Tour de Pologne 2014 (2.WT), 03.08 - 09.08

[cineteq]

He's probably the strongest guy in the top-10, in terms of pure power. How that translates to a flat TT with the second rate Bianchi TT bike, we'll see tomorrow.

Nevertheless, this is a guy who hasn't raced in months, and a heart surgery along the way. Another reason to watch.

 

[Tournesol]

Nevertheless, this is a guy who hasn't raced in months, and a heart surgery along the way. Another reason to watch.

Yeah,its great to see Gesink back fit and well,he deserves some luck.

Hope he can get back to a good level.

 

[damian13ster]

Just watched a replay of last 4km. That was impressive. Yeah, pain faces were a bit much but he did look absolutely spent in the last km. Movistar guys made up some time there and it could be crucial for TT.

 

[theyoungest]

Nevertheless, this is a guy who hasn't raced in months, and a heart surgery along the way. Another reason to watch.

True, you could see he lacks some racing rhythm. What he lacks in explosiveness he makes up for in grit.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

True, you could see he lacks some racing rhythm. What he lacks in explosiveness he makes up for in grit.

you're such a gesnik fanboy all the time. he doesn't impress me one bit. he's like an evans who can suffer tremendously but that won't win you races.

 

[jens_attacks]

yes i hope too gesink will get a good result here. nice comeback

 

[Bushman]

you're such a gesnik fanboy all the time. he doesn't impress me one bit. he's like an evans who can suffer tremendously but that won't win you races.

That is an admirable quality. If a guy with Betancur's talent could suffer just half as much as Gesink he would be the best climber in the world.

 

[cineteq]

That is an admirable quality. If a guy with Betancur's talent could suffer just half as much as Gesink he would be the best climber in the world.

+1
For Ryo if a rider has no book value (and he's not Colombian and/or Dutch), he's crap.

 

[damian13ster]

That is an admirable quality. If a guy with Betancur's talent could suffer just half as much as Gesink he would be the best climber in the world.

Thank you! Finaly someone realizing that the pains those guys go through to reach the highest level they possibly could (obviously not talking about Betancur here) is what's most admirable. I take my hat off to all of the hard-working domestiques that dont get recognition and to those guys who fight for GC thanks to their hard work and not mostly natural talent

 

[ciranda]

It's not like Betancur doesn't work hard and give everything in races when he's there. His problem is more that he's not been in races a lot this year.

 

[greenedge]

Great ride by Gesink.

Ion should win this now.

And what happened to Weening?

 

[manafana]

Could we see a left field win? did Ion and Benat have a domestic while chasing Majka?

 

[Gloin22]

Great ride by Gesink.

Ion should win this now.

And what happened to Weening?

He's been **** this year( aside that Giro win of course exception somehwere )

 

[damian13ster]

It's not like Betancur doesn't work hard and give everything in races when he's there. His problem is more that he's not been in races a lot this year.

I was talking about riders who are dedicated to training and give it all each year so they can be in those races.

 

[Tank Engine]

A couple of days ago, in an interview Majka said that he was riding with his head not his legs. Yesterday,he had the strongest legs and his head was still turned on. Today it's a different discipline.

Somebody asked "what can Majka prove at TdP that he didn't prove in the Tour?". Today is such a day of truth. Can he protect his position in a flat time trial?

I, personally, hope he can.

 

[theyoungest]

you're such a gesnik fanboy all the time. he doesn't impress me one bit. he's like an evans who can suffer tremendously but that won't win you races.

Yes, we know Gesink doesn't impress you. The latter comment is quite hilarious about a former Tour winner

Gesink seems to still be stretching the career that you thought was over 3 years ago.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Majka grabs another stage win and the yellow this time:

Pics: http://www.steephill.tv/2014/tour-de-pologne/photos/stage-06/

GC before final stage, the ITT:

1 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff - Saxo 29:46:17
2 Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga (Esp) Movistar Team 0:00:18
3 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Esp) Movistar Team 0:00:22
4 Christophe Riblon (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale 0:00:39
5 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha 0:00:40
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:00:40
7 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant - Shimano 0:00:40
8 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - Merida 0:00:40
9 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) OmegaPharma - Quick Step Cycling Team 0:00:46
10 Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Polsat - Polkowice 0:00:47
11 Petr Vakoc (Cze) OmegaPharma - Quick Step Cycling Team 0:00:57
12 Wouter Poels (Ned) OmegaPharma - Quick Step Cycling Team 0:01:06

Go Ion ffs.

 

[HappyLoser]

Predictions:

1. Bob Jungels winning stage, Intxausti winning GC.
2. Majka out of top 5 overall.
3. Gesink, Hesjedal & Brambilla going crazy.

Final GC:
1. Intxausti
2. Gesink +10"
3. Brambilla +15"
4. Riblon +30"
5. Ion +35"
6. Majka +40"
7. Hesjedal +45"
8. Caruso +50"
9. Barguil +55"
10. Poels +1:00

 

[Piti4Podiums]

Malori for the stage win, Ion for the GC (or Benat i wouldn't even care).

