71st Tour de Romandie - April 25th-30th

[RedheadDane]

Was there a crash in the finale, by the camera moto?
Or simply a speedbump?

 

[Gigs_98]

This finish was just plain stupid. The area wasn't big enough for such a big group coming in together and the sprint was incredibly dangerous because it was downhill. Why didn't they just finish on the top of the climb?

 

[WheelofGear]

Herrada leading Roglic by 1 sec of the GC riders because of the bonus seconds.

 

[Netserk]

This finish was just plain stupid. The area wasn't big enough for such a big group coming in together and the sprint was incredibly dangerous because it was downhill. Why didn't they just finish on the top of the climb?

Despite the huge amount of water, no one crashed. Nor did it seem like there were any dangerous situations.

Pretty sweet finish for me.

 

[Velolover2]

This finish was just plain stupid. The area wasn't big enough for such a big group coming in together and the sprint was incredibly dangerous because it was downhill. Why didn't they just finish on the top of the climb?

Because they wanted downhill sprint expert Albasini to win it. It's a Swiss race after all.

 

[Gloin22]

This finish was just plain stupid. The area wasn't big enough for such a big group coming in together and the sprint was incredibly dangerous because it was downhill. Why didn't they just finish on the top of the climb?

They didn't expect it would be big group like this

 

[HelloDolly]

Soemthimg happened towards the end of the race as many riders disappeared

 

[DFA123]

Dull stage. Even attrocious weather couldn't provide much entertainment there. I guess one good thing is that Orica deserved the win more than anyone else, perhaps along with Lotto-NL; at least they both tried to do something to thin out the main group multiple times before the sprint.

 

[kingjr]

This finish was just plain stupid. The area wasn't big enough for such a big group coming in together and the sprint was incredibly dangerous because it was downhill. Why didn't they just finish on the top of the climb?

Cycling is incredibly dangerous.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Herrada leading Roglic by 1 sec of the GC riders because of the bonus seconds.

Surely it's still Felline unless the bonus seconds are like 10 seconds for third place.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Herrada leading Roglic by 1 sec of the GC riders because of the bonus seconds.

Surely it's still Felline unless the bonus seconds are like 10 seconds for third place.

Sure, if you count him as a GC rider. He is still an outsider IMO for overall. A great one.

 

[yaco]

So Albasini wins Stage one of the Tour of Albasini - Thought the finish may be too hard for Albasini but he's in good form - Does a fantastic job of peaking at this time of the year.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Herrada leading Roglic by 1 sec of the GC riders because of the bonus seconds.

Surely it's still Felline unless the bonus seconds are like 10 seconds for third place.

Sure, if you count him as a GC rider. He is still an outsider IMO for overall. A great one.

I thought it said GC, my bad

Crappy finish though. If you include a MTF it better be a good MTF

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Herrada leading Roglic by 1 sec of the GC riders because of the bonus seconds.

Surely it's still Felline unless the bonus seconds are like 10 seconds for third place.

Sure, if you count him as a GC rider. He is still an outsider IMO for overall. A great one.

I thought it said GC, my bad

Crappy finish though. If you include a MTF it better be a good MTF

It's like poor man's Arrate. These stages are only good if the GC riders trying from the bottom.

 

[WheelofGear]

If think the stage was great with a large number of attacks from the big guys. Just not hard enough for any of them to stick.

 

[WheelofGear]

Felline needs more crucial bonus seconds if he wants to win the overall.

If they race Leysin from the bottom, he will lose 30 seconds.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

If think the stage was great with a large number of attacks from the big guys. Just not hard enough for any of them to stick.

I'm not blaming the riders, but the climb. There's only so much you can do

 

[rick james]

Re:

Froomey sprinting. Looked good there!

In full winter gear as well :lol:

 

[DFA123]

Re:

If think the stage was great with a large number of attacks from the big guys. Just not hard enough for any of them to stick.

I didn't think any of them looked remotely like having a chance of sticking. Just impossible to ride away from a 50+ strong peloton with significant numbers of domestiques on gradients of 2-3%. I think Arrate is a bad comparison because that is around 9% for 4kms; it's pretty easy for the best climbers to drop everyone else before the last km downhill. This climb was just a long uphill drag at the end of a short stage; with half the field in great shape onthe back of the Ardennes, and others coming into form for the Giro, it was always going to be a decent sized bunch finish. Probably what the organisers wanted, with Albasini favourite in that kind of scenario.

 

[WheelofGear]

Stage 2 is easier than stage 3 even though the climb is a bit harder. It will be a pure mass sprint.

I'm betting on Albasini again unless Sky decides to ride for Viviani. I don't think Colbrelli or Felline are faster than Alba in this shape.

 

[Escarabajo]

Overall, I don't think it was a good stage. It was too wide open for my taste.

 

[WheelofGear]

Yeah, even the strongest power rouleurs like Roglic couldn't ride away from the peloton at these gradients. 5% gradients are fine for attacks, but 2-3-4% aren't.

 

[Anderis]

The bottom of the climb, where it was the most steep, was raced not hard enough. I think it was Danilo Wyss who was setting the pace. If a better climber was riding hard at the front of the peloton at that point, the selection would be more significant, I believe.

 

[WheelofGear]

Sagan is missed in this race.

Probably the only rider capable to ride away from the peloton on 3% gradients.

 

[Velolover2]

Is Albasini racing the Tour?

The stage to Longwy suits him very well. He is also great in breakaways. Gerrans doesn't seem like the best rider to rely on right now.