Cancellara Thread

[Carols]

Intensity going into that last corner with Stybar:
https://twitter.com/f_cancellara/status/706269009835114496

Thanks, that is an awesome pic!

 

[PremierAndrew]

Hopefully he doesn't get marked out in the monuments and also no injuries please

He's always the most marked man, and still delivers. This year will be no different

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

CyclingHub has put out the first episode of the #Follow Fabian Eurosport-series, in case someone didn't catch it Saturday evening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ys7Ba39d5E

Thanks for posting! No Eurosport here in the US.

The name kinds of suggests that: Eurosport

 

[Velolover2]

Is stage 2 in Tirreno-Adriatico too hard for Cancellara?

Looks more like a reduced sprint between Valverde and Kwiatkowski.

Stage 4 suits Spartacus as well.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

What's next?
Stages at the end of Tirreno - Adriatico?

He can win the TTT, stage 2 (maybe too punchy), stage 4 and the ITT.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

What's next?
Stages at the end of Tirreno - Adriatico?

He can win the TTT, stage 2 (maybe too punchy), stage 4 and the ITT.

1) TTT is not impossible. It is a good team Trek is sending for Tirreno, although Etixx is also sending close to their A-team.
2) Stage 2 will be difficult to win as there are 18% ramps on the last stretch before it flattens in Pomarance. If Fabian makes it to the top with the GC contenders/climbers, he's a favourite though. I see GVA as the big favourite for that finish, I must admit.
3) Stage 4 is ideal to whittle down the group of sprinters, so I agree; it's definitely an opportunity if he goes for it.
4) ITT will be a battle between Fabian and perhaps TMartin. Maybe the experience will play into the hands of Fabian here, having won last year, and knowing how to use his powers the best way.

 

[sir fly]

Re: Re:

What's next?
Stages at the end of Tirreno - Adriatico?

He can win the TTT, stage 2 (maybe too punchy), stage 4 and the ITT.

1) TTT is not impossible. It is a good team Trek is sending for Tirreno, although Etixx is also sending close to their A-team.
2) Stage 2 will be difficult to win as there are 18% ramps on the last stretch before it flattens in Pomarance. If Fabian makes it to the top with the GC contenders/climbers, he's a favourite though. I see GVA as the big favourite for that finish, I must admit.
3) Stage 4 is ideal to whittle down the group of sprinters, so I agree; it's definitely an opportunity if he goes for it.
4) ITT will be a battle between Fabian and perhaps TMartin. Maybe the experience will play into the hands of Fabian here, having won last year, and knowing how to use his powers the best way.

I'd add stage 6.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

What's next?
Stages at the end of Tirreno - Adriatico?

He can win the TTT, stage 2 (maybe too punchy), stage 4 and the ITT.

1) TTT is not impossible. It is a good team Trek is sending for Tirreno, although Etixx is also sending close to their A-team.
2) Stage 2 will be difficult to win as there are 18% ramps on the last stretch before it flattens in Pomarance. If Fabian makes it to the top with the GC contenders/climbers, he's a favourite though. I see GVA as the big favourite for that finish, I must admit.
3) Stage 4 is ideal to whittle down the group of sprinters, so I agree; it's definitely an opportunity if he goes for it.
4) ITT will be a battle between Fabian and perhaps TMartin. Maybe the experience will play into the hands of Fabian here, having won last year, and knowing how to use his powers the best way.

Do you have any profile of that climb? Sounds almost like something for Purito and Valverde.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

What's next?
Stages at the end of Tirreno - Adriatico?

He can win the TTT, stage 2 (maybe too punchy), stage 4 and the ITT.

1) TTT is not impossible. It is a good team Trek is sending for Tirreno, although Etixx is also sending close to their A-team.
2) Stage 2 will be difficult to win as there are 18% ramps on the last stretch before it flattens in Pomarance. If Fabian makes it to the top with the GC contenders/climbers, he's a favourite though. I see GVA as the big favourite for that finish, I must admit.
3) Stage 4 is ideal to whittle down the group of sprinters, so I agree; it's definitely an opportunity if he goes for it.
4) ITT will be a battle between Fabian and perhaps TMartin. Maybe the experience will play into the hands of Fabian here, having won last year, and knowing how to use his powers the best way.

Do you have any profile of that climb? Sounds almost like something for Purito and Valverde.

There is quite a distance from the top of the climb with flat'ish terrain, so I really doubt Purito will have anything to say.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Let's not forget Boasson Hagen for the tough stages.

 

[Gigs_98]

I actually think Cancellara can only win the TT's.
On stage 2 we will have to wait and see if he is still with the best after the climb, but even if he is, it will be very difficult for him, since the last few meters are uphill again, so I'd rather bet on someone like Valverde (also because the climb will hurt him less than someone like Cancellara)
Stage 4 might be hard enough to cause difficulties for some sprinters, but I don't think for all.
Stage 6 looks even easier to me. I think this one will just end in a bunch sprint with all the favorites for a sprint participating.

