wasn't on the World Tour Sky would not be there, perhaps some of the Sky Riders like JTL can have a more free role though.

Tour of Oman is definitely a more prestigious one... I got sick of this "new cycling" unawareneness of history. What the *** makes you think in such a way?

This is one of the most prestigious races in the calendar, it just lacks a better marketing... oh, I forgot Sky is about this

 

[Aguirre]

Basques would know about disrespecting races anyway, the sort of stellar show they put on in Belgium each year.[/QUOTE]

At least they don't pressume of being the "best team in the world"...

once again, poor exhibit by Sky