Tirreno-Adriatico 2019, March 13-19

[armchairclimber]

If Gaviria had the brains to match his power, he'd win a lot more.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Stage

GC (no change)

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

When was a last time a breakaway has won a flat stage in a WT race? It seems like it's been years.

Binckbank Tour last year springs to mind. It even happened twice.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

If Gaviria had the brains to match his power, he'd win a lot more.

It was Consonni who messed up here.

 

[armchairclimber]

Re: Re:

If Gaviria had the brains to match his power, he'd win a lot more.

It was Consonni who messed up here.

He did, but trying to go between Sagan and Viviani instead of up the outside was just folly, given that he clearly had the gas.

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

I don't understand all the comparisons to Valverde. He's just not nearly good enough in the high mountains to warrant that comparison. He's much more similar to Bettini in my opinion.

Agree. In his earlier days, Bettini was a very decent climber, similar to Alaphilippe, maybe Julian is better (based on last year's TdF, maybe). On the other hand, Bettini would mix it up later in his career on regular sprint finishes against the likes of Petacchi and McEwan. Its a tough one - maybe its more in between. His climbing ability to compared to the hilly stuff is probably best compared to a rider like Boogerd, but they are obviously vastly different riders.

But other than Boogerd he has the smarts to finish it off when he is clearly the strongest.
I will never forget the moment when Terpstra said that Boogerd knows better than anyone else how to finish second. :lol:

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Too easy for Quick Step........

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

If Gaviria had the brains to match his power, he'd win a lot more.

It was Consonni who messed up here.

He did, but trying to go between Sagan and Viviani instead of up the outside was just folly, given that he clearly had the gas.

That was a mistake, yes, but I doubt it would have mattered for the win. There wasn’t enough road left after the turn to contest for the victory. You had to be in first or second place after the turn and Consonni going after Oss and whoever the other guy was messed up UAE’s positioning.

 

[Nirvana]

Re:

I don't understand all the comparisons to Valverde. He's just not nearly good enough in the high mountains to warrant that comparison. He's much more similar to Bettini in my opinion.

Bettini before deciding to focus on classics was able to finish 7th in the Giro and that despite working for Bartoli until stage 15 after which Bartoli cracked badly giving him free reign. Nowadays with the bigger focus on stage races there is compared to 20 years ago I think Bettini would have been a regular in top ten of GTs like Valverde is.

I don't think Alaphilippe can came close to a top ten in a Giro, probably was closer to him Bartoli that was never able to survive high mouintains and snatched his only top 10 in a GT in a very easy Vuelta in which he still cracked in the only real mountain stage, in weeklong stage races was more consistent but Alaphilippe could still improve. Bartoli was also a good time trialist like Alaphilippe (something that Bettini wasn't) and close to him also as sprinting whereas Bettini was way faster and able to win or podium in bunch sprints when he wanted.
Well Bartoli was very good also on the cobbles but in that Alaphilippe is yet to be tested so we don't know if he can compete for a Ronde but also Bettini put on very good showing in support of Boonen.

 

[Nirvana]

Some interesting things I've heard from Magrini in the last two days:

*On Wednesday he spoke with Sagan that told to him that during his last training camp has lost four kilos but he didn't specified if he was fat before or he wants to return close to his former self. I hope the second because I loved the rider he was until 2015 and I've always thought was a shame he put on weight.

*Sky DS Tosatto told to him after yesterday stage that Moscon is suffering from the multiple crashes in UAE and they decided to pull him out because he felt totally empty and unable to put down power with his legs, he'll rest in the next days at home to see if he could be recovered for the next classics.

*After yesterday stage he also spoke with Slongo to know about Nibali and the answer was that was pretty angry after the stage for his form and because he's not able to fight for the Tirreno. I think he asked that because at the EurosportCiclismo hashtag there were a lot of fans complaining about the fact that Nibali needs months to go in shape, apparently also Nibali is not happy with that but Magrini says that is normal with age and also for Froome is the same, only Valverde that is a phenomenon can be always in shape at later age.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

I don't understand all the comparisons to Valverde. He's just not nearly good enough in the high mountains to warrant that comparison. He's much more similar to Bettini in my opinion.

Bettini before deciding to focus on classics was able to finish 7th in the Giro and that despite working for Bartoli until stage 15 after which Bartoli cracked badly giving him free reign. Nowadays with the bigger focus on stage races there is compared to 20 years ago I think Bettini would have been a regular in top ten of GTs like Valverde is.

I don't think Alaphilippe can came close to a top ten in a Giro, probably was closer to him Bartoli that was never able to survive high mouintains and snatched his only top 10 in a GT in a very easy Vuelta in which he still cracked in the only real mountain stage, in weeklong stage races was more consistent but Alaphilippe could still improve. Bartoli was also a good time trialist like Alaphilippe (something that Bettini wasn't) and close to him also as sprinting whereas Bettini was way faster and able to win or podium in bunch sprints when he wanted.
Well Bartoli was very good also on the cobbles but in that Alaphilippe is yet to be tested so we don't know if he can compete for a Ronde but also Bettini put on very good showing in support of Boonen.

