Critérium du Dauphiné 2012 stage 4, 53.5km, Villié-Morgon-Bourg-en-Bresse, ITT

[LaFleur]

It'll be very interesting to watch who will win the battle between Taaramäe and TJVG (For me atleast). These 2 could be battling out the white jersey on the tour (I might be missing out someone on the white jersey competition?) if TJVG manages to have a Rolland-ish tour.

 

[glassmoon]

even if AS was somehow able to improve his TT skills significantly (which I hope to get more dramatic Tour), I really really doubt he would reveal it at Dauphine. it would be a mistake from tactical POV.

 

[Frosty]

It'll be very interesting to watch who will win the battle between Taaramäe and TJVG (For me atleast). These 2 could be battling out the white jersey on the tour (I might be missing out someone on the white jersey competition?) if TJVG manages to have a Rolland-ish tour.

Steven Kruijswijk is younger than Taaramae and top 10ed in the Giro last year so will have a chance. Partly depends on how Gesink is going.

 

[Froome19]

Steven Kruijswijk is younger than Taaramae and top 10ed in the Giro last year so will have a chance. Partly depends on how Gesink is going.

And partly on how TGBM is going

 

[janraaskalt]

It'll be very interesting to watch who will win the battle between Taaramäe and TJVG (For me atleast).

Although Taaramae isn't in good form at the moment, after his injury. I don't expect him in the top 30.

 

[maltiv]

EBH at 22/1 each way is a decent bet given we know he was close to top 3 last year and we know he's going well.

I wouldn't spend all my money on that one, EBH has barely trained on his TT bike this year. He can only make the top 3 if the weather conditions changes so that those who go early gets it easier.

 

[Froome19]

Although Taaramae isn't in good form at the moment, after his injury. I don't expect him in the top 30.

He has been racing for a while now and he has said he is specifically focusing on this TT and will be giving it his absolute all, I would say he will come close to a top5.

 

[theyoungest]

It'll be very interesting to watch who will win the battle between Taaramäe and TJVG (For me atleast). These 2 could be battling out the white jersey on the tour (I might be missing out someone on the white jersey competition?) if TJVG manages to have a Rolland-ish tour.

Tejay can't have a Rolland-like Tour, he's not a good enough climber for that. Kruijswijk could certainly challenge Taaramae in the climbs, not in the TTs though. And maybe he'll have to sacrifice himself.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Depends... he was 3d (?) in the Dauphiné TT as a neo pro. Although I don't know what his ambitions are for this race, he already lost time.

Compare the field of that Dauphine to this one.

 

[liamito]

whats the best website for the weather in france?

 

[LaFleur]

Although Taaramae isn't in good form at the moment, after his injury. I don't expect him in the top 30.

He will not be in the top 5 today, I would expect him to be in top 20, which is about normal for him (he is not that great in TTs..). He himself thinks that his form is quite good but he can't get over big climbs yet, that will take some time.

What are Kruijswijk's plans ahead of the TdF? Suisse tour? And In the TdF, I think that he could lose quite some time in the time trials, which will be hard to make up against Taaramäe in the mountains. You can't be sure about their forms tho.

 

[theyoungest]

Compare the field of that Dauphine to this one.

Yes, there wasn't a Wiggins or Martin there, but behind those guys it's kind of a crapshoot anyway. Not saying he will definitely finish 3d, but he might. He might also finish 10th.

What are Kruijswijk's plans ahead of the TdF? Suisse tour? And In the TdF, I think that he could lose quite some time in the time trials, which will be hard to make up against Taaramäe in the mountains. You can't be sure about their forms tho.

I think Kruijswijk is potentially a better GT climber than Taaramae. In TTs he's adequate, nothing more. He'll ride Suisse in preparation. Halfway through the TDF they'll decide who will get the full team support. After all, if you're a Rabo rider, chances are you'll crash in the first crosswind section anyway.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He will not be in the top 5 today, I would expect him to be in top 20, which is about normal for him (he is not that great in TTs..). He himself thinks that his form is quite good but he can't get over big climbs yet, that will take some time.

