Rigoberto Uran discussion thread.

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

Managed to hold Froome's wheel today.

What a great story it would be if he can somehow ride into yellow and hold onto it

Uran is the dark horse, not many are talking about him. He was untouchable in the 2014 Giro TT, if he has rediscovered that form it could be very interesting!

I'm certain it has more to do with materials rather than form. He has been climbing extremely well all year long, but his CRI's were crap. Ever since he left Quick-Step and their Specializeds, his CRI has been going downhill.

Thanks. Sorry for my ignorance but what is "CRI"? I did a quick google, that came up with a bunch of (I think) unrelated medical terms? If CRI relates to his bike or positioning I find it a bit hard to believe that a pro team would not make quick changes to equipment if this is the difference between Uran 2014 and Uran 2017?

CRI = contrarreloj individual, translating to individual timetrial.

Materials these days make a huge difference though, make no mistake. FDJ (Lapierre) and Lotto Jumbo (Bianchi) are good examples. Suddenly their entire team consists of elite timetrialists. Or, from an individual standpoint, take a look at Ion Izagirre at Movistar and Ion Izagirre at Bahrein. Difference of day and night. Landa is another good example from an individual standpoint. He has become really acceptable at Sky in no less than two years.

 

[fauniera]

Re: Re:

The question today is does Uran still have the ability to TT as he did then. Why not, in 2014 he was just 27 and logically improving at that age he is also climbing the best I have seen him since 2014 in a GT. But Rigoberto is now 30 and should be into his peak years physiologically.

Rigo was 95th in the opening time trial of this Tour. I'm sure he will do a lot better on stage 20 because it comes after three weeks of racing and has a hill in it, but repeating the 2014 time trials is out of the question, i'm afraid. He also had a really bad time trial in the Basque Country this year, where he was climbing very well. Vaughters also recently hinted that there were problems with the material.

 

[barmaher]

Was there any explanation for such a poor time trial in Düsseldorf? Did he have a minor hiccup, ride conservatively or did he just suck?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

Was there any explanation for such a poor time trial in Düsseldorf? Did he have a minor hiccup, ride conservatively or did he just suck?

http://www.procyclingstats.com/rider.php?id=Rigoberto_Uran_Results&year=&sort=date&race=&racetype%5B%5D=3&topx=&inttt=0&nr_results=100&ApplyFilter=Filter
He's not really shining in TTs since last year but it was worse.

 

[ZigZagged]

I don't think much at all can be gleaned from Düsseldorf- a short TT in the rain is too much about luck. He has to have about a minute over Froome going into the final TT, but he's better than the other GC guys. He really does need Rolland and Talansky to step up in the Alps if capable, though- needs to save every bit of energy he can.

 

[Escarabajo]

His poor TT is due to something else rather than form. Not in Uran's case. He has been climbing superb in the last year. Check it out.

So I agree with DNP-Old in that respect.

His poor TT at the 1st stage of this Tour can be explained easily. Just like the other poor TT times that day. Not many risks and weather. Not even sure why the question about that one.

Time trials has been a discipline in which many riders, not just Uran, have been very inconsistent in the last few years. Don't ask me why!!

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

Managed to hold Froome's wheel today.

What a great story it would be if he can somehow ride into yellow and hold onto it

Uran is the dark horse, not many are talking about him. He was untouchable in the 2014 Giro TT, if he has rediscovered that form it could be very interesting!

His 2014 giro's performance (in the time trial) is way overrated... that time trial was very hilly and had zero time trialists. Froome and contador would have put a minute on uran

The 2014 Giro TT was not particularly hilly and even a declining Cadel Evans was a "time trialist". Uran won that TT by 1.17 from Ulissi and 1.34 from Evans. Quintana, the eventual Giro victor was at 2.14.

The question today is does Uran still have the ability to TT as he did then. Why not, in 2014 he was just 27 and logically improving at that age he is also climbing the best I have seen him since 2014 in a GT. But Rigoberto is now 30 and should be into his peak years physiologically. Froome is obviously not in 2013 form so he can be vulnerable.

Evans was awful in that giro and ulissi isn't a specialist at all. His second place in the vuelta (he was third but cance was penalized) was more impressive

 

[jmdirt]

Can his TT issues be the bike? What else changed?

 

[nedhill]

Re:

Can his TT issues be the bike? What else changed?

Let's hope his team members (Talanasky, Rolland), get over whatever sickness they caught. Same could apply to Bevin, or his foot is still hurting him from the time trial crash.

For some riders, a fast time trial is dependent on maximum pain. Hard to replicate it, unless the outcome is completely worthwhile.

