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JRanton said:Blimey. Landa with Henao helping him in the Giro should be fun. Time trial will still be a big problem though ( as it will be in this race) but he will certainly animate the race.
yaco said:JRanton said:Blimey. Landa with Henao helping him in the Giro should be fun. Time trial will still be a big problem though ( as it will be in this race) but he will certainly animate the race.
Three time trials, though one is uphill is a big issue for Landa - Will struggle to win the Giro unless he's made a miraculous improvement in TT.
Maybe he likes the Spanish flag more, while Nieve really wanted the Basque flag?luckyboy said:Somebody know why Landa has a Spanish flag on the Sky bus while the other Basque riders have an Ikurrina?
There allowed to choose between there region or national flag.luckyboy said:Somebody know why Landa has a Spanish flag on the Sky bus while the other Basque riders have an Ikurrina?
luckyboy said:Somebody know why Landa has a Spanish flag on the Sky bus while the other Basque riders have an Ikurrina?
Taxus4a said:I think Nibali will be a harder rival in level than Contador last year, but last year he had his team againt his interest, so this year he has a better oportunity.
filipepc said:As i posted sometime ago Landa says he doesn´t need to race much to be in good form.
But is very unusual that a rider that almost doesn´t race can be in such a good shape. He is without a doubt very, very strong in the moutains. Chapeau.
Valv.Piti said:Taxus4a said:I think Nibali will be a harder rival in level than Contador last year, but last year he had his team againt his interest, so this year he has a better oportunity.
It depends, Contador wasn't all THAT good in Il Giro, but his Mortirolo ascent and his ITT was impressive stuff. I don't think Nibali has that in him, but he will pressure him on the sterrato stage and other medium mountains + have a much better team, so I think you are right on that one.
Either way he will have to race aggressively, can't wait for stage 14.
Taxus4a said:filipepc said:As i posted sometime ago Landa says he doesn´t need to race much to be in good form.
But is very unusual that a rider that almost doesn´t race can be in such a good shape. He is without a doubt very, very strong in the moutains. Chapeau.
Well, lot the people here were surprised that Contador lost some seconds in the second stage of Algarve.
It is the 7th competition day for Landa, and it is a stage with Kelderman second at one second and Samu fourth who Landa rode specially motivated at his home.
it is a big merit that talk about his quality, becouse he didnt rode too much and he prefer longer climbs, and harder stages, but he didnt do today a very impresive performance in numbers.
He is very strong in the mountains, but Quintana has been always a point above...in Tour de L Avenir, in Vuelta a Madrid, Burgos,...but Landa is a little bit more explosive and I think some days he is very inspired he could even beat Quintana in a hard stage.
Taxus4a said:Valv.Piti said:Taxus4a said:I think Nibali will be a harder rival in level than Contador last year, but last year he had his team againt his interest, so this year he has a better oportunity.
It depends, Contador wasn't all THAT good in Il Giro, but his Mortirolo ascent and his ITT was impressive stuff. I don't think Nibali has that in him, but he will pressure him on the sterrato stage and other medium mountains + have a much better team, so I think you are right on that one.
Either way he will have to race aggressively, can't wait for stage 14.
My dear friend, Contador was at his best in the Giro, but if Landa is allowed that day climb Mortirolo almost one minute better than Contador. Contador get 50 second repect Aru, but he did jumping with his powerfull one minute attack to a group to other, an "rest" at their wheel...and people as Antón worked for him. He did a good climb to the Mortirolo, but not as impressing as some people say here. That day the stronger was Landa, then Hesjedal and then Kruiswijk- Contador.
KyoGrey said:luckyboy said:Somebody know why Landa has a Spanish flag on the Sky bus while the other Basque riders have an Ikurrina?
Not 100% sure, but as to what I know, Sky prefer their leaders having their formal country flag (in this case Spain) and don't ask this formality to other riders (in this case Nieve).
Funny thing is that Landa is of course basque and proud of it (just as much as Nieve), while Nieve technically isn't, as he is from Navarra (although of course many Navarran people, mainly in the north, complement their navarran identity with a bigger basque identity).
I just wish there wasn't this type of problems and riders just had to have their respective federations flag and in case they feel that a 2nd flag represents them better, have both of them.
Hopefully, @mikelarriola sees this messages and corrects me or confirms it.
burning said:CheckMyPecs said:Is he doing Romandie after this?
Trentino, maybe LBL then Giro
Valv.Piti said:Taxus4a said:Valv.Piti said:Taxus4a said:I think Nibali will be a harder rival in level than Contador last year, but last year he had his team againt his interest, so this year he has a better oportunity.
It depends, Contador wasn't all THAT good in Il Giro, but his Mortirolo ascent and his ITT was impressive stuff. I don't think Nibali has that in him, but he will pressure him on the sterrato stage and other medium mountains + have a much better team, so I think you are right on that one.
Either way he will have to race aggressively, can't wait for stage 14.
My dear friend, Contador was at his best in the Giro, but if Landa is allowed that day climb Mortirolo almost one minute better than Contador. Contador get 50 second repect Aru, but he did jumping with his powerfull one minute attack to a group to other, an "rest" at their wheel...and people as Antón worked for him. He did a good climb to the Mortirolo, but not as impressing as some people say here. That day the stronger was Landa, then Hesjedal and then Kruiswijk- Contador.
