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

[movingtarget]

Kloden needs to just retire already. His best days are far in the past.

Yep. Vino and Menchov did the right thing, Basso, Kloeden, Horner and Evans can't be far away. Maybe one more season for Cadel.

 

[The Principal Sheep]

Yep. Vino and Menchov did the right thing, Basso, Kloeden, Horner and Evans can't be far away. Maybe one more season for Cadel.

Bit harsh on Cadel putting him in that group, I also don't want to see Basso listed there either but sadly his time is running out, perhaps one showing in a gt later this year will show us if he should go on to 2014.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Good result for Klodi last night in Belgium; 4th on the stage and 4th overall. Life in those old legs yet!

Cadel Evans claims that the worst position a cyclist can finish is fourth; but all Klodists know that the worst position is really eleventh

 

[movingtarget]

Bit harsh on Cadel putting him in that group, I also don't want to see Basso listed there either but sadly his time is running out, perhaps one showing in a gt later this year will show us if he should go on to 2014.

Maybe but I can't see Evans racing in 2015 and he will probably have lost a few more percentage points by then. Still a great competitor.

 

[webvan]

Good result for Klodi last night in Belgium; 4th on the stage and 4th overall. Life in those old legs yet!

Cadel Evans claims that the worst position a cyclist can finish is fourth; but all Klodists know that the worst position is really eleventh

Nice job indeed ! Klodi might get some new ambitions with that? What's next for him, TDS ?

 

[jens_attacks]

i feel a top 10 coming in le tour no doubt
go klodi!

 

[trevim]

Yeah there he goes now. Podium for sure, hope never dies

 

[manafana]

can safely now say kloden is truly finished, his tt int as good anymore and his once solid climbing is only becoming more erratic, that and he was from another time.

 

[Ferminal]

Contador can't TT anymore either.

 

[webvan]

Well he only really TTed well in 2009...

 

[Ferminal]

Top3 in this last three GT ITTs is not well?

 

[webvan]

Contador can't TT anymore either.

Top3 in this last three GT ITTs is not well?

Not sure what you're saying now?

 

[Ferminal]

Ah, I was just being silly, thinking that manafana is basing Klöden's TT maximum on his Belgique 20th. Contador has also been very ordinary in TTs this season but will be up with the best in July no doubt... For some GC riders TTs are a good indication of true form, I'd put Contador, Evans, Hesjedal and Sanchez in that category.

Of course Klöden has been very average in TTs, relatively speaking, since the 2011 Spring. Perhaps the sensible view is that his TT is average because he's just not good anymore, and being top5 on a hardish road stage says he's in reasonable shape. But in the case of Andreas I will always be the optimist and reason that he did very well to get a good result on the Ardennes stage when his true form (as indicated by the TT) is poor.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Nice job indeed ! Klodi might get some new ambitions with that? What's next for him, TDS ?

no, only DS in a car

 

[Bavarianrider]

You don't need to TT well to finish top ten in this years Tour.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Well he only really TTed well in 2009...

2004: 3rd in both TTes

 

[Squire]

2004: 3rd in both TTes

Klöden's been time trialing well for years, apart from the last couple of ones. He meant Contador.

I really want to see a worthy GT farewell from Andreas Klöden. It's all been pretty anonymous since 2009, even though he's been doing well in several week-long races. The most stylish rider in the world ™ deserves one last great performance. Let's hope his contract runs out this year (anyone?) and that we will get the semi-annual Klöden-can-actually-be-bothered-in-order-to-renew-his-contract boost.

 

[webvan]

Right, I was referring to Contador! Yep, Klodi seems to be "hungrier" than usual this year...they were replaying the last stage of the TDB tonight on Eurosport and he did a good job, even bridging back after being dropped initially.

 

[gregrowlerson]

TDS must be next for Klodi with him not being named for Dauphne. Can always hope for a podium in this race, especially with Froome, Porte, Contador and Rodriguez racing in France.

I don't believe that Klodi can return to his ITT form of 2011 and earlier ever again. But consistent performances could still reward him with a top ten result in the TDF. His seasons form is better this year than last, when he came eleventh...

I think that Radioshack will enter the race with Schleck as leader, then Zubeldia, then Kloden, but there may not be much between them all. It's possible that Andreas could become their highest placed rider on GC; Fingers crossed

 

[Ferminal]

I think he's half a shot of a top3 in Switzerland. Never know who is going to show up in prep mode only. The MTT actually helps him imo, against Van Garderen/Costa anyway. Brings Dan Martin into it but if it was an MTF instead he would dominate that (and his ITT is improving). Stage 3 is probably the most dangerous.

 

[HCl+HN03]

Correct me, if I am wrong, but I belive that Klöden in the last seasons has used the preparation-race to train instead of going for a good result. It might be the case in Switzerland this year too.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Correct me, if I am wrong, but I belive that Klöden in the last seasons has used the preparation-race to train instead of going for a good result. It might be the case in Switzerland this year too.

and he used last year's TdF to prepare for?

GBR 1 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) 87:34:42
GBR 2 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 3:21
ITA 3 NIBALI, Vincenzo (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 6:19
BEL 4 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen (LOTTO BELISOL) + 10:15
USA 5 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) + 11:04
ESP 6 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 15:43
AUS 7 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 15:51
FRA 8 ROLLAND, Pierre (EUROPCAR) + 16:31
SLO 9 BRAJKOVIC, Janez (ASTANA) + 16:38
FRA 10 PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ-BIG MAT) + 17:17
GER 11 KLÖDEN, Andreas (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 17:54

 

[gregrowlerson]

and he used last year's TdF to prepare for?

GBR 1 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) 87:34:42
GBR 2 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 3:21
ITA 3 NIBALI, Vincenzo (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 6:19
BEL 4 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen (LOTTO BELISOL) + 10:15
USA 5 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) + 11:04
ESP 6 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 15:43
AUS 7 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 15:51
FRA 8 ROLLAND, Pierre (EUROPCAR) + 16:31
SLO 9 BRAJKOVIC, Janez (ASTANA) + 16:38
FRA 10 PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ-BIG MAT) + 17:17
GER 11 KLÖDEN, Andreas (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 17:54

I think the answer to that is obvious:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/usa-pro-cycling-challenge-2012/stage-7/results

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think the answer to that is obvious:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/usa-pro-cycling-challenge-2012/stage-7/results

lol, as long as management aren't smart enough to see whats going on......

 

[Ferminal]

2009 and 2010 his Suisse form wasn't bad. Probably 50/50 of being top10 or autobus filler.