75ª Volta a Portugal 7-18 August 2013 (2.1)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I like Gustavo César. Was a quality rider a few years back. He won on Xorret del Catí in the 2009 Vuelta, back when Taaramäe defined the Taaramäe. Definitely rather him than Rui Sousa.

The TT is similar but slightly easier than the 2011 one, which created huge time gaps:
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=21189

Based on that I'd say that I still have some hopes for Hernâni, but in both 2010 and 2011 he faded big time on the final GC stage of the Volta (in 2010 the Leiria ITT and in 2011 on Torre) so the race may be just a little long for his recovery limit, so I fear he may lose a fair bit of time tomorrow.

Overall I think this Volta route has been a massive step up on the last couple, however with the finish in Gouveia yesterday and the start today, I don't know why they didn't put the Viseu stage today, allowing the traditional final weekend of Torre and the final TT. You'd have thought that the queen stage ought to be on a weekend to maximise potential TV audiences.

Gouveia... I can only think of Tó Madeira lol

 

[laurentiu46]

Rui Sousa will probably finish 3rd overall again, the OFM spaniards should see him off in the TT. I'm sure Veloso will easily pull back those 6 seconds, and although my favourite is Marque, he did some massive work on the stage to Gouveia and that might cost him.
Too bad Pardilla bonked yesterday, didn't expect him to be dropped with 25k to go.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

GC standings before the TT:

1 SOUSA BARBOSA Rui Miguel (Efapel - Glassdrive) 39:11:58
2 VELOSO Gustavo (OFM - Quinta da Lixa)
3 BROCO Hernani (Efapel - Glassdrive)
4 MARQUE PORTO Alejandro (OFM - Quinta da Lixa)
5 SILVA Daniel Eduardo Moreira (Rádio Popular-Onda)
6 PINTO Edgar Miguel Lemos (LA Aluminios - Antarte)
7 DOS SANTOS Virgilio Martins (Rádio Popular-Onda) 1:35
8 WYSS Marcel (IAM Cycling) 2:02
9 RIBEIRO Nuno (Efapel - Glassdrive) 2:39
10 GORBUNOV Vladislav (Continental Team Astana) 4:55

Ramp action kicks off @15:00 (CEST). Can't find a startlist yet.

 

[Arredondo]

This wil no doubt be a fight between Marque and Veloso, with a slight advantage for Marque.

However, in 2009 Veloso rode a fantastic time trial in la Vuelta (4t in Toledo), and he was 14th in de 'flat' first tt. If he has the same kind of form, he can hold of Marque.

 

[roundabout]

Tough TT. Something like 42 average for the current leader.

Edit: 41.3 actually

 

[Parrulo]

Yup, very similar to the 2011 one won by Ricardo Mestre.

Should be interesting.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hernâni Brôco was 2nd in the 2011 TT. Here's hoping he has been able to conserve energy enough to have one day better recovery than he has had in the past.

 

[Arredondo]

I don't think Broco is going to resist the pressure from the two OFM guys.

 

[Arredondo]

Now it's Gorbunov's turn, hope he will finish in the top 10.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't think Broco is going to resist the pressure from the two OFM guys.

Neither do I, but I can hope, can't I?

I am continually irritated by them calling César "Gustavo Veloso" though. You'd think the organisers and commentators would know how Spanish names work by now.

Mind you a couple of years ago we had "Bravo Garikoitz" despite the fact he held a jersey almost start to finish, so I shouldn't be too surprised.

 

[Arredondo]

Neither do I, but I can hope, can't I?

I am continually irritated by them calling César "Gustavo Veloso" though. You'd think the organisers and commentators would know how Spanish names work by now.

Mind you a couple of years ago we had "Bravo Garikoitz" despite the fact he held a jersey almost start to finish, so I shouldn't be too surprised.

I wouldn't be disappointed if Broco would win this, everything better dan Rui Sousa. Would be a nice reward for Hernani after a couple misses.

Also nice to see André Cardoso doing well in the European races. A lot of top riders from Portugal (Mestre, Broco) didn't made it in Europe after reign in their own country.

 

[Arredondo]

Marque looks great on his tt bike

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I wouldn't be disappointed if Broco would win this, everything better dan Rui Sousa. Would be a nice reward for Hernani after a couple misses.

Also nice to see André Cardoso doing well in the European races. A lot of top riders from Portugal (Mestre, Broco) didn't made it in Europe after reign in their own country.

Mestre's only in his first year outside of Portugal, and it's worth remembering that André Cardoso had a fairly disappointing 2012 season, being much more visible this year. Brôco doesn't really have the endurance to last out the GTs, and isn't explosive enough to be a leader in a larger team in the short stage races I'm afraid, which makes him, unfortunately, a domestique or break fodder at the top level. In a smaller team he can get some good results - see the 2011 Vuelta a Asturias - but I just don't think he's strong enough for a big role in a full race calendar, unfortunately, because I had hopes for him to break out a couple of years ago.

