Tirreno-Adriatico, March 7-13, 2.UWT

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Gav seems almost as accident prone as Cav

Almost? Cav is like Sagan compared to Gaviria. The latter can't complete two sprints without crashing out.

How about a dutch GC-contender then?

crash ability is through the roof on those

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Damn, no MSR. Well, I guess that simplifies things for QS.

With sickness for a bunch of the PN sprinters, it probably also means that Sagan is confident in a sprint. It'll be interesting to see if Kwiatkowski initiates an attack on Poggio, as he this year doesn't have a sprinter on his team, or if he'll follow moves or tries to sprint himself. So far, I think it points to a fierce pace on the climbs, but controlled in the end and a 20-30 men big bunch sprint.

 

[staubsauger]

Normally I'm not in for the Sagan hype, but dammit... That was one impressive safe!

 

[Brullnux]

Small thing but I find it annoying when the points clasdification is skewed by intermediate sprints. I respect breakaway riders and appreciate that they may feel undervalued, but I think it would be better to just have a seperate competition and jersey for that.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Damn, no MSR. Well, I guess that simplifies things for QS.

With sickness for a bunch of the PN sprinters, it probably also means that Sagan is confident in a sprint. It'll be interesting to see if Kwiatkowski initiates an attack on Poggio, as he this year doesn't have a sprinter on his team, or if he'll follow moves or tries to sprint himself. So far, I think it points to a fierce pace on the climbs, but controlled in the end and a 20-30 men big bunch sprint.

Kwiatkowski really has a chance in sprint only if a small group arrives. With 15-20 riders arriving together he has no chance imo. Sagan will be there for sure and he can't beat him in that kind of sprint. Maybe couple of other faster riders too, like Matthews, Cort, etc. His best chance is if the group splits to pieces on top of the Poggio, and his best ally could be one from last year, Alaphilippe. But nevertheless I have a feeling Sagan is not going to let him win this year. Someone else may win, but he I don't think so.

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

Damn, no MSR. Well, I guess that simplifies things for QS.

With sickness for a bunch of the PN sprinters, it probably also means that Sagan is confident in a sprint. It'll be interesting to see if Kwiatkowski initiates an attack on Poggio, as he this year doesn't have a sprinter on his team, or if he'll follow moves or tries to sprint himself. So far, I think it points to a fierce pace on the climbs, but controlled in the end and a 20-30 men big bunch sprint.

Kwiatkowski really has a chance in sprint only if a small group arrives. With 15-20 riders arriving together he has no chance imo. Sagan will be there for sure and he can't beat him in that kind of sprint. Maybe couple of other faster riders too, like Matthews, Cort, etc. His best chance is if the group splits to pieces on top of the Poggio, and his best ally could be one from last year, Alaphilippe. But nevertheless I have a feeling Sagan is not going to let him win this year. Someone else may win, but he I don't think so.

He's beaten Matthews in that type of sprint before.

 

[Netserk]

Matthews is out as well. It's Kristoff, Demare and Viviani as the fastest sprinters. Main problem for Sagan is that it is only Oss he can count on after Poggio.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Re:

Small thing but I find it annoying when the points clasdification is skewed by intermediate sprints. I respect breakaway riders and appreciate that they may feel undervalued, but I think it would be better to just have a seperate competition and jersey for that.

Some races do that, but what jersey would you drop? I believe that only 4 category leader jerseys are allowed.

Intermediate points contribute in nearly all stage races, although the balance here is admittedly less weighted towards stage finishes.

If Sagan is the one to miss out on the points classification on account of it, he has the consolation of 5 Tour Green Jerseys won largely through intermediate points.

 

[Netserk]

I actually think Sagan won all those competition by more than what he gained over his opponents in the intermediate sprints. And I don't think the racing at the end of the stages would have changed favourably for his opponents if the intermediate sprints wouldn't count.

As for jerseys, I'd get rid of the white jersey without batting an eyelid.

 

[Laplaz]

You think Caruso has a chance tomorrow to win the GC? I wouldn't rule it out completely.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Small thing but I find it annoying when the points clasdification is skewed by intermediate sprints. I respect breakaway riders and appreciate that they may feel undervalued, but I think it would be better to just have a seperate competition and jersey for that.

Some races do that, but what jersey would you drop? I believe that only 4 category leader jerseys are allowed.

Intermediate points contribute in nearly all stage races, although the balance here is admittedly less weighted towards stage finishes.

If Sagan is the one to miss out on the points classification on account of it, he has the consolation of 5 Tour Green Jerseys won largely through intermediate points.

White jersey, but my point is more generally: what is the actual point of intermediate sprints? Rewarding breakaways, fine, but in my mind the points clasdification is for best stage finishes, not sprints in the middle of a state. I understand that they occasionally light up some transitional stage when a sprinter infiltrates a break, but they can still do that and have a stage finish.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

You think Caruso has a chance tomorrow to win the GC? I wouldn't rule it out completely.

He has beaten Kwiatkowski the past two years with enough time to win the race (as the standings are now). I think Kwiatkowski will win the GC but it's far from a foregone conclusion.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Re:

You think Caruso has a chance tomorrow to win the GC? I wouldn't rule it out completely.

