Tour de Pologne 2.WT 31/07 - 06/08

[Sasquatch]

il killer wants to peak for la vuelta where will be co-leader with purito.he looked good in wallonie,he's improving but i don't think he has big plans in poland,maybe a stage win and that's it.

Okay, I'll rule him out then.

It's looking good for Ballan if he can stay with the other climbers on stage 6. You would think he would pick up a few time bonuses on the other stages that Sagan will contest for victory and you would think Stage 6 will be too tough for Sagan.

 

[craig1985]

More surprising is they have a Luxembourgian who decided not to go to Leopard

Because he was not in the position to get out of his contract, financially that is.

 

[theyoungest]

This is the same finish where TGBM confirmed his greatness last year. But now apparently with this climb shortly before it, where last year it appeared earlier in the stage. And they'll repeat that 4 times.

Looks like a seriously tough stage, more Dan Martin than Sagan. Personally I'm curious how Slagter will do, just coming off altitude training for the Vuelta.

 

[Sasquatch]

This is the same finish where TGBM confirmed his greatness last year. But now apparently with this climb shortly before it, where last year it appeared earlier in the stage. And they'll repeat that 4 times.

Looks like a seriously tough stage, more Dan Martin than Sagan. Personally I'm curious how Slagter will do, just coming off altitude training for the Vuelta.

Okay, definitely too much for Sagan then. He should get at least 1 or 2 stage victories though. I think the stages that don't go to climbers will be shared between Degenkolb, Sagan and Matthews.

Ballan should still do alright, but if a decent climber like a Lovkvist/Sivtsov/Martin get away then Ballan may find it hard to stay with them.

 

[greenedge]

Degenkolb and matthews to compete. Sagan to win some stage. Nibali, Scarponi and Busche to fight for overall along with Martin.

 

[hatcher]

Kennaugh wanted to do a good GC, and he's been in very good form lately. It's breakthrough time.

 

[Fuxior]

This is even better, 2 cars couldnt start on this climb

TdP is getting better every year, startlist looks amazing and there are 2 really hard stages.

IIRC aren't they going into the Czech Republic? And if so, what stage is it (edit: a quick check says they will be right on the border)?

they will go into Czech Republic, just for a moment.

5th stage map from here

Too bad this is still not in the route:

12,5 km long, average 7,2& , with max inclination on 1km 15,7%, on 100m 24%, and on 50m 27%. would be so amazing to see that kind of climb in TdP route.

Anyways - cant wait for the start, last stage is in my city

 

[greenedge]

Pozzato will contend for a few stages.

 

[theyoungest]

they will go into Czech Republic, just for a moment.

5th stage map from here

Ah, that's the town just on the border, where a teammate "stole" Grega Bole's victory last year, isn't it?

That's a nice finish as well, really tailor made for Sagan. Uphill cobbled sprint.

 

[Ruudz0r]

I think overall will be to hard for Ballan/Sagan. Ballan wasnt to impresive yesterday in Wallonie where he couldnt really keep van Leijen's wheel. But riders like Martin, Nibali, Scarponi won't have top form yet (although they mihgt not need topform to win) but I'm going for Ulissi for the overall.

Other guys that may show something and are not named yet.
Kennaugh
Santambrogio
Madrarzo

 

[The Hitch]

This should be a worlds course. Start in Zakopane which was big enough to bid for the olympics, take the 40 or so Km to Bulkowina, a journey that is far from flat, and do this god knows how many times.

Epic worlds it would be.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

This should be a worlds course. Start in Zakopane which was big enough to bid for the olympics, take the 40 or so Km to Bulkowina, a journey that is far from flat, and do this god knows how many times.

Epic worlds it would be.

what is the % of the final climb.
I guess something close to 5-7%
would be a really cool course tho.

 

[Kvinto]

if the heights on the profile are correct it's 4.1km, 4.9% with the profile of the final 3km:

 

[dlwssonic]

Im not sure about Ballan, not sure how good his form is and it might be a bit too hard for him. Watch out for santombrogio, luckily there is no TT

 

[Midnightfright]

Im not sure about Ballan, not sure how good his form is and it might be a bit too hard for him. Watch out for santombrogio, luckily there is no TT

I'm not to optimistic about Santa, I would much rather he done well though than Ballan.

 

[Sasquatch]

Looking at the startlist closer, I would say Przemyslaw Niemiec will be top 5.

 

[Parrulo]

IIRC aren't they going into the Czech Republic? And if so, what stage is it (edit: a quick check says they will be right on the border)?

