Menchov back in the light in 2012 at Katusha ?

[Libertine Seguros]

With the rumoured Vuelta route, there's no way Menchov does the Vuelta unless it's as a super-domestique for Purito.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

 

[Fetisoff]

God awful jersey for 2012.

Gotta make sure I'm not too late to get last year's for riding next year.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

God awful jersey for 2012.

Gotta make sure I'm not too late to get last year's for riding next year.

The enigmatic Pope looking mighty.

 

[Fetisoff]

lol

 

[greenedge]

I actually quite like the Red on the top.

 

[Richeypen]

God awful jersey for 2012.

Gotta make sure I'm not too late to get last year's for riding next year.

I like it



.

 

[auscyclefan94]

With the rumoured Vuelta route, there's no way Menchov does the Vuelta unless it's as a super-domestique for Purito.

What is the rumoured route and when is it officially announced?

 

[The Hitch]

What is the rumoured route and when is it officially announced?

I heard it sucks, rarely goes past 1 climb a stage and takes place entirely in the North.

Announced in January.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I heard it sucks, rarely goes past 1 climb a stage and takes place entirely in the North.

Announced in January.

that's different.

I like forward to menchov at katusha.
Hoping for some good GT battles next year.

 

[Swede1]

I know Menchov won't have the greatest team for the mountain stages next year, but I don't think he even needs one. All he needs is to be protected on the flat stages and kept in front. In the mountains he just needs to follow the best climbers (Schlecks, Contador, Evans...) whose teams will be setting tempo. Then he will beat them in the TT.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I know Menchov won't have the greatest team for the mountain stages next year, but I don't think he even needs one. All he needs is to be protected on the flat stages and kept in front. In the mountains he just needs to follow the best climbers (Schlecks, Contador, Evans...) whose teams will be setting tempo. Then he will beat them in the TT.

Then crash on the last stage.

 

[greenedge]

I doubt Menchov will be able to follow an in form Contador/ Shleck up the mountains. We saw that in 2010.

 

[webvan]

All he needs to do is limit his losses, in 2010 with another long ITT he would have passed AS for sure and likely AC too.

 

[Swede1]

I doubt Menchov will be able to follow an in form Contador/ Shleck up the mountains. We saw that in 2010.

Yeah but he was pretty close. With the extra TT in 2012, he could overtake them. Although if Contador is there in form, then it will be a fight for second.

 

[Ripper]

Ummm, wrt Menchov in le Tour: blah blah CLINIC blah CLINIC blah blah CLINIC

 

[webvan]

From the horse's mouth : http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/menchov-pleased-with-russian-return - strange arrangement to have his two right hand men join him in 2012 only.

 

[greenedge]

2013 actually.

 

[orangerider]

Lack of time bonuses also works against Menchov. He has relatively good top end sprint ability when compared to the Schlecks, Evans, or Contador. Unfortunately, this would achieve little to nothing, assuming he could even hold their wheels to the end.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I don't think too much of menchov but what he does know for his 2 loyal helpers is truly an act of class

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Lack of time bonuses also works against Menchov. He has relatively good top end sprint ability when compared to the Schlecks, Evans, or Contador. Unfortunately, this would achieve little to nothing, assuming he could even hold their wheels to the end.

Evans' sprint is underrated. He's got quite a kick on him when he needs one. Remember Stirling in 2010, when only Cardoso and Valverde outkicked him and he beat Sagan to the line? Him and Vino interjecting themselves in the bunch kick in Cava dè Tirreni? Coppi e Bartali 2009 when he outsprinted Cunego and Visconti?

Of the genuine GC contenders, perhaps only Valverde would I back to outsprint Evans 10 times out of 10. Menchov has a decent kick, and Sánchez, and Nibali, and it could be close between them, but I'd probably say Evans just shades them on average. Cunego can usually beat him (not always), but I think we are past the days of considering him a genuine GC contender.

 

[The Hitch]

. Menchov has a decent kick, and Sánchez, and Nibali, and it could be close between them, but I'd probably say Evans just shades them on average.

Samu has a better sprint than Evans.

 

[will10]

Samu has in the past been outsprinted by Andy Schleck

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Samu has a better sprint than Evans.

Hence the "on average". Samu might have a better kick when on top form, but Evans spends more time on form than Samu.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Hence the "on average". Samu might have a better kick when on top form, but Evans spends more time on form than Samu.

it was a joke...