57th Vuelta al Pais Vasco 3-8 April 2017

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

100% correct. Conti needs to get hungry and continue to prepare for July.

Sky doesn't have to as they have their Jiffy in the bag already.They just simply need to show up at TDF and it's pretty much done.

Also, I like the way Valverde has gone full beast mode so far this season.

What use is it to "get hungry and prepare for July" if Sky have the race in the (Jiffy) bag already?

 

[HelloDolly]

I saw Nicolas Roche and Roman Kreuziger attack....Their attacks didnt stick but they opened the race ...not only Bennettt attacking on the climbs

 

[Der Effe]

Re: Re:

Beautiful riding from Roglic today.

All the other attacks were by Bennett?

Yes. On the climb and on the descent it was Bennett the one who attacked. Roglic only followed the GC favourites. Then 3km from the finish Roglic made the only attack but it was a strong and decisive one. Beautiful win.

It was sad to hear Kirby talking like it was Roglic every time Bennett attacked. Poor Bennett he made several attacks yesterday and today and his name was never even mentioned during the broadcast on UK Eurosport.

It surely was a great win, but - since it was a 3 minutes attack - the word 'today' is totally out of place.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

I saw Nicolas Roche and Roman Kreuziger attack....Their attacks didnt stick but they opened the race ...not only Bennettt attacking on the climbs

Generous use of the word 'attack' there.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Beautiful riding from Roglic today.

All the other attacks were by Bennett?

Yes. On the climb and on the descent it was Bennett the one who attacked. Roglic only followed the GC favourites. Then 3km from the finish Roglic made the only attack but it was a strong and decisive one. Beautiful win.

It was sad to hear Kirby talking like it was Roglic every time Bennett attacked. Poor Bennett he made several attacks yesterday and today and his name was never even mentioned during the broadcast on UK Eurosport.

I fell victim to Kirby's foolishness

 

[El Pistolero]

Hilly races are always so boring compared to cobbles. Lombardia seems to be the only exception.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

I saw Nicolas Roche and Roman Kreuziger attack....Their attacks didnt stick but they opened the race ...not only Bennettt attacking on the climbs

Generous use of the word 'attack' there.

I dont see why....its an attack whether it stuck or not ...they went out front faster than the peloton and tried to get away

So Mr smarty pants an atatck is only one the sticks ...I dont think so

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Beautiful riding from Roglic today.

All the other attacks were by Bennett?

Yes. On the climb and on the descent it was Bennett the one who attacked. Roglic only followed the GC favourites. Then 3km from the finish Roglic made the only attack but it was a strong and decisive one. Beautiful win.

It was sad to hear Kirby talking like it was Roglic every time Bennett attacked. Poor Bennett he made several attacks yesterday and today and his name was never even mentioned during the broadcast on UK Eurosport.

I fell victim to Kirby's foolishness

yeah one of the reasons Kirby is dreadful
He ignores so many good riders and only sticks to the few he is obsessed with or he has decided will do well

I have nothing against Simon Clarke who finished well down today and every day this week but KIrby credits him with every Cannondale move or possible move

I doubt he even knows Bennett exists

 

[GraftPunk]

Re: Re:

I saw Nicolas Roche and Roman Kreuziger attack....Their attacks didnt stick but they opened the race ...not only Bennettt attacking on the climbs

Generous use of the word 'attack' there.

I dont see why....its an attack whether it stuck or not ...they went out front faster than the peloton and tried to get away

So Mr smarty pants an atatck is only one the sticks ...I dont think so

Oh snap, is there a doctor on the burn ward?

 

[yaco]

I'd be surprised if Roglic finishes in the top 5 tomorrow - A top 10 is a possibility - Can see up to 1 1/2 to 2 minutes between first and tenth - It's a tough stage.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re: Re:

100% correct. Conti needs to get hungry and continue to prepare for July.

Sky doesn't have to as they have their Jiffy in the bag already.They just simply need to show up at TDF and it's pretty much done.

Also, I like the way Valverde has gone full beast mode so far this season.

What use is it to "get hungry and prepare for July" if Sky have the race in the (Jiffy) bag already?

Oh come on LaFLo
don't leave me the only believer on the block.
I know it is irrational but ..
Alberto is the only one who can make your hair stand on end
once or twice a season.
Even if he doesn't win - we lived for that hour or two and can feel the buzz.
He needs you too!

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I'd be surprised if Roglic finishes in the top 5 tomorrow - A top 10 is a possibility - Can see up to 1 1/2 to 2 minutes between first and tenth - It's a tough stage.

Yeah, it's a really hard stage. It's not just the wall, there are 5 hard climbs BEFORE the final mountain. De La Cruz's chance is just as big as Roglic's.

Top 12 guess:
1. Valverde
2. Henao, s/t
3. Simon Yates, 10'
4. Uran, 47
5. Roglič, 47'
6. De La Cruz, 50'
7. Contador, 57'
8. Barguil, 1'02'
9. Ion, 1'02'
10. Kudus, 1,11'
11. Visconti, 1'13'
12. Bennett, 1'20'

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

I'd be surprised if Roglic finishes in the top 5 tomorrow - A top 10 is a possibility - Can see up to 1 1/2 to 2 minutes between first and tenth - It's a tough stage.

