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

[del1962]

Re: Re:

Normally I would say Kwiatek should win it easily with ITT on final stage and after switching priorities in Sky.
But after some bad luck (Poels, Thomas) it can't be sure.

Sure, but it certainly looks like he will win despite him having been slaving away for Thomas the past few days. Which would be the second stage race he steals from him this season

Especially if he can get bonus seconds tomorrow, he will be the huge favourite.

So, it will be the second stage race he wins without even wanting to win. Imagine what happens if he targets a race.

Like Strade?

 

[Gigs_98]

I really don't get the course designers of this race. Tirreno Adriatico had possibly the best stage in a one week stage race of both the 2013 and the 2014 season but instead of trying to replicate these great stages what they did to the successful stage formulas was throwing one of them into the Tirreno and the other one in the Adriatico so the only thing we are left with are uninspired TT's, one kilometer of action on muritos, and a mtf without significant climbs before it. 2013 and 2014 were two of the most memorable stage races in recent history, but ever since this race for me stands for uninteresting routes, predictable racing and crucially, the race whose results I check after finishing watching Paris-Nice.

 

[Red Rick]

I really don't get the course designers of this race. Tirreno Adriatico had possibly the best stage in a one week stage race of both the 2013 and the 2014 season but instead of trying to replicate these great stages what they did to the successful stage formulas was throwing one of them into the Tirreno and the other one in the Adriatico so the only thing we are left with are uninspired TT's, one kilometer of action on muritos, and a mtf without significant climbs before it. 2013 and 2014 were two of the most memorable stage races in recent history, but ever since this race for me stands for uninteresting routes, predictable racing and crucially, the race whose results I check after finishing watching Paris-Nice.

Pretty much this. The last few editions have been really formulaic with one true Murito, one uphill sprint, one MTF, and the TTs.

If it were up to me, I would keep the murito finish, but at least put down a big climb before that, I would have the MTF be selective but short enough that it doesn't decide the race, I would cram in one stage like the Porto Sant'Elpidio, though I would concentrate the toughest part at 30-20km from the finish. Rolling uphill sprint can stay, so I'd ditch the first TTT for a flat stage so you keep the two sprints for the MSR crowd and then I'd make the final ITT a bit longer.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Landa's win must've made Nairo really happy.

Nairo's wins were far far more impressive though.

Well I rate this one today as quite impressive. He attacked from the group of favorites, bridged to the front group, drive that group almost single handedly, and out sprinted that same group. That's impressive by my standards...

Very Valverde-like, actually. A quick learner that Basque - just a couple of months with the old champ, and he's able to pull off tricks like that.

He did say he wanted to learn from Valverde. He keeps saying he wants to go to the Ardennes this year because he wants to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the master. I'd say he's taking notes. I know at some point he's said he was excited about racing with Valverde. (Not the same thing he's said about any other team leader he's shared a team with.)

I think he wants to persuade valverde to help him in the tour and he will do that by helping valverde in the ardennes[/quote]

Wouldn't shock me. If this is the case, which is likely, maybe he's already learned something from Valverde. Valverde has said several times, the best way to get help from your teammates is to help them. Hence the reason in some of the smaller races he'll pick one of his teammates to ride for along with giving leadouts to his sprinters. He's also said you never tell them to do anything you only ever ask them and make sure they are comfortable enough to tell you that they may not be able to do something at any specific time because they are already on their limit or whatever. Maybe, just maybe, Landa has learned this? Granted, I'm sure Valverde would actually like having a team actually there with him in the finale of the Ardennes races, which many times he's on his own. If Landa has learned this it would be a good thing on his part.

 

[Netserk]

This stage should have finished in Camerino like in 2009, but to adapt to the strong teams present, you could alter the finale (with a beautiful last ramp in to town through the squares):

There you have your mountain stage. Only different kinds of hilly stages need to be added.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Really glad to see Hermans perform well, we'll have atleast some guys of ICA (Hermans, Neilands, Plaza & Enger) who can do something during the Giro.

 

[Escarabajo]

What a disappointing stage. I couldn't believe it when I saw the results. And I expected the stage from Paris-Nice to be the disappointing one. And that one was actually good and with a lot of carnage.

The one from Tirreno was a procession. A complete procession. This is Tirreno, not the Tour. These riders should be able to risk more than that. Close to complete peloton in the last 22 kilometers. LOL. And people make fun of Quintana because he doesn't attack. Well these riders make him look like an aggressive rider LOL.

