Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the european scene.

[Vasilis]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Can see where your coming from there. However as we know he's not very strong at this discipline so maybe he didn't want to drain himself up the climb so he would suffer in the last few K's. It's good that he's learning to pace himself, to be fair he did a good TT for his ability. Contador was just obviously far too good on the day.

Yeah, he's not a good TTer, but that is exactly why it makes no sense to me to take it easy on the part that suited him. What were they expecting? If he had been, say, 10s behind Contador at the top, Contador would have gone full gas to the finish, did they really think they could get time back on the part that suited Contador better than Henao? Or did they think Henao would have an advantage at the intermediate point, despite not going full out?

Well, he did take back about 28 seconds in that second part, so all things considered, he did a good ride imo.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Can see where your coming from there. However as we know he's not very strong at this discipline so maybe he didn't want to drain himself up the climb so he would suffer in the last few K's. It's good that he's learning to pace himself, to be fair he did a good TT for his ability. Contador was just obviously far too good on the day.

Yeah, he's not a good TTer, but that is exactly why it makes no sense to me to take it easy on the part that suited him. What were they expecting? If he had been, say, 10s behind Contador at the top, Contador would have gone full gas to the finish, did they really think they could get time back on the part that suited Contador better than Henao? Or did they think Henao would have an advantage at the intermediate point, despite not going full out?

Either way I think Contador would have had him covered, I guess Henao was just cautious about blowing up after the climb. Perhaps he just underestimated his ability to do a really solid TT from start to finish? Perhaps even underestimating how strong Contador would be up that climb too.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Form of his life. Fleche Wallone is his to lose I think.

Easy..! Fleche is a tricky race, you need to know that race and that climb very well. He was 2nd once, but lost for not knowing where and when to attack. He was strongest rider in last year's Pais Vasco also, but nowhere in Fleche...

Checho was 7th in LFW last year, but with completely different circumstances. Fleche Wallone was only his 18th racing day in exactly 14 months, due to his broken knee and his issues with the biological passport. It was also his first race that passed the 200k barrier.

He's much stronger now, he has the experience, he's been in stellar form all season (his rivals not so much). This is his time to finally win a big one in Europe.

Persoanlly I have thrown a few bucks after Henao at 7,50. I wouldn't say he is the outright favourite, the old Spanish guys have the tendency to come out big, but as you have said, stellar year so far. But is it too early? Rodriguez seems to be timing his form brilliantly this time around and Valverde could have travelled around the world on a horseback beforehand and probably still have finished top-5. It should be a good race between those 3, I can't see anyone else challenging for realz.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Well, he did take back about 28 seconds in that second part, so all things considered, he did a good ride imo.

Yeah, but it was clear Contador did not take any risks at all. If it had been closer at the top, no way would he have taken back 28 seconds. The only way he could have won was by going all out on the climb and taking as much time as possible, but in hindsight I doubt that would have worked as Contador was just really strong. But I think that would have been the best tactic.

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Can see where your coming from there. However as we know he's not very strong at this discipline so maybe he didn't want to drain himself up the climb so he would suffer in the last few K's. It's good that he's learning to pace himself, to be fair he did a good TT for his ability. Contador was just obviously far too good on the day.

Yeah, he's not a good TTer, but that is exactly why it makes no sense to me to take it easy on the part that suited him. What were they expecting? If he had been, say, 10s behind Contador at the top, Contador would have gone full gas to the finish, did they really think they could get time back on the part that suited Contador better than Henao? Or did they think Henao would have an advantage at the intermediate point, despite not going full out?

Well, he did take back about 28 seconds in that second part, so all things considered, he did a good ride imo.

Of course he did a good ride, nobody disputes that, but had Contador not been so dominant on the climb, he would not have managed his performance as he did during the later part of TT. In fact he, Contador, said he was aware that he had an "important" margin to be able to contain his effort for the rest of the race. This means on a wet descent he was going to loose a significant part of the gain made during the climb. By contrast Henao had no choice but to take the maximum of risk and so, too, did Quintana, given the time he had to make up at the start of the TT.

Contador needed to crush it on the climb, which he did and so the rest was about staying upright and monitoring Henao.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I really dont think you can fault Henao here, LF. Contador was out of this world on the steep parts, while Quintana was formidable as well and Henao still managed to finish close, 40 seconds ahead of anyone else relevant in the GC. No matter how hard the course is, Henao will never be a good ITT'er, so I think it was an rather impressive performance by him.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I really dont think you can fault Henao here, LF. Contador was out of this world on the steep parts, while Quintana was formidable as well and Henao still managed to finish close, 40 seconds ahead of anyone else relevant in the GC. No matter how hard the course is, Henao will never be a good ITT'er, so I think it was an rather impressive performance by him.

I'm not disputing that it was a good performance. I just think that this tactic was doomed to fail, whereas the other option (go full out on the climb) had a higher chance of succeeding.

