Saturday, june 16th - Tour de Suisse, stage 8: Bischofszell - Arosa 148km

[Lanark]

Look up the meaning of the word "naive".

And the meaning of the word excuse. Everyone though Gesink did a great time-trial yesterday, there's nothing he has to excuse himself about. Now he thinks he could have done better, you can call that perfectionism or arrogance, but an excuse or naivity it's certainly not.

 

[Bobby G]

Really looking forward to seeing Gesinks form today. After a decent ride yesterday seems he could've overcome the altitude training. Think the gradient may vary a bit too much for him to win today, but think he should (hopefully) top 5.

 

[theyoungest]

From the profile, those 3 steep kilometers seem a bit like Mende. That's a climb which suits the Valverde, Fränk Schleck-types more than Gesink. So we'll see.

 

[Parrulo]

lol just watched the 5 minutes highlights of nbc's coverage and seems like phill and bob were the only guys expecting Costa to lose his jersey yesterday . . .

anyway what is a better option for Costa today in case he is put under pressure on those step 3k? avoiding going into the red and regain contact if dropped on the flat or just try to hang on on the steep part with everything he has?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Rui Costa for the win!

 

[Parrulo]

well if gesink and schleck don't manage to drop him, he is certainly much faster in a sprint.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Rui Costa for the win!

Let's hope so.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

lol just watched the 5 minutes highlights of nbc's coverage and seems like phill and bob were the only guys expecting Costa to lose his jersey yesterday . . .

anyway what is a better option for Costa today in case he is put under pressure on those step 3k? avoiding going into the red and regain contact if dropped on the flat or just try to hang on on the steep part with everything he has?

He has Valverde. Just relax and stay behind Valverde. Valv. can then close the gap on the flat bit.

well if gesink and schleck don't manage to drop him, he is certainly much faster in a sprint.

Gesink is not exactly a slouch in an uphill sprint after a hard stage mind you. Valverde is certainly faster. But Costa? Dunno.

 

[Trofinios]

I believe we will see Nordhaug try something today (or tomorrow). Wouldn't be surprised if also Gadret, Cunego, Nieve or CAS go on attack on the last climb.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

lol just watched the 5 minutes highlights of nbc's coverage and seems like phill and bob were the only guys expecting Costa to lose his jersey yesterday . . .

anyway what is a better option for Costa today in case he is put under pressure on those step 3k? avoiding going into the red and regain contact if dropped on the flat or just try to hang on on the steep part with everything he has?

Rui's got 50 seconds in hand. The Sörenberg finish isn't really steep enough to dislodge him unless he's lost it already on Glaubenberg. No need to go too far into the red here, let the race come to him, use Valverde as insurance against the others getting the time bonuses if at all possible.

Hell, let the break go and take it if possible. Make Rabobank and Radioshack chase if they want the time bonuses.

 

[norwegian]

I believe we will see Nordhaug try something today (or tomorrow).

I hope so.

 

[Parrulo]

He has Valverde. Just relax and stay behind Valverde. Valv. can then close the gap on the flat bit.



Gesink is not exactly a slouch in an uphill sprint after a hard stage mind you. Valverde is certainly faster. But Costa? Dunno.

i think costa's sprint on the flat which is what the last 3k are, is certainly better then gesinks, he is not piti but still a better then gesink imo.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

i think costa's sprint on the flat which is what the last 3k are, is certainly better then gesinks, he is not piti but still a better then gesink imo.

Except it's not flat, it's still 4/5% (it looks like flat on the profile but it's still very much uphill)

Also, the final 300m of Emilia and the final km of Quebec are also flat/very slightly uphill. Look at the sprints Gesink pulled there, especially Quebec 2010 (almost outsprinted Hagen lol)

Just saying. Don't underestimate it.

 

[Kwibus]

To be honest I don't expect Gesink to blast away all of the sudden. He will have a hard time hanging on with the best again. Let's hope he can proof me wrong.

Costa will probably win the TdS since the stage and final climb ain't hard enough and besides that he showed to be strongest so far.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

To be honest I don't expect Gesink to blast away all of the sudden. He will have a hard time hanging on with the best again. Let's hope he can proof me wrong.