You might have been better off pointing at Machado, who looked highly promising in his first year with Radioshack, but appears to have dropped off a cliff in level since.

ETA: Rui Sousa looks hideous on a TT bike.

 

[Parrulo]

Well unfortunately i don't think Mestre will get a chance at a second season at the top level unless he finds a spot at Caja Rural. And i always though Cardoso was more talented than Mestre anyway.

I wouldn't point at Machado alone, both him and Oliveira have been getting worse with each year at The Sack, Oliveira doesn't even get good results on time trials anymore. Of course Machado has been a bigger disappointment ever since the 2011 Giro.

I mean look at his results in 2010 up to the 2011 giro and then look at the results after. What the hell happened?!!!!!!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Sousa trying to destroy the bike here.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I agree Cardoso is a better talent than Mestre, I was surprised and a little disappointed that Cardoso couldn't win the race in 2011 once Hernâni kept up his tradition of breaking our hearts at the last by cracking on Torre. However, with more teams and stronger race routes, perhaps the Portuguese péloton can bridge the gap in standard to the pro ranks a bit more than over the last few years (where the only riders in Portugal who could transition to being competitive in the top levels were the ones who were only in Portugal because the top levels wouldn't take them) and mean that they can be a bit more competitive more quickly.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Marque making Daniel Silva looking like a total chump on the TT bike there.

 

[Arredondo]

Mestre's only in his first year outside of Portugal, and it's worth remembering that André Cardoso had a fairly disappointing 2012 season, being much more visible this year. Brôco doesn't really have the endurance to last out the GTs, and isn't explosive enough to be a leader in a larger team in the short stage races I'm afraid, which makes him, unfortunately, a domestique or break fodder at the top level. In a smaller team he can get some good results - see the 2011 Vuelta a Asturias - but I just don't think he's strong enough for a big role in a full race calendar, unfortunately, because I had hopes for him to break out a couple of years ago.

You might have been better off pointing at Machado, who looked highly promising in his first year with Radioshack, but appears to have dropped off a cliff in level since.

ETA: Rui Sousa looks hideous on a TT bike.

Cardoso first season was not particular good, but he was still 21th in la Vuelta, which is not bad. Also 10th at the Tour of Turkey.

Machado has some problems indeed to reach his level from 2010, when he rode really good in the shorter stage races. But the whole team Radioshack is in better shape, so perhaps he has to work more for other riders.

Veloso now the new leader on the road. Marque is 39 seconds faster than Sousa at the moment. Will be a big fight between the two teammates.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If Brôco can't win it, and it looks unfortunately to be the case that he can't, then I hope César wins it. His name is César, or César Veloso. Stupid RTP.

Edit - did I just read that right? Marque 1'29 inside the fastest time to date at the intermediate? Wow.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Once more, 10 days of GC competition is just one too many for Hernâni Brôco and he's haemorrhaged time massively in the final GC stage

I guess now I have to barrack hard for Gustavo César.

 

[Arredondo]

Ouch, Veloso is going to pass Broco, painful.

 

[Arredondo]

Veloso still 4 seconds in front of Marque at the moment, really existing finish!

Wyss is also ride a good Tour, nice rider to see the whole year

 

[Parrulo]

Cardoso first season was not particular good, but he was still 21th in la Vuelta, which is not bad. Also 10th at the Tour of Turkey.

Machado has some problems indeed to reach his level from 2010, when he rode really good in the shorter stage races. But the whole team Radioshack is in better shape, so perhaps he has to work more for other riders.

Veloso now the new leader on the road. Marque is 39 seconds faster than Sousa at the moment. Will be a big fight between the two teammates.

Well imo Machado has been getting terrible racing schedules for the last 2 seasons but that is mostly because he hasn't been delivering the results he should.

Up to the 2011 giro he was slowly becoming the top rider at the shack for the short stage races and after that he simply flopped extraordinary.

Both his climbing and his time trailing are completely gone. He used to be better than Costa at both and now he is a complete joke.

 

[Arredondo]

Well imo Machado has been getting terrible racing schedules for the last 2 seasons but that is mostly because he hasn't been delivering the results he should.

Up to the 2011 giro he was slowly becoming the top rider at the shack for the short stage races and after that he simply flopped extraordinary.

Both his climbing and his time trailing are completely gone. He used to be better than Costa at both and now he is a complete joke.

Yeah, i definitely agree with you that he doesn't deliver what he should do. However, in Utah he was top 10, so hopefully he is on the right track again.

Marque is going to win this i think

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So do I, but the last section is uphill which in theory should favour César, although it's uphill on cobbles which may reduce the advantage as Marque is a more powerful rider than César.