Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 30 July 2011 234km

[the asian]

This is still the Provisional list. Some riders might drop out. Sammy, Gilbert & Purito should be the favourites. This is the only Hilly one day race on the Pro Tour that Gilbert hasn't won. So he might be up for it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Nah, after last year's course change I think it's too tough for him, and also for the likes of Hushovd and Rojas. Look at what kind of guys were up there in the finish - all of them passable climbers in the real mountains, plus Porte. Greg can do well, like last year, but I don't think he can be a real contender.

I would be surprised if Greg didn't get dropped. And besides, if he did make it, he'd probably get outsprinted by someone like Sastre.

 

[theyoungest]

Why the Greg talk? Isn't Cadel riding? He should be one of the main contenders FTW.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why the Greg talk? Isn't Cadel riding? He should be one of the main contenders FTW.

he ain't riding...rest for cadel atm.

 

[Kvinto]

GVA looks good at Tour de Wallonie so far, imo he's good enough to be in the first group in San Sebastian, don't think he has the legs to win but he's definetely one of the favourites.

 

[theyoungest]

GVA looks good at Tour de Wallonie so far, imo he's good enough to be in the first group in San Sebastian, don't think he has the legs to win but he's definetely one of the favourites.

With the course change, San Sebastian is the closest thing to a one day race mountain stage we have right now on the calendar. Doesn't scream Greg van Avermaet to me. Hell, how Luis Leon managed to win it is beyond me.

 

[El Pistolero]

GVA looks good at Tour de Wallonie so far, imo he's good enough to be in the first group in San Sebastian, don't think he has the legs to win but he's definetely one of the favourites.

If you can't even win in Wallonie then you're not going to win in Spain...

 

[Kvinto]

With the course change, San Sebastian is the closest thing to a one day race mountain stage we have right now on the calendar. Doesn't scream Greg van Avermaet to me. Hell, how Luis Leon managed to win it is beyond me.

It's still a hilly classic: 7,8km (5,84%) two times and 2,7km (6,3%) two times. Doesn't look like a high mountains.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He says it's the closest thing to a mountain classic. Not a mountain classic.
Read.

 

[luckyboy]

Up until a few years ago there was a classic that was more mountainous than this - Subida Urkiola wasn't it?

S.Sanchez/Gilbert for the win.

 

[sublimit]

Sylvian Chavanel for the win.

 

[AussieGoddess]

Gilbert FTW

btw - is there usually an english stream for this anywhere?

 

[maltiv]

This was the one race where Sastre impressed last year. Which says quite a lot about what kinds of riders this race is made for. Can't see someone like Rojas or GVA doing well here, unless the pace is unusually low up the climbs.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Sylvian Chavanel for the win.

He didn't look in very good shape in the tour?

 

[icefire]

This was the one race where Sastre impressed last year. Which says quite a lot about what kinds of riders this race is made for. Can't see someone like Rojas or GVA doing well here, unless the pace is unusually low up the climbs.

Rojas won the Spanish road race on a course going 3 times through a climb not much easier than Jaizkibel.

See the numbers:
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Desierto-de-Las-Palmas&qryMountainID=4405

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Jaizkibel&qryMountainID=4524

Distance was shorter then and the field weaker, but it's hard to say that the pace was unusually low when he was the only one hanging on Contador's wheel in the last lap. I woudn't be surprised if he gets 2nd or 3rd in SS.

 

[just some guy]

Sammy for the Win.

 

[maltiv]

Rojas won the Spanish road race on a course going 3 times through a climb not much easier than Jaizkibel.

See the numbers:
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Desierto-de-Las-Palmas&qryMountainID=4405

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Jaizkibel&qryMountainID=4524

Distance was shorter then and the field weaker, but it's hard to say that the pace was unusually low when he was the only one hanging on Contandor's wheel in the last lap. I woudn't be surprised if he gets 2nd or 3rd in SS.

I know that Rojas is a good climber but this field is much stronger. I didn't really see much impressive climbing from Rojas at the TDF either, he was even outside the time limit on the alpe d'huez stage. Hushovd climbed better than him really. I think Rojas peaked too early (in TdS).

 

[sublimit]

He didn't look in very good shape in the tour?

He seemed better in the final week, not perfect but improving gradually.
Gilbert will be favourite or Sanchez but Chavanel has the quality to surprise.

 

[El Pistolero]

I predict an epic duel between Samuel Sanchez and Philippe Gilbert.

 

[icefire]

I predict an epic duel between Samuel Sanchez and Philippe Gilbert.

We already saw that in Lombardy 2009. I'd prefer to watch something different

 

[Ferminal]

I don't care who wins, just want Zubeldia to repeat his epic wheelsuck for 20km then attack of last year!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I don't care who wins, just want Zubeldia to repeat his epic wheelsuck for 20km then attack of last year!

oh man I loved that!

 

[jobiwan]

I'd like to see Sammy win this, maybe the Schlecks and Cunego can get a nice result!

 

[wirral]

Gilbert appears to be talking his chances up. He's on about World Tour points and they are on offer here. JRod to podium.

 

[Nick C.]

I'll go with Sanchez. Gilbert top five. I don't have Gilbert's results memorized but has he finished below top 5 in a classic/semi-classic yet this year?