Only if something goes badly wrong for Kwiatkowski, which can never be ruled out. Last year, on the same ITT, Caruso gained 4 seconds on Kwiatkowski, but defending the lead is very different as a motivation from defending 27th place.
Caruso should do better than last year (for the same reasons of motivation), but it would be an enormous surprise (to me at least) if he beats MK on the day, accidents excepted.

But 1000/1 seems extraordinarily generous.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

@Redhead Dane:
Sometimes your constant desire to be funny is a bit tiresome, sorry to say. And I'm Danish and should actually understand the humor...

(Armchairclimber clearly tried to be funny him/herself)

And you automatically presume that all Danes must have the same sense of humour?

Ehm.....no.

But when trying so hard to make funny remarks (which I think some of them are, but you try too hard IMO), you in this case blatantly missed a fellow posters try to do the same.

Apparently ToS find it funny, but my opinion respectfully matters as well. I would have told a person IRL the same, if I had to endure his/her company a lot. Nothing disrespectful, just stating my opinion (and you've been called out at least once earlier to my recollection)

How am I to know whether or not Armchairclimber owns a Citroën DS? Or calls his wife his "DS"? Or if there even is a model of the Citroën brand called a DS? Or whether Armchairclimber even has a wife?

I basically went; "Oh, he was talking about his car, now I feel silly for presuming he was referring to his wife... Hang on! His car was thinking?"

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

Matthews is out as well. It's Kristoff, Demare and Viviani as the fastest sprinters. Main problem for Sagan is that it is only Oss he can count on after Poggio.

Greipel has been climbing quite well the past weeks. I wonder if he has a chance.

But 1000/1 seems extraordinarily generous.

Eh? What is this?

 

[armchairclimber]

Re: Re:

@Redhead Dane:
Sometimes your constant desire to be funny is a bit tiresome, sorry to say. And I'm Danish and should actually understand the humor...

(Armchairclimber clearly tried to be funny him/herself)

And you automatically presume that all Danes must have the same sense of humour?

Ehm.....no.

But when trying so hard to make funny remarks (which I think some of them are, but you try too hard IMO), you in this case blatantly missed a fellow posters try to do the same.

Apparently ToS find it funny, but my opinion respectfully matters as well. I would have told a person IRL the same, if I had to endure his/her company a lot. Nothing disrespectful, just stating my opinion (and you've been called out at least once earlier to my recollection)

How am I to know whether or not Armchairclimber owns a Citroën DS? Or calls his wife his "DS"? Or if there even is a model of the Citroën brand called a DS? Or whether Armchairclimber even has a wife?

I basically went; "Oh, he was talking about his car, now I feel silly for presuming he was referring to his wife... Hang on! His car was thinking?"

Chill mateys. My initial comment was me being an armchairDS as opposed to climber. I was offering my inexpert advice to quickstep. They should have listened... Jungels did monster work that he could have put into a break instead of leading the line for his hapless sprinter.

I picked up and ran with the RedHeadDane line about DS being my wife... DS on the Citroën actually meant Goddess.

I admit that this was obtuse rather than funny. Citroën SM might have been funnier... But probably only to me.

Anyway, jokey Danes are fine by me.

 

[search]

Re: Re:

Matthews is out as well. It's Kristoff, Demare and Viviani as the fastest sprinters. Main problem for Sagan is that it is only Oss he can count on after Poggio.

Greipel has been climbing quite well the past weeks. I wonder if he has a chance.

But 1000/1 seems extraordinarily generous.

Eh? What is this?

a mistake by oddscheckers. Or with Betfair's Api. Those odds don't exist

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

André is losing pure speed but gaining in strenght, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls off a Cipo

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

Matthews is out as well. It's Kristoff, Demare and Viviani as the fastest sprinters. Main problem for Sagan is that it is only Oss he can count on after Poggio.

Christophe Laporte will outciolek all of them.

 

[Valv.Piti]

That looks like a kinda sad field for MSR honestly. So gutted that Gaviria misses out, but you gotta stay on your bike, thats a big part of cycling. Its not him being unlucky at this point...

 

[portugal11]

sagan is now the big favourite to win milan san remo. he just needs to wait for the sprint

 

[Netserk]

Re:

That looks like a kinda sad field for MSR honestly. So gutted that Gaviria misses out, but you gotta stay on your bike, thats a big part of cycling. Its not him being unlucky at this point...

This time, it's 100% his fault, just like MSR '16. Do you know if Argentina was a misfortune or his own fault as well?

 

[Robert5091]

10 km ITT - wide straight roads, chance of some drizzle - G or maybe Dennis.

 

[liamito]

Re:

10 km ITT - wide straight roads, chance of some drizzle - G or maybe Dennis.

1. AUS DENNIS Rohan BMC 11'18"
2. NED VAN EMDEN Jos TLJ 03"
3. AUS HEPBURN Michael ORS 03"
4. GBR CUMMINGS Stephen DDD 08"
5. SLO ROGLIC Primoz TLJ 11"
6. POL BODNAR Maciej BOH 15"
7. NOR BOASSON HAGEN Edvald DDD 15"
8. GBR THOMAS Geraint SKY 16"

Why should it be different this year?

 

[yaco]

This is Dennis ITT to lose.