 

[Scarponi]

Re:

What a disappointing stage. I couldn't believe it when I saw the results. And I expected the stage from Paris-Nice to be the disappointing one. And that one was actually good and with a lot of carnage.

The one from Tirreno was a procession. A complete procession. This is Tirreno, not the Tour. These riders should be able to risk more than that. Close to complete peloton in the last 22 kilometers. LOL. And people make fun of Quintana because he doesn't attack. Well these riders make him look like an aggressive rider LOL.

The whole season besides one or two days has been a complete borefest

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

What a disappointing stage. I couldn't believe it when I saw the results. And I expected the stage from Paris-Nice to be the disappointing one. And that one was actually good and with a lot of carnage.

The one from Tirreno was a procession. A complete procession. This is Tirreno, not the Tour. These riders should be able to risk more than that. Close to complete peloton in the last 22 kilometers. LOL. And people make fun of Quintana because he doesn't attack. Well these riders make him look like an aggressive rider LOL.

The whole season besides one or two days has been a complete borefest

Don't worry, we've got Milano San-remo next weekend to liven things up :Neutral:

 

[The Barb]

Re: Re:

What a disappointing stage. I couldn't believe it when I saw the results. And I expected the stage from Paris-Nice to be the disappointing one. And that one was actually good and with a lot of carnage.

The one from Tirreno was a procession. A complete procession. This is Tirreno, not the Tour. These riders should be able to risk more than that. Close to complete peloton in the last 22 kilometers. LOL. And people make fun of Quintana because he doesn't attack. Well these riders make him look like an aggressive rider LOL.

The whole season besides one or two days has been a complete borefest

Patience young grasshopper, the season is very young.

Give us a wet Paris Roubaix and all will be forgotten.

 

[RedheadDane]

Susan... bit confused about the punctuation?

Happy Birthday to Tiejs Benoot of Lotto Soudal, turning 24 today? Perhaps he would like to gift himself with a stage win!

That's not a question.

 

[Hellyea]

Re: Re:

What a disappointing stage. I couldn't believe it when I saw the results. And I expected the stage from Paris-Nice to be the disappointing one. And that one was actually good and with a lot of carnage.

The one from Tirreno was a procession. A complete procession. This is Tirreno, not the Tour. These riders should be able to risk more than that. Close to complete peloton in the last 22 kilometers. LOL. And people make fun of Quintana because he doesn't attack. Well these riders make him look like an aggressive rider LOL.

The whole season besides one or two days has been a complete borefest

Don't worry, we've got Milano San-remo next weekend to liven things up :Neutral:

I'll be really pissed if Sagan doesn't deliver another beautiful attack on Poggio.

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

What a disappointing stage. I couldn't believe it when I saw the results. And I expected the stage from Paris-Nice to be the disappointing one. And that one was actually good and with a lot of carnage.

The one from Tirreno was a procession. A complete procession. This is Tirreno, not the Tour. These riders should be able to risk more than that. Close to complete peloton in the last 22 kilometers. LOL. And people make fun of Quintana because he doesn't attack. Well these riders make him look like an aggressive rider LOL.

The whole season besides one or two days has been a complete borefest

Patience young grasshopper, the season is very young.

Give us a wet Paris Roubaix and all will be forgotten.

Wet strade so maybe a wet Roubaix :O

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Break at 4mins+ -75km

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kelderman fell heavily and rides at serious distance.

Well Sunweb just cannot catch a break.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Kelderman fell heavily and rides at serious distance.

Well Sunweb just cannot catch a break.

Gotta say it's at least 30% Kelderman just being Kelderman

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Kelderman fell heavily and rides at serious distance.

Well Sunweb just cannot catch a break.

Gotta say it's at least 30% Kelderman just being Kelderman

Well it seems 90% of Sunweb just cannot survive any race.

Matthews out, Dumoulin out, Oomen with knee problems, Kelderman now out. Bauhaus got ill in PN as well. They have nothing left at this rate

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Kelderman fell heavily and rides at serious distance.

Well Sunweb just cannot catch a break.

Dutch falling sickness... jaysus

Cataldo doing Scarpa proud

 

[70kmph]

Winner gets a fork...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Winner gets a fork...

A big fork

 

[TourOfSardinia]

CF mechanical

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Where is Michał?

 

[Red Rick]

This Yates fella could do well at the Fleche I think. 2nd or so

 

[Red Rick]

Landa with a nothingburger

 

[perico]

BOOM