Miguel Ángel Lopez Discussion Thread

[slosada]

I have a random question for some of the Spanish speakers out there:

My Colombian girlfriend was bemused by Lopez’s post-race interview today. She said he was speaking with a distinctly Spanish accent, totally unlike the rural Boyaca accent he normally has and which he spoke in when interviewed just a few days ago. Did anyone else notice this?

I am conscious that linguists say the faster you pick up an accent in a new country is indicative of how content you feel in that country, but to acquire an accent in a few days seem unusually fast.

It's very common for people from Boyacá and Cundinamarca to quickly acquire a new accent... Check Fabio Parra interviews, or even Quintana's. On the other hand, people from Antioquia more or less keep their accent for longer time. William Alvarez (tennis player and Spanish Armada coach) could be the best example, but also Santiago Botero. Not to mention Urán, Henao among others.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

One thing I do wonder though, he spent a lot of energy in a lot of attacks now. It's possible he'll fade a bit in the third week right? I mean, you can't go ballistic each mountain stage without fading nowadays.

That is a possibility, I do fear as well.
Maybe he has energy to just follow wheels this third week.

In general he gets stronger (less weak) as a race progresses, but he it's ofcourse the first time he rides for 3 weeks in row. I think he will be fine though.

As expected he is fading a little. Or at least not as strong as in week 2.

Let's wait for Angliru which is a longer climb, but I think this is the position where he will end up.

Great performance nevertheless. I would be very surprised and not feeling good if he kept pounding everyone like he did in week 2 in his first GT.

Great things are coming for Lopez.

 

[rata de sentina]

Re: Re:

so today he stays with Nibali could result , he won't podium , so the comparison with Quintana as the same age is pretty non sense because every rider is different but Nairo has clearly the edge

The difference is that this is his first gt, who has done so well in his first gt in recent history?

I agree and really do not understand why people are bothering with these comparisons. It is well known that Lopez is underdone and came in to mainly support Aru. So far he has exceeded expectations but if he starts to fade it will be no surprise. We actually have no way of realistically judging his inherent GC capability based upon this performance because he didn't have the best preparation anyway. Next year we'll get a better idea (if stays on his bike).

 

[fauniera]

He was good in Burgos so he can't have been "underdone". His preparation seems to have been just fine. I think he will be strong on Angliru.

 

[tristecsinamigos]

I have a random question for some of the Spanish speakers out there:

My Colombian girlfriend was bemused by Lopez’s post-race interview today. She said he was speaking with a distinctly Spanish accent, totally unlike the rural Boyaca accent he normally has and which he spoke in when interviewed just a few days ago. Did anyone else notice this?

I am conscious that linguists say the faster you pick up an accent in a new country is indicative of how content you feel in that country, but to acquire an accent in a few days seem unusually fast.

I'd have to check these interviews again but I didn't notice that. His rural Boyacá accent isn't very noticeable (neither is Nairo's), always with some Iberian Spanish brushtrokes.

 

[DNP-Old]

Said he was full of fear during the descend of Cordal, poor guy.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Said he was full of fear during the descend of Cordal, poor guy.

It was obvious!

Good performance for his first GT at the end of the day. We have to take into account how important was for him to finish high in a GT after all previous crashes.

 

[jsem94]

Still to finish 8th in his first real GT and beat all the big guns to win a stage is massive. Can't fault him for being afraid given his previous mishaps. Not like he was fighting for the podium spots anyway.

 

[afpm90]

Really good Vuelta for him with two stage wins and a top-10. I think he faded a little bit in the third week, but he's young and still has a lot of room for improvement.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He'll get over the fear eventually. Pinot had a phase like that also in descents

 

[Oliver]

Does he ride some italian races to end the season?

 

[liamito]

Re:

Does he ride some italian races to end the season?

Doesn't seem like Lopez is still in Europe?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Disappointing if he isnt, but he really wasn't that good on the easier mountain stages.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah he was fading towards the end of the Vuelta. Makes sense if your base isn't strong enough. On to next year I'd say

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

He'll get over the fear eventually. Pinot had a phase like that also in descents

Are you suggesting he should go rally-driving?
(Or whatever it was they used to help Pinot get over his fear...)

 

[Durden93]

Re: Re:

Does he ride some italian races to end the season?

Doesn't seem like Lopez is still in Europe?

What about Il Lombardia?

 

[DNP-Old]

No, he'll be riding in Turkey.

 

[liamito]

Re:

No, he'll be riding in Turkey.

Sure? Cyclingfever gives this team

BIZHIGITOV Zhandos Kazahkstan
CHERNETSKY Sergey Russia
GRUZDEV Dmitriy Kazahkstan
HANSEN Jesper Denmark
MINALI Riccardo Italy
STALNOV Nikita Kazahkstan
TLEUBAYEV Ruslan Kazahkstan
ZEITS Andrey Kazahkstan

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

No, he'll be riding in Turkey.

Sure? Cyclingfever gives this team

BIZHIGITOV Zhandos Kazahkstan
CHERNETSKY Sergey Russia
GRUZDEV Dmitriy Kazahkstan
HANSEN Jesper Denmark
MINALI Riccardo Italy
STALNOV Nikita Kazahkstan
TLEUBAYEV Ruslan Kazahkstan
ZEITS Andrey Kazahkstan

That's a pre-startlist though, those aren't always accurate. Early September it was all but confirmed, on record, that he'd be starting in Turkey. So unless something has changed..

 

[Valv.Piti]

Weird to skip such great races as Emilia, Torino (that he won last year) and Il Lombardia, all very climber friendly, for Turkey. Oh well.

 

[Oliver]

IS there something wrong? Also no Turkey? :sad:

 

[staubsauger]

He hasn't been in Kazakhstan with Fuglsang and Lutsenko either. Kinda weird indeed !

 

[DNP-Old]

Season over, he is tired.

 

[yaco]

Though the article on the CN website also suggests he is homesick - Hopefully 2018 is a more rewarding season.

 

[tristecsinamigos]

He still appears on the PCS Il Lombardia startlist, though.