• The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Clasica San Sebastián 1/8 -- 219km

Page 3 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
DFA123

DFA123

Nov 7, 2010
8,820
245
17,880
Visit site
Re: Re:

Arredondo said:
DFA123 said:
bala v said:
johnymax said:
DFA123 said:
It's difficult to see how Valverde doesn't win this, especially given his form. Although it looks like Movistar will have a fairly weak team (it seems like they are going to deliberately not pick any of their Basque riders), so hopefully that will encourage some attacks on the Jaizkibel.
Click to expand...

I agree. I can see only two scenarios where Valverde could lose this. First is if a strong group of riders attack on Jaizkibel 55km from the finish or on Arkale 30km to go. The group must be well represented with lets say 7+ very strong riders. They need to work well together and build a nice gap and maybe they'd have some chances to get to the finish. The second scenario is if there's no that big of a selection on Bordako Tontorra and 6-7 or more riders regroup on the descent with no other Movistar rider. With some finisseur like attack, somebody could take a win from Valverde. Both are pretty unlikely though and I'd be surprised if Bala doesn't win.
Click to expand...

And the third is that Purito could drop him on Bordako Tontorra and cruise to the finish. Not very high possibility, considering Bala's form in the Tour, but if anybody can do that, it's Purito
Click to expand...

There's still about 3km of flat after the descent to the finish though. Bearing in mind that Purito is an awful time triallist and a worse descender than Valverde, he'd probably need to go over the top with a lead of around 40 seconds.
Click to expand...

Just rewatch the final of Lombardia 2013. Purito got 10 seconds on Valverde at the top of Villa Vergano. After the descent, he had between 15 and 20 seconds. So he did a better descent then Piti. And on the flat section after that, Bala lost another 3 seconds (gap was 22 seconds between the two at one point).

So no way he needs 40 seconds. Come on, be real. If he drops Bala, it also means he's fresher. That means he will not lose too much time on the descent. It's not a computer game in the sense that in every situation, Bala will make up time on the descent and on the flat. It's all about form, legs and if you are dropped.

In every situation Purito will win this race, if he's got 15 seconds at the top of Bordako Tontorra.
Click to expand...

I don't really agree with that. Lombardia isn't really comparable because it is so much longer and with significantly more climbing. Riders regularly blow up towards the end of it.

San Sebastian isn't long enough to make Valverde blow up - especially with him coming off the Tour de France in great condition. Purito could drop him on the steepest section of the climb (indeed, he did last year), but it won't be because Valverde has blown up, and so you would expect Valverde to eat back the time quickly in the closing kilometres.
 
Arredondo

Arredondo

Aug 16, 2013
7,620
2
0
Visit site
Re: Re:

It's possible Purito is able to put a lot of pressure on Bala on the climb, but Valverde is able to come back. But that's not really our discussing point.

If Purito is able to crest the top with an advantage of 15 seconds, it means that he dropped Bala on that climb. Then it means Purito is just better, so he would do a better descent comparing Valverde (then last year for example). And Purito showed in the past he can do a really good descent if requires. That last 2 flat km should not be a big problem, even for a rider like Purito.
 
DFA123

DFA123

Nov 7, 2010
8,820
245
17,880
Visit site
Re: Re:

Arredondo said:
It's possible Purito is able to put a lot of pressure on Bala on the climb, but Valverde is able to come back. But that's not really our discussing point.

If Purito is able to crest the top with an advantage of 15 seconds, it means that he dropped Bala on that climb. Then it means Purito is just better, so he would do a better descent comparing Valverde (then last year for example). And Purito showed in the past he can do a really good descent if requires. That last 2 flat km should not be a big problem, even for a rider like Purito.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I just think there is a difference between Purito gaining fifteen seconds because he is a better, more explosive climber than Valverde on the steepest sections, and him gaining the time because Valverde has blown up and his legs have gone.

In the former scenario I think that Valverde would still have a great chance of winning. In the latter, no chance.
 
M

Moviestar

May 31, 2015
898
89
5,080
Visit site
Re:

DFA123 said:
It's difficult to see how Valverde doesn't win this, especially given his form. Although it looks like Movistar will have a fairly weak team (it seems like they are going to deliberately not pick any of their Basque riders), so hopefully that will encourage some attacks on the Jaizkibel.
Click to expand...

On paper maybe, but Visconti, Moreno, Fernandez, Anacona and Herrada should do well on this kind of parcours with the assisting of Valverde.
 