If Contador is in his normal shape tomorrow, which is a big question mark obviously, I can't see anyone except him, Valverde and Henao at the top of Arrate, Everybody else will lose significant amount of time. Roglic, Kwiat, I can't see them loosing less than 30sec, and probably they will lose more. Time difference to Izagirre will be crucial, if he's under 30 he will be very dangerous in the TT

 

[GraftPunk]

Contie will do fine, turn those frowns upside down guys.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

100% correct. Conti needs to get hungry and continue to prepare for July.

Sky doesn't have to as they have their Jiffy in the bag already.They just simply need to show up at TDF and it's pretty much done.

Also, I like the way Valverde has gone full beast mode so far this season.

What use is it to "get hungry and prepare for July" if Sky have the race in the (Jiffy) bag already?

Oh come on LaFLo
don't leave me the only believer on the block.
I know it is irrational but ..
Alberto is the only one who can make your hair stand on end
once or twice a season.
Even if he doesn't win - we lived for that hour or two and can feel the buzz.
He needs you too!

I am always behind him obviously Berto 4ever

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

I'd be surprised if Roglic finishes in the top 5 tomorrow - A top 10 is a possibility - Can see up to 1 1/2 to 2 minutes between first and tenth - It's a tough stage.

If Contador is in his normal shape tomorrow, which is a big question mark obviously, I can't see anyone except him, Valverde and Henao at the top of Arrate, Everybody else will lose significant amount of time. Roglic, Kwiat, I can't see them loosing less than 30sec, and probably they will lose more. Time difference to Izagirre will be crucial, if he's under 30 he will be very dangerous in the TT

Simon Yates has a chance if he is motivated. He is a very explosive rider as well. Contador, Valverde, Henao and Yates, these are the four that can win.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

I'd be surprised if Roglic finishes in the top 5 tomorrow - A top 10 is a possibility - Can see up to 1 1/2 to 2 minutes between first and tenth - It's a tough stage.

Yeah, it's a really hard stage. It's not just the wall, there are 5 hard climbs BEFORE the final mountain. De La Cruz's chance is just as big as Roglic's.

Top 12 guess:
1. Valverde
2. Henao, s/t
3. Simon Yates, 10'
4. Uran, 47
5. Roglič, 47'
6. De La Cruz, 50'
7. Contador, 57'
8. Barguil, 1'02'
9. Ion, 1'02'
10. Kudus, 1,11'
11. Visconti, 1'13'
12. Bennett, 1'20'

De La Cruz is much better on less steep, steady, longer climbs.. not a factor for tomorrow.

 

[johnymax]

Re: Re:

I'd be surprised if Roglic finishes in the top 5 tomorrow - A top 10 is a possibility - Can see up to 1 1/2 to 2 minutes between first and tenth - It's a tough stage.

Yeah, it's a really hard stage. It's not just the wall, there are 5 hard climbs BEFORE the final mountain. De La Cruz's chance is just as big as Roglic's.

Top 12 guess:
1. Valverde
2. Henao, s/t
3. Simon Yates, 10'
4. Uran, 47
5. Roglič, 47'
6. De La Cruz, 50'
7. Contador, 57'
8. Barguil, 1'02'
9. Ion, 1'02'
10. Kudus, 1,11'
11. Visconti, 1'13'
12. Bennett, 1'20'

If Contador is ok he'll be up there with Henao and Valverde. I'm almost certain Ion will do better. I also think Špilak, Bardet, Meintjes should do well.
My top6:
Valverde
Henao
Contador
Yates
Špilak
Ion

 

[WheelofGear]

Yates will win it.

1. Yates
2. Valverde, 25 (gap from sprint)
3. Henao, 26
4. Contador, 26
5. Bardet, 46
6. Roglic, 46
7. Spilak, 46
8. Woods, 57
9. Kwiatkowski, 1.22
10. Ion Izagirre, 1.22

 

[Valv.Piti]

Henao hasn't convinced me that he will be the man to beat tomorrow, but maybe he just needs +12 gradients. So I say a victory for who else than Valverde, the final kilometres suits him perfectly compared to Henao and Contador who are the only ones capable of beating him. And maybe Yates, he won't be that marked as well.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

I saw Nicolas Roche and Roman Kreuziger attack....Their attacks didnt stick but they opened the race ...not only Bennettt attacking on the climbs

Generous use of the word 'attack' there.

I dont see why....its an attack whether it stuck or not ...they went out front faster than the peloton and tried to get away

So Mr smarty pants an atatck is only one the sticks ...I dont think so

An attack usually gets more of a gap than 10 metres.

 

[Anderis]

Re: Re:

It was sad to hear Kirby talking like it was Roglic every time Bennett attacked. Poor Bennett he made several attacks yesterday and today and his name was never even mentioned during the broadcast on UK Eurosport.

Polish Eurosport's commentators said it was Sam Bennett each time George Bennett attacked, so actually not much better.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What's going on btw. a Pais Vasco where after 4 stages there are barely any differences...

It's so unlike other years. Tomorrow Arrate? That's not even a stage where usually big differences are made. This years edition is even more TT heavy then other years

 

[WheelofGear]

What's going on btw. a Pais Vasco where after 4 stages there are barely any differences...

It's so unlike other years. Tomorrow Arrate? That's not even a stage where usually big differences are made. This years edition is even more TT heavy then other years

Take a look at the profile again. It's climbed from another side.

But yeah, you are right. Stages have been too easy for a real Pais Vasco.

 

[May0maniac]

Patrick Konrad to finish inside the top on the MTF. It's a rather bold prediciton and I don't really know if he's good on such a steep climb, but he seems to be in great shape and wants to be in peak shape for his main goals, Giro del Trentino and LBL.