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

[gregrowlerson]

It has been a blight on Klodi's career that he hasn't had a decent result ever at the Giro or Vuelta, so to see him give the Vuelta another crack is heartening. My feeling is that he should keep an open mind about it (even with the bad parcours for him). If the TDF is going badly for him then he should pull out early, and definitely not ride the final week. If he rides a full TDF and is a little tired for the Vuelta then he should ride for Machado.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Tremendous riding from Klodi in the Pais Vasco. He really has rediscovered his climbing legs. And even did a decent little descent on stage 1!

Very heart warming to see him riding comfortably alongside most of his TDF rivals - though he hasn't proven himself this season on a long climb yet.

I watched the end of stages 1 and 2 on youtube. Aren't there many short, sharp climbs around France like what we saw in stage 1 Pais-Vasco? They have excellent long climbs (especially the MTF's this year), but the TDF really does lack more of the Mende type of hills - and perhaps also lacks some decent imagination from the TDF organisers.

 

[CheeseHead]

You can not compare the Tour of the Basque country to the Tour de France just like that. A Tour-peloton needs wide roads that don't congest and for this reason, small and explosive climbs are hard to find in France. Puy de Dome isn't used anymore for this very reason. The Vosges-area maybe is kind of similar.

But alas, OT to Andreas Kloeden He does have found his 2nd youth, as we say. Good for him! What's next for Kloedi, after he cracked Vasco? I see him on the startlist of Trentino. Giro & Vuelta?

 

[gregrowlerson]

You can not compare the Tour of the Basque country to the Tour de France just like that. A Tour-peloton needs wide roads that don't congest and for this reason, small and explosive climbs are hard to find in France. Puy de Dome isn't used anymore for this very reason. The Vosges-area maybe is kind of similar.

But alas, OT to Andreas Kloeden He does have found his 2nd youth, as we say. Good for him! What's next for Kloedi, after he cracked Vasco? I see him on the startlist of Trentino. Giro & Vuelta?

It is a good point that you make about the congestion of having too many riders in the TDF and therefore not being able to squeeze them onto the roads of the "small and explosive climbs." In that way the even has become too big for its own good.

So this is one reason for why the TDF does not have more interesting finishes that produce 10, 20, 30, 40 second time gaps between the top 20 GC riders. All the more reason why they should bring back time bonuses (plus more time trials ) to break up the standings and to produce more exciting racing. I'd like to see something like a bonus for the first 5 riders. 30, 20, 15, 10 and 5. If there is a category 3 climb with 20 kms to go (5 kms and 5%) then more teams might push the pace to get Cavendish and others off the back. If the peleton is reduced to less than 50 riders than some GC guys might fancy their chances of grabbing a time bonus. The time bonuses would also make some mountain stage sprints (and the stages themselves) more interesting. Take stage 16 in 2009 over the two Bernie's. Instead of being content to finish in a bunch of 20-25, the top climbers might have pushed harder on the final climb and descent to reduce the final group to less than 10 and get themselves a time bonus rather than just sprint for the stage win.

As for Klodi, he certainly seems to have gotten his 2nd wind. But he would be mad to ride the Giro. There are too many tough climbs in that for him!

 

[hrotha]

A Tour-sized peloton doesn't need wide roads, that's a design choice.

 

[Nikoloz]

he is in best form for last 4-5 years...

he really gonna get high position in tour

 

[El Pistolero]

Top 5 should be possible. Top 3 should be possible without Menchov and Contador.

But more likely top 5 than top 3.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Kloden is Golden in Pais Vasco!!!!!!

Bring on Le Tour!

 

[gregrowlerson]

26/04 : Prologue : Martigny : 3,5 km
27/04 : 1ère étape : Martigny-Leysin: 171 km (arrivée en montée)
28/04 : 2ème étape : Romont-Romont: 168 km
29/04 : 3ème étape : Thierrens-Neuchâtel 166 km
30/04 : 4ème étape : Aubonne-Signal de Bougny: 20,5 km (chrono)
01/05 : 5ème étape : Champagne-Geneve: 164 km.

