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

[l.Harm]

Daniel Martin will defend his victory in Poland. This tour has seven stages. Here you can find the start list (I think the field is fine).

I'll give you the profiles of the stages.

Some tough and interesting stages. Maybe TGBM can show some skills here like last year.

 

[l.Harm]

 

[El Pistolero]

Saxobank has a Polish rider lol?

 

[Ruudz0r]

Saxobank has a Polish rider lol?

They have 2!

Marycz is riding pretty decent in his last races, has been in the breakaways often lately as one of the motors and did a nice TT in Bayern Rundfahrt I believe + got 6th or 8th in a massasprint somewhere.

 

[Parrulo]

looks like an interesting route. shame it has no itt imo

 

[l.Harm]

Actually I like that. Almost all of this kind of courses has an ITT, I like finally one doesn't have.

 

[joy118118]

degenkolb & matthews will fight mano a mano

 

[hrotha]

This could be one for Sagan to shine if he doesn't have to take to the woods like last year. Other than that, I'd keep an eye on Ulissi (AND MADRAZO).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yet again no Przelecz Karkonoska

 

[maltiv]

Looks like an interesting route. Sagan should be able to challenge for most stages and probably the overall too. I also think Kristoff will actually win something here.

 

[craig1985]

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

 

[The Hitch]

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.

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

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.

 

[craig1985]

I'm going to tip somebody like Sivtsov FTW overall while I think Przemysław Niemiec will be right up there. Also, I will say that Degenkolb will get at least one stage win, with Leigh Howard and Alex Rasmussen to lead him out.

 

[nvpacchi]

Saxobank has a Polish rider lol?

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

 

[Swede1]

I'm going to tip somebody like Sivtsov FTW overall while I think Przemysław Niemiec will be right up there. Also, I will say that Degenkolb will get at least one stage win, with Leigh Howard and Alex Rasmussen to lead him out.

Alex Rasmussen is a really good lead out rider. I just remember him leading out Cav in the Giro this year was awesome.

 

[Swede1]

Also Matthews and Haussler should be up there in the sprints after a hilly day. Maybe even Gasparotto to take a stage.

Does anyone know if Di Luca is in good form right now?

 

[No_Balls]

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

 

[virenque216]

I love the tatra mountains(mini alps),they will be there for 3 days nearly,its a pity they dont get much promotion but I hope eurosport will be broadcasting live,one stage has 11 times cat1 climb and is over 200k long, as there is no ITT it will be between nibali,scarponi one polish rider and dan martin,dark horse Diego Ulisi will do well.Hitch must be looking forward to his home event im sure

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Boonen for the first and final stage imo, their tailormade for him. As goes for Degenkolb and Matthews though :/

 

[Sasquatch]

Stage 1 - Degenkolb stage
Stage 2 - Degenkolb stage
Stage 3 - Degenkolb stage
Stage 4 - Peter Sagan/Alessandro Ballan stage
Stage 5 - Peter Sagan stage
Stage 6 - Alessandro Ballan/Daniel Martin stage
Stage 7 - Degenkolb stage

If Sagan can contest the finish at stage 6 he will win the overall. It's a perfect route for Ballan too. How difficult is stage 6 - is Martin able to get a break on everyone or can Ballan and Sagan go with him?

I presume there are time bonuses in this race? If there is Sagan has a huge chance of taking the overall.

 

[Kvinto]

Some stages should definetely be interesting with those "false flat" ascends which make even some cobbled classic riders look like the climbers, it looks special anyway. But what impress me most in this race is it's commercial at Eurosport

 

[Sasquatch]

Di Luca is a good smokey for the race. Stage 6 should suit him better than everyone else. Gasparotto. Lovkvist if he has form all can break away on stage 6.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Di Luca is a good smokey for the race. Stage 6 should suit him better than everyone else. Gasparotto. Lovkvist if he has form all can break away on stage 6.

that's a good pick. Is he your actual tip for overall?

 

[jens_attacks]

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.

 

[Sasquatch]

that's a good pick. Is he your actual tip for overall?

Nah, need more details of the stage 6 climb.

Sagan should make the finish in every stage but stage 6...unless stage 6 isn't as hard as it looks on paper.

The winner will come from:

Ballan, Di Luca, Martin or Sagan IMO. Hard to tell what sort of form these riders are in. If Di Luca is in form, it will probably be a battle between him and Martin.

The winner of stage 6 may win the Tour depending on what Ballan and Sagan do on that stage.