Il Lombardia 2015, Oct 4th

[Velolover2]

Movistar and Katusha will be fighting for winning the World Tour Rankings.

Katusha should send both Purito, Moreno and Spilak for a top 10 result.

 

[Velolover2]

If they allow him to go, I'd even say that Spilak is one of the biggest favorites.

 

[Mr.White]

Usual suspects: Valverde, Purito, Nibali, Uran, Rui Costa, maybe Gilbert but I think Madona/Sormano combo will be too hard for him, maybe Kwiatkowski
Outsiders: Yates bros, Wellens, Majka, Alaphilippe, Mollema, Kelderman, Pozzovivo.

Lot depends on how they will ride Madona and Muro, my guess is Astana and Movistar will blow up the race apart on Muro, to eliminate Gilbert, Kwiat, Gerrans, Wellens, etc

 

[BigMac]

If they allow him to go, I'd say Ji Cheng can win this.

Seriously though, Špilak will be a non-factor, just like in every classic he has entered except the 2008 Ronde.

 

[KyoGrey]

If riders like Majka, Mollema, Pozzovivo or Mollema can be considered serious outsiders, then Landa and Nibali should be on that list!!!

 

[Mr.White]

If riders like Majka, Mollema, Pozzovivo or Mollema can be considered serious outsiders, then Landa and Nibali should be on that list!!!

Nibali is on the list, among favorites. As for Landa, well he never performed in one-day races, let alone Monuments, so he is unknown factor

 

[Valv.Piti]

If riders like Majka, Mollema, Pozzovivo or Mollema can be considered serious outsiders, then Landa and Nibali should be on that list!!!

Nibali is on the list, among favorites. As for Landa, well he never performed in one-day races, let alone Monuments, so he is unknown factor

Are Landa, Nibali and Aru lining up?

 

[MatParker117]

Re:

With Froome, Porte and Thomas all having ended their season, I'm wondering who Sky will bring as their leader.

I have always thought that Wout Poels would have been perfect for this kind of race. He is made for one-day races imo. His win in Tirreno-Adriatico and Pais Vasco were on similar terrain. A hilly road with a climb followed by a descent in the finish.

Henao.

 

[Velolover2]

Ah yeah, Heano. Nieve and König could do well too. Maybe Roche. I think it's a little too hard for Nordhaug.

 

[Velolover2]

I don't think Aru or Landa are riding. It's all-in for Nibali.

It will be with "his crew". Scarponi, Fuglsang, Kangert and Westra.

Aru's crew is Cataldo, Tiralongo, Rosa, LLS.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

I don't think Aru or Landa are riding. It's all-in for Nibali.

It will be with "his crew". Scarponi, Fuglsang, Kangert and Westra.

Aru's crew is Cataldo, Tiralongo, Rosa, LLS.

Yes, Zeits is also part of Aru's crew (training with them in Sestriere), I also think that Nibali will be the leader in Lombardia, but in that chase he shouldn't ride the WC, it's not a good circuit for him and he should have a better shot if he avoids riding the WC, you also have to consider the jetlag.

 

[KyoGrey]

I believe Landa will ride.

 

[Billie]

Re:

I don't think Aru or Landa are riding. It's all-in for Nibali.

It will be with "his crew". Scarponi, Fuglsang, Kangert and Westra.

Aru's crew is Cataldo, Tiralongo, Rosa, LLS.

Nibali's crew is Agnoli and Vanotti. He doesn't care who the other 6 riders are.

 

[ice&fire]

I believe Landa will ride.

He's planning to pull out his earpiece in il muro

 

[SafeBet]

Re: Re:

Nibali will be the captain, no question about it. If in top form he's probably the number one favorite on this parcours. But hard to see him in top shape after such a disappointing year.

I think Wellens will be up there no matter the weather or how hard it will be raced.

 

[KyoGrey]

I believe Landa will ride.