Landa was without the best climber in the race and would've probably won if they had bet on him from the start. Unfortunately they didnt and Contador could win in the ITT, but yes, Landa could have left Contador for dead on Mortirolo for sure by +1 minute, but it was still an super effort from Contador which was the highpoint of his climbing in 2015
Taxus4a said:KyoGrey said:luckyboy said:Somebody know why Landa has a Spanish flag on the Sky bus while the other Basque riders have an Ikurrina?
Not 100% sure, but as to what I know, Sky prefer their leaders having their formal country flag (in this case Spain) and don't ask this formality to other riders (in this case Nieve).
Funny thing is that Landa is of course basque and proud of it (just as much as Nieve), while Nieve technically isn't, as he is from Navarra (although of course many Navarran people, mainly in the north, complement their navarran identity with a bigger basque identity).
I just wish there wasn't this type of problems and riders just had to have their respective federations flag and in case they feel that a 2nd flag represents them better, have both of them.
Hopefully, @mikelarriola sees this messages and corrects me or confirms it.
I will tell him, he was today on the last climb and he encourage Landa by telling: dai Mikel dai.
Mikelarriola is very basque, but Landa is from a part of basque country who was from the begining part of Castilla, the "true basque" were at Navarra kindong (where there was a basque part (talked baque lenguage) and a navarrian part (talked a latinian or romance lenguage) as today). It is lobg to explain. Anyway Landa ue to talk in basque, but he is not very worried about that things. The part of alava they crossed today, it is the only part of Alava where they talk basque lenguage usually. Basque people lived between river Ebro and Pyrinees, but later there went to the west, were lived celtic people: Caristios, Bardulos,...Basque people and basque lenguage influyed in the begining of Castilla and the castellano (as well called spanish), the most important Kingdom which provided the backbone of the latest Spain (who existed already as a visigothic Kingdom)
if you ask to me considering History both flags are correct for him, becouse Spain is a nation of nations and regions, we have in our shield the 5 nations which mixtured are Spain
KyoGrey said:I don't wan't to initiate a political discussion, but I am just curious: What 5 nations are you talking about?
As far as I know Spain is 1 nation formally by the Constitution. I'm aware that there is a strong will to recognise the different historical regions as nations on it's own right, but why only 5? Surely I count at least 8-10...
luckyboy said:I saw somebody tweet that Sky lets their riders pick which flag they want (so Kennaugh has Isle of Man, the Welsh guys have Wales instead of UK). Was just interested why he picked Spain because I thought he would identify more as Basque..
KyoGrey said:I don't wan't to initiate a political discussion, but I am just curious: What 5 nations are you talking about?
As far as I know Spain is 1 nation formally by the Constitution. I'm aware that there is a strong will to recognise the different historical regions as nations on it's own right, but why only 5? Surely I count at least 8-10...
He means the coat of arms on your flag maybe? Castile, León, Aragon, Granada, Navarre.
KyoGrey said:Taxus4a said:KyoGrey said:luckyboy said:Somebody know why Landa has a Spanish flag on the Sky bus while the other Basque riders have an Ikurrina?
Not 100% sure, but as to what I know, Sky prefer their leaders having their formal country flag (in this case Spain) and don't ask this formality to other riders (in this case Nieve).
Funny thing is that Landa is of course basque and proud of it (just as much as Nieve), while Nieve technically isn't, as he is from Navarra (although of course many Navarran people, mainly in the north, complement their navarran identity with a bigger basque identity).
I just wish there wasn't this type of problems and riders just had to have their respective federations flag and in case they feel that a 2nd flag represents them better, have both of them.
Hopefully, @mikelarriola sees this messages and corrects me or confirms it.
I will tell him, he was today on the last climb and he encourage Landa by telling: dai Mikel dai.
Mikelarriola is very basque, but Landa is from a part of basque country who was from the begining part of Castilla, the "true basque" were at Navarra kindong (where there was a basque part (talked baque lenguage) and a navarrian part (talked a latinian or romance lenguage) as today). It is lobg to explain. Anyway Landa ue to talk in basque, but he is not very worried about that things. The part of alava they crossed today, it is the only part of Alava where they talk basque lenguage usually. Basque people lived between river Ebro and Pyrinees, but later there went to the west, were lived celtic people: Caristios, Bardulos,...Basque people and basque lenguage influyed in the begining of Castilla and the castellano (as well called spanish), the most important Kingdom which provided the backbone of the latest Spain (who existed already as a visigothic Kingdom)
if you ask to me considering History both flags are correct for him, becouse Spain is a nation of nations and regions, we have in our shield the 5 nations which mixtured are Spain
Don't worry. I'm Spanish and I already know the history behind so there is no need to expand on it. I was just giving my 2 cents on why the flag difference.
It would be very kind of you to ask him if it is true that the team has asked him to show the spanish flag as I believe or that I'm wrong and he did it by his will.
I don't wan't to initiate a political discussion, but I am just curious: What 5 nations are you talking about?
As far as I know Spain is 1 nation formally by the Constitution. I'm aware that there is a strong will to recognise the different historical regions as nations on it's own right, but why only 5? Surely I count at least 8-10...
Valv.Piti said:I have only watched the climb the day it was ridden, but Taxus you dont get much draft if anything at 10% and above.
I think what I am trying to say is it will be remembered, Contador's ascent, but mainly because Landa wasn't allowed to go 100% from the bottom and Aru was super bad that day. But it was also one of Contador's best days, apart from the ITT, and you also have to remember that Contador (as far as I remember) did all the pulling at Aprica before Landa's attack. Or maybe Kruijswijk helped also? Either way Landa was obviously the strongest that day