Paris-Nice '12: Stage 1 Dampierre-en-Yvelines - Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (ITT), 9,4 k

[cineteq]

I haven't, but I have read his interviews.

You're sharp, the best fangirl/fanboy in this forum bar none!!! LOL!!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

I've never met Voeckler either but I know he's a bit of a t*at anyway.

Yeah sometimes it's just obvious.

 

[Lanark]

I don't understand you guys inflating Wiggins chances, the only challenge for Valverde will be Leipheimer. Both of them have had an excellent start of the season thus far. Wiggins just started riding, by the time he gets to the final TT he will be at least 1 minute down in GC.

What do you mean, just started riding? Leipheimer had 7 race days in january, Wiggins 5 is february. And after today's performance, I really don't know how anyone could doubt that he is in really good shape.

 

[theyoungest]

As for Valverde in mountain time trials, it's perhaps worth noting:
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=8660

Yes. It's also worth noting that Valverde got 5th in the flat TT in that Vuelta as well. Don't kid yourself, his TTing is not at that level yet. Wiggins will crush him, as will Leipheimer.

 

[Andy99]

 

[Havetts]

Larsson has a tattoo there.. O_O

 

[DominicDecoco]

**** me, Tommeke is in some form for April isn't he.

 

[cineteq]

What do you mean, just started riding? Leipheimer had 7 race days in january, Wiggins 5 is february. And after today's performance, I really don't know how anyone could doubt that he is in really good shape.

Yup his form after 9km is pretty good, 1000km+ later he will not be in position to challenge the GC for the last TT.

 

[Richeypen]

Larsson has a tattoo there.. O_O

Reminded me of this

 

[Red Rick]

But surely that doesn't explain the huge gap. He's out of shape, let's face it.

Big fan being realistic,+1

 

[LaFlorecita]

Reminded me of this

Lol how would it feel to get a tattoo on THAT.

 

[roundabout]

Wiggins can only lose it himself. Today was a slight setback when he lost time because of the weather, but I expect him to be significantly faster than the rest next Sunday.

 

[Frosty]

Taaramäe wrote in his blog:

Our team tactics were surperb. Many TT specialists like Martin and Wiggins made a mistake by starting late. Our team's forecast predict that it will rain later on so I swapped my position with Tristan Valentin and in the end it was the right decision. I really don't understand how big teams made such mistake.

Maybe Wiggins has memories of 2010 when he went early to avoid the rain - only to find that the rain came early.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jul/03/tour-de-france-2010-bradley-wiggins

 

[krismtb]

Impressive by Wiggins. Both he and Levi appear to be on form, a bit early perhaps but only time will tell.

As for Martin, it doesn't matter really. No sense in taking chances in an early race, his team will need him up front to break wind (ha) for Levi and co. later in the season.

 

[MartinGT]

Great ride by Wiggins.

 

[phanatic]

Andy seems to have the same form he had in the 2010 Tour Prologue. He may be peaking too soon.

 

[Richeypen]

andy seems to have the same form he had in the 2010 tour prologue. He may be peaking too soon.

:d




.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Impressive by Wiggins. Both he and Levi appear to be on form, a bit early perhaps but only time will tell.

Yeah, we'll see how Levi's form form S. America shows here.

May be a bit early. But in perspective, a comparison to Bertie's results (yeah i kno '10 Tour doesn't count now, but...): 2010 Nice 1st overall, 2010 Tour (1st DQ'd), 2009 Nice 4th overall, 2009 Tour 1st overall. So it's possible to do well at Nice and not be fried by July.

 

[AntonioRossi]

Andy seems to have the same form he had in the 2010 Tour Prologue. He may be peaking too soon.

+1. Again his supposed TT work does not show his progress at all with the result he got today. Maybe he is just fooling everyone and will be a monster TT'er at le tour

 

[alexcta]

ddddddddddddddddddd

 

[Bavarianrider]

Ahhh, looking at those pics already hurts

 

[El Pistolero]

Good fight his chances of defending his title.

Anyway...

Real winner of the day: Gustav Larsson
Moral winner of the day: Bradley Wiggins
Loser of the day: Alejandro Valverde

 

[burning]

I think Martin is the loser of the day

edit: Completely forgot about that he rode on rain but he was outclassed by Wiggins

 

[jens_attacks]

i'd expect sky scientists to know better when is gonna rain.
i think levi will drop wiggins on mende.can't wait to see tom boonen hammering on the front the first hundreds of meters
valverde is the only one who can beat levi no doubt,but he has to win at least three stages.difficult mission

 

[El Pistolero]

i'd expect sky scientists to know better when is gonna rain.
i think levi will drop wiggins on mende.can't wait to see tom boonen hammering on the front the first hundreds of meters
valverde is the only one who can beat levi no doubt,but he has to win at least three stages.difficult mission

I can see him win on Mende, but I'd be surprised if he still managed to win the overall now. I think it's going to be a battle between Wiggo and Leipheimer. Don't think I've ever seen a one on one battle between 2 wheelsuckers