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

[fuiers]

That Schamann attack at the end was more than impressive. Looking forward to see in the future.

 

[Lequack]

23 Big Photos from Stage 3 — flockton/bettini
http://www.steephill.tv/2019/vuelta-al-pais-vasco/photos/stage-03/

 

[Velolover2]

Yates is still a treat. And promised to attack.

Schachmann is more of a Kwiato/Ala-type. If they open up early in the real mountains, he should be dropped. Perhaps, Schach would even work for Konrad and Buchmann.

 

[search]

Re:

Yates is still a treat. And promised to attack.

Schachmann is more of a Kwiato/Ala-type. If they open up early in the real mountains, he should be dropped. Perhaps, Schach would even work for Konrad and Buchmann.

"We have two super hard stages in the end, and there are a lot of good climbers [in the race] - the best of the world. But I'm relaxed, I will see how far I can go. And maybe I can surprise myself another time" is what he said yesterday, so it sounds like he wants to give it a try at least.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The biggest danger for Bora is probably Ion and Astana.
Konrad needs to follow attacks and outsprint the other climbers. Ion has the s. T. As him and i can see him dropping Konrad, until now his form has been rather poor this season, but maybe it's just a slow built up.

 

[armchairclimber]

Re:

Martinez and Fuglsang came at 25seconds.
I'm still not convinced by Schachmann climbing. If they race the last two stages really hard he can lose more than 2 minutes. Even Adam Yates still has a chance.
Right now I think that Ion Izagirre is the favourite.

Surely Izaguirre is favourite to be 3rd?

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Buchmann is still Bora's best choice although he lacks the punch/sprint. He is more of a pure climber while Konrad is made for hilly/medium mountain stages.

A Yates/Fuglsang duo attacking from far out on Izua (stage 5) or Karakate (stage 6) would be enough to held off the entire peloton. Those climbs are brutal and Astana or Mitchelton will not be doing any chasing.

 

[Robert5091]

Today's lumpy finishing lap includes the Zaratamo -
Up

and Down to the finish at Arrigorriaga

 

[tobydawq]

Alaphilippe DNS.

 

[Robert5091]

Mas to start though. Today could be a stage for Yates to get some time back.

 

[WKA311]

Re: Re:

Buchmann is still Bora's best choice although he lacks the punch/sprint. He is more of a pure climber while Konrad is made for hilly/medium mountain stages.

A Yates/Fuglsang duo attacking from far out on Izua (stage 5) or Karakate (stage 6) would be enough to held off the entire peloton. Those climbs are brutal and Astana or Mitchelton will not be doing any chasing.

Bora can just put Buchmann on their wheels and control them while Konrad stays with Ion. Question will be how long Schachmann can hold on.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Today's first real break: Carlso Verona, MMonfort, Grmay, Williams, Iturria, Storer and De Marchi (no surprise there)
Verona is only 1.46 down on the GC, break might not stick with him in there.

 

[grizzlee]

Everyone seems to be forgetting Dan Martin is sitting in 5th place in GC, would he not be favourite for the overall now?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Definitely has a shot. But Dan Martin is such an anti-winner considering GC's ...

 

[Velolover2]

I'm sure not about Dan Martin's chances either. But for once, the GC is actually chaotic and somewhat random. I like it.

Hopefully that will mean early action in the coming days.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Break did make it and has 3.46 now.
Dan Martin....why not?

 

[happytramp]

Re:

Break did make it and has 3.46 now.
Dan Martin....why not?

It's something of a first for Dan.. A major crash that stirs up the GC and he wasn't involved in it.

 

[wirral]

Crush!

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Indeed, crush in the peloton.
Vilela and Roche abandon. And also Kwiatkowski.

 

[wirral]

And Olivier abandoning too.

Sadly, this year's Basque Country is becoming a crushfest.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Aberasturi, Caja Rural, who finished sixth yesterday also abandons.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

And Olivier abandoning too.

Sadly, this year's Basque Country is becoming a crushfest.

might that be Euskatel-Orange Crush?
(Retro-Joke)

 

[Velolover2]

Hopefully Kwiato is ok for the Ardennes.

 

[wirral]

It's the end of the carrots as we know it.

 

[Velolover2]

Bikotz is a hard climb. I'm curious to see what Astana will do in this kind of weather.

Ion will stay in the peloton and I guess the Bird is for the next two stages. Lutsenko time?