Rui Costa Discussion Thread

[Gloin22]

I heard there was a rumour of Costa going to GreenEdge.

Seems like a perfect team for him to target all one week stage races he wants plus GT if he wants. He'd only be a co-leader in Ardennes, with Gerrans .

 

[Parrulo]

I heard there was a rumour of Costa going to GreenEdge.

Seems like a perfect team for him to target all one week stage races he wants plus GT if he wants. He'd only be a co-leader in Ardennes, with Gerrans .

I hope he doesn't go to GreenEdge, i don't think that's the right team for him.

With Valverde getting old and no spanish start on the horizon he could lead Movistar in a season or two alongside Quintana!!!

 

[roundabout]

I thought he has signed for somebody else?

Or is it not even a rumor?

Or do you mean he will return in 2015 or whenever Valverde gets old?

 

[Parrulo]

The rumour is that he has a pre-deal with another team. But it comes from no reliable source so i wouldn't take it too seriously.

I hope he stays at movistar, but if he leaves, he will leave for a top team with money as his salary will probably be getting close to the 1 mil mark.

 

[trevim]

He should stay: not a lot of pressure, great support team and he can lead most of the races he want. Besides he's not focused on GT's and I hope he doesn't in the future.

 

[Parrulo]

He should stay: not a lot of pressure, great support team and he can lead most of the races he want. Besides he's not focused on GT's and I hope he doesn't in the future.

Completely agree with this.

And even if he focuses on GT's he is only 26. He has plenty of time to get a couple top 10's which i think its the best he could possibly get in a GT.

 

[canyonball]

He seems perfectly comfortable and integrated where he is. He's been getting his chances too. I think the risk of changing to a new outfit (especially one like Greenedge) outweights the advantages.

Those adavantages would be more freedom/leadership of course. If Ardennes are a serious goal for him, then there lies the question mark. At Liége being at Movistar beside Valverde was not of benefit for him.

EDIT: Oh and I almost forgot. Great ride today!

 

[maxmartin]

History repeated itself today, another fantastic ITT from Costa to snatch the ToS title. I can see an ultra strong Moviestar team battle with SKY in the Tour.

 

[movingtarget]

Impressive ride by Costa. Fully deserved victory.

 

[Afrank]

Great ride by Costa today, looks like he's peaking just at the right time. Agree with max, I can see Movistar providing strong competition for Sky at the Tour. Quintana, Rui, and Valverde will be a strong triple.

Agree that he should stay with Movistar also, he's had a lot of success with them. And with Valverde not getting any younger he'll get plenty of opportunities to lead at the races he wants to target.

 

[nick101]

is costa a GT rider tho?? I've heard people saying he's just a one week rider. regardless he climbs well and tt's well so could develop into a gt rider. He's a relative unknown for me at gts apart from the fight with barredo hehe

 

[PedalCastro]

Who will lead Movistar at the Tour?
Valverde? Quintana for KoM?
Or just let the road decide?

 

[nick101]

is costa a GT rider tho?? I've heard people saying he's just a one week rider. regardless he climbs well and tt's well so could develop into a gt rider anyway. He's a relative unknown for me at gts apart from the fight with barredo hehe

 

[Parrulo]

Who will lead Movistar at the Tour?
Valverde? Quintana for KoM?
Or just let the road decide?

Valverde will. Costa and Quintana will save themselves during the first thing and see how things go on the first mountain stages. If they perform above the expectations then they will be given freedom, if not, they will domestique for Valverde.

is costa a GT rider tho?? I've heard people saying he's just a one week rider. regardless he climbs well and tt's well so could develop into a gt rider anyway. He's a relative unknown for me at gts apart from the fight with barredo hehe

I don't think he is a GT rider, he will struggle on the real tough mountain stages imo. Although he has been getting much better on that regard and he clearly stepped up this year so you never know. A low end top 10 could be reachable.

The stage he won the year after the Barredo fight was a great. Easily outclassed TJVG and held off Vino and the Peloton on the way to super besse.

 

[Parrulo]

Movistar just posted on facebook that the baby Costa took to the podium yesterday was the baby of a couple Costa is close friends with, and the baby despite being only a little over 1 year old has been battling with cancer for months. So Costa promised them that if he won Suisse again he would take the baby to the podium with him.

And he delivered

Also portuguese eurosport says that a new deal with movistar is close and Unzue is just gathering the money from the sponsors to officialize the offer.

 

[Afrank]

Can we get the title of this thread changed to the "Just how awesome is Rui thread"?
Seriously though, very cool of him to do that. Also glad to hear signs that he will be staying with Movistar.

 

[TANK91]

Well done Rui, i hope you leave Movistar and go somewhere where you would be a leader maybe OPQS with Uran if it goes through. I mean no way will Rui have freedom in the TDF yes he may go for 1 stage but i cant see Movistar having a bad TDF, which is what Rui would need to have freedom. I think Valverde or Quintana will be off the podium but if 1 is in top 5 surely he will have to stay and help. Such a classy rider 2 TdS is some achievement. He beat a supposed big hope in the TDF TJVG, no chance TJ in this parcours. Will Rui ride Vuelta after or do the Fall classics and then ride the Worlds.

 

[PedalCastro]

I don't see Valverde in the top 5... Movistar have a strong team though

 

[nick101]

I don't see Valverde in the top 5... Movistar have a strong team though

he'll be a factor tho most likely. Could you see Quintana in top 5 then??

 

[HCl+HN03]

Dont know about Valverde. I think Vuelta suits him better. In Tour the mountain stages are long and with many climbes. In Vuelta its often just one climb in the end of the stages, and the climbs are steeper.

One cant rule him of though. But I think he will realise a top-result isnt possible back Quintana, aim for stage win and then win the Vuelta.

Quintana has a very good chance of top 5 and even challenge for the poduim.

Costa which this thread is about shall focus on helping his captains and go for stages, unless he has made a major improvment since last year.

 

[PedalCastro]

he'll be a factor tho most likely. Could you see Quintana in top 5 then??

I could see Quintana there, it depends if he has to work for Valverde though

 

[movingtarget]

Valverde. He will be their best chance of a top 5 which is a big if. The other two are improving but not this year.

 

[Somar13]

Did Rui fell?
Didn't see the stage but just saw the results and he lost 17 min?

 

[roundabout]

66th at 1 second.

 

[Parrulo]

He fell yesterday and hurt his hand a bit and got some road rash, but today he said that his hand barely hurt and he should be back to 100% in the next couple of days.

He was well positioned on the climb today so that's promising