SeriousSam

SeriousSam

Aug 31, 2012
7,550
3
0
Visit site
Purito is a bit of an unknown. He had great form early in the Tour, allowing him to win the Mur de Huy stage and he won another MTF but didn't do much for the rest of the tour. He may be in good form. If so, it's not unthinkable he drops Valverde and with 10+ seconds, it's probably enough.
 
Oliver

Oliver

Jan 29, 2012
879
150
10,180
Visit site
Re:

SeriousSam said:
Purito is a bit of an unknown. He had great form early in the Tour, allowing him to win the Mur de Huy stage and he won another MTF but didn't do much for the rest of the tour. He may be in good form. If so, it's not unthinkable he drops Valverde and with 10+ seconds, it's probably enough.
Click to expand...

I think he's okay. After his 2 stage wins he took it easy because the GC wasn't an option anymore & with the Vuelta in his mind. In the stage to Alpe D'huez Katusha asked him to stay with the other GC guys and he did a good job.
 
S

Sasquatch

Sep 16, 2009
3,157
0
0
Visit site
No one has mentioned Jungels. Yes it's unlikely he will win, but he was one of the strongest riders at the end of the Tour. If a group goes clear similar to last year, which you'd expect, then Jungels would be one of the ones up there.
 
Gigs_98

Gigs_98

Feb 18, 2015
12,849
7,112
28,180
Visit site
Re:

Sasquatch said:
No one has mentioned Jungels. Yes it's unlikely he will win, but he was one of the strongest riders at the end of the Tour. If a group goes clear similar to last year, which you'd expect, then Jungels would be one of the ones up there.
Click to expand...
With his TT abilities he could try an attack on Jaizkibel.
 
S

Sasquatch

Sep 16, 2009
3,157
0
0
Visit site
The old course would suit Jungels. He's not going to drop Valverde or co on the climb but he could do a late escape if they all watch each other. I expect at least top 5-10 for him.
 
B

Brullnux

Mar 31, 2015
7,810
1,097
20,680
Visit site
Re:

SeriousSam said:
What happens if Landa decides to go for it on a climb and no one can hold his wheel?
Click to expand...
Then he'll be told to sit up and wait for Aru. This proves harder than in May, as Aru takes 2 hours to fly to Bilbao, before being driven to just outside where Lands is waiting for him. Aru is guided over the line safely, 2 hours 48 minutes behind Valverde, who could not keep up with Landa on the last climb. Landa gives a tearful, angry interview while Martinelli defends this move by saying "We thought we could win it with Fabio"
 
Tank Engine

Tank Engine

Jul 16, 2011
1,561
10
10,510
Visit site
Katusha have got a very strong squad, but Movistar is very solid, so Valverde has to be the favourite.

I wish the Jaizkibel was a bit closer to the finish. It would probably play a more important strategic role and possibly set up a long range attack.
 
DFA123

DFA123

Nov 7, 2010
8,820
245
17,880
Visit site
Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but there was an interview yesterday in the Diario Vasco newspaper with Purito. He said he was on antibiotics at the end of the Tour de France, and was suffering from a fever, shivering, lost his voice and had a real loss of strength.

Doesn't sound like ideal preparation for today. I guess if he's still struggling then Katusha may even go with Caruso or Moreno.

On the other hand, it could mean that his loss of form in the last week of the Tour was due to illness rather than peaking too soon and so he may still have decent legs.

Start of the interview is here: http://clasica-san-sebastian.diario...riguez-corredor-katusha-20150731000914-v.html. He doesn't really add much more about his illness in the full interview.
 
B

Brullnux

Mar 31, 2015
7,810
1,097
20,680
Visit site
Re:

DFA123 said:
Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but there was an interview yesterday in the Diario Vasco newspaper with Purito. He said he was on antibiotics at the end of the Tour de France, and was suffering from a fever, shivering, lost his voice and had a real loss of strength.

Doesn't sound like ideal preparation for today. I guess if he's still struggling then Katusha may even go with Caruso or Moreno.

On the other hand, it could mean that his loss of form in the last week of the Tour was due to illness rather than peaking too soon and so he may still have decent legs.

Start of the interview is here: http://clasica-san-sebastian.diario...riguez-corredor-katusha-20150731000914-v.html. He doesn't really add much more about his illness in the full interview.
Click to expand...
First of all, why are you giving antibiotics for a fever? He surely has a virus not a bacterial infection. Giving him antibiotics is useless and frankly, downright dangerous for his future health.

Anyway, I hope he has recovered fully now, or at least in fairly good shape. Katusha now that if Purito is affected by the illness then Moreno and Caruso will step up. They certainly have the ability.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom