How friggin good was the Canc ? Bodes well for the TTT

[grimpeur]

In his white world champion's time trial kit he looks like the Michelin Man.

World TT Champ in a post Olympic year nearly goes unnoticed. When I saw him in his arc-en-ciel kit I thought who the hades is that?

 

[El Imbatido]

And rode like he was carrying the spare tyres for the rest of his team

Thats hilarious, almost as good as the one where Alberto got stuck in the bus behind the broken door whilst lance cruised into yellow in the prologue (can't remember what thread tho)

 

[Mellow Velo]

This isn't your mega-long TTT. Under 40kms, with a twisty, lumpy middle section. This will be raced like a town sprint finish. A lot of heavy breaking and accelerating out of corners.
Riders could get dropped.
Best suited to the course are Columbia and Garmin, who run sprint trains.
Less well suited are Astana and Saxo.
Cervelo, with Hushovd and Haussler, should also appreciate the course. Brett Lancaster and Hayden Roulsten, are good trialists.

I'm not sure which team will emmerge victorious, but I think we a looking at seconds between the top teams, rather than minutes.
At least, that's my hope. It will animate the early mountain stages.

 

[davidg]

I would be utterly amazed if Saxo were to finish ahead of Astana or Columbia in the TTT. Cancellara can ride like a train but who's going to keep up with him?

Voight, O'Grady, Arveson and Sorenson are no mules, but I tend to agree that Astana will be hard to beat

 

[RdBiker]

You look at the TT power that Astana has and you really have an answer to who is a favourite for the TTT win. Astana has four guys who can pull almost as well as Cancellara so they only have to find one guy to hang on to. Also, all their GC hopefuls are good TTers whereas Saxo Bank has to make sure that neither of the Schlecks gets dropped.

 

[blackcat]

since when is a timetrial any relevance to a TTT?

I would prefer Hushovd and Boonen to any specialist timetrialers in the peloton. They need anaerobic power, not threshold.

And there is a declining utility for the 7th 8th and 9th man. So you can get by, with only 5 strong riders, like Cancellara, Arvesen, OGrady, Voigt, and Larson. Sorenson is no chump neither.

Ideally you would have 8 or 9 Boonen or Cancellara clones, in a dual train, at the same power, and just hitting the wind for 5 seconds before swapping off and going down the other side of the train.

But Saxo can have Chris Anker just as a caboose, and everyone pulling thru, and on the climbs, Schleck brothers can force the pace.

TTTs will be decided in teamwork and preparation, as there is little separating Astana, Saxo, Garmin, and Columbia.

 

[whiteboytrash]

This isn't your mega-long TTT. Under 40kms, with a twisty, lumpy middle section. This will be raced like a town sprint finish. A lot of heavy breaking and accelerating out of corners.
Riders could get dropped.
Best suited to the course are Columbia and Garmin, who run sprint trains.
Less well suited are Astana and Saxo.

Huh ? Stage 1 was twisty, lumpy etc. which Canc nailed. So why does it suit Garmin, Columbia ? You don't know what you're talking about. Saxo will extend their lead after the TTT and drag up the Shlecks. Columbia are going to be dead from working for Cav in stages 2 and 3.

Larrson, Voigt and the Canc can ride the 39km on their own.

Think about what you're writing rather than just printing the first thing that comes into your head. Its wastes peoples time.

 

[BroDeal]

Huh ? Stage 1 was twisty, lumpy etc. which Canc nailed. So why does it suit Garmin, Columbia ? You don't know what you're talking about. Saxo will extend their lead after the TTT and drag up the Shlecks. Columbia are going to be dead from working for Cav in stages 2 and 3.

Larrson, Voigt and the Canc can ride the 39km on their own.

Think about what you're writing rather than just printing the first thing that comes into your head. Its wastes peoples time.

Say what? Blackcat was spot on.

 

[ndpuck]

Huh ? Stage 1 was twisty, lumpy etc. which Canc nailed. So why does it suit Garmin, Columbia ? You don't know what you're talking about. Saxo will extend their lead after the TTT and drag up the Shlecks. Columbia are going to be dead from working for Cav in stages 2 and 3.

Larrson, Voigt and the Canc can ride the 39km on their own.

Think about what you're writing rather than just printing the first thing that comes into your head. Its wastes peoples time.

Some useful advice that you should also follow.

 

[frizzlefry]

Give him a break. Trash boy has jumped on the Saxo/Canc bandwagon. Give it a week, the Saxo/Canc bandwagon will be history, and he will be gone.

 

[whiteboytrash]

Give him a break. Trash boy has jumped on the Saxo/Canc bandwagon. Give it a week, the Saxo/Canc bandwagon will be history, and he will be gone.

No I'm on and have always been on the Saxo/AShleck bandwagon. Mark my words. Yet again I will be right. I look forward to reviving this thread come Tuesday afternoon along with the "Astana in disarray" news thread.

Loser.

 

[Ferminal]

since when is a timetrial any relevance to a TTT?

I would prefer Hushovd and Boonen to any specialist timetrialers in the peloton. They need anaerobic power, not threshold.

And there is a declining utility for the 7th 8th and 9th man. So you can get by, with only 5 strong riders, like Cancellara, Arvesen, OGrady, Voigt, and Larson. Sorenson is no chump neither.

Ideally you would have 8 or 9 Boonen or Cancellara clones, in a dual train, at the same power, and just hitting the wind for 5 seconds before swapping off and going down the other side of the train.

But Saxo can have Chris Anker just as a caboose, and everyone pulling thru, and on the climbs, Schleck brothers can force the pace.

TTTs will be decided in teamwork and preparation, as there is little separating Astana, Saxo, Garmin, and Columbia.

Indeed... Don't see why you would write down Saxo in the TTT.

 

[Kazistuta]

No I'm on and have always been on the Saxo/AShleck bandwagon. Mark my words. Yet again I will be right. I look forward to reviving this thread come Tuesday afternoon along with the "Astana in disarray" news thread.

Loser.

Yet again?

Well, even though I'm a huge Saxo Bank/Cancellara/Schleck fan, I just can't see this happening. Obviously the Danish team will be a contender for top5 on the TTT, but your confidence is just a tad over the top IMO.

Good fun, though, as you are prepared to line up for some bare *** wooping come wednesday. Your statement is that Saxo Bank will win and increase Cance's lead, and with at least three similar strong teams to prevent that from happening, I'd say that statement is kinda risky...

 

[Amsterhammer]

Yet again?

Well, even though I'm a huge Saxo Bank/Cancellara/Schleck fan, I just can't see this happening. Obviously the Danish team will be a contender for top5 on the TTT, but your confidence is just a tad over the top IMO.

Good fun, though, as you are prepared to line up for some bare *** wooping come wednesday. Your statement is that Saxo Bank will win and increase Cance's lead, and with at least three similar strong teams to prevent that from happening, I'd say that statement is kinda risky...

He also predicts that Schleklet will win the Tour. My girlfriend would go ape**** if that happened, she's a huge fan of his. I really can't see that happening.

 

[mr. tibbs]

...

Ideally you would have 8 or 9 Boonen clones, in a dual train, at the same power, and just hitting the wind for 5 seconds before swapping off and going down the other side of the train.

...

This is a pretty apt description of my wife's fantasy...erm...cycling team.

 

[blackcat]

Huh ? Stage 1 was twisty, lumpy etc. which Canc nailed. So why does it suit Garmin, Columbia ? You don't know what you're talking about. Saxo will extend their lead after the TTT and drag up the Shlecks. Columbia are going to be dead from working for Cav in stages 2 and 3.

Larrson, Voigt and the Canc can ride the 39km on their own.

Think about what you're writing rather than just printing the first thing that comes into your head. Its wastes peoples time.

WBT, good points. You are forgetting O'Grady was a worlds pursuit bronze medalist, plus a gold medallist and former world record holder in the teams, and since going to CSC he got on the transfusion bandwagon, and started coming top 5 in those Dauphine prologues.

Salient point on Columbia pulling for field sprints, but this is an anaerobic effort. I do not think it will take too much out of them.