And BTW, the Volta a Portugal cycling's 4th GT, the Vuelta a Colombia is 5th, this is cycling's 6th GT and the ATOC is 7th (despite the fact that Bob Stapleton will tell you it's number 4)

fixed it for you. just cus this has world tour status it doesn't mean it is better then the VaP and VaC.

even this years almost brankrupt volta is better then poland.

p.s. i would also put the TdS ahead of poland.

 

[saganftw]

i dont think sagan will go for overall,points jersey and stage victories should be his goal

my secret tip would be di luca,he is probably free to ride for himself after giro preparing for vuelta

 

[El Pistolero]

Boonen said he wants to go for a stage win here and stay with the front group on the climbs longer than normal. Calls this an important prep for the Vuelta and Worlds.

 

[Kvinto]

Does it mean he's targeting top-10?

 

[Tank Engine]

Yes it's the TdP. The land where I spent my misspent young adulthood, so I'm looking forward to this. The change in date might make it harder to call, as now the Vuelta contenders will be looking to get in form. Riders like Scarponi and Nibbles will be looking to be competitive, but I guess will not bust a gut to get on the top step of the podium (as the top TdF contenders in the Dauphine). Ballan is ideally suited to the Karkonosze mountains, where the race had traditionally been decided (as he showed a couple of years back). However, the course in the Tatras last year gave the advantage to the climbers and it seems to be harder this year. I'll be shouting on Danny Boy, due to my adopted home. Of the home riders, Rutkiewicz is always competitive here and Niemiec is likely to be up there too. Look out for Huzarski, who will certainly try to animate the race. A bit closer to my original home, I'm interested in seeing how the two Manx lads do. Shame TGBM is not returning. Look out for the HTC train in the first three stages. The stage to Cieszyn looks ideal for Sagan, who's my (maybe obvious) tip for the points jersey

 

[Libertine Seguros]

OMFG what a lineup. Nibali, Scarponi. The Great Showdown everyone has been waiting for. Forget the Vuelta. Its on now!!!

Last year I was there and the top rider was Oscar Perreiro.

This year I have to leave Warsaw 3 days before it starts

Ill try to watch on tv because this one is unmissable.

You dont put 2 top duelling riders into an event unless its important.

Lance didnt appear in the same race as Contador untill the Tour.
Rock and Stone Cold didnt go 1 on 1 before Wrestlemania.
Tyson and Lenox Lewis didnt fight at the weigh in.

errr. Better scrap the last one.

Critérium International!

I thought they were going into Slovakia. The area of the main stages, borders with Slovakia though its close to Czech Republic.

Glad to see you got the race hiiarchy right though.

Poland has some interesting climbs, specially around the borders of Slovakia, damn tough and very beautyful too. Should be an intresting race.

Since we don't really have any major races in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and the Tour de Pologne doesn't really use the toughest climbs in the borderlands, we could really do with a resurrection of the Friedensfahrt/Course de la Paix/Peace Race. A 9- or 10-day race using all 3 countries, you could have some great mountain stages, cobbles, flat stages, it would be awesome. Have it in July, after Austria or something - make it the #1 alternative to the Tour.

I think overall will be to hard for Ballan/Sagan. Ballan wasnt to impresive yesterday in Wallonie where he couldnt really keep van Leijen's wheel. But riders like Martin, Nibali, Scarponi won't have top form yet (although they mihgt not need topform to win) but I'm going for Ulissi for the overall.

Other guys that may show something and are not named yet.
Kennaugh
Santambrogio
Madrarzo

Madrazo could be great fun for this if he's healthy, certainly.

I notice nobody's mentioned Marek Rutkiewicz, who has been top 10 at this race 6 times. I can almost guarantee that if he doesn't crash out he will add to that tally.

 

[l.Harm]

@TE, How you know TGBM is not riding this one?

edit: nvm, saw it already on the Rabo site

Rick Flens, Graeme Brown, Michael Mathews, Jos van Emden, Paul Martens, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Stef Clement en Dennis van Winden

Martens and Slagter for GC, Brown and Matthews for the sprint.

 

[The Hitch]

People are tipping some good guys for the sprints, but theres someone there who is faster than them, though unfortunately worse in every other aspect and will probably be on poor form.

JJ Haedo.

Critérium International!

I know but theres 2009

 

[El Pistolero]

People are tipping some good guys for the sprints, but theres someone there who is faster than them, though unfortunately worse in every other aspect and will probably be on poor form.

JJ Haedo.



I know but theres 2009

Isn't it his brother who is riding Pologne? Or both, I guess. But don't expect much of him. Haven't seen him in any race actually since that nasty crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen.