Tour de Romandie 2012

[sucotash]

Last big stage race before Giro, it starts tuesday with a 3km prologue.

After that 5 stages (1TT, one climb finish, some other hills)

Some big names should start : Kreuziger, Gadret, Nocentini, Evans, Anton, Spilak, Martin, Hesjedal, Cunego, Basso, Szmyd, Cobo, Mollema, Fuglsang, Kloden, Cav, Wigo, Porte. Of course it might change.


It will be a big test for Basso. He said today that he will ride the Giro only if he is sure that he is able to fight for the win. This is supposed to be his final test. He also said that in Trentino he gave on the road everything he could at this moment.

 

[sucotash]

Prologue

1

stage 1

stage 2

 

[sucotash]

stage 3

stage 4

stage 5

 

[Parrulo]

on this parcours machado i have high hopes for machado

 

[stefrees]

Wiggo for the win

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Its tough to make a really good parcours in this part of the Alps at this time of the year. In any case, expect this to be a grinders fest, perhaps a warning before the slow-mo starts in TdF.

 

[will10]

Wiggo for the win

I think they'll ride for Porte.

Would've been a nailed on Martin win but for the crash. Will be interesting to see how deep Kreuziger goes here

 

[dlwssonic]

Evans will win

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans will win

Originally I would have said not likely but he didn't compete in the Ardennes because of injury last year and still won Romandie. The route doesn't really suit that well so a top 5 would be a good result.

 

[dlwssonic]

Originally I would have said not likely but he didn't compete in the Ardennes because of injury last year and still won Romandie. The route doesn't really suit that well so a top 5 would be a good result.

How doesn't it suit him with a small hill top finish and a prologue and TT? Wiggins is the favorite though IMO.

 

[auscyclefan94]

How doesn't it suit him with a small hill top finish and a prologue and TT? Wiggins is the favorite though IMO.

Don't be deceived by the profiles. Prologue will cause some very small gaps. Stage 1, will reuslt in a small group coming to the finish. Stage 2 will be similar except a larger group. Stage 3 has some decent climbing the but the final climb will not be difficult enough to open up some big gaps. Stage 4 has some longer, harder climbs but there is a long descent to the finish which means it will be hard to stay away. Stage 5 is an up and down time trial. It seems that the prologue and the 1st 4 stages will decant the number of overall contenders and the final stage will decide the winner. I don't think this course suits Evans all that well on my analysis.

 

[dlwssonic]

Don't be deceived by the profiles. Prologue will cause some very small gaps. Stage 1, will reuslt in a small group coming to the finish. Stage 2 will be similar except a larger group. Stage 3 has some decent climbing the but the final climb will not be difficult enough to open up some big gaps. Stage 4 has some longer, harder climbs but there is a long descent to the finish which means it will be hard to stay away. Stage 5 is an up and down time trial. It seems that the prologue and the 1st 4 stages will decant the number of overall contenders and the final stage will decide the winner. I don't think this course suits Evans all that well on my analysis.

Its pretty good for evans. No long mountains. If he performs well in the final TT he can win it.

 

[roundabout]

The big A in the profile obscures the last 2 or so flat kms for stage 3. The climb before is also not much, under 6%.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Machado is gonna smash the field

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

L.Westra

.................

 

[Lexman]

Westra will come in second once more ;-)

I see Evans, Wiggins & Cunego...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Its pretty good for evans. No long mountains. If he performs well in the final TT he can win it.

I think Evans would like long mountains against this field. Some very odd misconceptions you have about Evans.

I think BMC will ride for TJVG considering Cadel's health and TJVG's strong showing in Liege bastogne Liege.

 

[meandmygitane]

Gustav Larsson could be an interesting start, depending on form. Some not too hard mountain stages and two stages against the clock should suit him well I think.

 

[Sophistic]

wow, another "just watch the ITT" Tour de Romandie...

 

[classicomano]

Westra's tank is a bit empty atm, I dont think he can get into shape in time to be a contender here

 

[greenedge]

I think Evans has a real chance to win this but Wiggins deserves favouritism as favourite.

Who could win the prologue???

 

[PCutter]

Who could win the prologue???

Turbo......

 

[Parrulo]

Turbo......

Diesel . . . .

 

[Froome19]

Originally I would have said not likely but he didn't compete in the Ardennes because of injury last year and still won Romandie. The route doesn't really suit that well so a top 5 would be a good result.

If Evans is good enough the parcours is irrelevant, that is what is so good about having a tour champion like him who is a generally strong rider quite a bit of the year on most parcours.
I think criterium though it had its weak field did prove that Evans can win these races.
Also it does matter what form he is in but as mentioned in the TA thread if he is not in great form the shorter uphill finishes should play into his hands.

 

[Parrulo]

If Evans is good enough the parcours is irrelevant, that is what is so good about having a tour champion like him who is a generally strong rider quite a bit of the year on most parcours.
I think criterium though it had its weak field did prove that Evans can win these races.
Also it does matter what form he is in but as mentioned in the TA thread if he is not in great form the shorter uphill finishes should play into his hands.

he is coming from injury, so he may not be good enough, and there are many guys coming out of the ardennes who have great form and wnat to get some results out of their peak after failing at the ardennes.

guys like cunego, piti, dekker, mollema, costa etc

machado will be the winner tho