Above is the parcours for the upcoming Tour De Romandie, which Kloden won back in 2008. With stages 1 and 5 being ITT's, and stage 2 being apparently the only MTF, I wonder if Andreas will have a go at trying to win this race again?

 

[Bavarianrider]

26/04 : Prologue : Martigny : 3,5 km
27/04 : 1ère étape : Martigny-Leysin: 171 km (arrivée en montée)
28/04 : 2ème étape : Romont-Romont: 168 km
29/04 : 3ème étape : Thierrens-Neuchâtel 166 km
30/04 : 4ème étape : Aubonne-Signal de Bougny: 20,5 km (chrono)
01/05 : 5ème étape : Champagne-Geneve: 164 km.

Above is the parcours for the upcoming Tour De Romandie, which Kloden won back in 2008. With stages 1 and 5 being ITT's, and stage 2 being apparently the only MTF, I wonder if Andreas will have a go at trying to win this race again?

Watch out for Tony Martin in this one! I doubt Klöden will go full throtle in the Tour de Romandie. Nice, Pais Vasco and Tour de Romandie at 100% would be quiet a heavy programm

 

[Sasquatch]

Richie Porte wants to win this one.

Good luck beating Tony Martin, Richie.

 

[Sasquatch]

Kloden will be Shack's leader in the Tour. Top 5 definitely. Top 3 if things roll his way.

 

[Bondii]

I think he will co-leader with Jani in the Tour

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'd think that, having been on absolutely top form since Paris-Nice, that Klödi will probably be winding down for the early season now. Romandie's parcours may suit him but he will probably be starting to come off form ready to take a break and then peak again in July.

The only time recently I can think of somebody doing all the races that Klödi is doing and holding form so long is Valverde last year, and that's somebody in their peak years who knows they could be taken off the road any minute so have to maximise what time they have.

 

[webvan]

Always been a fan of Klödi since 2004 but must admit I had discounted him for the TdF, so kudos to this thread for putting him back on my list. With Bruyneel in charge he would probably have won the 2006 TDF...so maybe this is his year!

 

[Gloin22]

Richie Porte wants to win this one.

Good luck beating Tony Martin, Richie.

Rogers wants it as well, he didn't show much so far, but you never know. Sky also sends Wiggins and Thomas which showed in Dauphine last year what can he do, and with two time trials maybe even Top 15 for him is possible.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Hoping for a TT victory for Klodi tonight in the Trentino. If he fails in the mountains that follow (considering that he is due for a racing break) then it ain't the end of the world.

But then again, if he rides strongly through the four stages he should go onto Romandie.

 

[gregrowlerson]

It would be fair to say that I have had some time on my hands.

So I thought I would create a dream TDF parcours for 2011, based on Klodi's TDF career (highlighting his best moments/rides). Not only would this parcours give Andreas a great chance of victory in Paris (not that this is finishing in Paris ) this year, but I'm sure that most would agree that it would make for great racing in general.

