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

[tobydawq]

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.

They think the benefits of an aerodynamic bike for the flat part and a light and handy bike for the ascent and descent outweigh the amount of time it takes to change bikes.

 

[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.

They think the benefits of an aerodynamic bike for the flat part and a light and handy bike for the ascent and descent outweigh the amount of time it takes to change bikes.

Is this kind of thing rare or normal? I have been only following professional racing for 2 years now and this has to be the first time race i´ve seen this happening.

 

[Lequack]

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.

They think the benefits of an aerodynamic bike for the flat part and a light and handy bike for the ascent and descent outweigh the amount of time it takes to change bikes.

Is this kind of thing rare or normal? I have been only following professional racing for 2 years now and this has to be the first time race i´ve seen this happening.

It's pretty normal yes. Some guys just aren't comfortable climbing on a TT bike, with a normal bike you can stand up and weave on the bike Contador stye.

 

[ppanther92]

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.

They think the benefits of an aerodynamic bike for the flat part and a light and handy bike for the ascent and descent outweigh the amount of time it takes to change bikes.

Is this kind of thing rare or normal? I have been only following professional racing for 2 years now and this has to be the first time race i´ve seen this happening.

Normal, but the advnatage (if at all) is very debatable in my opinion...

 

[fuiers]

Thanks for the info.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Thanks for the info.

The first time people began doing it was in the Tour Stage 17 TT in 2013 where Froome beat Contador and Purito.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Normal, but the advnatage (if at all) is very debatable in my opinion...

Especially on a short ITT like this. You also have guys that are really uncomfortable on an ITT bike. There are guys that did the climb on an ITT bike, but there are also guys who did the flat sections on a regular bike.

 

[tobydawq]

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.

They think the benefits of an aerodynamic bike for the flat part and a light and handy bike for the ascent and descent outweigh the amount of time it takes to change bikes.

Is this kind of thing rare or normal? I have been only following professional racing for 2 years now and this has to be the first time race i´ve seen this happening.

Normal, but the advnatage (if at all) is very debatable in my opinion...

And which scientific experiments have you been doing in order to build an informed opinion on this matter and know better than the World Tour teams?

 

[rghysens]

Re: Re:

Thanks for the info.

The first time people began doing it was in the Tour Stage 17 TT in 2013 where Froome beat Contador and Purito.

I seem to remember it also happened on the Saint-Etienne ITT in the 1997 Tour de France

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

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.

They think the benefits of an aerodynamic bike for the flat part and a light and handy bike for the ascent and descent outweigh the amount of time it takes to change bikes.

Is this kind of thing rare or normal? I have been only following professional racing for 2 years now and this has to be the first time race i´ve seen this happening.

Normal, but the advnatage (if at all) is very debatable in my opinion...

And which scientific experiments have you been doing in order to build an informed opinion on this matter and know better than the World Tour teams?

It's just adding an extra risk for likely small gains in such a short ITT. There are a few things that can go wrong during a bike change, and it wouldn't take much to lose the benefit you intended to gain. It also introduces some extra stress, the rider needs to keep his focus and find his rhythm again... i think it's not always as clear cut as "2 second gain per km minus 10 seconds bike change equals 10 second profit". If it were, everybody would do it.

 

[rghysens]

Re: 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.

Based on his performance in this race last year, the world championships and Tirenno-Adriatico this year, I'm definitely ruling out Alaphilippe.
And Schachmann...What a loss for DQS.

 

[tobydawq]

It's just adding an extra risk for likely small gains in such a short ITT. There are a few things that can go wrong during a bike change, and it wouldn't take much to lose the benefit you intended to gain. It also introduces some extra stress, the rider needs to keep his focus and find his rhythm again... i think it's not always as clear cut as "2 second gain per km minus 10 seconds bike change equals 10 second profit". If it were, everybody would do it.

That may be true. Especially in as short a stage as today's.

The Danish commentators on Eurosport are always very adamant that there should be a rule change regarding this, forbidding a mechanic to push a rider from a halt in an uphill when the rider makes a planned bike change. That seems like a reasonable suggestion.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re: Re:

Thanks for the info.

The first time people began doing it was in the Tour Stage 17 TT in 2013 where Froome beat Contador and Purito.

