69th Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.1) 31/1 - 4/2/2018

[Geraint Too Fast]

Stage 1 - OROPESA DEL MAR > PEÑISCOLA

Stage 2 - BÉTERA > ALBUIXECH

Stage 3 - POBLE NOU DE BENITATXELL > CALPE (TTT)

Stage 4 - ORIHUELA > COCENTAINA

Stage 5 - PATERNA > VALÈNCIA

START LIST

Sky bringing a gun to a knife fight.

 

[Rollthedice]

Sky bringing a gun to a knife fight.

Valverde will teach them a lesson.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Sky bringing a gun to a knife fight.

Valverde will teach them a lesson.

No. There is only one way to silence all the critics....to restore credibility. Win. That's what Froome wanted to do. Win the Tour a whole bunch to show it can be done in the new modern restored peloton. That's what they will do here on a smaller scale.

Stage one: Kwiatkowski
Stage two: Moscon
Stage three: Sky
Stage four: Poels
Stage five: Kwiatkowski

 

[HBA01]

Re: Re:

Sky bringing a gun to a knife fight.

Valverde will teach them a lesson.

No. There is only one way to silence all the critics....to restore credibility. Win. That's what Froome wanted to do. Win the Tour a whole bunch to show it can be done in the new modern restored peloton. That's what they will do here on a smaller scale.

Stage one: Kwiatkowski
Stage two: Moscon
Stage three: Sky
Stage four: Poels
Stage five: Kwiatkowski

Who Wins the GC among The Three Sky Riders :lol:

 

[Kazistuta]

This is obviously Sky's for the taking. Only competition in the TT should be BMC, and does either Bookwalter or Frankiny climb good enough for this mountain top finish in early February? I dont think so.

1. Poels
2. Moscon
3. Roglic
4. Valverde
5. Kwiatkowski/Rosa/De La Cruz

 

[Robert5091]

So the big question is, will Moscon insult someone, push someone over etc ? Otherwise ... it could be ... zzzzzz. Sad!

 

[DFA123]

I think there are two really tough climbs here, which could allow a rider to win despite having a weak team for the TT. The final climb on Stage 2 is the same climb as the last climb on stage 6 of the Vuelta last year, which created all kinds of carnage - the one with 22% gradients for extended sections. If Poels, Kwiatkowski, Moscon or whoever else gets caught behind the split there, then they probably won't get back on in the final 30km (which is different to in the Vuelta, and more downhill than that finish was).

The climb in stage 4 to Cocentaina is also way harder than the profile suggests. Lots of long pitches at 15%-20%, followed by short plateaus. And it peaks at 24% in the final km, so a rider could easily crack and lose 30 seconds - 1 minute just there alone.

 

[Velolover2]

Who is the favorite for stage 2? Is it too hard for GVA, Albasini and Kwai?

 

[Krokro]

What can we expect from this climb on stage 2? It seems to be either too far from the finish for climbers but too close for the few sprinters around. Tailored for GVA, Moscon, Valverde, Kwiat?

EDIT: My bad DFA, haven't properly read your post. Seems that the punchers could have it in their bag.

 

[Robert5091]

Albasini today?

 

[Krokro]

Re:

Albasini today?

I'd say Trentin or Van Poppel are the fastest here, aren't they?

 

[Velolover2]

There are really no pure sprinters in this race.

 

[Velolover2]

Vanmarcke could win today.

 

[Krokro]

Re:

There are really no pure sprinters in this race.

I reckon Trentin might not be a "pure" sprinter but Van Poppel, Modolo, McLay and Enger surely are.

No way. With Modolo and McLay in their team I don't see the point for EF to favour Vanmarcke. It's too easy for him.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

There are really no pure sprinters in this race.

I reckon Trentin might not be a "pure" sprinter but Van Poppel, Modolo, McLay and Enger surely are.

No way. With Modolo and McLay in their team I don't see the point for EF to favour Vanmarcke. It's too easy for him.

