Decathlon: 10 watts per fortnight!

[Krzysztof_O]

It's time for a new clinic thread! The Messiah gaining 20 watts per month is one thing but it seems it's similar in Gall's case! The guy is almost at Vingegaard's level after two, very varying mountain stages of the Giro: a long one with a big climb at the end and a unipuerto stage with a steep muro at the end. Impressive salto di qualità (as dr Ferrari used to say).

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Rob will agree with me that you can't just forget about the past like that. It's all connected.

Ag2r

Ehem. http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/cqRankingTeam.asp?year=2013 7619 points last year http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/cqRankingTeam.asp?year=2014 5783 already this year 14 wins/44 podium spots in 2014 8 wins/57 podium spots in 2013 4 wins/31 podium spots in 2012 So...

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Romain Bardet (AG2R)

Interesting https://twitter.com/oufeh/status/453491714712698880 I used to believe french were clean

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AG2R withraws from Criterium due to Giro Positive

So AG2R is sanctioning the whole team after Sylvain George tested positive during the Giro. http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/05/news/ag2r-la-mondiale-withdraws-from-criterium-du-dauphine-to-honor-mpcc-rules_288073 I think it's a pretty impressive move when the criterium is such an...

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AG2R Cryotherapy Recuperation

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ag2r-using-cryotherapy-for-tour-de-france The French team AG2R-La Mondiale will use cryotherapy to help enhance recovery during the Tour de France, the squad announced today. Riders will endure three minutes in a special whole body suit, pioneered by Tec4H...

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But they're certainly looking very hot this year. Gall and Mühlberger might have more good stuff left in the locker or fridge for the rest of the Giro.

 

[Netserk]

10 title changes per half hour !

 

[Krzysztof_O]

10 title changes per half hour !

Haha, one more but finally I've made it properly compressed.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

*Fortnite, Seixas is a young guy riding his bike like he's playing video games.

 

[TheKidsCallMeBoss]

Gall has been one of the top five pure climbers for the past two or three years. He struggled on the Fermo stage and is likely to lose a significant amount of time in the time trial. Overall, his performance has been fairly consistent with what you would expect from him. Vingegaard is clearly in economy mode. The gap between him and Gall, or indeed anyone else, is completely insignificant.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Gall has been one of the top five pure climbers for the past two or three years. He struggled on the Fermo stage and is likely to lose a significant amount of time in the time trial. Overall, his performance has been fairly consistent with what you would expect from him. Vingegaard is clearly in economy mode. The gap between him and Gall, or indeed anyone else, is completely insignificant.

Not really. Relative gap to Vingegaard (and to other guys) matter as well as absolute numbers: they were very high and didn't indicate Vingo was holding back. In fact Vingo had some problems with keeping his high pace at the end of Blockhous climb (as Visma guy confirmed), which isn't consistent with him holding back during his attack as well. Also his behaviour was very cautious on Sunday (wary of Gall's level and threat): sticking to wheel until attacking in the last 400 m. Gall's level has been absolutely spectacular (compare it to previous stage-races this season, it's 2 levels up) even if Vingo isn't at his peak Tour level yet (his numbers were still quite good).

 

[meat puppet]

That's 240w per year. Where can old farts sign up?

 

[Rackham]

I do not buy that Vingegeaard is in economy mode in this Giro for the simple reason you can't do that. It's a GT and not a warm up race. This isn't the Dauphiné. I'm finding Vinge here completely consistent with his overall vibe since last season tbh, i.e. better than the rest yes but in no shape or form close to Pog. Not anymore. He wasn't great in last year's TdF, he wasn't great in last year's Vuelta either and he's just looking very similar here. Aka enough to win it comfortably but that's all.

And I'm in agreement with whomever says Decathlon has jumped leaps and bounds in the dark arts stuff. Gall has confidence and 'swagger' on his bike and you only get that when you feel like you're flying.

 

[Netserk]

I do not buy that Vingegeaard is in economy mode in this Giro for the simple reason you can't do that. It's a GT and not a warm up race.

it happened two years ago

 

[Rackham]

it happened two years ago

And his name was Pog.

Vinge's only margin is to do back to back GT's and still be odds on to finish second in July (although Seixas makes that a little less certain). But I think it's pretty evident he's in the Giro to win it because his hopes of beating Pog man against man in the TdF were not exactly good after last year.

It's why I don't buy all the talk of some sort of greater preparation for the Tour by doing the Giro (which is what his team mentioned). That's just sponsor-placating talk. The real goal is to win the Giro and podium the Tour.

Of that I am fairly certain.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

@Rackham
Agreed regarding Decathlon. As for Vingo I think the goal is to win the Giro and be as close to optimal (aka standard) Tour preparation as possible. Not to be better prepared by riding the Giro.