I think if Alaphilippe shifts focus on GT racing, he could finish in the top 10 just like Bettini, but that's about it. And I do think they are quite similar in riding style, with Bettini being a little faster and a little more successful
And no Bettini couldn't been like Valverde in GT's. He could've snitch couple of more top 10's, but that's light years away of Valverde's achievements in GT's.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

16,5 km to go tomorrow, Fuglsang drops the hammer.

 

[Robert5091]

Viviani proves again that QS can even win a scrappy sprint - good to see Sagan coming back to form.

Saturday's stage 4 finish should be interesting -

Hope Nibs is in good form to give it a go.

 

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

I don't understand all the comparisons to Valverde. He's just not nearly good enough in the high mountains to warrant that comparison. He's much more similar to Bettini in my opinion.

Bettini before deciding to focus on classics was able to finish 7th in the Giro and that despite working for Bartoli until stage 15 after which Bartoli cracked badly giving him free reign. Nowadays with the bigger focus on stage races there is compared to 20 years ago I think Bettini would have been a regular in top ten of GTs like Valverde is.

I don't think Alaphilippe can came close to a top ten in a Giro, probably was closer to him Bartoli that was never able to survive high mouintains and snatched his only top 10 in a GT in a very easy Vuelta in which he still cracked in the only real mountain stage, in weeklong stage races was more consistent but Alaphilippe could still improve. Bartoli was also a good time trialist like Alaphilippe (something that Bettini wasn't) and close to him also as sprinting whereas Bettini was way faster and able to win or podium in bunch sprints when he wanted.
Well Bartoli was very good also on the cobbles but in that Alaphilippe is yet to be tested so we don't know if he can compete for a Ronde but also Bettini put on very good showing in support of Boonen.

I think if Alaphilippe shifts focus on GT racing, he could finish in the top 10 just like Bettini, but that's about it. And I do think they are quite similar in riding style, with Bettini being a little faster and a little more successful
And no Bettini couldn't been like Valverde in GT's. He could've snitch couple of more top 10's, but that's light years away of Valverde's achievements in GT's.

If there is a video available watch the stage of Pampeago in that Giro, he was 24, at his second year as pro, catapulted in the role of the leader after working for two weeks for his designated captain, I think that saying that with a focus on GTs he would have been a regular in the top 10 is the minimum, and that considering the routes of late 90s/early 00s, nowadays Tours with ridiculous TT mileage and juniors mountain stage and easy Vueltas with one real mountain stage would have been even better for him.

Also for Boogerd that was cited before could have been the same, the only time he seriously tried he ended 5th in the Tour, even if we should note that the 1998 Tour was affected by abandons due to clinic reasons.

At the moment Alaphilippe hasn't show any signs in GTs and he regularly cracks even in weeklong stage races when the climbing is more than a certain amount, like I said some days ago a GT for him should be only hills and not too hard medium mountains with at maximum some monoclimb MTF not too long.

As for the riding style he reminds me more Voeckler with all his movements on the bike and his gesticulations, he only lack the facial expressions to be identical

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

I don't understand all the comparisons to Valverde. He's just not nearly good enough in the high mountains to warrant that comparison. He's much more similar to Bettini in my opinion.

Bettini before deciding to focus on classics was able to finish 7th in the Giro and that despite working for Bartoli until stage 15 after which Bartoli cracked badly giving him free reign. Nowadays with the bigger focus on stage races there is compared to 20 years ago I think Bettini would have been a regular in top ten of GTs like Valverde is.

I don't think Alaphilippe can came close to a top ten in a Giro, probably was closer to him Bartoli that was never able to survive high mouintains and snatched his only top 10 in a GT in a very easy Vuelta in which he still cracked in the only real mountain stage, in weeklong stage races was more consistent but Alaphilippe could still improve. Bartoli was also a good time trialist like Alaphilippe (something that Bettini wasn't) and close to him also as sprinting whereas Bettini was way faster and able to win or podium in bunch sprints when he wanted.
Well Bartoli was very good also on the cobbles but in that Alaphilippe is yet to be tested so we don't know if he can compete for a Ronde but also Bettini put on very good showing in support of Boonen.

I think if Alaphilippe shifts focus on GT racing, he could finish in the top 10 just like Bettini, but that's about it. And I do think they are quite similar in riding style, with Bettini being a little faster and a little more successful
And no Bettini couldn't been like Valverde in GT's. He could've snitch couple of more top 10's, but that's light years away of Valverde's achievements in GT's.

I think the reason for the Alaphilippe comparisons to Valverde is more because when he first showed up he reminded many of us of a young Valverde. However, even at that point it was evident he wasn't as good of a climber as Valverde is. I agree with others that the best Alaphilippe could hope for riding for GC in a GT would be a top 10 and likely the Vuelta would be his best hope for that. Even that is questionable as he has blown up on mountain stages of one week races in the past. If nothing else this past Worlds again showed that Alaphilippe doesn't have the climbing ability of Valverde as he was dropped by the group of Valverde, Bardet, Woods and Moscon.

