Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[Cookster15]

Re: Re:

Ahh I think Porte will still be behind Contador after the TT and there's no way he'll drop him... it's not looking so good for richie imo.

I'm not so sure Flo, if Porte continues to follow the Sky models of Wiggins 2012 and Froome 2013 he is going to go nuclear in this very long TT.

Not sure about Nuclear - but I judge his TT form by how he has ridden back to AC and Aru's wheels so far when they have attacked each other. They way he easily rode back to their wheels suggests he is set for a strong TT. Also the few times he attacked so far seemed more like testing himself and the competition (e.g. AC's shoulder) without expending too much energy than any genuine attempt to drop them.

Lets see what Richie can do when he does not need to conserve anything

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

Ahh I think Porte will still be behind Contador after the TT and there's no way he'll drop him... it's not looking so good for richie imo.

I'm not so sure Flo, if Porte continues to follow the Sky models of Wiggins 2012 and Froome 2013 he is going to go nuclear in this very long TT.

I'm sure Porte will be quietly pleased by Aru's actions in the sprint, it just adds a tiny bit more spice to the mix and perhaps next time Contador won't be on the same page as Aru.

Last time they both a similar TT course to this at somewhat peak form Porte put around a minute into Contador.

 

[rm7]

Why is it that people are saying Contador have used more energy than Porte? He haven't used that much more. Contador have attacked ONCE, where Porte also used energy to chase him down. Other than that, Contador have only followed Aru's wheel, just like Porte.

The only one who have showed all his cards and used a lot of energy is Aru. He should be saving himself a little more for the 3rd week, because the climbs haven't been hard enough yet. I know he needs time for the ITT, but if the climbs aren't that hard, he will just waste energy instead of doing a attack 30k out in the 3rd week.

Porte really needs König, Nieve and Kiriyenka to up their game in the 3rd week. Right now it looks like one Aru/Contador attack and he is isolated.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

If he manages to avoid his bad day, ARu will have huge problems with grabbing the 2nd place from him in this giro. Still convinced that AC will take this quite fortably

 

[Jelantik]

Maybe that's why they keep Landa close at hand. Today's stage, as a domestique he wasn't even riding up front when they crested the summit as he should be if he is just a domestique. He seems to save himself to keep his GC position close. (team order).

Porte spends as much as energy as Contador. Aru is the one that has wasted energy with unfruitful attack. The only one who hasn't spend that much energy is "the rest of sky team.". Whether that's true or not, we'll see in the third week. But base on history, it's just not possible if the rest of sky team is that mediocre (unless they knackered after winning all season). Maybe Brailsford emerges as the new tactical genius

 

[The_Cheech]

Re:

Well his attacks doesn't look that strong at all. Maybe he is not going allout, but he surely wouldn't attack with limited power?

It's not about how strong the attack is, it's about following it up.

I love Ritchie's ability to just pace himself and eventually catch up the likes of Contador, making the Spaniard's furious attack seem like a waste of time.

 

[movingtarget]

Porte looked more pressured than Contador yesterday especially with Landa's last attack. He does not have the acceleration of the other three but get's back in his own time which is more sensible anyway. Uran's race could be over before the TT if he keeps dropping time. I thought Contador looked good yesterday. Landa is doing a great job for Aru.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

Well his attacks doesn't look that strong at all. Maybe he is not going allout, but he surely wouldn't attack with limited power?

It's not about how strong the attack is, it's about following it up.

I love Ritchie's ability to just pace himself and eventually catch up the likes of Contador, making the Spaniard's furious attack seem like a waste of time.

Indeed. If the climb is long enough, the best climber wins. It's not about accelerations then but who's actually able to sustain the highest average pace for 20-30 minutes.

A furious attack like Contador's can only work if he can then climb quicker than his competitors after he slows down to sustainable pace. Or if opponents that are not as capable of doing hard anerobic bursts foolishly try to respond all the time and blow up.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Well his attacks doesn't look that strong at all. Maybe he is not going allout, but he surely wouldn't attack with limited power?

It's not about how strong the attack is, it's about following it up.

I love Ritchie's ability to just pace himself and eventually catch up the likes of Contador, making the Spaniard's furious attack seem like a waste of time.

Indeed. If the climb is long enough, the best climber wins. It's not about accelerations then but who's actually able to sustain the highest average pace for 20-30 minutes.

A furious attack like Contador's can only work if he can then climb quicker than his competitors after he slows down to sustainable pace. Or if opponents that are not as capable of doing hard anerobic bursts foolishly try to respond all the time and blow up.

agreed. So far Contador's attack on Abetone, isn't long enough (maybe not yet), he can't sustained after the attack plus gradient isn't hard too. Until that happen, Porte can keep reeling everyone easily. Brailsfort even said that Porte hasn't been put in red at all following the attacks all week long. That should tell how his form is. I thought stage 9 was hard gradient. But contador decided to ride conservatively.

Up until now, I still think Porte has big chance to win it. I considered him dangerous until the ITT result. Not that I don't believe in Contador. In the past, Sky has reputation to make one year magic wonder w/ wiggins & froome before. And with long ITT and Porte hasn't lost that much time, is like watching wiggin's GT winning recipe de-javu all over. ITT is going to be crucial on how Porte's Giro will unfold. Because I don't see him dropping eiher Contador or Aru in high mountain.

 

[sir fly]

I'm surprised a bit with Sky's level of confidence in Porte's time trial performance. No one can be sure in gaining time on Contador, and even less in gaining substantial time.

 

[Jancouver]

Is this the Porte's RV?

http://john.catholicws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DSC_0286.jpg

https://7b7157f59fb5914df25d-83ec9b...kcdn.com/119d914bdf0a5f5175e24bf30150a2ea.jpg

 

[Christian]

Re:

Is this the Porte's RV?

http://john.catholicws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DSC_0286.jpg

https://7b7157f59fb5914df25d-83ec9b...kcdn.com/119d914bdf0a5f5175e24bf30150a2ea.jpg

I just read the article on the front page of cyclingnews, I had no idea Porte was staying in an RV. First I thought it was just a small caravan but then when you see the picture of the thing, it looks pretty huge. I'm sure it has all the comforts. Just kinda weird sleeping all by yourself in a parking lot somewhere - do they have someone stay close to him or is everyone sound asleep in the hotel while someone breaks into the driver's cabin of Porte's rolling bedroom and drives him all the way to Sicily during the night so he can't start the next day? Eh, in that case Sky would still have the helicopter to go pick him up and get him to the start line in time.

 

[Beech Mtn]

I don't see how they think this guarantees a good night's sleep. Do they have a guard sitting outside all night to make sure no crazed, drunken Porte fans, or people who hate Sky, or employees of Oleg, etc, etc don't stand around and knock on the windows, or play music, or just generally be loud and annoying at 3 in the morning?

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

I don't see how they think this guarantees a good night's sleep. Do they have a guard sitting outside all night to make sure no crazed, drunken Porte fans, or people who hate Sky, or employees of Oleg, etc, etc don't stand around and knock on the windows, or play music, or just generally be loud and annoying at 3 in the morning?

If Richie wins this Giro then forget the RV, it's all thanks to the helicopter

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Last time they both a similar TT course to this at somewhat peak form Porte put around a minute into Contador.

Interesting that you noted Porte was at "somewhat peak form" but ignored Contador's form at that time

 

[MatParker117]

Re:

I don't see how they think this guarantees a good night's sleep. Do they have a guard sitting outside all night to make sure no crazed, drunken Porte fans, or people who hate Sky, or employees of Oleg, etc, etc don't stand around and knock on the windows, or play music, or just generally be loud and annoying at 3 in the morning?

I imagine it's soundproof

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

Is this the Porte's RV?

http://john.catholicws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DSC_0286.jpg

https://7b7157f59fb5914df25d-83ec9b...kcdn.com/119d914bdf0a5f5175e24bf30150a2ea.jpg

I just read the article on the front page of cyclingnews, I had no idea Porte was staying in an RV. First I thought it was just a small caravan but then when you see the picture of the thing, it looks pretty huge. I'm sure it has all the comforts. Just kinda weird sleeping all by yourself in a parking lot somewhere - do they have someone stay close to him or is everyone sound asleep in the hotel while someone breaks into the driver's cabin of Porte's rolling bedroom and drives him all the way to Sicily during the night so he can't start the next day? Eh, in that case Sky would still have the helicopter to go pick him up and get him to the start line in time.

Looks like you didn't read the article...

 

[wwabbit]

Re:

I'm surprised a bit with Sky's level of confidence in Porte's time trial performance. No one can be sure in gaining time on Contador, and even less in gaining substantial time.

They are confident that the ITT represent's Porte's best chance of taking time on Contador, not that Porte will take time on Contador.

 

[SeriousSam]

Don't know how seriously riders take the aussie tt or what the course was like, but Richie did beat Rohan dennis there. He also won the col d'eze tt and has generally been riding at a higher level than ever, and has been following the Wiggo 12 and Froomy 13 path thus far. He is the favourite for the time trial and if he has an exceptional day and Contador a poor one, that's how he can win the Giro.

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

I don't see how they think this guarantees a good night's sleep. Do they have a guard sitting outside all night to make sure no crazed, drunken Porte fans, or people who hate Sky, or employees of Oleg, etc, etc don't stand around and knock on the windows, or play music, or just generally be loud and annoying at 3 in the morning?

How deep you must hate Sky to stay awake until 3 AM and then head to a parking lot to make some noise?
I mean, people have lives even in Italy.

And this is assuming there are many people actually knowing about this whole RV story, which is not the case anyway.

 

[The_Cheech]

Re: Re:

Indeed. If the climb is long enough, the best climber wins. It's not about accelerations then but who's actually able to sustain the highest average pace for 20-30 minutes.

A furious attack like Contador's can only work if he can then climb quicker than his competitors after he slows down to sustainable pace. Or if opponents that are not as capable of doing hard anerobic bursts foolishly try to respond all the time and blow up.

And that is the reason other riders are taking the fight to Alberto nowadays, because they know that after the initial burst, he rides at a slower pace, so it's easy to reel him back.

It's all mental I think. The riders, like Porte, who choose not to match the Spaniards' (or Froome's, although for other reasons) fast accelerations and rather slowly pull him back are slowly getting to Contador. He seems like a fish out of water whenever he puts in a futile balistic attack and can't gain a single second. However, Alberto is the real deal, and he seems to have come up with a plan b, which consists of letting the others do the attacking and then go from 1k out, gaining 10 seconds here and there.

If Ritchie can put a minute on AC in the ITT and then suck wheel, he can take this Giro.

 

[SeriousSam]

Unless Richie (and Aru) has taken a big step forward and is now climbing as well as the Big 4, Contador in good shape should be able to MTT quicker and hence drop him for real, but just with a last km sprint like w Froome. No one was slowly getting back to Contador and Froome at the Vuelta, they were slowly falling behind and finished a minute back.

If Richie really has reached that level of climbing, the Tour will surely be the last time he will ever be a dom for anyone.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

lol @ porte losing nearly a minute today. he also looked terrible in the pursuit

can cycling get any better than this??

 

[Red Rick]

lol @ porte losing nearly a minute today. he also looked terrible in the pursuit

can cycling get any better than this??

Barely, I found today's stage very satisfying to watch

 

[SeriousSam]

Man Porte is unlucky. The only reason he's a minute down in GC isn't because he isn't strong enough but because his team sucked in the TTT and because he had an unlucky mechanical.

Guess it will be back to slaving for the Dawg next year.