Ruta del Sol 2017

[Lexman]

Re:

Your majesty, there still TT specialists
Great for Belgian cycling

happy for Campenaerts indeed

a long time since Jean-Luc VDB...

 

[SafeBet]

Last stage could be entertaining, even if flattish.

 

[DFA123]

Very nice TT - obviously apart from Izagirre. Hilly enough and technical enough that it was a proper race despite being short

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

We still have a fight!

Two sprint days to come.

With a 1 second gap and Alberto Contador, you never know.

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

We still have a fight!

Two sprint days to come.

Maybe Valverde can participate and extend lead a bit.

No time bonuses and Hofland, Coquard & Felline.

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

Your majesty, there still TT specialists
Great for Belgian cycling

Can someone who beats Valverde by 1 second be called a TT specialist?

 

[Rollthedice]

Ruta Ciclista del Valverde.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Sad that Ion crashed and that Contador doesn't have any terrain available to challenge Valverde. Thats a real bummer for the race.

But Valverde leads the race, so I wont complain.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

We still have a fight!

Two sprint days to come.

With a 1 second gap and Alberto Contador, you never know.

Think one of the SKy riders might have more of a chance of doing something; although they don't really do tactics so perhaps not. I imagine Valverde will be watching Contador like a hawk, but may let someone else slip away.

 

[inacion]

The 5 riders I vote on procyclingstats finish top 10, not bad...
I'm sad for what happen to Izaguirre, hope that isn't nothing serious and he comeback to competition quickly.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Your majesty, there still TT specialists
Great for Belgian cycling

Can someone who beats Valverde by 1 second be called a TT specialist?

Lol. If Campenaerts isn't a specialist when beating Valverde by 1 second, I wonder what Vasili Kiriyenka is then.

 

[perico]

Wouldn't be surprised to see them recheck the times. It looked as though Contador was about a second quicker than he was credited on the clock, but maybe it was just the angle I saw.

 

[Red Rick]

You can't predict Contador being 2nd after the major GC stages, but it seems there's absolutely no terrain to attack. I don't see Contador trying on flat roads.

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

Your majesty, there still TT specialists
Great for Belgian cycling

Can someone who beats Valverde by 1 second be called a TT specialist?

Lol. If Campenaerts isn't a specialist when beating Valverde by 1 second, I wonder what Vasili Kiriyenka is then.

Taking it easy?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Your majesty, there still TT specialists
Great for Belgian cycling

Can someone who beats Valverde by 1 second be called a TT specialist?

Lol. If Campenaerts isn't a specialist when beating Valverde by 1 second, I wonder what Vasili Kiriyenka is then.

Taking it easy?

Why would he take it easy?

 

[del1962]

Strange prize for Campenaerts

 

[Red Rick]

Kiriyenka is a TT'ist, but he's one for long TT's, not the short ones.

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

Your majesty, there still TT specialists
Great for Belgian cycling

Can someone who beats Valverde by 1 second be called a TT specialist?

Lol. If Campenaerts isn't a specialist when beating Valverde by 1 second, I wonder what Vasili Kiriyenka is then.

Taking it easy?

Why would he take it easy?

Early season nothing race used as training? Has a specific plan to work to? Who knows, there are many, many reasons that cyclists don't give their all in every race.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Your majesty, there still TT specialists
Great for Belgian cycling

Can someone who beats Valverde by 1 second be called a TT specialist?

Lol. If Campenaerts isn't a specialist when beating Valverde by 1 second, I wonder what Vasili Kiriyenka is then.

Indeed. If the Belgian National TT Champion, who beats Valverde (twice previous winner of TT in this race), Kiryienka (recent WC), Contador (two TT wins last year) and several others, then you'd have to be a bit of an idiot not to call him a specialist.

 

[King Boonen]

Yeah, that 26th place in the WCTT behind Cummings is a brilliant result...

 

[Valv.Piti]

Thats just stupid, KB. Kiriyenka obviously went all out, its not like he finished 70th or something like that. On top of that, the two GC-stages are done and dusted, so the slight possibility of Sky wanting to hold him back in order to dig in for his leaders in the mountains are gone. He might not be in 100% shape, but stop pretending like he didn't race for the win or at least as fast he possibly could. If nothing else then to gauge is form. As a TT-specialist, you only have this many opportunities every year. Using the 12 km time trial as a mere workout? Lol.

Anyways, the premis is pretty ridiculous anyways. If you don't want to call Campenaerts a specialist, well, then not many are.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Why is there a discussion about this? Campenaerts is renown for his TT ability.

 

[Velolover2]

Valverde is a specialist at everything.

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

Thats just stupid, KB. Kiriyenka obviously went all out, its not like he finished 70th or something like that. On top of that, the two GC-stages are done and dusted, so the slight possibility of Sky wanting to hold him back in order to dig in for his leaders in the mountains are gone. He might not be in 100% shape, but stop pretending like he didn't race for the win or at least as fast he possibly could. If nothing else then to gauge is form. As a TT-specialist, you only have this many opportunities every year. Using the 12 km time trial as a mere workout? Lol.

Anyways, the premis is pretty ridiculous anyways. If you don't want to call Campenaerts a specialist, well, then not many are.

I'm sorry, I did not realise you are Kiri's wife/coach.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Kiriyenka is a TT'ist, but he's one for long TT's, not the short ones.

Semantics, that really wasn't the point.