94th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2014 (2.WT, 24 March - 30 March)

[the sceptic]

Dan martin will repeat.......


Hopefully



More seriously, no way froome will be there if he has back problems. Quintana vs Berti and Bananito to judge this game

if Dan Martin wins this I will gladly have an avatar of hipster JVs ugly mug for a year.

 

[Roude Leiw]

if Dan Martin wins this I will gladly have an avatar of hipster JVs ugly mug for a year.

I note it .... For the off chance that it will happen. A lot of stars have to align though

 

[theyoungest]

I note it .... For the off chance that it will happen. A lot of stars have to align though

It could happen, like last year they won't consider him a threat and give him a bit of leeway.

 

[Arredondo]

I'm really curious to see how Purito will show himself after a month training. If he's super, he can win, even against Contador, Froome and Quintana. But i don't think he's as good as Conta at this point of the season. They all so strong, it will be a magnificent race!

1. Contador
2. Quintana
3. Purito

 

[the sceptic]

It could happen, like last year they won't consider him a threat and give him a bit of leeway.

well, the field is much stronger this year. And also Martin isnt in the same kind of shape it seems. It would take a miracle for him to win again.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Brown Power:

1.CHEREL Mikael
2.DUMOULIN Samuel
3.POZZOVIVO Domenico
4.BETANCUR Carlos
5.BARDET Romain
6.GASTAUER Ben
7.KERN Julian
8.MINARD Sébastien

Clearly adding JCP would have been too much.

Lots of possibilities with this team.

 

[gospina]

Colombians in the race, including all the "A"s.
More world tour points:
5 are 25 or under:

Janier Acevedo (28): Garmin Sharp
Winner Anacona (25): Lampre - Media
Julian Arredondo (25): Trek Factory Racing
Darwin Atapuma (26): BMC Racing Team
Carlos Betancur (24): AG2R La Mondiale
Esteban Chaves (24): Orica GreenEdge
Nairo Quintana (24): Movistar Team
Cayetano Sarmiento (26): Cannondale
Rigoberto Uran (27): Omega Pharma - Quick-Step

 

[FinallyTheSummit]

Not quite understanding the scepticism for D Martin to hold on to his title.

He has posted a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the race over the past five years, yet most posters here are giving him little chance of even making the podium.

While he has started the season late this year and didn't exactly seem to kill himself in Italy the past week, he has targeted this race and in recent years he has been eerily accurate on his pre season goals and the subsequent achievements.

 

[Angliru]

Colombians in the race, including all the "A"s.
More world tour points:
5 are 25 or under:

Janier Acevedo (28): Garmin Sharp
Winner Anacona (25): Lampre - Media
Julian Arredondo (25): Trek Factory Racing
Darwin Atapuma (26): BMC Racing Team
Carlos Betancur (24): AG2R La Mondiale
Esteban Chaves (24): Orica GreenEdge
Nairo Quintana (24): Movistar Team
Cayetano Sarmiento (26): Cannondale
Rigoberto Uran (27): Omega Pharma - Quick-Step

How is Chaves' form coming into Catalunya?

 

[happytramp]

ianstannard's profile number 37? Ban this guy's IP, please.

I don't know why he's doing this. He seemed like a reasonable person who had taken up an interest in the sport. What's with all the profiles?

 

[Roude Leiw]

Not quite understanding the scepticism for D Martin to hold on to his title.

He has posted a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the race over the past five years, yet most posters here are giving him little chance of even making the podium.

While he has started the season late this year and didn't exactly seem to kill himself in Italy the past week, he has targeted this race and in recent years he has been eerily accurate on his pre season goals and the subsequent achievements.

Well, last year Dan started with TA too, but finished around place 20 and not way down GC and was completely invisible for the whole race. That's why we think that it might be a stretch for him to tear things up. Will be a happy camper if he proves me wrong, I kinda like him.

 

[Jspear]

Not quite understanding the scepticism for D Martin to hold on to his title.

He has posted a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the race over the past five years, yet most posters here are giving him little chance of even making the podium.

While he has started the season late this year and didn't exactly seem to kill himself in Italy the past week, he has targeted this race and in recent years he has been eerily accurate on his pre season goals and the subsequent achievements.

