59th Itzulia Basque Country (2.UWT) 8 - 13 April

[tobydawq]

Re:

Why are the RaboJumboVisma guys always crashing uphill?

They are the only World Tour team that don't have an anti-uphill crashing consultant within their staff.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Dani Martinez is really an exciting prospect. He looked like Contador on that hill, super fast and very fluid.

 

[70kmph]

Yates +16

 

[Pricey_sky]

Alaphilippe a similar time to Yates and Kwiatkowski at the top of the climb.

 

[Lequack]

There are no really big mountain stages, can Allaphillipe or even Schachmann beat Yates?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

Why are the RaboJumboVisma guys always crashing uphill?

According to the Dutch Eurosport commentators, their smallest gear is too big.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

There are no really big mountain stages, can Allaphillipe or even Schachmann beat Yates?

The stages on friday and saturday could be raced very aggressively and be very selective, but I won't rule Ala, Kwito or Maxi out at all.

 

[Red Rick]

I am ruling them all out if they race hard enough

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Dan Martin 14th

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think Schachmann could have won Flanders in all honesty..

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I think Schachmann could have won Flanders in all honesty..

Has he even done cobbled classics before?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I am ruling them all out if they race hard enough

Im not sure, with 3 stages coming up which suits them all very well, its very open IMO - even if raced really hard. They can get some bonus seconds and even make gaps on these stages, but Adam Yates would be my favourite as of now.

 

[WKA311]

Re: Re:

I think Schachmann could have won Flanders in all honesty..

Has he even done cobbled classics before?

He got 10th once in Le Samyn in his first year at WT.

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

I am ruling them all out if they race hard enough

Im not sure, with 3 stages coming up which suits them all very well, its very open IMO - even if raced really hard. They can get some bonus seconds and even make gaps on these stages, but Adam Yates would be my favourite as of now.

Don't think there are bonus seconds. Or at least it would be highly unusual if there are.

 

[search]

Re: Re:

I am ruling them all out if they race hard enough

Im not sure, with 3 stages coming up which suits them all very well, its very open IMO - even if raced really hard. They can get some bonus seconds and even make gaps on these stages, but Adam Yates would be my favourite as of now.

Don't think there are bonus seconds. Or at least it would be highly unusual if there are.

there are. 10-6-4 at the finish and 3-2-1 at the intermediate sprints

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

I am ruling them all out if they race hard enough

Im not sure, with 3 stages coming up which suits them all very well, its very open IMO - even if raced really hard. They can get some bonus seconds and even make gaps on these stages, but Adam Yates would be my favourite as of now.

Don't think there are bonus seconds. Or at least it would be highly unusual if there are.

there are. 10-6-4 at the finish and 3-2-1 at the intermediate sprints

Oh, I even see that there were bonus seconds last year.

Seems a bit generous though for a usually close race.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I expected Gaudu to perform better on this climb.

 

[Escarabajo]

Martinez keep impressing. What a great form Schachmann has at this moment.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Just noticed Sepp Kuss is riding here as well... 131st at 2m17s
Did he puncture? Twice? And crash?

 

[tobydawq]

Padun 6 minutes down? How is that even possible?

 

[Lequack]

Re:

Just noticed Sepp Kuss is riding here as well... 131st at 2m17s
Did he puncture? Twice? And crash?

Probably no sense in going full out if you're not in it for the win or the GC. Often they will be told by the team to save themselves.

 

[WKA311]

Re:

Padun 6 minutes down? How is that even possible?

His first race of the season. Comes back from injury according to BM Website.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Padun 6 minutes down? How is that even possible?

His first race of the season.

Yeah, but two minutes slower than the second-slowest on 11 kilometres is perhaps a bit much.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

Just noticed Sepp Kuss is riding here as well... 131st at 2m17s
Did he puncture? Twice? And crash?

Probably no sense in going full out if you're not in it for the win or the GC. Often they will be told by the team to save themselves.

Sure, and i would completely understand if he finished somewhere in between Oomen, Lambrecht, Hirschi, Gaudu & Madouas... This was a short ITT with a steep climb which should suit him. If nothing else, just to test himself.

 

[fuiers]

Just out of curiosity. Why do riders change TT bikes to normal bikes in uphill? I believe Thomas did change his bike and I thought that was mechanical. But then George Bennett and Kwiatkowski did that as well.