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

[McClimber]

Oh Yeah.

Paris-Nice

Second and a stage win.

And second in points.

Sweet!!

What did I say?!?!

 

[Angliru]

I'm wondering why they didn't send Leipheimer or Brajkovic off in one of the breaks to make HTC work and eventually wear down Martin's domestiques in hopes of isolating him. The conditions weren't such that they were going to be able to simply ride at a tempo that would have Martin suffering, especially with on the descents where everyone except those in the breaks were really trying to avoid taking any risks, which was very understandable. I think Shack had conceded the win to Martin already and were content to hold onto their podium spot and prized top team prize. I'm guessing they were fearful of the risk of injury to any of their top three this early in the season.

 

[Boeing]

Watching Brajkovic work enthusiastically for Klodi last week my first thought was Brajkovic will expect a favor in return.

The unwritten rule in the peloton and in inter-team at shack is reciprocity. Scratch mine and I'll scratch yours

I think Klodi got his last week and now is a work horse

 

[McClimber]

Kloden is still a top dog on the team. Even when he is working for someone else in the TdF he still finishes strong.

Janez Brajkovic might have been 1st at Dauphiné but still 43 at the 2010 TdF.

1 hour and 23 minutes down. That is a lot.

RS still have Horner and Leipheimer in the mix. Horner was their best TdF finisher.

Hard to say with Johan.

 

[royalpig180]

Kloden is still a top dog on the team. Even when he is working for someone else in the TdF he still finishes strong.

Janez Brajkovic might have been 1st at Dauphiné but still 43 at the 2010 TdF.

1 hour and 23 minutes down. That is a lot.
RS still have Horner and Leipheimer in the mix. Horner was their best TdF finisher.

Hard to say with Johan.

You may have noticed that The Shack employed Brajkovic last July as Mr. Armstrong's personal guide and bodyguard through the hills of France... He literally had to wait and pull for Lance on just about every mountain stage, even several times once Lance was out of the GC picture. I'm not saying he would have been a contender, but you can't measure his potential from that relatively mediocre placing.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Kloden is still a top dog on the team. Even when he is working for someone else in the TdF he still finishes strong.

Janez Brajkovic might have been 1st at Dauphiné but still 43 at the 2010 TdF.

1 hour and 23 minutes down. That is a lot.

RS still have Horner and Leipheimer in the mix. Horner was their best TdF finisher.

Hard to say with Johan.

Hard to care, too.

 

[Jan the Man]

Brajkovic, Klöden and Leipheimer could finish between 5th-10th in the Tour, but I cannot see any of them challenging for a podium.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Very disappointing performance from Klodi in Corsica. Climbing form was no better than at last years TDF - worse even. Hopefully it was just a (very) bad day. But 23rd at 3:27 behind Frankie does not bode well for July. :-(

Though at least Andreas was ahead of Bradley.

 

[The Hitch]

Very disappointing performance from Klodi in Corsica. Climbing form was no better than at last years TDF - worse even. Hopefully it was just a (very) bad day. But 23rd at 3:27 behind Frankie does not bode well for July. :-(

Though at least Andreas was ahead of Bradley.

Dont neccesarily mean much. The Olympic champion was dreadful too. Hell hes the best descender in the world and he got out descended by a Euskatel rider in PN.

But when July comes round, hes 90% going to be back to his best there. No reason why Klodis poor performance today needs to mean guaranteed failure in Le Tour.

 

[fatsprintking]

Does Kloden still wear that goofy "Pirates of Penzance" earring? It was always one of the main reasons I couldnt take a shine to the lad. I think it was that combined with his nostril expander thing and the fact that he always rides like his glasses have fogged up and he is trying to look underneath the rim.

Anyway it would be great for him if he could finish 14th in the tour wouldnt it....He never did really kick on did he?

 

[Goldberger]

Well, well, well. Klöden took his second victory of the season today in the time trial in Criterium International. My guess is without having watched yesterdays stage, that Klödi took it easy on the last mountain, and then really tested himself during todays stage.

Pretty strong result to beat Wiggins in a 8km time trial.

 

[jens_attacks]

keep rollin' klodi!!!!!!!!!

 

[Boeing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K86vfcENRyw

dude takes his daughter to the toy store and look at all the boys toys. my hero as I can relate

 

[El Pistolero]

Is Klöden riding Romandie?

 

[luckyboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K86vfcENRyw

Ah so it's Kl-oo-den. I always though the ö was pronounced Kl-oe-den.

