Ilnur Zakarin Discussion thread

[markene2]

Podium is possible, he will only get better and better as the race progresses

 

[Eclipse]

I think Chaves is being overestimated a bit and is bumpable out of the top 4. He's going to take a packet in the TT and I'm not sure i'd really see him getting any stronger on the climbs - in fact we know he's faded badly before whereas Ilnur should finish strongly.

I still have doubts about Contador too, it was a nice talk that it was just a stomach upset but he struggled on Sunday.

Podium is not out of the question for Ilnur yet imo

 

[hazaran]

I'd wish he would take a packet in the TT but has that ever happened again for him since Romandie? I can't remember a single decen TT since then.

 

[Breh]

Paris-Nice? Not sure if that one counts considering its __/ profile.

 

[SafeBet]

Zakarin survived a very tough challenge today. Losing no time to Nibali and Froome in such a tricky stage is great for him. Chances of podium rising a bit.

 

[Eclipse]

And now only 5 seconds off a podium spot. It is looking good and I'd still expect a couple of really good days from him. Keldermerx's surprising form might chunk a spanner in the works though

 

[markene2]

Nice ride by Zaka, i am certain he will just keep improving, hope he has found his TT form.

 

[Breh]

Great stuff. Feared the worst yesterday and today when I saw him going backwards on the descents.
I kinda expected him to attack when the elite group had formed but I suppose he was very much on the limit.

Very happy with this

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If Zakarin keeps improving like in the Giro it will be a fun 3rd week.

 

[markene2]

Great ride, now on the podium!

 

[portugal11]

Disgraceful rider... always riding for a podium place

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He's improving the same way as in the Giro. Too bad he always attacks so late. But understandable. The Sky Watt train © is not to be attacked from further away.

 

[telencefalus]

can i say that i don't like rider like zakarin or kelderman , they remind me of the likes of urugomov , what bad memories

 

[Breh]

Went away for the weekend and noticed he's now 3rd in GC! Very nice. Fingers crossed he refinds his pre-Giro TT prowess.

He attacked both saturday and sunday, right?

 

[markene2]

Re:

Went away for the weekend and noticed he's now 3rd in GC! Very nice. Fingers crossed he refinds his pre-Giro TT prowess.

He attacked both saturday and sunday, right?

He had a little dig on saturday, and a proper attack on sunday. I just hope he can do a good TT, im afraid that kelderman will gain time on him.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I expected more from his Giro TT's but he was pretty underwhelming there. Even in the last ITT when he was clearly in top shape.

I wonder if he really worked on his TT.

 

[Breh]

Yes, both Giro ITT's were pretty underwhelming. In Romandie he finished together with Yates and Froome which is pretty peculiar so I suppose you can't read too much into it.

Paris-Nice was good tho.

 

[Eclipse]

Good ride that. Shame he shipped quite so much to Kelderman but he's got good legs and should be able to make something happen in the moutains. Just needs to get Kelderman off his wheel once and the podium is waiting

 

[markene2]

Re:

Good ride that. Shame he shipped quite so much to Kelderman but he's got good legs and should be able to make something happen in the moutains. Just needs to get Kelderman off his wheel once and the podium is waiting

He will beat him in the mountains, im sure of it

 

[PremierAndrew]

Being on the wheels on gradients of 20% will do nothing for you

 

[Eclipse]

Re:

Being on the wheels on gradients of 20% will do nothing for you

Of course, it will all come down to strength in the end and I've got faith. I just mean that given everything we know, we can expect Kelderman to ride very defensively so he's probably going to be following Ilnur rather than looking to do anything himself.

 

[Breh]

Yeah, pretty good ITT.

I'm starting to feel confident for that podium finish. Don't see Lopez or Contador challenging him and he climbs better than Kelderman.

 

[eric_vv]

Re:

Yeah, pretty good ITT.

I'm starting to feel confident for that podium finish. Don't see Lopez or Contador challenging him and he climbs better than Kelderman.

I haven't seen any proof that he's better than Kelderman on the climbs. At least not in week 2 . Kelderman only lost time yesterday, which had more to do with timing the attack right. Wilco dropped him a couple of times. Form of the day should be the decider there.

 

[fauniera]

Re:

Yeah, pretty good ITT.

I'm starting to feel confident for that podium finish. Don't see Lopez or Contador challenging him and he climbs better than Kelderman.

Lopez will wreak havoc on the steep ramps of Machucos and Angliru, will be difficult to hold him. I agree that Zakarin should be able to beat Kelderman and Contador.

 

[Breh]

It should be an entertaining battle. Zakarin was very aggressive in the final stages of the Giro, I expect him to attack a couple of times again.