No no, we want them to go through the first week with calamities (in the form of time loss), so they have to go crazy in the mountains.
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Maaaaaaaarten said:No no, we want them to go through the first week with calamities (in the form of time loss), so they have to go crazy in the mountains.
Gigs_98 said:I see two reasons why one shouldn't get too excited about Movistar's tdf team next year.
1. What effectively derails the sky train is not an attack by one rider. Sky will have the manpower to bring every move from far out back, as long as the attacker doesn't end up in a big group where many riders ride for him. Said differently, either your name has to be Alberto Contador and you ride the last mountain stage of your career, or you need teammates in front. Since Movistar starts with three leaders, and not one leader with two superb mountain domestiques, who will be the teammate in front who then pulls the rider who attacked? I can neither see Landa working for Quintana nor the other way around. Maybe Valverde will work for a teammate but probably only if he is far behind in the general classification (and I honestly think Valverde is least likely to lose a lot of time in the first week)
This Movistar tactic with 3 leaders could maybe work against a weak rival, but probably not against sky.
2. Movistar isn't exactly known for its aggressive style of racing. Quintana lost the tdf 2015 because he didn't have the balls to attack early and because his team was too keen on protecting the third place of a teammate, something that could absolutely happen again this year. Ofc next year Landa will also join the fun, which could make a difference, but how big will it be? He can ignore team orders but that would only cause solo moves which are doomed against the sky train. If Movistar wants to do damage by riding aggressively they have to do it as a unit and I'm not convinced that will happen.
portugal11 said:movistar must win the tour... without froome and dumoulin, anything less than a win is a complete disaster.
Yeah thats not too bad. Sutterlin can also mix it up, but neither of them can really do well in the flat sprints at this level. I think Fernandez will go well early, he has something to prove right now after last year. I don't really expect anything from Soler, he should go more calm about things at the moment. I reckon he would like to do well in Catalunya tho, so maybe he is already thinking about that. Still looking forward to which GT he will race.Koronin said:They have announced their line up for the Tour Down Under: Fernandez, Barbero, Soler, Oliveira, Bico, Sütterlin, Castrillo. I'm guessing Barbero for the sprints and Fernandez and Soler for GC. Castrillo is going to get to go to a race right away.
Valv.Piti said:Yeah thats not too bad. Sutterlin can also mix it up, but neither of them can really do well in the flat sprints at this level. I think Fernandez will go well early, he has something to prove right now after last year. I don't really expect anything from Soler, he should go more calm about things at the moment. I reckon he would like to do well in Catalunya tho, so maybe he is already thinking about that. Still looking forward to which GT he will race.Koronin said:They have announced their line up for the Tour Down Under: Fernandez, Barbero, Soler, Oliveira, Bico, Sütterlin, Castrillo. I'm guessing Barbero for the sprints and Fernandez and Soler for GC. Castrillo is going to get to go to a race right away.
Nirvana said:Amador already confirmed (a couple of weeks ago) that he'll ride the Giro but in that interview said that he'll go as support for one leader.
He also said that he'll lead the team at Strade Bianche and Ronde.
Asero831 said:Nirvana said:Amador already confirmed (a couple of weeks ago) that he'll ride the Giro but in that interview said that he'll go as support for one leader.
He also said that he'll lead the team at Strade Bianche and Ronde.
No Valverde in Strade Bianche? He is not riding PN or TA so he should be in SB
In 3 out of the last 4 editions, they have either sent Quintana or Valverde and the year they didn't, Amador got 4th. That means 1st, 4th, 3rd and 2nd, in that order, the last four Giri.......yaco said:It's like the Giro doesn't exist in the eyes of MovieStar.
Valv.Piti said:In 3 out of the last 4 editions, they have either sent Quintana or Valverde and the year they didn't, Amador got 4th. That means 1st, 4th, 3rd and 2nd, in that order, the last four Giri.......yaco said:It's like the Giro doesn't exist in the eyes of MovieStar.
I presume they will be all in to protect Quintana. Valverde should probably be able to handle himself. Which just leaves Landa - who could lose out big I fear.portugal11 said:the cobbled stage will be crucial for movistar. They have 5 riders to protect 3 riders and some of them will be climbers domestiques. I smell chaos in that team
portugal11 said:the cobbled stage will be crucial for movistar. They have 5 riders to protect 3 riders and some of them will be climbers domestiques. I smell chaos in that team