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

[theyoungest]

Cadel Evans TT position is one of the worst I've seen on such a high-quality rider. He probably had to push the same watts as Cancellara in order to finish 30 seconds behind with that non-aero position of his...

Wasn't it Evans who had a kind of torture machine at home to train specifically for this position? You'd think that it's very aerodynamic, otherwise why take the trouble.

 

[boomcie]

Wasn't it Evans who had a kind of torture machine at home to train specifically for this position? You'd think that it's very aerodynamic, otherwise why take the trouble.

Had me laughing there.

 

[El Pistolero]

Well, Evans has no style on a road bike, why would it be any different on a time trial bike?

 

[Moondance]

Got me there, fair and square..

TBH i mostly agreed with you, although I personally wanted to wait to actually see him in action on a TT bike before I made any grand, sweeping pronouncements.

And Gesink looks like he did most of his homework this off-season. His TT position looked pretty slick.

 

[Mellow Velo]

So...

Evans now has about the same honour list as Thomas Dekker at age 22 as far as GC's go... (Tirreno & Romandie)

I'm glad somebody understood what I meant, 6 pages or so back.
Biggest GC win of his career.

 

[Kwibus]

Oh my the Gesink fanboyism here is huge. Too many dutch posters on this forum

Obviously I'm also a fanboy of him and his performance today is great news indeed. It bodes well for his future.

But! Gesink riding the best TT of the favourites and his team winning the TTT yet he still didn't manage to win the GC because Evans was simply better this Tirreno. Very good performance by him.

Sure Gesink didn't target T-A. I'm pretty sure Evans didn't either. Actually this was Evans 2nd race of the season so maybe his form is lower then Gesinks?
Since there is no way to measure form we will never know.
I think riders like Evans and Gesink are always able to perform well. Not like Andy Schleck who is invisible with the exception of that 1 week in April and those 3 weeks in July.

This T-A was a pleasure to watch.

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm going to wait for the Tour time trial to make any conclusions on his TT. I still see him losing a lot of time to the likes of Contador on a 50km time trial.

But at least he's better than Andy.

 

[roundabout]

It's actually 41km with 2 hills in it.

Not sure if it's good or bad for Gesink though compared to a flat 50km tt.

 

[boomcie]

I'm going to wait for the Tour time trial to make any conclusions on his TT. I still see him losing a lot of time to the likes of Contador on a 50km time trial.

But at least he's better than Andy.

If he ever equals the TT skills of Clenberto I will perform fellatio on Carlton Kirby.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Contador is something special. I never said something about Gesink compared to Contador.

I also still think he'll be a level below Schleck and Contador this year. But there's a chance Contador won't ride because of the UCI appeal. And what if Schleck isn't as much better as he thinks he is? Could go wrong.

 

[Moondance]

I'm going to wait for the Tour time trial to make any conclusions on his TT. I still see him losing a lot of time to the likes of Contador on a 50km time trial.

But at least he's better than Andy.

Well, Andy Schleck managed to limit his losses to Contador to only 31s over a 50km, straight, flat, into a headwind, TT last year in Paulliac.

So if Gesink is better than Andy (to use your words) then.........

 

[roundabout]

Well, Andy Schleck managed to limit his losses to Contador to only 31s over a 50km, straight, flat, into a headwind, TT last year in Paulliac.

So if Gesink is better than Andy (to use your words) then.........

*Cue the barrage of reasons (excuses ) why that TT isn't representative*

 

[El Pistolero]

Well, Andy Schleck managed to limit his losses to Contador to only 31s over a 50km, straight, flat, into a headwind, TT last year in Paulliac.

So if Gesink is better than Andy (to use your words) then.........

Yeah, that was not a fresh Contador.

1. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto AST 48'30"
21. SCHLECK Andy SAX 01'45"

 

[Mellow Velo]

Well, this is set to run and run, isn't it.

Didn't a couple of funsters use their superior cycling knowledge to tip..................
................70) Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Movistar Team @ 1'-06"?