Tell me which team has the best doping, and I will tell you who will win. CSC, ONCE and USPS used to raffle this.

 

[blackcat]

in the 2007 Eindhoven TTT, Matt Goss and Bobby Julich were the strongest in the chrono. Goss was a 20yo teams pursuiter/sprinter at the time. So that gives you an idea about the capacities required. CSC won btw.

Those Gerolsteiner teams which had Peschel and Rich (Liese too?) used to suck in tts.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Who does everyone think will take the yellow jersey after Montpellier TTT? I personally think Wiggins will take the yellow jersey. I was a bit disapointed with Team Columbia. I understand they would be saving themselves for the sprints but i thought Grabsch, Rogers and Kirchen would go a better than they did but Tony Martin still had a strong ride.

 

[blackcat]

it is only 40km, Garmin need to take out 20 seconds of Saxo. I dont think they can do it. That is a short TTT

 

[auscyclefan94]

it is only 40km, Garmin need to take out 20 seconds of Saxo. I dont think they can do it. That is a short TTT

Garmin could easily take 40 seconds on Saxo Bank and i think they are a better tt team than Astana or Columbia at the tour. I think if Columbia chases the break down in tonights stage then they might burn their legs for the ttt but that mightn't bother them. With Saxo Bank they still had guys up their chasing till 30km to the finish. They will most likely do the same in tonights stage and possibly burn some fire power in their legs.

 

[blackcat]

Garmin could easily take 40 seconds on Saxo Bank and i think they are a better tt team than Astana or Columbia at the tour. I think if Columbia chases the break down in tonights stage then they might burn their legs for the ttt but that mightn't bother them. With Saxo Bank they still had guys up their chasing till 30km to the finish. They will most likely do the same in tonights stage and possibly burn some fire power in their legs.

they are riding tempo. It ain't chasing.

Look at the 65km TTT in 2005, and even tho DZ crashed, there would not have been more than 2 seconds in the other direction.

1 Discovery Channel Team 1.10.39 (57.324 km/h)
2 Team CSC 0.02
3 T-Mobile Team 0.35
4 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team 0.53

That was 65, with disproportionate splits opening in the back end.

40km, the trains' terminal velocities will be similar. There will be under 30 separating the top 3 teams.

 

[auscyclefan94]

they are riding tempo. It ain't chasing.

Look at the 65km TTT in 2005, and even tho DZ crashed, there would not have been more than 2 seconds in the other direction.

1 Discovery Channel Team 1.10.39 (57.324 km/h)
2 Team CSC 0.02
3 T-Mobile Team 0.35
4 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team 0.53

That was 65, with disproportionate splits opening in the back end.

40km, the trains' terminal velocities will be similar. There will be under 30 separating the top 3 teams.

You still put your head in the wind when tempo riding on the front and the same 3 guys were riding on the front for 150km. I personally don't think Saxo bank will be able to match it with Garmin and they will be able to take the yellow jersey. I think Saxo might just scarpe into the top 5 of the ttt.

 

[blackcat]

no team with Voigt, Cancellara, Ogrady, and Larsson, when it knows it has two GC prospects sheltering behind them, will merely scrape into the top 5. They will fight it out. It will be closer than you think.

 

[BroDeal]

You still put your head in the wind when tempo riding on the front and the same 3 guys were riding on the front for 150km. I personally don't think Saxo bank will be able to match it with Garmin and they will be able to take the yellow jersey. I think Saxo might just scarpe into the top 5 of the ttt.

No way Saxo just scrapes into the top five. Riis knows that if they lose any significant amount of time then Schleck's chances are hugely reduced because there are a limited number of places where Schleck can gain time to compensate for the two ITTs. Saxo will be killing it, and with their big strong riders they will do very well.

I am betting on Columbia just because they are so well drilled. Saxo, Garmin, Astana, and Columbia will all be close.

 

[karlboss]

Just wondering, who pushed in the opening ITT, I'd have expected better from many of the columbia boys, but if you have no overall aspirations and can't win, why bother? were some riders saving themselves for other tasks ahead?