 

[Tonton]

Alaf is more of a Jalabert than a Valverde, something in between actually, Balaphilippe was catchy, and he lost to The Don, looking like the heir. Still, when you are compared with a big time winner time and time again, you don't suck. Julian is a beast, his record so far is huge and there is more to come.

This TA sucks from a design standpoint. Not even a Terminillo, nothing. Puke...

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

I don't understand all the comparisons to Valverde. He's just not nearly good enough in the high mountains to warrant that comparison. He's much more similar to Bettini in my opinion.

Bettini before deciding to focus on classics was able to finish 7th in the Giro and that despite working for Bartoli until stage 15 after which Bartoli cracked badly giving him free reign. Nowadays with the bigger focus on stage races there is compared to 20 years ago I think Bettini would have been a regular in top ten of GTs like Valverde is.

I don't think Alaphilippe can came close to a top ten in a Giro, probably was closer to him Bartoli that was never able to survive high mouintains and snatched his only top 10 in a GT in a very easy Vuelta in which he still cracked in the only real mountain stage, in weeklong stage races was more consistent but Alaphilippe could still improve. Bartoli was also a good time trialist like Alaphilippe (something that Bettini wasn't) and close to him also as sprinting whereas Bettini was way faster and able to win or podium in bunch sprints when he wanted.
Well Bartoli was very good also on the cobbles but in that Alaphilippe is yet to be tested so we don't know if he can compete for a Ronde but also Bettini put on very good showing in support of Boonen.

I think if Alaphilippe shifts focus on GT racing, he could finish in the top 10 just like Bettini, but that's about it. And I do think they are quite similar in riding style, with Bettini being a little faster and a little more successful
And no Bettini couldn't been like Valverde in GT's. He could've snitch couple of more top 10's, but that's light years away of Valverde's achievements in GT's.

If there is a video available watch the stage of Pampeago in that Giro, he was 24, at his second year as pro, catapulted in the role of the leader after working for two weeks for his designated captain, I think that saying that with a focus on GTs he would have been a regular in the top 10 is the minimum, and that considering the routes of late 90s/early 00s, nowadays Tours with ridiculous TT mileage and juniors mountain stage and easy Vueltas with one real mountain stage would have been even better for him.

Also for Boogerd that was cited before could have been the same, the only time he seriously tried he ended 5th in the Tour, even if we should note that the 1998 Tour was affected by abandons due to clinic reasons.

At the moment Alaphilippe hasn't show any signs in GTs and he regularly cracks even in weeklong stage races when the climbing is more than a certain amount, like I said some days ago a GT for him should be only hills and not too hard medium mountains with at maximum some monoclimb MTF not too long.

As for the riding style he reminds me more Voeckler with all his movements on the bike and his gesticulations, he only lack the facial expressions to be identical

I watched Bettini back then, I'm not that young, and I stand by that what I said. if he had a GT potential, he would've showed that in more occasions beside that Giro. There were riders back then also who targeted and were successful in both classics and GT's, like Jalabert, Vinokourov, Di Luca, etc.

 

[Anderis]

Nans Peters (AG2R), Mirco Maestri (Bardiani), Marcus Burghardt (Bora-hansgrohe), Joey Rosskopf (CCC), Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy), Luis Mas (Movistar), Giovanni Visconti (Nerri Sottoli), Jenthe Biermans (Katusha-Alpecin), Robert Power (Sunweb) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo).
Some good engines in the break.

 

[ciranda]

Alaf is more of a Jalabert than a Valverde, something in between actually, Balaphilippe was catchy, and he lost to The Don, looking like the heir. Still, when you are compared with a big time winner time and time again, you don't suck. Julian is a beast, his record so far is huge and there is more to come.

This TA sucks from a design standpoint. Not even a Terminillo, nothing. Puke...

That is sort of saying that Alaphilippe is a less strong Valverde because Ale has surpassed Jalabert around ten years ago. The Bettini comparison is correct for me too, like Bettini Alaf has endless energy and can always dominate courses with no real mountains or too much pavé.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Now live on ES http://www.sdw-net.me/channels/British-Eurosport2.html
and RaiSport

 

[wouterkaas]

Geraint Thomas abandon, apparently. Any info on why?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Geraint Thomas abandon, apparently. Any info on why?

Stomach problems apparently

 

[Valv.Piti]

Probably still hungover from last July. Will be interesting if this will be a case of Wiggo-2013.

 

[Pharazon]

literally just turned in to my first cycling coverage of the year, only to hear Carlton *** Kirby laugh at one of his own unfunny jokes...

wish i didn't have to watch 1/2 these races on mute

 

[Parker]

Re:

Geraint Thomas abandon, apparently. Any info on why?

He’s probably pulled a sickie so he can watch the rugby