How embarrassing!

 

[Moondance]

Yeah, that was not a fresh Contador.

Your evidence for this is....?

Schleck had also just ridden 19 Tour stages, you know.

 

[El Pistolero]

Your evidence for this is....?

Schleck had also just ridden 19 Tour stages, you know.

Volta ao Algarve
Winner overall classification
1st, Stage 3
Paris–Nice
Winner overall classification
1st, Stage 4
Vuelta a Castilla y León
Winner overall classification
Winner combination classification
Winner Spanish rider classification
1st, Stage 4 (ITT)
La Flèche Wallonne
3rd position
Critérium du Dauphiné
2nd, overall classification
Winner points classification
1st, Prologue (ITT)
1st, Stage 6
Tour de France
Winner overall classification

vs

2nd Overall Tour de France
1st Young Rider classification
1st Stage 8 Tour de France
1st Stage 17 Tour de France
Maillot Jaune Stage 10 - 15
6th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
9th La Flèche Wallonne

Andy was a lot fresher since he did nothing before the Tour like usual.

Let's take a look at this then:

2. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto AST 18"
17. SCHLECK Andy SAX 01'00"

LOL

 

[Moondance]

Volta ao Algarve
Winner overall classification
1st, Stage 3
Paris–Nice
Winner overall classification
1st, Stage 4
Vuelta a Castilla y León
Winner overall classification
Winner combination classification
Winner Spanish rider classification
1st, Stage 4 (ITT)
La Flèche Wallonne
3rd position
Critérium du Dauphiné
2nd, overall classification
Winner points classification
1st, Prologue (ITT)
1st, Stage 6
Tour de France
Winner overall classification

vs

2nd Overall Tour de France
1st Young Rider classification
1st Stage 8 Tour de France
1st Stage 17 Tour de France
Maillot Jaune Stage 10 - 15
6th Liège–Bastogne–Liège
9th La Flèche Wallonne

Contador has always ridden a full schedule, and Andy Schleck a sparse schedule. It was the same in 2009 when, as you referenced above, Alberto crushed Andy by nearly 2 minutes.

Schleck the Younger isn't a horrible TTer anymore, its just that we don't really see it throughout the season because he never shows up.

 

[roundabout]

How is it any different to their respective schedules for 2009 where Contador was supposedly fresher?

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador has always ridden a full schedule, and Andy Schleck a sparse schedule. It was the same in 2009 when, as you referenced above, Alberto crushed Andy by nearly 2 minutes.

Schleck the Younger isn't a horrible TTer anymore, its just that we don't really see it throughout the season because he never shows up.

42 seconds over 15 kilometers.

 

[El Pistolero]

How is it any different to their respective schedules for 2009 where Contador was supposedly fresher?

Had stopped his season at the world championship in 2008.
Stopped his season at the Tour in 2009.

That's the difference.

 

[Moondance]

42 seconds over 15 kilometers.

Which TT are you referring to?

 

[El Pistolero]

Which TT are you referring to?

Prologue at Monaco.

It's pretty clear something was wrong with Contador after the long time trial last year. Just look at his eyes when he finished. Yuck.

 

[Moondance]

Had stopped his season at the world championship in 2008.
Stopped his season at the Tour in 2009.

That's the difference.

So then he would've been fresher in 2010 than in 2009.... If I follow your logic.

 

[Moondance]

Prologue at Monaco.

It's pretty clear something was wrong with Contador after the long time trial last year. Just look at his eyes when he finished. Yuck.

I don't know how anyone could've see Contadors eyes underneath that Alien like Helmet w. visor that he wears when he TTs.

 

[El Pistolero]

So then he would've been fresher in 2010 than in 2009.... If I follow your logic.

Not racing for such a long time is not a good thing. He was weaker throughout 2010 than in 2009.

Yeah, he lost Paris-Nice in 2009, but that had little to do with his form and more about making a rookie mistake. But look how he destroyed them all on Montagne de Lure.