Happy day for all fellow Movistar fans

 

[Dazed and Confused]

First few riders to hit the ramp:

1 15:33 111 AUS19890713 BOBRIDGE Jack BELKIN - PRO CYCLING TEAM +1:44:39
2 15:34 134 FRA19841110 HUPOND Thierry TEAM GIANT- SHIMANO +1:25:52
3 15:35 144 BEL19841110 DEHAES Kenny LOTTO BELISOL +1:16:18
4 15:36 114 NED19830411 FLENS Rick BELKIN - PRO CYCLING TEAM +1:05:45
5 15:37 197 POL19840619 TACIAK Mateusz CCC POLSAT POLKOWICE +1:03:41
6 15:38 148 BEL19860916 VAN GENECHTEN Jonas LOTTO BELISOL +1:02:52
7 15:39 151 ITA19890602 APPOLLONIO Davide AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:02:45
8 15:40 161 FRA19810321 CHAVANEL Sebastien FDJ.fr +1:01:58
9 15:41 14 BEL19860409 MAES Nikolas OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP CYCLING T +56:35
10 15:42 58 AUS19871231 VON HOFF Steele GARMIN SHARP +55:23



and the business end:
20 17:32 55 CAN19801209 HESJEDAL Ryder GARMIN SHARP +01:33
121 17:33 32 IRL19830907 DEIGNAN Philip TEAM SKY +01:25
122 17:34 75 GER19890825 NERZ Dominik BMC RACING TEAM +01:13
123 17:35 121 CRC19860829 AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA Andrey MOVISTAR TEAM +01:08
124 17:36 76 ESP19780205 SANCHEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM +01:08
125 17:37 15 NED19871001 POELS Wouter OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP CYCLING T +01:06
126 17:38 93 ITA19921025 FORMOLO Davide CANNONDALE +01:08
127 17:39 16 CZE19920711 VAKOC Petr OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP CYCLING T +57
128 17:41 198 POL19810508 RUTKIEWICZ Marek CCC POLSAT POLKOWICE +47
129 17:43 11 ITA19870822 BRAMBILLA Gianluca OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP CYCLING T +46
130 17:45 61 POL19800411 NIEMIEC Przemysław LAMPRE - MERIDA +40
131 17:47 132 FRA19911027 BARGUIL Warren TEAM GIANT- SHIMANO +40
132 17:49 115 NED19860531 GESINK Robert BELKIN - PRO CYCLING TEAM +40
133 17:51 102 ITA19800815 CARUSO Giampaolo TEAM KATUSHA +40
134 17:53 125 ESP19890204 IZAGUIRRE Jon MOVISTAR TEAM +22
135 17:55 157 FRA19810117 RIBLON Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE +39
136 17:57 123 ESP19860320 INTXAUSTI Benat MOVISTAR TEAM +18
137 17:59 21 POL19890912 MAJKA Rafał TINKOFF-SAXO +00

Should be live on Eurosport 2 at 17:15 (CET).

 

[Tank Engine]

Predictions:

1. Bob Jungels winning stage, Intxausti winning GC.
2. Majka out of top 5 overall.
3. Gesink, Hesjedal & Brambilla going crazy.

Final GC:
1. Intxausti
2. Gesink +10"
3. Brambilla +15"
4. Riblon +30"
5. Ion +35"
6. Majka +40"
7. Hesjedal +45"
8. Caruso +50"
9. Barguil +55"
10. Poels +1:00

The diesels Gesink and Hesjedal would have to go really crazy for such a result on a short flat TT. I can't see Majka finishing in a worse position than last year (4th). He beat Riblon in the TT last year (admittedly narrowly) and was pretty close to Izagirre, starting from 3rd on GC.

 

[Anderis]

Hesjedal didn't ride a good, long ITT for a long time. I would be surprised if he can make it into top10, since he doesn't seem to be in his top shape either.

 

[ILovecycling]

Hesjedal didn't ride a good, long ITT for a long time. I would be surprised if he can make it into top10, since he doesn't seem to be in his top shape either.

Its not long. (at least in my view)

 

[cineteq]

More predictions:
Majka drops to 2nd, while Gesink wins GC.
Movistar riders bomb.

Predictions:

1. Bob Jungels winning stage, Intxausti winning GC.
2. Majka out of top 5 overall.
3. Gesink, Hesjedal & Brambilla going crazy.

Final GC:
1. Intxausti
2. Gesink +10"
3. Brambilla +15"
4. Riblon +30"
5. Ion +35"
6. Majka +40"
7. Hesjedal +45"
8. Caruso +50"
9. Barguil +55"
10. Poels +1:00

 

[Arredondo]

Majka is just going to win this. Last year he only lost 12 seconds to Izagirre. This year he is in way better form.

I think he will even gain time on all the rest.