Costa will probably win the TdS since the stage and final climb ain't hard enough and besides that he showed to be strongest so far.

He will. He will certainly not be the same as Verbier if that is really what you are expecting. Keep saying it's just like the Dauphine 2011. **** in the first few days from altitude. Decent in the final weekend.
I don't think he will be good enough to attack or get seconds back either. That will be more for a guy like F. Schleck. But he certainly won't be as bad as on Verbier.
His climb on the Pfannenstiel more or less already proved that

 

[Trofinios]

Costa isn't a skinny climber so logically steeper climbs above 8-9 % should suit him less good. Today, the final climb is relatively short so he shouldn't lose too much if he gets into problem.

The crucial test will be tomorrow. Eight days of racing in their legs and now a 216k long stage with some fairly tough climbs, especially Glaubenberg. This climb have two steeper sections, each around 3k at 10%. Costa could suffer here and get dropped, and if that's the case it will be important for him that Valverde is in shape and can help him limit the time loss on the climb and work for on the flatter sections before the climb up to Sörenberg. If Gesink is starting to respond to the altitude training I could see him putting pressure on Costa on Glaubenberg.

 

[Parrulo]

phill and bob are pure comedy gold, downloaded yesterday's coverage from cyclingtorrents and my favorite pearls were:

" Rui Costa has been bad on the time trials during his career"

"he is doing the ride of his life today and tomorrow we go back to his terrain" - talking about costa

oh and top one: "if he keeps riding like these he will have to be considered one of the favorites for the tour" talking about costa again

 

[Parrulo]

Costa isn't a skinny climber so logically steeper climbs above 8-9 % should suit him less good. Today, the final climb is relatively short so he shouldn't lose too much if he gets into problem.

The crucial test will be tomorrow. Eight days of racing in their legs and now a 216k long stage with some fairly tough climbs, especially Glaubenberg. This climb have two steeper sections, each around 3k at 10%. Costa could suffer here and get dropped, and if that's the case it will be important for him that Valverde is in shape and can help him limit the time loss on the climb and work for on the flatter sections before the climb up to Sörenberg. If Gesink is starting to respond to the altitude training I could see him putting pressure on Costa on Glaubenberg.

i doubt they will race from so far out tomorrow, but even if they drop costa on the Glaubenberg which seems to be a proper mountain, they will have to put some decent time on costa there because on the descent with the help of piti he could regain contact and the next climb doesn't seem to hard.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

phill and bob are pure comedy gold, downloaded yesterday's coverage from cyclingtorrents and my favorite pearls were:

" Rui Costa has been bad on the time trials during his career"

"he is doing the ride of his life today and tomorrow we go back to his terrain" - talking about costa

oh and top one: "if he keeps riding like these he will have to be considered one of the favorites for the tour" talking about costa again

yeah those guys have no idea what they are talking about

also funny how they keep calling Kreuziger an excellent ITT specialist.

 

[theyoungest]

Dekker_T, you'll be happy to hear that your idol is in the breakaway. So are Velits, Albasini, and Cusin.

 

[hatcher]

Nice breakaway group, none of whom are a threat to the overall. Got a chance.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He's the weakest in the lead group though.

But nice that he at least tries something. You get better from attacking then from sitting in the bunch every ****ing stage.
Good prep. for Tour of Pologne and Vuelta I guess

 

[Trofinios]

i doubt they will race from so far out tomorrow, but even if they drop costa on the Glaubenberg which seems to be a proper mountain, they will have to put some decent time on costa there because on the descent with the help of piti he could regain contact and the next climb doesn't seem to hard.

Well, if they want to win they have to race from so far out, hoping to break, or drop and isolate Costa. Where else can they gain 50 seconds? Today? Nope. On Sörenberg? Nope. Glaubenberg is where they must try. Sure, it won't be easy, Costa seems strong and Valverde seems in decent shape to be there for Costa if he needs help.

Still, as I see it, Glaubenberg is where you have to do something if you're aiming to win Tour de Suisse.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

In my opinion only a hunger knock or an amazing Fränk Schleck can possibly stop Costa.

 

[norwegian]

In my opinion only a hunger knock or an amazing Fränk Schleck can possibly stop Costa.

Let`s hope it is Frank then.