Prologue: Prologue - Saturday, July 7: London - London, 7.9km ‘07
ITT
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007//tour07/?id=stages/tour070
STAGE 1: Stage 11 - Thursday, July 19: Marseille - Montpellier, 182.5km ‘07
Flat, but possibly windy.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007//tour07/?id=stages/tour0711
STAGE 2: Stage 3 - July 6: Waterloo - Wasquehal, 210 km ‘04
Cobbles!
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage3
STAGE 3: Stage 8 - July 11: Lamballe - Quimper, 168 km ‘04
Lumpy, short uphill finish.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage8
STAGE 4: stage 12 - Bourg-de-Péage Mende, 210.5 km ‘10
Medium mountains, MTF.
http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/COURSE/us/1200/etape_par_etape.html
STAGE 5: Stage 4 - Tuesday, July 7: Montpellier - Montpellier (TTT), 38km
TTT
STAGE 6: Stage 10 - Wednesday July 14: Limoges - St Flour, 237 km ‘04
Medium mountains.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage10
STAGE 7: Stage 12 - Friday July 16: Castelsarrasin - La Mongie, 197.5 km ‘04
High mountains, MTF.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage12
STAGE 8: stage 14 - Revel Ax 3 Domaines, 184.5 km ‘10
High mountains, MTF.
http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/COURSE/us/1400/etape_par_etape.html
STAGE 9: Stage 15 - Monday, July 23: Foix - Loudenvielle - Le Louron, 196km ‘07
High mountains, descent finish.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007//tour07/?id=stages/tour0715
STAGE 10: Stage 13 - Saturday, July 21: Albi - Albi, 54km ‘07
ITT
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007//tour07/?id=stages/tour0713
STAGE 11: Stage 14 - Sunday, July 16: Montélimar - Gap, 181 km ‘06
Lumpy.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//tour06/?id=stages/tour0614
STAGE 12: Stage 15 - Tuesday July 20: Valreas - Villard-de-Lans, 180.5 km ‘04
Medium-High mountains.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage15
STAGE 13: Stage 10 - July 17: Aix-Les-Bains –Bourg-d’Oisans, 193 km ‘01
High mountains, descent finish .
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/tour01/stages/stage_10.shtml#prof
STAGE 14: Stage 16 - July 21: Bourg d'Oisans - Alpe d'Huez ITT, 15.5 km ‘04
MTT
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/tour04/?id=stages/stage16
STAGE 15: Stage 16 - Wednesday, July 19: Le Bourg-d'Oisans - La Toussuire, 182 km ‘06
High mountains, MTF.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//tour06/?id=stages/tour0616
STAGE 16: Stage 17 - Wednesday, July 22: Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Col de Romme, 140.5km ‘09
High mountains, MTF .
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009//tour09/?id=stages/tour0917
STAGE 17: Stage 18 - Friday, July 21: Morzine - Mâcon, 197 km ‘06
Fairly flat, for the sprinters!
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//tour06/?id=stages/tour0618
STAGE 18: Stage 19 - Saturday, July 22: Le Creusot - Montceau-les-Mines ITT, 57 km ‘06
ITT
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//tour06/?id=stages/tour0619
STAGE 19: Stage 8 - Saturday, July 9: Pforzheim - Gérardmer, 231.5 km ‘05
Medium mountains, descent finish.
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/?id=stages/tour058
STAGE 20: Stage 1 - Saturday, July 4: Monaco - Monaco (ITT), 15km ‘09
ITT

Please note that the profiles of stages 13 and 16 have been significantly shortened - for Klodi's benefit.

 

[gregrowlerson]

After cracking badly in stage 2 of the Giro Del Trentino it is probably the right time for Klodi (and perhaps this thread) to go on a long vacation, before returning in June.

Nice win in the stage 1 ITT.

 

[webvan]

Wow 5'47" on a gentle climb like that? Hope he just let it go.

 

[patrick767]

Klöden had a terrible ride yesterday and didn't even start today? Is he ill? I've not heard anything. If he quit today because yesterday's ride gave him no shot at victory, that's pretty lame.

 

[jens_attacks]

nah that's his program,he has to follow it.he can't go full-gas two months in a row.on the climb he was dropped,he took it easy,he wasn't suffering(at least visibly) no biggie.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Klöden had a terrible ride yesterday and didn't even start today? Is he ill? I've not heard anything. If he quit today because yesterday's ride gave him no shot at victory, that's pretty lame.

He is ill. That took quiet long.
But "stomach" doesn't sound really serious. So, should be no real problem on his way to Tourvictory.


Unfortunately I could not finish the race,I had strong stomach pain. Now i will do a Break and i hope i recovering well !!! See you .....

 

[gregrowlerson]

Klodi returns for the Tour Of Luxemburg!

Hoping for a strong ride during the 5 day race starting June 1.

Though maybe not too strong. He doesn't want to be hitting his peak until another 6-7 weeks......

 

[gregrowlerson]

After a very lacklustre ride in the Tour of Luxemberg, it is nice to see Klodi return to some real form in the prologue in the Tour of Swiss. 5th place is a very nice result, and to be well ahead of the Schleck's (especially Andy) is great too, with one eye looking ahead to the TDF. Now lets see how he climbs during the next week.....