 

[Bushman]

Cancellara is of course not the top favourite for stage 2, 4 and 6. There are riders who can drop him in the steep climbs (Valverde, Purito, GVA, Kwiatkowski if in shape etc.) and there are riders who can make it over the climbs as well as Cancellara but is faster in a sprint (Sagan, Bassoon Hagen). That being said, I definitely see Cancellara having a realistic chance of winning stage 2 and maybe 4 and 6 as well if the climbs aren't two easy. He probably cannot follow the best on the steepest section in stage 2 but there are still 3 k to go from here so I doubt any of the favourites will go all out here. If he is 5-10 seconds back over the top with 3 k to go he will likely make it back.

Surprised to see Sagan not being mentioned. I know he has a knack of blowing up in the final but stage two looks perfect for him and he doesn't have to do anything besides in the last 4 k.

 

[Taxus4a]

it is going to be funny with Cancellara this year, and it would be very emotive, as he is son of italian fathers, to see him in pink.

 

[RedheadDane]

Fathers, in plural?

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

What's next?
Stages at the end of Tirreno - Adriatico?

He can win the TTT, stage 2 (maybe too punchy), stage 4 and the ITT.

1) TTT is not impossible. It is a good team Trek is sending for Tirreno, although Etixx is also sending close to their A-team.
2) Stage 2 will be difficult to win as there are 18% ramps on the last stretch before it flattens in Pomarance. If Fabian makes it to the top with the GC contenders/climbers, he's a favourite though. I see GVA as the big favourite for that finish, I must admit.
3) Stage 4 is ideal to whittle down the group of sprinters, so I agree; it's definitely an opportunity if he goes for it.
4) ITT will be a battle between Fabian and perhaps TMartin. Maybe the experience will play into the hands of Fabian here, having won last year, and knowing how to use his powers the best way.

I'd add stage 6.

Plus stages 2 and 5, and the overall On a serious note, he's a favorite in the ITT, other than that would be quite surprising.

 

[Bushman]

He probably meants parents, since padre in Spanish in singular means father while in plural (padres) it means parents

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

What's next?
Stages at the end of Tirreno - Adriatico?

He can win the TTT, stage 2 (maybe too punchy), stage 4 and the ITT.

1) TTT is not impossible. It is a good team Trek is sending for Tirreno, although Etixx is also sending close to their A-team.
2) Stage 2 will be difficult to win as there are 18% ramps on the last stretch before it flattens in Pomarance. If Fabian makes it to the top with the GC contenders/climbers, he's a favourite though. I see GVA as the big favourite for that finish, I must admit.
3) Stage 4 is ideal to whittle down the group of sprinters, so I agree; it's definitely an opportunity if he goes for it.
4) ITT will be a battle between Fabian and perhaps TMartin. Maybe the experience will play into the hands of Fabian here, having won last year, and knowing how to use his powers the best way.

I'd add stage 6.

Plus stages 2 and 5, and the overall On a serious note, he's a favorite in the ITT, other than that would be quite surprising.

You've got to admit that Fabian has the qualities to win stage 2. He's not the top favourite, but if he goes for it, it would be very surprising if he doesn't finish in top 10.

 

[Mr.White]

You're right, he has the quality to win it. But so does 5-6 other guys and they are more suited to that finish. All I'm saying is that he can be satisfied with one stage win (ITT), anything above that would be huge. Although he's on fire, I must admit that..

 

[archa55]

Can he win the Tirreno ITT today? He has looked a bit below par in this race. Or maybe just masking before all the classics.

 

[Bushman]

Re:

Can he win the Tirreno ITT today? He has looked a bit below par in this race. Or maybe just masking before all the classics.

Keeping his powder dry I reckon. He will be flying in Flanders and Roubaix. Dont think he can win La Primavera, though.

 

[killswitch]

Re:

Can he win the Tirreno ITT today? He has looked a bit below par in this race. Or maybe just masking before all the classics.

He's got a cold.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Can he win the Tirreno ITT today? He has looked a bit below par in this race. Or maybe just masking before all the classics.

He's got a cold.

He looks pretty hot to me

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Can he win the Tirreno ITT today? He has looked a bit below par in this race. Or maybe just masking before all the classics.

He's got a cold.

He looks pretty hot to me

Speaking as a female, he has always been Hot

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Can he win the Tirreno ITT today? He has looked a bit below par in this race. Or maybe just masking before all the classics.

He's got a cold.

He looks pretty hot to me

Speaking as a female, he has always been Hot

His chin is a bit too large for my liking!

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re: Re:

Speaking as a female, he has always been Hot

He needs to put on some nice biceps, triceps and pecs if he wants to be something more than a cute face.

For those who say you can't be a great rider with lots of upper-body muscle...