 

[Escarabajo]

The fail was playing for Landa the second day. But they didn't know back then.

Henao's TT was good. Contador and Quintana's TT were better. Nothing wrong with his TT skills. He was third. He is just not the best at it.

 

[slosada]

I agree with LaFlo
Had Henao riden the climb hard, Contador would have taken risks in the downhill. But if Henao gave a lot of time, then Contador had the luxury to chill out in a wet descent.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I agree with LaFlo
Had Henao riden the climb hard, Contador would have taken risks in the downhill. But if Henao gave a lot of time, then Contador had the luxury to chill out in a wet descent.

Exactly. Of course, it's possible that Contador still would have won even if (unlikely imo) Henao had been ahead at the top of the climb. After all, the flat at the finish was in Contador's favor, so if he had pushed it to the limit he could have taken time there. But at least Henao could have tried to defend that hypothetical lead. Of course saving energy is not necessarily a bad strategy. However, now, he lost time on the part that suited him most and tried to make it up on the part that suited Contador better than Henao. Did they expect it to be close at the top, despite Henao not going full out? Or did they think Henao could beat Contador on that 2nd part to such an extent that he could make up those losses uphill? I don't know.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Well, he did take back about 28 seconds in that second part, so all things considered, he did a good ride imo.

Yeah, but it was clear Contador did not take any risks at all. If it had been closer at the top, no way would he have taken back 28 seconds. The only way he could have won was by going all out on the climb and taking as much time as possible, but in hindsight I doubt that would have worked as Contador was just really strong. But I think that would have been the best tactic.

contador rode that descent full and besides most of the time there was the 2nd climb

 

[infeXio]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Well, he did take back about 28 seconds in that second part, so all things considered, he did a good ride imo.

Yeah, but it was clear Contador did not take any risks at all. If it had been closer at the top, no way would he have taken back 28 seconds. The only way he could have won was by going all out on the climb and taking as much time as possible, but in hindsight I doubt that would have worked as Contador was just really strong. But I think that would have been the best tactic.

contador rode that descent full and besides most of the time there was the 2nd climb

Good one

 

[jmdirt]

I'd say no.

 

[Escarabajo]

I am afraid this time he won't be as lucky. Hate to see this happen.

 

[Vasilis]

Finally some good news
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sergio-henao-cleared-by-uci-over-biological-passport-case/

 

[DNP-Old]

Bienvenido!!! Will it be in time to ride either Dauphine/Switzerland though?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Bienvenido!!! Will it be in time to ride either Dauphine/Switzerland though?

I'm guessing he'd have kept himself in half decent shape whilst suspended, he can use Suisse or the Dauphine as prep and hopefully make the Tour team this season.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Finally Henao is back He surely will make the TDF team this time.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Re: Re:

Bienvenido!!! Will it be in time to ride either Dauphine/Switzerland though?

I'm guessing he'd have kept himself in half decent shape whilst suspended, he can use Suisse or the Dauphine as prep and hopefully make the Tour team this season.

Henao has done more then keeping himself in half decent shape, he has just kept on training like he could be cleared the day after. His base level is very high so if he starts in Dauphine or Suisse (which I think he will), he will certainly be a factor as well.

 

[liamito]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Finally Henao is back He surely will make the TDF team this time.

Why? They have plenty of alternatives. He only might have a chance if Landa won't go I reckon.

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Finally Henao is back He surely will make the TDF team this time.

Why? They have plenty of alternatives. He only might have a chance if Landa won't go I reckon.

If he's in good form, he surely has a chance to make it.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Finally Henao is back He surely will make the TDF team this time.

Why? They have plenty of alternatives. He only might have a chance if Landa won't go I reckon.

They can always use a good climber that is an all rounder.

 

[liamito]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Finally Henao is back He surely will make the TDF team this time.

Why? They have plenty of alternatives. He only might have a chance if Landa won't go I reckon.

If he's in good form, he surely has a chance to make it.

I think Dave B prefers to keep it this way. If Sergio goes to the Tour they probably have to elaborate about the case.
TDF is all about Froome, no need for any unpleasant but predictable fuss.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Finally Henao is back He surely will make the TDF team this time.

Why? They have plenty of alternatives. He only might have a chance if Landa won't go I reckon.

If he's in good form, he surely has a chance to make it.

I think Dave B prefers to keep it this way. If Sergio goes to the Tour they probably have to elaborate about the case.
TDF is all about Froome, no need for any unpleasant but predictable fuss.

Suisse, Poland, Olympics and then the Vuelta would be a great schedule for him.

 

[AlexNYC]

Re: Sign here if you think Henao is a future star on the eur

Suisse, Poland, Olympics and then the Vuelta would be a great schedule for him.

Yep. He would be a top GC contenter for either TdS or Poland; whereas in the Dauphine or TdF he'd be a domestique for sure. Why would a fan of his want him at either of those races?