Expectations towards vuelta 2012

[Netserk]

20 minutes? lol. 10 mintues because of itt yes. but in the mountains all the riders I've named are better than wiggins, jvdb and nibali. save perhaps henao

De Gendt better than Nibali in the mountains I know you don't like him, but this is too much of a hyperbole

 

[movingtarget]

20 minutes? lol. 10 mintues because of itt yes. but in the mountains all the riders I've named are better than wiggins, jvdb and nibali. save perhaps henao

All of the riders you named have potential but where are the recent results in grand tours. De Gendt and the Colombians did well in the Giro but they are still a long way from the level of Froome and Contador. Nibali and Wiggins have improved their climbing even though they are not naturals. For me since the Vuelta in 2010 Anton has been a huge disappointment apart from a good stage win in the 2011 Giro. VDB like Evans is not a natural climber but he is good enough to finish high on GC. Gesink is the one who has to start producing results of some kind in grand tours otherwise he will end up like Roche at Saxo. I know he has had bad luck but how long will he be able to use that as an excuse ?

 

[jens_attacks]

excellent news
according to intxausti,cobo is in excellent form and wants to take his 2nd vuelta.

http://www.esciclismo.com/ampliada.asp?Id=22899

 

[movingtarget]

excellent news
according to intxausti,cobo is in excellent form and wants to take his 2nd vuelta.

http://www.esciclismo.com/ampliada.asp?Id=22899

He improved as the Tour progressed but did not waste too much energy. The Vuelta is shaping up as a more interesting than I thought it would be.

 

[Forunculo]

Cobo is not at Contador, Froome's level

 

[movingtarget]

Cobo is not at Contador, Froome's level

I have no doubt that Froome will finish ahead of Cobo this year. No one said that Cobo is a Contador,

 

[uphillstruggle]

The third week might be hard for Froome and the fresher riders always seem to have the advantage when their opponents attempt two grand tours. I think Contador should win but the margin of victory could be interesting. Contador's lack of competition against Froome's previous workload.

Froome hasn't race all that much this year. Most of the riders who do two grand tours also race through spring as well. I still think Contador should win by at least a minute.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I have no doubt that Froome will finish ahead of Cobo this year. No one said that Cobo is a Contador,

cobo is better than froome though and comes closest to contador other than quintana. cobo last year had quite a bad winter. this year sucked as well, but not as much as last year. besides mentally he's changed it seems

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

cobo is better than froome though and comes closest to contador other than quintana. cobo last year had quite a bad winter. this year sucked as well, but not as much as last year. besides mentally he's changed it seems

Do you have any idea how Quintana will do in a 3 week tour? one thing is beating sky guys in dauphine another thing is beating them at stage lets say 20

 

[LaFlorecita]

cobo is better than froome though and comes closest to contador other than quintana. cobo last year had quite a bad winter. this year sucked as well, but not as much as last year. besides mentally he's changed it seems

Lol watch out for the sky fanboys I don't know if Cobo is better than Froome I just know Alberto >>>>>>>>>>>> Cobo and Froome

 

[movingtarget]

Lol watch out for the sky fanboys I don't know if Cobo is better than Froome I just know Alberto >>>>>>>>>>>> Cobo and Froome

I am not a Skyboy ! Sounds a bit suspicious. I just think Froome is a better rider than last year and he is healthier than he was before. They are the three expected to do well but there are always one or two surprises. Gesink may finish a race. Rodriguez after a great Giro may do better than expected. He was very consistent in the Giro. No really bad days like in previous grand tours.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I am not a Skyboy ! Sounds a bit suspicious. I just think Froome is a better rider than last year and he is healthier than he was before. They are the three expected to do well but there are always one or two surprises. Gesink may finish a race. Rodriguez after a great Giro may do better than expected. He was very consistent in the Giro. No really bad days like in previous grand tours.

Have I ever said you are a sky fanboy

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Do you have any idea how Quintana will do in a 3 week tour? one thing is beating sky guys in dauphine another thing is beating them at stage lets say 20

yeah he's colombian and even better, he's boyacan! they all recuperate well over 3 weeks

 

[Mogwai_]

yeah he's colombian and even better, he's boyacan! they all recuperate well over 3 weeks

See Henao in the Giro this year. Was his first grand tour and he did very well. And yes I know he's older but he's a Columbian too.