Van Poppel and Molodo are more in classics riders with a fast finish IMO. They are similar to Trentin but less successful.

But you are right about McLay. He could win today. I was just trying to point out that Vanmacke isn't a slowpoke. His sprint is better than ever.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Vanmarcke could win today.

How?

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

There are really no pure sprinters in this race.

Nelson Soto qualifies as a pure sprinter. I have my hopes up for him to get some decent results here.

 

[Krokro]

Re: Re:

There are really no pure sprinters in this race.

I reckon Trentin might not be a "pure" sprinter but Van Poppel, Modolo, McLay and Enger surely are.

No way. With Modolo and McLay in their team I don't see the point for EF to favour Vanmarcke. It's too easy for him.

Van Poppel and Molodo are more in classics riders with a fast finish IMO. They are similar to Trentin but less successful.

But you are right about McLay. He could win today. I was just trying to point out that Vanmacke isn't a slowpoke. His sprint is better than ever.

I agree with the fact that Modolo can survive a few climbs better than let's say Kittel or Cavendish. But to me, he is still to be considered as a sprinter. Anyway, it's only a matter of semantics because we agree on the content.

I don't know what to think about Vanmarcke finishing fast nowadays. He has been pretty nonexistent/unlucky in 2017, at least as far as I recall. It would be great tho, I had hope toward that guy!

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Vanmarcke Last year:

4th in the Bretagne Classic and Prudential Ride London
2x2nd in the tour of austria behind Viviani

He's faster than 90% of the peloton

 

[DFA123]

Re:

What can we expect from this climb on stage 2? It seems to be either too far from the finish for climbers but too close for the few sprinters around. Tailored for GVA, Moscon, Valverde, Kwiat?

EDIT: My bad DFA, haven't properly read your post. Seems that the punchers could have it in their bag.

I think it will be definitely too hard for the sprinters, because it's so steep they can't really soft pedal it even if they wanted to. If Valverde, Fuglsang, Poels or Yates really goes for it, I imagine even GVA will struggle, but he may well get back on during the descent if his team help him out.

It's so difficult to predict where everyone is form wise at this stage of the season though, but I wouldn't be surprised if the race is decided on the two big climbs, rather than in the TTT.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Albasini today?

I'd say Trentin or Van Poppel are the fastest here, aren't they?

Trentin broke a rib a bit ago and is still building form. Perhaps he’ll be a little set back by that?.... I’m going with Modolo for today. Van poppel’s chances are just as good.

 

[Krokro]

Re:

Vanmarcke Last year:

4th in the Bretagne Classic and Prudential Ride London
2x2nd in the tour of austria behind Viviani

He's faster than 90% of the peloton

Thanks for the reminder about his results. It's not that terrible indeed, I did not really pay attention.

I know that he might be faster than 90% of the peloton for sure. The guy has some speed. But regarding the sprinters/punchers, I'm not so sure he's top or even second tier in that matter.

What can we expect from this climb on stage 2? It seems to be either too far from the finish for climbers but too close for the few sprinters around. Tailored for GVA, Moscon, Valverde, Kwiat?

EDIT: My bad DFA, haven't properly read your post. Seems that the punchers could have it in their bag.

I think it will be definitely too hard for the sprinters, because it's so steep they can't really soft pedal it even if they wanted to. If Valverde, Fuglsang, Poels or Yates really goes for it, I imagine even GVA will struggle, but he may well get back on during the descent if his team help him out.

It's so difficult to predict where everyone is form wise at this stage of the season though, but I wouldn't be surprised if the race is decided on the two big climbs, rather than in the TTT.

Okay thanks for the hints about the climb, it sounds great anyway! The current form is indeed the huge factor so early in the season. Valverde showed decent signs of forms after what happened. Kwiatkoswki is a big question mark: I'm having lot of expectations after last amazing year.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

-13km compatto

 

[Jspear]

Moscon trying something....impossible surely.

 

[Jspear]

DVP won...weird finish.