Re:
On your other points, Fernandez simply is a travesty as this point. Soler was exceptionally bad in Burgos due to peaking two times earlier the year (shouldn't have done that in retrospect when Valv is absent, but thats easy to say) to this is expected. He tried to hang on, but was cooked. He will come. Calar Alto Antón style is my guess.
They are riding for minor places tho, nobody is coming close to winning bar Adam Yates maybe. But yeah, that sounds so bad lining it up like that. :lol: Altho we must not forget Simon actually has shown a decent amount of aggressiveness in a variety of races, bar the Tour obviously. Adam however.. they remind me a bit of the Schleck-couple, but they are two Fränks.Libertine Seguros said:Rubén Fernández is 26, not exactly a young star, and only one year younger than Nairito. He's the only one of whom Unzué will have placed any responsibility on GC-wise. Abarcá always leave their young guns with the freedom to lose time early on, and that's what Soler and Carapaz have done. Quintana did that in his breakout 2012 Vuelta. It's just that for once they don't have any GC leader here.
I reckon Soler and Carapaz are allowed to lose time here just to test recovery and have some freedom to go for stages later in the race. I wouldn't be surprised if Marc targets the GPM as the race goes on. Moreno will be their man who bails out the GC ambitions, probably by riding à la Zubeldia to finish about 8th. And Carlos Betancur was only a minute down
I am pretty pessimistic about a GC mix including both Yates twins, Rui Costa, Tejay van Garderen and the black hole void that is Louis Meintjes. Save us, Kamaz, save us.
On your other points, Fernandez simply is a travesty as this point. Soler was exceptionally bad in Burgos due to peaking two times earlier the year (shouldn't have done that in retrospect when Valv is absent, but thats easy to say) to this is expected. He tried to hang on, but was cooked. He will come. Calar Alto Antón style is my guess.