Specialized has their own wind tunnel - which helps optimize position and power and TT bike each year. A bike that works for you wouldn't work for me -even if I wasn't a couch potato.

A lot of racing left, much too early to be worrying about the TT.

 

[SafeBet]

I feel less and less crazy as the days go by.
He's sharp and very focused. I sense a big attack coming on the way to Galibier.

 

[davebqvst]

Uran looking so strong, effortlessly following every attack. Was he dropped a single time when the road went uphill so far this Tour?
And, more importantly, when will he finally attack?

 

[Gloin22]

Re:

Uran looking so strong, effortlessly following every attack. Was he dropped a single time when the road went uphill so far this Tour?
And, more importantly, when will he finally attack?

Never? He hasn't got a contract, and doing what he is doing now got him in a good spot.

I think podium for him will be more important than having 1% chance of winning Tour with some attack but possible blowing thereafter

It's great to see him doing so well, hes quite likeable rider

 

[Escarabajo]

I think he is fixated on the Podium. And knowing JV I know that he values the podium a lot.

Bardet does not have the will, Uran does not have the interest to win but the podium, Aru will probably fade away some, Just like Martin too, and the rest seem to be too far out. I think this is it!!!!

 

[jmdirt]

RU needs to look at the racers' bible and pick a few spots to make moves. If he could gain 10 seconds a couple of times, plus a time bonus or two, a la TdF victory is possible without risking a spot on the box (assuming he has a solid TT as well of course).

 

[AlexNYC]

This Tour is so close, he could conceivably win it without having to attack.

 

[portugal11]

I don't know how he is anyone cheering for uran. This guy, who has a awful time trial, doesn't attack

 

[Frankschleck]

Re:

I don't know how he is anyone cheering for uran. This guy, who has a awful time trial, doesn't attack

like him or not, he's the guy with the best chance to beat froome, and i think most of us want to see froome beat. Uran attakcked the gc group on the day barguil won as well so he attacks sometimes.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Was there any explanation for such a poor time trial in Düsseldorf? Did he have a minor hiccup, ride conservatively or did he just suck?

He has sucked in TT's last year. However the first TT is a bad reference for most riders who didn't want to risk anything. It is hard to tell.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

I don't know how he is anyone cheering for uran. This guy, who has a awful time trial, doesn't attack

Huh, so you don't like Quintana, Chaves and Uran now.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

I don't know how he is anyone cheering for uran. This guy, who has a awful time trial, doesn't attack

Huh, so you don't like Quintana, Chaves and Uran now.

I love chaves... he is the most adorable rider in the peloton

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Uran did attack a couple of times, but usually on the downhill / flat. Not on the climb itself. I think he was pretty much on the limit there. So it makes sense he doesn't go on the attack there. Too afraid to blow and lose all hope.

 

[Frankschleck]

Re:

Uran did attack a couple of times, but usually on the downhill / flat. Not on the climb itself. I think he was pretty much on the limit there. So it makes sense he doesn't go on the attack there. Too afraid to blow and lose all hope.

yeah agreed, but in my personal opinion then uran is the only of the 4 main gc contenders not to look in trouble on any of the climbs, so don't really understand why he doesn't try.

Aru looked troubled the last 2 days
Froome on the stage bardet won
Bardet looked almost dropped on a stage, don't quite remember which one.

so he should try to attack on the climbs.

 

[Escarabajo]

I think him and Bardet look the strongest now. Oh well and Landa as well, but he is being controlled. Not sure how things will go after the rest day but I have said before Uran is thinking podium and might not want to risk it unless he sees a clear opportunity.

 

[gospina]

This was from an article today regarding the 1st stage:
"his concentration was rattled when the UCI commissaires decided that his TT handlebar position didn’t conform to the setup regulations five minutes before his start time.

According to Uran and Vaughters, a different commissiare had green-lighted it two hours beforehand. The team was left with insufficient time to change the position of the bars, and so he had to quickly change to a spare bike. That affected his TT and he lost 49 seconds to the stage winner Geraint Thomas."

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

I think him and Bardet look the strongest now. Oh well and Landa as well, but he is being controlled. Not sure how things will go after the rest day but I have said before Uran is thinking podium and might not want to risk it unless he sees a clear opportunity.

I think he's waiting for the MTF and TT. He has probably used less energy on attacks than anyone else in the top 6. He is riding well but I am yet to be convinced he will be able to ride away from Aru, Bardet and Froome on the climb but a win bonus from a sprint will be very handy and Dan Martin will be thinking the same.