Rui Costa Discussion Thread

[trevim]

With this Costa snatches his 8th second place of the season, four of them in WT races. Impressive.

Dumoulin might start to fear for his place in the peloton

 

[icefire]

With this Costa snatches his 8th second place of the season, four of them in WT races. Impressive.

He's spent too many seasons learning from Master Valverde

 

[greenedge]

If only he'd gone to BMC then he could have learnt from GVA

But I think Costa has a really good chance of getting some more wins this year and although he got smashed by Gerrans in the sprint he still beat the others, after having gone on the attack multiple times. Although he is the WC I think he can be considered a real dark horse again for the upcoming RR.

 

[BigMac]

I'd call it a successful reign. Second at P-N, 3rd at Romandie, stage and overall at Suisse and second at Montréal.

Last time I checked he isn't doing Giro di Lombardia. His next and last race of the season should be Beijing. Weren't there rumours that Merida would take over lead sponsorship? Perhaps he won't have to wear pink and blue next season but green, which is always better.

 

[ILovecycling]

I'd call it a successful reign. Second at P-N, 3rd at Romandie, stage and overall at Suisse and second at Montréal.

Last time I checked he isn't doing Giro di Lombardia. His next and last race of the season should be Beijing. Weren't there rumours that Merida would take over lead sponsorship? Perhaps he won't have to wear pink and blue next season but green, which is always better.

This.Not a bad year from a world champion,otoh I think kwia will beat it next year

 

[Netserk]

I'd call it a successful reign. Second at P-N, 3rd at Romandie, stage and overall at Suisse and second at Montréal.

Last time I checked he isn't doing Giro di Lombardia. His next and last race of the season should be Beijing. Weren't there rumours that Merida would take over lead sponsorship? Perhaps he won't have to wear pink and blue next season but green, which is always better.

He did better the year leading up to his WC win than the following one.

 

[BigMac]

He did better the year leading up to his WC win than the following one.

Yes, athough that is arguable. Seems to me normal. Let's see how next season goes.

 

[BigMac]

Happy birthday Rui Alberto Faria da Costa.

 

[hayzer114]

As the former world champion how come Rui Costa doesn't have the rainbow bands on his jersey? Is it a team thing? Pozzato doesn't have the Italian bands either. Dissapointing that his achievement isn't recognized by the team.

 

[BigMac]

As the former world champion how come Rui Costa doesn't have the rainbow bands on his jersey? Is it a team thing? Pozzato doesn't have the Italian bands either. Dissapointing that his achievement isn't recognized by the team.

I think he will once the next season starts. But it's Lampre, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't.

 

[trevim]

First portuguese rider to get a podium in a monument classic! Although the talent has been there for some time now, injuries or team orders have prevented him from getting a top result with 9th in Liege the only bright spot in monuments (while working for Alejandro Valverde). The best part for me was the fact that he was quite active chasing Wellens, Sanchez or Gilbert and trying to push for himself in the final km's. That also goes to show that he's not just a wheelsucker and negative racer as some say. Now time to think about Paris-Nice and Ardennes for the next season, although there's still Beijing to go where he maybe can put himself in the WT podium (not important though and I haven't really checked the standings).

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

First portuguese rider to get a podium in a monument classic! Although the talent has been there for some time now, injuries or team orders have prevented him from getting a top result with 9th in Liege the only bright spot in monuments (while working for Alejandro Valverde). The best part for me was the fact that he was quite active chasing Wellens, Sanchez or Gilbert and trying to push for himself in the final km's. That also goes to show that he's not just a wheelsucker and negative racer as some say. Now time to think about Paris-Nice and Ardennes for the next season, although there's still Beijing to go where he maybe can put himself in the WT podium (not important though and I haven't really checked the standings).

Yes, a good race from him. Perhaps not his smartest outing (usually he is tactically ruthless), but one that shows he can mix it with the best in the hilly monuments.

I'd actually have expected him to be the guy bright enough to jump after Martin, but he may have been exhausted.

 

[trevim]

Yes, a good race from him. Perhaps not his smartest outing (usually he is tactically ruthless), but one that shows he can mix it with the best in the hilly monuments.

I'd actually have expected him to be the guy bright enough to jump after Martin, but he may have been exhausted.

Yeah and he would have Valverde right on his wheel

 

[hrotha]

Yeah and he would have Valverde right on his wheel

You give Valverde too much credit.

 

[trevim]

You give Valverde too much credit.

Indeed you're quite right, Firenze should have taught me something

 

[BigMac]

Indeed you're quite right, Firenze should have taught me something

No, he's not quite right. Not even just right. You're right. Costa was side-by-side/just behind Valverde once Dan Martin got away. If Costa tried to follow (which was already a difficult task since Dan has a great kick and distanced himself very fast) Valverde would follow him immediately. And so would the rest of the group.

 

[trevim]

No, he's not quite right. Not even just right. You're right. Costa was side-by-side/just behind Valverde once Dan Martin got away. If Costa tried to follow (which was already a difficult task since Dan has a great kick and distanced himself very fast) Valverde would follow him immediately. And so would the rest of the group.

Yeah I know that it was just a joke considering what he did in Firenze

 

[BigMac]

Regarding the stripes issue:

Costa says that for next year he will ask for stripes in the collar zone, too. Hopefully a more discrete jersey next season (one can only hope).

Yeah I know that it was just a joke considering what he did in Firenze

 

[trevim]

While some are preparing for Kilimanjaro hipster stuff, Rui Costa doing a real man's pre-season training camp, helping his parents planting onions

This was my training today: help my parents and grandparents to plant onions in the field. It's better than doing gym. If anyone wants to come, pay nothing.

 

[BigMac]

Thanks for sharing trevim. Great stuff.

 

[May0maniac]

While some are preparing for Kilimanjaro hipster stuff, Rui Costa doing a real man's pre-season training camp, helping his parents planting onions

This was my training today: help my parents and grandparents to plant onions in the field. It's better than doing gym. If anyone wants to come, pay nothing.

Great, has he said anything about the Tour or the Giro route?

 

[trevim]

For anyone who likes football and Benfica this is just awesome

http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=925875
[Don't know why the picture doesn't show up here.....]

 

[BigMac]

He is scheduled to ride Milano - San Remo. About time, I fancy his chances. He used to take this huge break after P-N and only return for Pais Vasco, doing MSR is only logical.

 

[Echoes]

You bet I agree with the last two sentences. You know me, by now.

One thing that I couldn't understand is his withdrawal from Milan-Sanremo despite being in top form after Paris-Nice, despite the fact that the race suits him and the fact he's racing as World Champion for an Italian team. Instead he watched it on his laptop in a comfortable couch! You can have bad luck on a couple of occasions but rarely on the whole season, unless with a very serious injury, which wasn't his case.

Hehe. Good news then, lol.

 

[BigMac]

You bet I agree with the last two sentences. You know me, by now.

One thing that I couldn't understand is his withdrawal from Milan-Sanremo despite being in top form after Paris-Nice, despite the fact that the race suits him and the fact he's racing as World Champion for an Italian team. Instead he watched it on his laptop in a comfortable couch! You can have bad luck on a couple of occasions but rarely on the whole season, unless with a very serious injury, which wasn't his case.

Hehe. Good news then, lol.

I immediately thought of that post of yours