Miguel Ángel Lopez Discussion Thread

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

Allowing world Tour riders to take part in Tour de l'Avenir is the dumbest decision ever.

Care to explain? Why wouldnt Lopez and Latour be able to ride there, for instance? Or Robert Power?

Because Tour de l'Avenir is a race where the riders in u23 can show themselves and maybe get a contract with a professional team. Therefore, I think it's stupid to have riders like Lopez, Latour or Henao who have ridden at least one season in the World Tour compete.

Power doesn't ride for a professional team this year and should go there no problem.

Power will not be in Avenir he has ended his season (some knee problems after a crash in Alsace), Haig will lead the Australians.
Another Australian talent Alex Edmondson (not a climber though so not for GC avenir) has also ended his season with knee problems.

Didn't know, thanks.

Initially Power planned to ride for the win there, right? sad to hear about his knee problems, great talent.

 

[Strandkorb]

Did you know that the 4th of February is the birthday of both Miguel Angel Lopez and Nairo Quintana? They are exactly four years apart. I wrote a small piece on this topic over on my blog: http://goo.gl/XtL6WW.

I really like his racing calendar for this season. He recently said in an interview that his goal for his next race, the Tour de Langkawi, is the Top5 which should not be a big problem as the mountain top finish should suit him really well. He also said he wants to be in great shape for the Vuelta a Catalunya, dreams of being selected for Rio and will later in the season peak for the Vuelta to go for a stage win.

 

[Escarabajo]

Neighbors and could possibly be one of his main rivals in the future. Great talent.

 

[proffz]

langkawi has not genting highlands this year. the only uphill finish is cameron highlands that does not look ideal for superman lopez. it a long climb with no gradients: last year 15-20 riders arrived all together and there was non selection.
i fear that langkawi does not fit anymore the colombians

 

[Ruudz0r]

Re:

langkawi has not genting highlands this year. the only uphill finish is cameron highlands that does not look ideal for superman lopez. it a long climb with no gradients: last year 15-20 riders arrived all together and there was non selection.
i fear that langkawi does not fit anymore the colombians

Last year they went up Frasier hill not up Cameron highlands. Cameron highlands is a bit harder then Frasier hill if I am not mistaken though it surely is not as hard as Genting higlands. Here is the result from the last time they went up this climb: http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=115903
Climbers could make a difference here.

 

[roundabout]

25 people together behind Arredondo

 

[Ruudz0r]

Re:

25 people together behind Arredondo

Yes true it is not very hard but still better then Frasier Hill and judging from Arredondo his performance, it is possible to ride away from the rest. Besides that Lopez has some punch so even from a group he has a good chance in this stage and with the boni seconds there he could win the overall.

Lopez won the Boyacan ITT championship 2 days ago btw, no idea who the competitors were though.

 

[proffz]

lopez defeated herrera (ebsa) which is a good specialist and martines from coldeportes claro.
difficult to comment, anyway superman was in good condition in san luis

 

[PremierAndrew]

Think this thread deserves a bump after his performances in Switzerland this week

 

[rune1107]

Re:

Think this thread deserves a bump after his performances in Switzerland this week

Definitely! Looking forward to seeing him in the Olympics. Impressive TT yesterday. Hopefully Astana will let him ride the Giro or Vuelta next year as captain

 

[sir fly]

Aru and Nibali should be his servants at the Tour.
And they shouldn't complain or be bitter. Aru's sunglasses and curls will get more tv time that way, and Nibali didn't plan to ride for himself anyways.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Climbing wise he was not even that special this week. Though very consistent. But his time trial blew any expectation out of the water. Wow! Very special performance.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

Think this thread deserves a bump after his performances in Switzerland this week

Definitely! Looking forward to seeing him in the Olympics. Impressive TT yesterday. Hopefully Astana will let him ride the Giro or Vuelta next year as captain

This year he'll probably ride the Vuelta as his first gt.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Re: Re:

Think this thread deserves a bump after his performances in Switzerland this week

Definitely! Looking forward to seeing him in the Olympics. Impressive TT yesterday. Hopefully Astana will let him ride the Giro or Vuelta next year as captain

This year he'll probably ride the Vuelta as his first gt.

AS far as I can remember he is to be the protected rider in the Vuelta

 

[liamito]

Re:

Climbing wise he was not even that special this week. Though very consistent. But his time trial blew any expectation out of the water. Wow! Very special performance.

I think he really hates rainy cold days, which makes a possible GC win even more special (for me).

 

[liamito]

Re: Re:

Think this thread deserves a bump after his performances in Switzerland this week

Definitely! Looking forward to seeing him in the Olympics. Impressive TT yesterday. Hopefully Astana will let him ride the Giro or Vuelta next year as captain

This year he'll probably ride the Vuelta as his first gt.

AS far as I can remember he is to be the protected rider in the Vuelta

Anyone expecting he might already do a Chaves like Vuelta this year?

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Re: Re:

Think this thread deserves a bump after his performances in Switzerland this week

Definitely! Looking forward to seeing him in the Olympics. Impressive TT yesterday. Hopefully Astana will let him ride the Giro or Vuelta next year as captain

This year he'll probably ride the Vuelta as his first gt.

AS far as I can remember he is to be the protected rider in the Vuelta

Anyone expecting he might already do a Chaves like Vuelta this year?

My guess would be perhpas a top 3 on gc, his recovery seems very good, especially for his age, but I think he might be looked out for a bit more by other gc contenders, so dunno about tooo many stage wins

 

[Bushman]

What a rider. 22 years of age, he is a terrific climber, he can tt well apparently and he looks to have a good tactical sense already. Not to mention that his ability to recover well looks good as well (of course he hasn't done a GT yet, som impossible to say).

 

[Mr.White]

Grande Superman! Well deserved! He could be the next big GT rider, seems like a full package

 

[Pantani Attacks]

MAL is gonna outdo Quintana when all is said than done. Book it.

 

[SafeBet]

What a performance! Can't wait to see what he will do in the Vuelta.

 

[Isaak-Gabriel]

Re:

MAL is gonna outdo Quintana when all is said than done. Book it.

Well, Boyacá can be happy and proud.

 

[Brullnux]

Just needs to go to the Nibali school of descending before the season is out and he will be amazing.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, the best way to defend a leader's jersey is by attacking!

Sure, he was caught, but he could just as well have just stayed with the other favourites.

 

[Red Rick]

When in doubt, wreck opposition uphill to show dominance. True champion in the making.