He's planning to pull out his earpiece in il muro

With Aru not riding, and Nibali casting doubts about his form this year, I can't see why Landa can't be co-leader.

This parcours is friendly, Civiglio is a climb long enough for a pure climber to make the difference.

 

[KyoGrey]

By the way, Valverde has been declaring to the media as of late that he is very tired and that this year is feeling too long for him.

If he doesn't feel super in the WC, he may decide to quit and don't ride Lombardia. Another important factor is that he has already secured the nº1 spot in the UCI World Tour.

 

[Velolover2]

By the way, Valverde has been declaring to the media as of late that he is very tired and that this year is feeling too long for him.

If he doesn't feel super in the WC, he may decide to quit and don't ride Lombardia. Another important factor is that he has already secured the nº1 spot in the UCI World Tour.

I think he is almost forced to do the race. Or else, they'll have to send Quintana. Movistar and Katusha are competing for being the best team of the UCI Tour.

 

[KyoGrey]

By the way, Valverde has been declaring to the media as of late that he is very tired and that this year is feeling too long for him.

If he doesn't feel super in the WC, he may decide to quit and don't ride Lombardia. Another important factor is that he has already secured the nº1 spot in the UCI World Tour.

I think he is almost forced to do the race. Or else, they'll have to send Quintana. Movistar and Katusha are competing for being the best team of the UCI Tour.

To be honest, the honor of best WT team is practically lost for Movistar. The difference is 107 points.

To cut the difference in Lombardia, Movistar has to win with Valverde (or high places with Valverde and another rider) and Purito, Moreno and the Katushas fail miserably...

 

[Velolover2]

Yeah, ok. But if Movistar does a good TT at the worlds, it could be very close. Winning it gives you 200 points.

 

[DFA123]

By the way, Valverde has been declaring to the media as of late that he is very tired and that this year is feeling too long for him.

If he doesn't feel super in the WC, he may decide to quit and don't ride Lombardia. Another important factor is that he has already secured the nº1 spot in the UCI World Tour.

If he's really on the limit tiredness wise he maye should give the worlds a miss. He has an outside chance on the course, but wouldn't be among the favourites; whereas he would probably be the number one favourite for Lombardia.
Also much less travelling and acclimatizing if he stays in Europe.

I guess the Worlds is the bigger prize though and it looks like he won't have a chance on next years course.

 

[KyoGrey]

By the way, Valverde has been declaring to the media as of late that he is very tired and that this year is feeling too long for him.

If he doesn't feel super in the WC, he may decide to quit and don't ride Lombardia. Another important factor is that he has already secured the nº1 spot in the UCI World Tour.

If he's really on the limit tiredness wise he maye should give the worlds a miss. He has an outside chance on the course, but wouldn't be among the favourites; whereas he would probably be the number one favourite for Lombardia.
Also much less travelling and acclimatizing if he stays in Europe.

I guess the Worlds is the bigger prize though and it looks like he won't have a chance on next years course.

Yes, that would be ideal. But Valverde is not the type of rider that rejects the national team when called to arms (Contador ) and, as you said, he feels that the WC is what is missing in his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxr2QiTp6_g

http://www.dorsal51.com/?p=18615

Lets hope he recovers in this 2 weeks!

 

[DNP-Old]

Miguel Angel Lopez will ride for Astana.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Nibali will be the captain, no question about it. If in top form he's probably the number one favorite on this parcours. But hard to see him in top shape after such a disappointing year.

I think Wellens will be up there no matter the weather or how hard it will be raced.

At least 5 riders are better then Nibali in such a hard classic. Purito and Valverde miles ahead for example.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Nibali will be the captain, no question about it. If in top form he's probably the number one favorite on this parcours. But hard to see him in top shape after such a disappointing year.

I think Wellens will be up there no matter the weather or how hard it will be raced.

At least 5 riders are better then Nibali in such a hard classic. Purito and Valverde miles ahead for example.

Loool