The reason certain people are a little doubtful about Martin repeating his win this year is because the competition is tougher this year. He could possibly get top 5, but I doubt he'll be any higher. That's just my opinion based on the form I see riders in right now.

 

[CycloAndy]

The reason certain people are a little doubtful about Martin repeating his win this year is because the competition is tougher this year. He could possibly get top 5, but I doubt he'll be any higher. That's just my opinion based on the form I see riders in right now.

I also don't think he'll be allowed to go solo this year like he was last year. I think they underestimated him a bit too much last time.

 

[gospina]

How is Chaves' form coming into Catalunya?

He was doing good in Langkawi. He should be good here. Not sure which guys are going to be leaders. Nairo stated that Tirreno was to get in form for Catalunya. It should be good.

 

[del1962]

I also don't think he'll be allowed to go solo this year like he was last year. I think they underestimated him a bit too much last time.

The peleton waited after Valverde crashed, without that I don't think he would have won.

 

[GuyIncognito]

The peleton waited after Valverde crashed, without that I don't think he would have won.

He wouldn't have. He gained minutes there.
And when Valverde abandoned, nobody knew who'd takes responsibility so he gained even more while everyone just kind of looked at each other

 

[podunavac]

Sky will try to make a statement here after Contador's Tirreno performance. More so on a parcourse without a tt.
But, in my opinion, no matter how successful they'll be, it won't mean a lot. They should have been at the TA, everybody have been expecting the showdown there, and with a recent race in his legs every result against Contador should be taken with considerable reserves.
I'm looking forward to the race, but with less enthusiasm than TA.

 

[Afrank]

How is Chaves' form coming into Catalunya?

He's coming off a 4th overall in in Langkawi. So it's fair to assume he has some form, but Langkawi isn't exactly the strongest field.

 

[Samson777]

Could be a pretty epic race with that lineup. Would be nice with a poll concerning the overall winner

 

[ferryman]

Could be a pretty epic race with that lineup. Would be nice with a poll concerning the overall winner

No problem, here you go:

1st: Contador

2nd:

3rd:

(Fill in the blanks folks

And please don't take this post seriously

 

[VeloHuman]

No problem, here you go:

1st: Contador

2nd:

3rd:

(Fill in the blanks folks

And please don't take this post seriously

He'll certainly appreciate no time trials against Froome. I bet Quintana is a bit stronger by the time this race rolls around though.

 

[boringboy]

Does anyone know if Saxo will bring Beltran? Would be quite interesting to see how he performs and guessing this kind of race might suit him.

 

[Jelantik]

Does anyone know if Saxo will bring Beltran? Would be quite interesting to see how he performs and guessing this kind of race might suit him.

i think his first race is Criterium.

Edward Beltran is expected to start in his first race as a Tinkoff-Saxo rider at Critérium International.

http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/news/tinkoff-saxo-signs-promising-colombian-climber/

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Not quite understanding the scepticism for D Martin to hold on to his title.

He has posted a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the race over the past five years, yet most posters here are giving him little chance of even making the podium.

While he has started the season late this year and didn't exactly seem to kill himself in Italy the past week, he has targeted this race and in recent years he has been eerily accurate on his pre season goals and the subsequent achievements.

He's focusing on the Giro this year, and hence he's on a different schedule than last year which is why his form isn't as good as last year (look at TA for a comparison).

Martin:

"Last year I only did one race, the Tour of Med, before Tirreno-Adriatico so the program is not too much different. But I hit Tirreno in quite good form this year (last year). Next year (this year), maybe Catalunya will suffer but hopefully I’ll still be pinging for the Ardennes."

 

[gospina]

Colombians in the race, including all the "A"s.
More world tour points:
5 are 25 or under:

Janier Acevedo (28): Garmin Sharp
Winner Anacona (25): Lampre - Merida
Julian Arredondo (25): Trek Factory Racing
Darwin Atapuma (26): BMC Racing Team
Carlos Betancur (24): AG2R La Mondiale
Esteban Chaves (24): Orica GreenEdge
Nairo Quintana (24): Movistar Team
Cayetano Sarmiento (26): Cannondale
Rigoberto Uran (27): Omega Pharma - Quick-Step

Add Heiner Parra (23): Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
Add Jose Serpa (35): Lampre-Merida