Tirreno -Adriatico stage 2 - Montecatini terme - 165 km

[auscyclefan94]

Looks like a tough stage...I think EBH will take the win!

 

[theswordsman]

I watch Paris-Nice live, and I'm afraid I can't get into this race until Universal Sports stops posting the winner's name a quarter of an inch from the Video On Demand button. They corrected it after complaints (during the Vuelta?) but haven't learned from their mistake. I'll try again Thursday.

 

[Ferminal]

Four times over that, could be a repeat of yesterday with a small group going ahead of an uninspired peloton on the final climb.

 

[Sasquatch]

Hushovd to make amends from yesterday. But more than likely some sort of break will succeed.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

some one random will win.

 

[Frosty]

Hincapie lost a lot of time yesterday so is maybe likely to be in the breakaway. Surprised that Bennati didnt do better yesterday - Liquigas were pushing on the front which suggests they thought he had a decent chance. Surprised that Freire was so far back yesterday too.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Note to self: learn difference between "stick thread" and "close thread".

Sorry!

Susan

 

[craig1985]

Note to self: learn difference between "stick thread" and "close thread".

Sorry!

Susan

It certainly was a WTF moment from me.

 

[Jamsque]

Farrar looked to be climbing the best out of the top-tier sprinters yesterday, I think if Garmin get themselves organised he should be in with a shot, but it could just as easily go to a late breakaway again.

 

[Moondance]

Normally you'd think this was a finish for Freire, but he got shelled out the back yesterday, same as Cav....

I'll go with EBH to take it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

@mickrogers
Good morning from Montecatini Terme. Looks like the weather is going to better today than yesterday!

 

[Sasquatch]

If that's the case, the majority of the sprinters may make it over the climbs.

Anyway

1. Farrar
2. Hushovd
3. Bennati

 

[analo69]

I predict Matti Breschel for the win today. Yesterday he showed that he is very good at this kind of racing, and on the Saxo Bank homepage he says he will try again in the coming days.

He was a bit unlucky yesterday having to close the gap to the Acqua Sapone rider, just to get outsprinted by Gerdeman. He is normally very fast in a small group sprints and sometimes in larger groups as well. Imagine if he had Cancellara as a lead out man in a small group.

I really hope this is the year where he breaks throug and win one of the 260km classics, but Saxo Bank has a very strong team for the classics. He has his best chance in Paris Roubaix or Milan San Remo I think.

Is it possible to stay in good shape from Milan San Remo all the way to Liege Bastogne Liege or perhaps only Amstel. He is a podium contender in all those races, but so are a lot of other guys at Saxo Bank.

 

[Nearly]

Outsider

Unheralded young Aussie Simon Clarke (ISD Neri & Cadel's domestique at the Worlds last year) for mine - excellent 18th at MPE then 9th in stage 1 yesterday. Improving at the rate of 9 places a day should just about do it!

 

[Moondance]

Unheralded young Aussie Simon Clarke (ISD Neri & Cadel's domestique at the Worlds last year) for mine - excellent 18th at MPE then 9th in stage 1 yesterday. Improving at the rate of 9 places a day should just about do it!

Finishing 0th would be quite an achievement indeed.

 

[MagnusW]

I think Matti Breschel will do well to day. He was unlucky yesterday and had to close the gap to the Acqua Sapone rider. Usualy he should be a better sprinter than Gerdeman. He might try to get in a breakaway to day and then I think and hope he can win it.

If the peleton catches the breakaway then EBH might have a good chance. Cav, Freire and Boonen all struggled with yesterdays climbs and might do so today aswell. Hushovd also seemed reasonably strong, although he didn't have anything left in the sprint. He did survive the climbs though.

We'll see. It will be exciting whoever wins.

 

[Nearly]

Finishing 0th would be quite an achievement indeed.

Only 8 places should a walk in the park!

 

[hektoren]

I think Matti Breschel will do well to day. He was unlucky yesterday and had to close the gap to the Acqua Sapone rider. Usualy he should be a better sprinter than Gerdeman. He might try to get in a breakaway to day and then I think and hope he can win it.

If the peleton catches the breakaway then EBH might have a good chance. Cav, Freire and Boonen all struggled with yesterdays climbs and might do so today aswell. Hushovd also seemed reasonably strong, although he didn't have anything left in the sprint. He did survive the climbs though.

We'll see. It will be exciting whoever wins.

Don't expect miracles from Team Sky. With a road captain whose collarbone fractured only 4 weeks ago, on wet roads and in low temperatures, safety will be high on their list of priorities.

 

[Sasquatch]

Don't expect miracles from Team Sky. With a road captain whose collarbone fractured only 4 weeks ago, on wet roads and in low temperatures, safety will be high on their list of priorities.

Today maybe, but when the uphill finishes happen, they will be going all out with Lovkvist one would think

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

in case anyone cares about this race

http://www.fromsport.com/video-197094.html

 

[Jamsque]

Is that Cav off the back already? I am watching at work so I have no audio.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I didn't see it, must have missed it, they haven't mentioned him really so I think he might still be there, but i'm not too sure.

 

[Jamsque]

Sky is pushing the chase, EBH must be feeling good.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

yeah it's coming down.
2.25 the gap.

edit: i wish they would display how man kms left... frustrating.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

4.5km to go, gonna be a bunch sprint...