What are Kruijswijk's plans ahead of the TdF? Suisse tour? And In the TdF, I think that he could lose quite some time in the time trials, which will be hard to make up against Taaramäe in the mountains. You can't be sure about their forms tho.

Hold on there. It's not like Kruijswijk is a terrible tt-er.

He usually finishes between 20th/30th place

 

[LaFleur]

Hold on there. It's not like Kruijswijk is a terrible tt-er.

He usually finishes between 20th/30th place

I know he is not terrible, I'm just saying that Taaramäe is a bit better, and judging by how much there will be TTs in the TdF, Kruijswijk can lose a lot (2 mins maybe?). Do you think he could make that time up in the mountains? Btw, I tried to research their TTs in the recent years, but they hardly ever do the same races. They both rode the Vuelta, but Taaramäe took it easy there..

E: The only one I found was 2 years ago Tour de Limousin (45km), Taaramäe was 6th and lost 1.21 to Gustav Larsson, Kruijswijk was 20th and lost 2.41. (Again, not sure how hard he took it..)

 

[dlwssonic]

steven from rabo and TJVG will be working their asses off for their team leaders in the tdf. So I don't expect much from them in GC.

 

[Frosty]

Weather in the area has a southerly wind of 25-35kph (15-20mph) with gusts reaching locally up to 35-40mph (60kph). Southerly is a crosswind generally, it should edge a bit more south-westerly this afternoon.

Dry at the moment and about 23 or 24C. Rain radar is below but hopefully there might be a more local one - rain/showers in the west are expected to move east, current timing suggests they will just about be finished by the time the rain arrives.

http://france.meteofrance.com/france/accueil/

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If Kruijswijk is like the 3rd week of the Giro last year he will definately make up time on Taaramae in the mountains. I mean in the last few mountain stages of the Giro he was answering attacks by Contador and Rodriguez with apparent ease.

 

[theyoungest]

steven from rabo and TJVG will be working their asses off for their team leaders in the tdf. So I don't expect much from them in GC.

Van Garderen, definitely. Kruijswijk, that depends. I hope they won't let him slave in support of Gesink's or Mollema's 15th spot on GC or something.

 

[dlwssonic]

Van Garderen, definitely. Kruijswijk, that depends. I hope they won't let him slave in support of Gesink's or Mollema's 15th spot on GC or something.

Why shouldn't Kruijswijk do so for gesink.
Gesink has a good chance to podium.

 

[maltiv]

If Kruijswijk is like the 3rd week of the Giro last year he will definately make up time on Taaramae in the mountains. I mean in the last few mountain stages of the Giro he was answering attacks by Contador and Rodriguez with apparent ease.

In that case he'd be an absolutely horrible domestique for Gesink. Unless you assume that Gesink already has crashed out at that point?

 

[Frosty]

If Kruijswijk is like the 3rd week of the Giro last year he will definately make up time on Taaramae in the mountains. I mean in the last few mountain stages of the Giro he was answering attacks by Contador and Rodriguez with apparent ease.

Maybe the course isnt hard/mountainous enough for him though? Seems to get better the harder the course is.

 

[will10]

Will Gesink be an out-and-out leader at Le Tour though ? I'd imagine Kruijswijk and Mollema will have a free role to begin with?

 

[theyoungest]

Will Gesink be an out-and-out leader at Le Tour though ? I'd imagine Kruijswijk and Mollema will have a free role to begin with?

Yes, they will. Like I said, they'll see halfway if they'll have to rally their troops behind one guy.

 

[dlwssonic]

I think they should just concentrate all their efforts on gesink.
Unless gesink crashes, as he so often does.

 

[classicomano]

We still dont know Gesink's true form in the Mountains against the top contenders.