 

[flicker]

It is very pleasant to see someone who enjoys cycling and his family. Glad to see Kloeden on an American team with Lance and Bruyneel.

 

[El Pistolero]

Ah so it's Kl-oo-den. I always though the ö was pronounced Kl-oe-den.

without the umlaut it's pronounced like that.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Well, well, well. Klöden took his second victory of the season today in the time trial in Criterium International. My guess is without having watched yesterdays stage, that Klödi took it easy on the last mountain, and then really tested himself during todays stage.

Pretty strong result to beat Wiggins in a 8km time trial.

Good for Klodi. (Watch for him to lead Shack at the Tour... seriously.)

 

[Nikoloz]

(watch for him to lead shack at the tour... Seriously.)

+1

(-:

....................................

 

[Ryaguas]

Well well... the old fart takes another victory huh?
He is doing his best to get a new contract

 

[Eric8-A]

I always knew Klodi was a good time trialist, but seeing him beat Wiggo was truly something.

Like people have prevoiusly said, watch out for him in the Tour.

Will he be doing Pais Vasco?

 

[gregrowlerson]

“I wasn’t feeling well yesterday”, said the German. “It was not good to arrive in Corsica only the day before the race and I didn’t ride my bike on Friday. But I haven’t lost my form from Paris-Nice. At the half way point, I knew that I was two seconds ahead of Wiggins, so in the last three kilometres, I gave it my all.”

Very surprised at Andreas' latest victory, coming as it did after such a struggle the day before. Like he said, he was just a bit tired and still has good form. Is it time for him to back off now before resurfacing in June, or should he go for some more results in April?

What a damn shame it is that there is ONLY 41 kms of ITT at the TDF this year. 100 kms and a podium result for Klodi would be more of a possibility.

Still, I think that he and his team can get a decent result in the TTT.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Is Kloden riding in the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco?

If so I will hope for a big performance.

Does anyone know if he will be riding Romandie? What about the Tour de Swiss again as a lead up to the TDF?

It was mentioned in the Giro forum that Kloden was going to co-lead the Shack at the Vuelta this year with Machado. Is this 100% fact rather than rumour? Andreas hasn't raced the Vuelta the past two seasons and it would seem strange that he would want to race it this year with there only being 40 km of ITT. I would of course still like to see him compete in it, but I would have thought that this years Vuelta would be more competitive than usual, given the extra high standard of the Giro (and more riders will back up from the Giro than the TDF).

As for next season I would like Kloden to choose a GT based solely on the parcours. Surely a GT is due for 100 kms or so of ITT? Unlikely that the Giro will do that, but if the Vuelta gave the time trialists a chance than I'd like Klodi to bypass the TDF and focus on that - if he's still on his bike at 37 years of age.

 

[Parrulo]

Is Kloden riding in the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco?

If so I will hope for a big performance.

Does anyone know if he will be riding Romandie? What about the Tour de Swiss again as a lead up to the TDF?

It was mentioned in the Giro forum that Kloden was going to co-lead the Shack at the Vuelta this year with Machado. Is this 100% fact rather than rumour? Andreas hasn't raced the Vuelta the past two seasons and it would seem strange that he would want to race it this year with there only being 40 km of ITT. I would of course still like to see him compete in it, but I would have thought that this years Vuelta would be more competitive than usual, given the extra high standard of the Giro (and more riders will back up from the Giro than the TDF).

As for next season I would like Kloden to choose a GT based solely on the parcours. Surely a GT is due for 100 kms or so of ITT? Unlikely that the Giro will do that, but if the Vuelta gave the time trialists a chance than I'd like Klodi to bypass the TDF and focus on that - if he's still on his bike at 37 years of age.

bruynnel said it himself on an interview a couple weeks ago. so ya he will ride the vuelta co-leading with machado

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yea, but Bruyneel was going to take Klöden, Zubeldia and Horner to the 2009 Vuelta; Klöden opted out, Zubeldia raced but was tired from the Tour and rode to an utterly anonymous 15th, and Horner crashed out on stage 4. The bait-and-switch with Klöden was part of why Radioshack weren't invited in 2010, and Bruyneel said they were looking to send Klöden, Leipheimer and Horner... but Guillén didn't believe that they'd be there or be in form after their Tour exertions. In 2009 Astana put 3 guys in the top 20, but apart from Vino none of their riders ever got in a break, put in an attack or did a turn on the front.

There could be a change on that front yet. Easily.