Andreas Kloden's Final Bid For Another Coveted Top 10 Tour Finish, 'Official' Thread

Page 23 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
W

webvan

Mar 11, 2009
4,887
87
15,580
Better suited to him for sure and he'll likely be more motivated too. Is he going to replace Frank in the Sierra Nevada training with Schlecket and Zubeldia? He could certainly use some altitude training.
 
BillytheKid

BillytheKid

Jun 1, 2011
2,500
0
0
Klöden, as I suspected, will ride the Tour. The two long ITTs make him a threat if he can bring about the form of last year. Andy is going to have to attack in the mountains to gain enough time, but probably to fall just short of the podium. If Schleck can be insanely good in the mountains, Klöden will have a fortune in following the chasers. If both are good, it would suck towing someone like Andreas along if Schleck were to go long again and again. It could also work the other way around to some degree. I think all three of Klöden's stage wins last year where ITTs. Predictions like this never turn out. His age is likely to serve him some bad days.
 
W

webvan

Mar 11, 2009
4,887
87
15,580
Yep, it's the year or never for Klödi...like in 2007 but the good news is that he won't have to tow his leader up to La Plagne like he had to do with Vino that year and hopefully he won't be kicked out of the race because of his leader.
 
M

McLovin

Jun 18, 2009
1,102
6
10,495
webvan said:
Yep, it's the year or never for Klödi...like in 2007 but the good news is that he won't have to tow his leader up to La Plagne like he had to do with Vino that year and hopefully he won't be kicked out of the race because of his leader.
Click to expand...

It was Tignes, but you're right. Stupid team orders.
 
W

webvan

Mar 11, 2009
4,887
87
15,580
That's right, Tignes, what a strange stage that was, a pretty low gradient too, was it 4% overall ? Christophe Moreau looked like he could win the TDF that evening (especially since he'd said he'd know what to expect for the rest of the race depending on how that stage went) and then he collapsed.
 
gregrowlerson

gregrowlerson

Aug 6, 2010
6,884
6,216
23,180
webvan said:
That's right, Tignes, what a strange stage that was, a pretty low gradient too, was it 4% overall ? Christophe Moreau looked like he could win the TDF that evening (especially since he'd said he'd know what to expect for the rest of the race depending on how that stage went) and then he collapsed.
Click to expand...

Yeah strange stage that, and weak final climb, but still some serious time gaps due to the tough climbs that preceeded it. I was annoyed with the way that none of the guys worked with Moreau when they had the gap, but teffific ride by Klodi further back. One of his best ever.
 
airstream

airstream

BANNED
Mar 29, 2011
5,122
0
0
Something like 20k, 5% av. President of Kazakhstan personally asked Vino to win le Tour. I think no one felt such pressure as Vinokourov did then. Although, certainly it was a madly stupid stage...
 
W

webvan

Mar 11, 2009
4,887
87
15,580
I had time to kill so I watched some great videos of the 2007 mountain stages posted by Zoncolan on YouTube, what a weird tour, riders fading, YJ getting kicked out, his team giving up, Vino, Astana, etc...what a mess.
 
gregrowlerson

gregrowlerson

Aug 6, 2010
6,884
6,216
23,180
Also returning to racing is Andreas Klöden who put up a good time near four minutes despite suffering a flat on the course that required a wheel change. “It was just bad luck but I still feel good after my 5 weeks off and I’m motivated for the next races,” said Klöden. “Right before the climb you have to go fast but not too fast because you need the power for the climb. I chose the TT bike today and no one else on the team did. I checked out the course this morning and thought I would do best on my TT bike, plus we have the Shimano shifters so I like that. I think my progression is coming along.”

Good Signs :)
 
W

webvan

Mar 11, 2009
4,887
87
15,580
Yep, he should really be able to win it if he puts his mind to it...Gesink would be the favorite though.

Still can't get over the fact that Klodi's 2004 TDF was as much a surprise to Godefroot as it was to me/us. Not sure I like that article's 2000 PN accusations though...
 
gregrowlerson

gregrowlerson

Aug 6, 2010
6,884
6,216
23,180
Hope Klodi puts in a strong ride in the Swiss ITT. Otherwise he really doesn't deserve to be at Le Tour, regardless of whether his team is allowed to race.

But the Shack should be there. Would still be one of the stronger teams in the mountains IMO.
 
MarkvW

MarkvW

Aug 10, 2010
6,285
2
17,485
gregrowlerson said:
Hope Klodi puts in a strong ride in the Swiss ITT. Otherwise he really doesn't deserve to be at Le Tour, regardless of whether his team is allowed to race.

But the Shack should be there. Would still be one of the stronger teams in the mountains IMO.
Click to expand...

Haven't you heard? Kloeden's amazingly close to a Tour victory!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom