Rider schedules for 2016.

[StryderHells]

Re:

Froome will start his 2016 season in the Herald Sun Tour in Melbourne, Australia - Not to be confused with the Tour Down Under which precedes the Herald Sun tour.

Must be getting paid a big appearance fee to start the year at the Sun Tour, considering how the race is funded the Victorian State Governement would have to be stumping up the $$$ for it

 

[JRanton]

Re: Re:

Should be a great fight between Nibali, Landa and Valverde. Although I have my doubts about how strong Valverde's team might be.

What makes you say that? It's pretty much impossible for Movistar to name anything but a strong/very strong team. Their squad is even more stacked than usual next year after the signings of Dani Moreno, Betancur and Oliviera.

 

[MatParker1711]

Re:

Froome will start his 2016 season in the Herald Sun Tour in Melbourne, Australia - Not to be confused with the Tour Down Under which precedes the Herald Sun tour.

Will Sky send DVP as well just so OGE won't have it all to themselves?

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Froome will start his 2016 season in the Herald Sun Tour in Melbourne, Australia - Not to be confused with the Tour Down Under which precedes the Herald Sun tour.

Must be getting paid a big appearance fee to start the year at the Sun Tour, considering how the race is funded the Victorian State Governement would have to be stumping up the $$$ for it

yeah - think an appearance fee is in the offing - Aussies dont do things in half measures when dolling out dollars.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Remember I didn't say anything about the overall GC. I think Nibali is a better GC rider who will always find an unorthodox way of winning.

But I'd still rate peak-Valverde as the 5th best climber.

Below Contador, Froome, Landa and Quintana but above Aru, Nibali, Purito and Pinot.

Nibali is a better climber than Valverde. Tour 2014 is peak Nibali. Only a peak Froome/Bertie/Nairo can stay with that Nibali, and not very easily. Nibali 2013 Vuelta was better than Valverde 2013 Vuelta, and both were pretty off form. OTOH Valverde 2013 was pretty strong in GTs, if not for the crosswind debacle, the Tour would have been good for him. bala was in better form than Nibali and still finished behind him.

If you say it is not all about the long climbs, I'd say then quintana has to go down slightly as he isn't very good on steep short climbs, worse than other GC riders.

I'm not sure that any Valverde can stay within 7 seconds of Giro 2011 Contador on the slopes of the Zoncolan.

Also: Giro 2013 and Tour 2014 weren't particularly unorthodx wins. The cobbles got Nibs circa 3:30 on peraud, 4 minutes in the mountains and TT, and he wasn't even going 100% full out.

I agree with you on a lot of it. But Nibali is even worse than Quintana on the short, steep climbs. In the Vuelta 2013 was full of those and that was where he lost the most time. Murs are and have always been Nibali's Achilles' heel. He is one of the least explosive climbers.

I think the strongest Valverde I've ever seen was Valverde this year in the Tour. He should at least be able to challenge Nibali in his 2014 form. There is no way that 2015 Valverde would have struggled against Ten Dam, König or Zubeldia as he did in the Tour last year. If we combine their current value and combine it with their results based on the last handful of seasons I think it's:

1. Froome
2. Quintana
3. Contador
4. Landa
5. Valverde
6. Nibali
7. Aru

Changing my line of arguement slightly... I agree that Nibali hasn't got very good acceleration, it's more how long he holds it for and how quickly he recovers that make him good.

However, the context of the mountain stage change how good each climber is. Nibali and Contador, for example, are the best in destructive, long mountain stages, better than Froome and Quintana and much better than Valverde and Landa. Short climbs then Bala ftw. Short mountain stages with a couple of climbs then Nairo is the best, and one climb stages then Froome all the way.

Perhaps more importantly is the way it is raced in the climb. If the pace is yo-yoing (2007 Peyragadues style, or 2015 Giro di Lombardia Civiglio style) then Contador, Quintana and Nibali are slightly better than Froome. If the pace is constant and moderate (not > 70%) the Froome has it. If it's really steel Zoncolan or Angliru style then I reckon Contador is the best. Froome's time on the Angliru 2011 was not that great, Nibali and Bala beat it 2013, so hard to say how Froome will do. Quintana should be pretty good, but likewise Zoncolan 2014 was a training ride for him. Nibali is < Contador.

It really depends on the situation. It's hard to say exactly who is the best climber. Although, having said that, I'd put Nibali ahead of Landa and Valverde. Landa is still very unproved. One good performance does not mean he'll be incredible.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Changing my line of arguement slightly... I agree that Nibali hasn't got very good acceleration, it's more how long he holds it for and how quickly he recovers that make him good.

His coach Paolo Slongo says the opposite. That after attacking he slows to a crawl and takes a lot longer to recover than others, that's his weakpoint others have exploited the last few years and he (Slongo) has mostly tried to mitigate that weakness

And just a few weeks ago Froome said the exact same thing

 

[gunara]

Re: Re:

Should be a great fight between Nibali, Landa and Valverde. Although I have my doubts about how strong Valverde's team might be.

What makes you say that? It's pretty much impossible for Movistar to name anything but a strong/very strong team. Their squad is even more stacked than usual next year after the signings of Dani Moreno, Betancur and Oliviera.

True. It's more likely for Movistar to have one of the strongest teams but with a leader that is not strong enough/not in good enough form to contend than the opposite. They don't have enough weak climbers to send a weak team to a GT.

 

[bala v]

Re: Re:

Should be a great fight between Nibali, Landa and Valverde. Although I have my doubts about how strong Valverde's team might be.

What makes you say that? It's pretty much impossible for Movistar to name anything but a strong/very strong team. Their squad is even more stacked than usual next year after the signings of Dani Moreno, Betancur and Oliviera.

True. It's more likely for Movistar to have one of the strongest teams but with a leader that is not strong enough/not in good enough form to contend than the opposite. They don't have enough weak climbers to send a weak team to a GT.

I bet their leader will be one of the strongest, he's rarely in bad shape

 

[gunara]

Re: Re:

Should be a great fight between Nibali, Landa and Valverde. Although I have my doubts about how strong Valverde's team might be.

What makes you say that? It's pretty much impossible for Movistar to name anything but a strong/very strong team. Their squad is even more stacked than usual next year after the signings of Dani Moreno, Betancur and Oliviera.

True. It's more likely for Movistar to have one of the strongest teams but with a leader that is not strong enough/not in good enough form to contend than the opposite. They don't have enough weak climbers to send a weak team to a GT.

I bet their leader will be one of the strongest, he's rarely in bad shape

I wasn't making prediction about next Giro, I was pointing which one is more likely of two possible situations (non-contending leader with strong team vs strong leader with weak team). The period between Valverde's suspension and the rise of Nairito came to mind when I posted that one.

 

[yaco]

John Trevorrow race director of the Herald-Sun tour stated no appearance fee for Froome.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

John Trevorrow race director of the Herald-Sun tour stated no appearance fee for Froome.

He might be telling the truth but I bet someone/sponsor is paying big appearance $$$ Froome to race the Sun Tour

Edit: Ah! I'm so dense! It's a newscorp sponsored race so Rupert must be stumping up some $$$ in appearance via a brown paper bag to Froome

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Changing my line of arguement slightly... I agree that Nibali hasn't got very good acceleration, it's more how long he holds it for and how quickly he recovers that make him good.

His coach Paolo Slongo says the opposite. That after attacking he slows to a crawl and takes a lot longer to recover than others, that's his weakpoint others have exploited the last few years and he (Slongo) has mostly tried to mitigate that weakness

And just a few weeks ago Froome said the exact same thing

Yeah the recovery thing is wrong, and Nibali has a pretty decent acceleration in top form. I stand by the fact he holds it for a long time, though.

 

[May0maniac]

Amador won't ride San Luis, for him the programm will be Mallorca, Stade Biance, Tirreno - Adriatico, cobbled classics, training camp at high altitude and then the Giro.
source:
http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/?page=news&cod=85041&tp=n

 

[Moviestar]

The schedule of Valverde for now

Challenge of Mallorca
Strade Bianche
Tirreno
Milan-San Remo
Dwars door Vlaanderen
E3 Harelbeke
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Ardennes Classics
GIRO
TOUR
San Sebastian
Olympics
( VUELTA?,decision will be taken after San Sebastian) Or another possibility mentioned by Valverde: GP Plouay - GP Montreal - GP du Québec
Lombardia
Worlds (?)

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

The schedule of Valverde for now

Challenge of Mallorca
Strade Bianche
Tirreno
Milan-San Remo
Dwars door Vlaanderen
E3 Harelbeke
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Ardennes Classics
GIRO
TOUR
San Sebastian
Olympics
( VUELTA?,decision will be taken after San Sebastian) Or another possibility mentioned by Valverde: GP Plouay - GP Montreal - GP du Québec
Lombardia
Worlds (?)

That's a heavy program. Is the Middle-Eastern (Dubai, Qatar, Oman) races on the schedule as well?

If he rides Roubaix, then he will ride all of the Monuments and (perhaps) all of the Grand Tours in the same season. That would be insane.

 

[Valv.Piti]

No, he literally listed all the races he will attend so far. It has been mentioned a few times that T-A will be the only stage race before the Giro. And I think Don Ale knows that he does not have anything to do in Roubaix, hopefully.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Amador won't ride San Luis, for him the programm will be Mallorca, Stade Biance, Tirreno - Adriatico, cobbled classics, training camp at high altitude and then the Giro.
source:
http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/?page=news&cod=85041&tp=n

He's in the "Bala" team

 

[MatParker1711]

Good sprint line-up forming for the TDU, Ewan, Nizzolo, Kittel & Greipel maybe plus one of Sky's should make for some good gallops.

 

[Gloin22]

TDU is hillier than ever, there's really only one sprinter stage this year and that's the last criterium..not counting the pre-race.

 

[stabbin31]

While I still think its a huge mistake to let DVP walk away only to be plucked by SKY.... It looks like Nizzolo will be part of the Trek Factory Racing Classic squad. What are people's thoughts on this? I personally feel Nizzolo is way to soft for the Northern Classics, not fast enough or tough enough to battle for major sprints.

Thoughts?

 

[Moviestar]

While I still think its a huge mistake to let DVP walk away only to be plucked by SKY.... It looks like Nizzolo will be part of the Trek Factory Racing Classic squad. What are people's thoughts on this? I personally feel Nizzolo is way to soft for the Northern Classics, not fast enough or tough enough to battle for major sprints.

Thoughts?

I agree with you. With Trek they have more cards to play in the classics like Cancellara, Felline. My mind doesn't immediately think of Nizzolo as their high card. On the transfer of DVP: if DVP himself didn't want to extend his contract with Trek, you can't blame Trek for making a mistake. And if Sky is offering a more attractive contract, the choice is easily made.

 

[Brullnux]

While I still think its a huge mistake to let DVP walk away only to be plucked by SKY.... It looks like Nizzolo will be part of the Trek Factory Racing Classic squad. What are people's thoughts on this? I personally feel Nizzolo is way to soft for the Northern Classics, not fast enough or tough enough to battle for major sprints.

Thoughts?

Nizzolo is better sprinter than Danny - Nizzolo is just quicker and his positioning is very good. DVP is better for the classics, but if Gent Wevlegem finishes in a sprint next year then I expect him to be up there of thereabouts. He is a pretty tough sprinter who can take some hills, though.

But yeah, not as good at classics as DVP.

 

[Ricco']

While I still think its a huge mistake to let DVP walk away only to be plucked by SKY.... It looks like Nizzolo will be part of the Trek Factory Racing Classic squad. What are people's thoughts on this? I personally feel Nizzolo is way to soft for the Northern Classics, not fast enough or tough enough to battle for major sprints.

Thoughts?

I agree with you. With Trek they have more cards to play in the classics like Cancellara, Felline. My mind doesn't immediately think of Nizzolo as their high card. On the transfer of DVP: if DVP himself didn't want to extend his contract with Trek, you can't blame Trek for making a mistake. And if Sky is offering a more attractive contract, the choice is easily made.

DVP said that Trek didn't talk to him about an extension, only with Boy Van Poppel.

 

[Amsterdam]

Is Paolini riding in '16? Till when is he suspended?

 

[MatParker1711]

Christian Knees will do for Landa at the giro what he did for Wiggo at the 2012 tour.