Critérium du Dauphiné 2013

[SetonHallPirate]

You know, if ASO really wanted to do something different, they would have had an ascent of Alpe d'Huez from the newly-paved backside. Does anybody have the stats on that climb?

Edit to add: I just looked on Mapmyride.com, and it wouldn't be a very fun climb. More fun would be if they paved the side from Allemond and Oz, that part (and certainly the currently-unpaved section) would be an absolute blast!

 

[Miburo]

Meh, Porte was has not been that good since PN. 2 in top 5 is possible though

Yea he was only 2nd in basque and CI winning 2 stages...

We've raised the standards for Porte very high

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If they can't make mountain stages IN THE ALPS tough enough to balance out 30km of time trial, they should have their positions as parcours-designers revoked. Seriously. They balanced out 42km in 2009, it's only the last couple of years they've gone ballistic on the TT mileage (even then 2011 wasn't bad at all, it's just that the mountain stages weren't tough enough and Wiggins was too strong). Only 2010 and 2012 where the ITT mileage has been far in excess of what it needed to be for the route they'd designed.

This might be the best week-race parcours ASO has put out in years, and also helps shut me up with my prior chaque that they were killing the Dauphiné as an independent race, turning it into nothing but a visua for the Tour with UCI points.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Yea he was only 2nd in basque and CI winning 2 stages...

We've raised the standards for Porte very high

What I meant was that I doubt he will be strong enough to become 2nd in the race if he has to launch Froomes attacks

 

[all_in]

I think Nibali should do this.He will have enough time to recover until he will start preparing for WC.If he will start he will be something like Purito in 2011 when he was a head above all in mountains.Also I hope Elissonde will do something.Will Quintana participate?

 

[pastronef]

I think Nibali should do this.He will have enough time to recover until he will start preparing for WC.If he will start he will be something like Purito in 2011 when he was a head above all in mountains.Also I hope Elissonde will do something.Will Quintana participate?

nah, he doesn't care.
Astana will take care of Fuglsang and Jani to prepare for the Tour (yeah I know, Fuglsang is crap blah blah etc )

 

[iZnoGouD]

Lol no way Nibali has a chance against Froome, you really have no idea what's awaiting us

 

[Miburo]

Lol no way Nibali has a chance against Froome, you really have no idea what's awaiting us

No way nibali will even try in the dauphine.

 

[pastronef]

Lol no way Nibali has a chance against Froome, you really have no idea what's awaiting us

and by the way, 1% of Italian cycling fans know about Criterium du Dauphine
I'm not in that 1% but I know them

 

[SafeBet]

and by the way, 1% of Italian cycling fans know about Criterium du Dauphine
I'm not in that 1% but I know them

1% is way too much.

 

[pastronef]

1% is way too much.

dici?
am I too optimistic?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Are we talking about casual cycling fans?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Lol no way Nibali has a chance against Froome, you really have no idea what's awaiting us

Do tell what is waiting for us

 

[Afrank]

Looks like some good parcours, should produce some good racing. And TT km's look pretty balanced with the climbing IMO. Hope to see Quintana do well.

 

[JRanton]

I'm going to predict that a certain thread in the other forum will be extremely busy on 6th June.

 

[Cyivel]

I'm going to predict that a certain thread in the other forum will be extremely busy on 6th June.

The Best podium girls thread? Lets hope so!

 

[hfer07]

I think Nibali should do this.He will have enough time to recover until he will start preparing for WC.If he will start he will be something like Purito in 2011 when he was a head above all in mountains.Also I hope Elissonde will do something.Will Quintana participate?

he ain't going there-are you crazy?
my man Nibbs will be kickin' it in the Mediterranean with his wife celebrating Il Giro Title

 

[LaFlorecita]

He should do TdS then if he really wants to celebrate a whole week. Starts a little later I think.

(Surely Nibali wouldn't mind celebrating another title would he..?)

 

[staubsauger]

Froome & Contador are the big favourites on paper with Rodriguez, but normally they should be just at round about 85%. Could still be enough. Froome will take his benefits from the time trail. But I'm not sure if it would be a good sign if he already would be in top shape that early.

Samuel Sanchez seem to reach his top form just by now. Imho he is the main candidate for the victory if he could confirm his level from the mtt yesterday at the Dauphine. He has nothing to hold back for the tour, so he could give 100%.

Also some of the decent climbers like Brajkovic, Fuglsang or Cunego could peak for this and could be able to fight for the victory against Froome&Contador not at 100%.

Taramäe or Coppel should try something as well for sure. Same goes for König who showed good climbing legs in California.

Maybe Szmyd and/or Moreno will get a long line. Altough normally they also won't be at 100% yet. Has Bretagne any dark horse in it's line-up?

Sicard I think is more a man to watch for escapes.

Vandenbrouk, Valverde, Talansky and Rolland normally will hold back for the Tour. Rolland could be ambitious enough to target a Dauphine title as success before the Tour. But he wants a Top 5 or even podium finish at the Tour this year I think? So his eyes are more on the Tour and to do good training and maybe win a stage at the Dauphine.

De Gendt didn't look that great in California. He is improving a bit, but I would be suprised if he is on a level to follow the big guns in the mountains already. A top 10 could be more realistic. With his knee problems even that would be a succes.

Caruso also is coming with decent form out of the Giro, so he should try to win a stage.

My prediction is that either Sanchez or Froome takes the victory.

 

[Afrank]

Samu should decide not to race the Tour, the Giro showed that his age is taking it's toll on him. It's unlikely that he would be able to beat Contador, Froome, Purito, and others at the Tour. He should instead go to the Vuelta (the original plan iirc), he'll have a much better shot at the podium and/or stage wins there.

Also I see you left Quintana out, I would consider him one of the top favorites. The TT will play against him, but I think there is enough mountains that he could make up for most of the loss there.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Very average route imo.

 

[staubsauger]

Samu should decide not to race the Tour, the Giro showed that his age is taking it's toll on him. It's unlikely that he would be able to beat Contador, Froome, Purito, and others at the Tour. He should instead go to the Vuelta (the original plan iirc), he'll have a much better shot at the podium and/or stage wins there.

Also I see you left Quintana out, I would consider him one of the top favorites. The TT will play against him, but I think there is enough mountains that he could make up for most of the loss there.

Quintana isn't mentioned as starter on the offical homepage, so I forgot about him.

 

[Ferminal]

Would Quintana go for the win or take it more like last year (and Gesink 2011)? Drop time on the rolling stages then put everything into the MTFs.

 

[cineteq]

Very average route imo.

The parcours does not matter, it's a training race. Evans should go for this one.

 

[Miburo]

Samu should decide not to race the Tour, the Giro showed that his age is taking it's toll on him. It's unlikely that he would be able to beat Contador, Froome, Purito, and others at the Tour. He should instead go to the Vuelta (the original plan iirc), he'll have a much better shot at the podium and/or stage wins there.

Also I see you left Quintana out, I would consider him one of the top favorites. The TT will play against him, but I think there is enough mountains that he could make up for most of the loss there.

You mean impossible, right?