I seem to remember it also happened on the Saint-Etienne ITT in the 1997 Tour de France

I think some riders already did it in the Tour 1987, when there was an ITT with a flat part before the Mont Ventoux. Back then it was against the rules, so you had to fake a mechanical at the foot of the climb.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It's just adding an extra risk for likely small gains in such a short ITT. There are a few things that can go wrong during a bike change, and it wouldn't take much to lose the benefit you intended to gain. It also introduces some extra stress, the rider needs to keep his focus and find his rhythm again... i think it's not always as clear cut as "2 second gain per km minus 10 seconds bike change equals 10 second profit". If it were, everybody would do it.

That may be true. Especially in as short a stage as today's.

The Danish commentators on Eurosport are always very adamant that there should be a rule change regarding this, forbidding a mechanic to push a rider from a halt in an uphill when the rider makes a planned bike change. That seems like a reasonable suggestion.

Either no pushing at all, or a rule like in basketball. Two steps :lol: I could see a lot of former discus throwers or shot putters find a new job as mechanics after their olympic carreers.

 

[Jancouver]

How did Rohan Dennis lose 47sec on 17min TT course?

I did not see it, so what am I missing?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

How did Rohan Dennis lose 47sec on 17min TT course?

I did not see it, so what am I missing?

It had a steep "mur" type climb. Some Visma guys fell over because their gears were too big.

 

[ppanther92]

Normal, but the advnatage (if at all) is very debatable in my opinion...

Especially on a short ITT like this.

Exactly.

 

[ppanther92]

And which scientific experiments have you been doing in order to build an informed opinion on this matter and know better than the World Tour teams?

It's just adding an extra risk for likely small gains in such a short ITT. There are a few things that can go wrong during a bike change, and it wouldn't take much to lose the benefit you intended to gain. It also introduces some extra stress, the rider needs to keep his focus and find his rhythm again... i think it's not always as clear cut as "2 second gain per km minus 10 seconds bike change equals 10 second profit". If it were, everybody would do it.

And again - spot on. In theory the net benefit may be there, but it's not so easy to just calculate the effect in a real race. Like you said - if it was such a clear case, everyone would be doing it and there would also be now debate among fans and riders after the race.

 

[Velolover2]

Match of the Strade winners? Kwiato vs. Ala. Even for the immediate sprints if the break get caught early.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

Match of the Strade winners? Kwiato vs. Ala. Even for the immediate sprints if the break get caught early.

How steep is the steepest part? Teuns might be in the mix.

 

[Velolover2]

When I mapped it out in Mapmyride, it averaged 8-9% (and max 11%) in the last 400 metres with the first 400 m being only a bit harder than false flat (3-4%).. but I don't know how accurate it is. Alaphillipe should be the huge favorite.

I still think it's too easy for the likes of Teuns, Martin and Yates to win it. But I hope Kwiatkowski can beat Alaphillipe.

Ala has plenty of wins. It's time for Kwiatkowski to get one as well.

 

[The Barb]

Re:

When I mapped it out in Mapmyride, it averaged 8-9% (and max 11%) in the last 400 metres with the first 400 m being only a bit harder than false flat (3-4%).. but I don't know how accurate it is. Alaphillipe should be the huge favorite.

I still think it's too easy for the likes of Teuns, Martin and Yates to win it. But I hope Kwiatkowski can beat Alaphillipe.

Ala has plenty of wins. It's time for Kwiatkowski to get one as well.

While I understand Alaphillipe being the clear favourite, I don't think it's anywhere near a done deal. I would almost expect him to have come off his peak slightly after MSR to get ready for the Ardennes.

I too like Kwiatkowski on this kind of finish. If Fraile is close to his best form (and he should be for this race) he could beat them both.

 

[Serpentin]

Movistar made a mistake making Landa start early.

 

[Gigs_98]

Do you think the sterrato could have any impact on the gc? Maybe a strong team could try to split the peloton there

 

[Akuryo]

Movistar made a mistake making Landa start early.

Well, you can hardly predict the weather perfectly. Mas also stated on his twitter account that he had hope to beat the rain by starting early and it was exactly the other way around ...