Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 7: San Benedetto del Tronto (ITT) 9.3km

[Squire]

now you got my by the balls!!!!

well, wasn't he 13th?

no, honestly, this comes definitely as a surprise to me, but maybe there were wind or weather issues (grasping for excuses) or he did just cut a corner?

well, c'mon 1 out of 30 or 40 tt's? that's statistically not relevant...

ok, I change my original post from Top 15 to Top 13 to comply with historic results!

Not to mention that he finished 11th in the Valencia TT (30km) in the 2009 Vuelta.

Will probably not feature in the top end of the rankings tomorrow though, if he features at all.

 

[ansimi]

I hope it's dry and safe and we get to see them go all out and see how everybody's fitness is. It's short and they don't need to save themselves so I would think most riders would take it as a good test even when their results don't matter.

Grabsch is probably tired but he still deserves a mention.

Should be quite a bit of shuffling in the top ten.

 

[ergmonkey]

Not to mention that he finished 11th in the Valencia TT (30km) in the 2009 Vuelta.

Will probably not feature in the top end of the rankings tomorrow though, if he features at all.

Boonen is even good enough at purist tt courses that he announced at the end of one season that he was going to focus on full-length tt's in the future. Obviously, he decided to just stick with the classics; nonetheless, the fact that he would even make such an announcement says a lot about his tt talent. So, yeah, he's no Cancellara (and Boonen's said as much himself), but Tommeke can still ride against the clock. Obviously, a short course won't hurt him, either.

 

[ergmonkey]

Riders not mentioned yet who can ride well on this sort of course, if motivated:

-Ballan
-Hincapie
-Roulston
-Pozzato
-Hondo
-Malori
-Bruseghin
-Larsson
-EBH
-Bennati

From this group, I'd expect Malori to be the most motivated. Young, Italian tt talent must be itching for a big result at home. If this were the De Panne tt, then Ballan, Hincapie, and Pozzato might be more likely to blow it out and go top 5.

 

[El Pistolero]

By the way, am I safe to say Boom has not shown any potential yet again to ever be good in the longer classics?

Wout Poels, now that's a boy to look out for.

 

[Anonymous]

Riders not mentioned yet who can ride well on this sort of course, if motivated:

-Ballan
-Hincapie
-Roulston
-Pozzato
-Hondo
-Malori
-Bruseghin
-Larsson
-EBH
-Bennati

.

If Eddy boss finishes in the top 50 riders, i will parade up and down whitehall naked for seven hours covered in whipped cream.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Indeed, I didn't know they allowed riders who dropped out of the race to participate in the final time trial. This sheds a new light on the many corrupt UCI rules

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

By the way, am I safe to say Boom has not shown any potential yet again to ever be good in the longer classics?

Wout Poels, now that's a boy to look out for.

Indeed. Funny, how Poels has evolved compared to Boom from their espoirs period. Right now, Boom is, overall, better, but I'm very much inclined to think Poels will become a better rider with a bigger palmares. He's also 2 years younger ofcourse

 

[ferryman]

I've been quietly impressed with Simon Clarke in this race and have a feeling he may place well tomorrow. Will be interesting to see how he goes.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Picking Cancellara too boring, so I pick Konovalovas.

Cuddles will take jersey home, if he doesn't crash.

 

[ergmonkey]

Yes, I have not been carefully following the starts and abandons in T-A this year...a little bit of a rough week at home, I'm afraid. So, I was merely referring to the start list for the stage race. I guess the domination of EBH must wait a few days.

 

[The Hitch]

Cuddles ftw. Cunego to drop out of top 10.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gesink for 3rd spot on the podium!

Plausable. His form isn't great, but I think he can out TT scarponi, basso and cunego. Evans-nibali-gesink wouldn't surprise me.

By the way, am I safe to say Boom has not shown any potential yet again to ever be good in the longer classics?

Wout Poels, now that's a boy to look out for.

Poels is a big talent. He handles the distances exceptionitaly well already, just look at the wc last year. I am looking forward to seeing him at the ardennes very much.

That being said, I don't wanna give up on Boom yet. I highly doubt he had ambition here... so it isn't entirely fair to crucify him based on the last 3 stages. And he was hardly 'bad' at omloop, tho the distance there isn't our interest point. Will be interesting to see how he goes at Ronde and PR this year.... Ddv just a week away

regarding stage 7-------
Langeveld will be up there in this stage. Top 5
I haven't looked at the course, but the distance suits boom.
1.spartacus
2.boom
3.pinotti
4.lovkist
5.Langeveld

 

[luckyboy]

Cance
Pinotti
Boom

Hope Cunego can keep his position. Otherwise it'll be pretty disappointing overall with him and Di Luca (CQ game).

 

[Bennyl]

thinking back - if he takes it out - will this Victory be Cadels biggest in terms of length? (ie. 7 day tour)
If so, wow... surprising.

 

[M Sport]

Riders not mentioned yet who can ride well on this sort of course, if motivated:

-Ballan
-Hincapie
-Roulston
-Pozzato
-Hondo
-Malori
-Bruseghin
-Larsson
-EBH
-Bennati

....

I think Roulston wen't home with flu two days ago.

 

[El Pistolero]

thinking back - if he takes it out - will this Victory be Cadels biggest in terms of length? (ie. 7 day tour)
If so, wow... surprising.

He won Romandie once. Against Contador.

 

[hfer07]

apart from the usual suspects- I'm going to think outside the box and name this guy for the win....

Bert Grabsch

 

[BroDeal]

thinking back - if he takes it out - will this Victory be Cadels biggest in terms of length? (ie. 7 day tour)
If so, wow... surprising.

Surprising that given his talent this comes so late in his career. Meanwhile a lesser rider like Menchov has won the Vuelta and the Giro.

 

[BroDeal]

White, never a good choice for barrel chested men.

 

[nvpacchi]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Castroviejo put in a top 10 TT.

Though I would be surprised to see him win, but I'm picking it anyway

 

[Ferminal]

I've been quietly impressed with Simon Clarke in this race and have a feeling he may place well tomorrow. Will be interesting to see how he goes.

He should be able to hold on to his top15 spot.

You would normally expect Larsson to be in a fairly good position on GC, but he's been invisible all week. Not sure whether he will put in a good one.

Iglinskiy FTW.

 

[eljimberino]

Every time a TT like this comes along I rack my brain to think of someone other than Spartacus, and go for long odds with someone like Karpets (where is the pun filled man btw?).

Spartacus will win by at least 5 secs.

 

[taiwan]

apart from the usual suspects- I'm going to think outside the box and name this guy for the win....

Bert Grabsch

Too short for him, methinks. Interested to see him in the break today though, you don't see much of that. Probably because he's ususally directly on the other side of the gap.

 

[Ryaguas]

Picking Cancellara too boring, so I pick Konovalovas.

No no... I called first... find another one

Damn it... I was going to pick Castroviejo for you but nvpacchi picked him first... mmmmmm let me see... I'll pick Morkov for you