 

[gustienordic]

Do you have any idea how Quintana will do in a 3 week tour? one thing is beating sky guys in dauphine another thing is beating them at stage lets say 20

I predict similar to Pinot in the tour. He will be strong, but will have a bad day or two!

 

[greenedge]

If Froome finishes top 3- i hope he can lead at the TDF next year. I expect Contador to win but JROD will run him close and will probably only lose because of the ITT.

 

[rantanplan]

I´d been in Vuelta a Burgos last week and saw in very good condition Henao, Antón, Purito, Gesink and Mollema (thoght Urán was too tired, he sufered a lot working for Henao).

I was impresed by Colombia Coldeportes, it´s a pity they are not in the Vuelta, hope next year they get invitation from Giro and Vuelta

 

[Arnout]

cobo is better than froome though and comes closest to contador other than quintana. cobo last year had quite a bad winter. this year sucked as well, but not as much as last year. besides mentally he's changed it seems

If Anton is in good form, he will challenge Contador too. Looking forward to 4-horse fight between Anton, Contador, Quintana and Cobo. Will be epic, hopefully they won't have any mishaps.

I´d been in Vuelta a Burgos last week and saw in very good condition Henao, Antón, Purito, Gesink and Mollema (thoght Urán was too tired, he sufered a lot working for Henao).

I was impresed by Colombia Coldeportes, it´s a pity they are not in the Vuelta, hope next year they get invitation from Giro and Vuelta

Coldeportes should start with one GT in my opinion, next year, their squad isn't big enough. Hopefully the Vuelta, later in the year is only good for them. Before that, maybe Tour de Suisse and similar one-week races.

 

[movingtarget]

Have I ever said you are a sky fanboy

Thank you.Just the mention of Sky and memories of the Tour bring on migraine !
I had no problem with the results in the Tour but watching it was like waiting for paint to dry.

 

[movingtarget]

If Anton is in good form, he will challenge Contador too. Looking forward to 4-horse fight between Anton, Contador, Quintana and Cobo. Will be epic, hopefully they won't have any mishaps.



Coldeportes should start with one GT in my opinion, next year, their squad isn't big enough. Hopefully the Vuelta, later in the year is only good for them. Before that, maybe Tour de Suisse and similar one-week races.

I would like to see Anton do well but I have my doubts. First he has to show he can be good for a whole three weeks.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Antón has shown he can be good for a whole three weeks, back at the 2007 race.

He has to show he can stay in the vertical position for a whole three weeks, which is likely to be more of a challenge.

 

[killswitch]

He has to show he can stay in the vertical position for a whole three weeks, which is likely to be more of a challenge.

That's still possible. But the likelihood of every teammate around him at all times not falling at least once in those three weeks is very small.

 

[Aguirre]

I'm sure froome will be stronger in vuelta than in tour. the tour had a pathetic level in the mountains. the vuelta will be completely different.

contador, quintana, cobo, froome, henao, anton, purito, de gendt

my god _O_

still I don't see henao help froome. uran I'm sure will help though

Also I hope to see Mikel Landa emerging at high level in a pro tour race...
he can do a pinot...

 

[The Hitch]

So lets see. J Rod, Anton, The Great One, Samy, Cobo, Moreno. If these guys trade attacks on a mountain are sky going to argue that the spaniards are gathering up on the Brit

 

[Gloin22]

So lets see. J Rod, Anton, The Great One, Samy, Cobo, Moreno. If these guys trade attacks on a mountain are sky going to argue that the spaniards are gathering up on the Brit

It's not the Tour. Sky will not and won't need a mountain train.

Once - there's no Wiggins. Froome is more explosive and doesn't need steady pace all the climb.

Second - Sky is not coming here as biggest favourites and so will not ride with the tactics like Tour. It'll be something like Giro where Uran, Henao ( this time Froome ) got help until last climbs and were left on their own devices. Can't see Sky mountain train tbh here.