Always one of my favourite stage races, this year will be extra interesting to follow. The whole Spanish elite will be here: Contador, Valverde, Landa, Ion Izagirre.. and interesting riders with GC-chances such as Rosa, Poels, Felline, Pinot and Oomen. Cannondale has also scheduled good climbers such as Rolland, Dombro, Carthy and Uran. Interesting team this year.
Its kinda of a weird route. The 3 first stages, especially the MTF and the time trial at stage 2 and 3, will have huge implications for the GC, while the 2 last stages in the weekend are flat affairs. Anyways, the 3 first stages should promise us a super interesting race between some of the best riders in the world. Not too bad in February, eh. Lets hope for a repeat of 2015.
Contador and Valverde are the huge favourites. Before Murcia, I would definitely have given Contador the edge, but given his performance in that race, Valverde should be favoured IMO. Contador has also been pretty vocal about not going to great in the first stages of his first stage race, probably due to Alto de Foia last year, so he won't really have time to get into rhythm. BS-alarm?
Sky have Rosa, Poels and Landa. Everyone could realistically win the race, but its relatively unlikely given who they are going up against. Poels is ever inconsistent and he is probable to have one bad day (most likely stage 1) and its Landa and Rosa's first race. All 3 of these riders have a lot to prove already know so they will be hungry.
Izagirre is probably the only rider who can match Valverde and Contador along with Pinot. Both riders will have to defend themselves at Peña del Aguila and try to smash Valverde and Contador who both are up and down in the time trials.
Finally, Coquard should be able to win at least 1 stage against this non-existent sprinter field.
Its kinda of a weird route. The 3 first stages, especially the MTF and the time trial at stage 2 and 3, will have huge implications for the GC, while the 2 last stages in the weekend are flat affairs. Anyways, the 3 first stages should promise us a super interesting race between some of the best riders in the world. Not too bad in February, eh. Lets hope for a repeat of 2015.
Contador and Valverde are the huge favourites. Before Murcia, I would definitely have given Contador the edge, but given his performance in that race, Valverde should be favoured IMO. Contador has also been pretty vocal about not going to great in the first stages of his first stage race, probably due to Alto de Foia last year, so he won't really have time to get into rhythm. BS-alarm?
Sky have Rosa, Poels and Landa. Everyone could realistically win the race, but its relatively unlikely given who they are going up against. Poels is ever inconsistent and he is probable to have one bad day (most likely stage 1) and its Landa and Rosa's first race. All 3 of these riders have a lot to prove already know so they will be hungry.
Izagirre is probably the only rider who can match Valverde and Contador along with Pinot. Both riders will have to defend themselves at Peña del Aguila and try to smash Valverde and Contador who both are up and down in the time trials.
Finally, Coquard should be able to win at least 1 stage against this non-existent sprinter field.
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