Tour de Suisse (2.UWT), 9-17 June 2018

[Eyeballs Out]

Re: Re:

Three big questions lingering over Porte:
1. Team. For all their budget, BMC have never bothered to build a proper GC squad capable of defending in the mountains (let alone attacking). Even when Evans won it was more of a roluer squad. Porte will be isolated often and early in key stages.
2. Head. He doesn't seem to have that hard ruthless edge you need to really go for the jugular in a GT. Probably makes him a more decent bloke than most GT contenders, but it's a liability that has already been exploited by others a bit. Definitely closer to Wiggins than Hinault on the spectrum.
3. Luck. He's obviously had his fair share of misfortune. But in the same breath, if 1 & 2 were stronger, I bet his luck would magically get better.

Well put.

I think I wrote in another thread that some other GC leaders in different teams would be going toe-to-toe with their DS demanding the whole team is built around them and their GC ambitions. This is not Richie's style and the result is he is left standing on the side of the road waiting over a minute for a spare wheel sans team mates.

You'd think though that at least BMC would have a strong interest in building a decent squad for him - they're basically on the cusp of non-existence. But no, they seem to just float along expecting it all to just happen.

Meanwhile, look at AG2R - they're really trying to get on even terms with Sky, with much less $$. And Michelton has built an incredible climbing/GC squad in a matter of 2/3 years. It's not rocket science: just hire some quality climbing doms!

BMC's Tour team is clearly going to be a lot stronger than AG2R and probably stronger than MTS as well

 

[wirral]

Today's stage looks made for a successful breakaway. The GC riders will have their own little battle two or three minutes later.

Potential break spoilers : Gorka Izagirre, Monfort (again), Amador

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Three big questions lingering over Porte:
1. Team. For all their budget, BMC have never bothered to build a proper GC squad capable of defending in the mountains (let alone attacking). Even when Evans won it was more of a roluer squad. Porte will be isolated often and early in key stages.
2. Head. He doesn't seem to have that hard ruthless edge you need to really go for the jugular in a GT. Probably makes him a more decent bloke than most GT contenders, but it's a liability that has already been exploited by others a bit. Definitely closer to Wiggins than Hinault on the spectrum.
3. Luck. He's obviously had his fair share of misfortune. But in the same breath, if 1 & 2 were stronger, I bet his luck would magically get better.

Well put.

I think I wrote in another thread that some other GC leaders in different teams would be going toe-to-toe with their DS demanding the whole team is built around them and their GC ambitions. This is not Richie's style and the result is he is left standing on the side of the road waiting over a minute for a spare wheel sans team mates.

You'd think though that at least BMC would have a strong interest in building a decent squad for him - they're basically on the cusp of non-existence. But no, they seem to just float along expecting it all to just happen.

Meanwhile, look at AG2R - they're really trying to get on even terms with Sky, with much less $$. And Michelton has built an incredible climbing/GC squad in a matter of 2/3 years. It's not rocket science: just hire some quality climbing doms!

BMC's Tour team is clearly going to be a lot stronger than AG2R and probably stronger than MTS as well

Who do you see the squad being?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Re: Re:

Three big questions lingering over Porte:
1. Team. For all their budget, BMC have never bothered to build a proper GC squad capable of defending in the mountains (let alone attacking). Even when Evans won it was more of a roluer squad. Porte will be isolated often and early in key stages.
2. Head. He doesn't seem to have that hard ruthless edge you need to really go for the jugular in a GT. Probably makes him a more decent bloke than most GT contenders, but it's a liability that has already been exploited by others a bit. Definitely closer to Wiggins than Hinault on the spectrum.
3. Luck. He's obviously had his fair share of misfortune. But in the same breath, if 1 & 2 were stronger, I bet his luck would magically get better.

Well put.

I think I wrote in another thread that some other GC leaders in different teams would be going toe-to-toe with their DS demanding the whole team is built around them and their GC ambitions. This is not Richie's style and the result is he is left standing on the side of the road waiting over a minute for a spare wheel sans team mates.

You'd think though that at least BMC would have a strong interest in building a decent squad for him - they're basically on the cusp of non-existence. But no, they seem to just float along expecting it all to just happen.

Meanwhile, look at AG2R - they're really trying to get on even terms with Sky, with much less $$. And Michelton has built an incredible climbing/GC squad in a matter of 2/3 years. It's not rocket science: just hire some quality climbing doms!

BMC's Tour team is clearly going to be a lot stronger than AG2R and probably stronger than MTS as well

Who do you see the squad being?

Guesswork but something like Porte, TJVG, Caruso, Kung, GVA, Bevin and then two from Gerrans, Roche, Roelandts, Schar. Personally I'd go for Roche and Roelandts

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

Three big questions lingering over Porte:
1. Team. For all their budget, BMC have never bothered to build a proper GC squad capable of defending in the mountains (let alone attacking). Even when Evans won it was more of a roluer squad. Porte will be isolated often and early in key stages.
2. Head. He doesn't seem to have that hard ruthless edge you need to really go for the jugular in a GT. Probably makes him a more decent bloke than most GT contenders, but it's a liability that has already been exploited by others a bit. Definitely closer to Wiggins than Hinault on the spectrum.
3. Luck. He's obviously had his fair share of misfortune. But in the same breath, if 1 & 2 were stronger, I bet his luck would magically get better.

Well put.

I think I wrote in another thread that some other GC leaders in different teams would be going toe-to-toe with their DS demanding the whole team is built around them and their GC ambitions. This is not Richie's style and the result is he is left standing on the side of the road waiting over a minute for a spare wheel sans team mates.

You'd think though that at least BMC would have a strong interest in building a decent squad for him - they're basically on the cusp of non-existence. But no, they seem to just float along expecting it all to just happen.

Meanwhile, look at AG2R - they're really trying to get on even terms with Sky, with much less $$. And Michelton has built an incredible climbing/GC squad in a matter of 2/3 years. It's not rocket science: just hire some quality climbing doms!

BMC's Tour team is clearly going to be a lot stronger than AG2R and probably stronger than MTS as well

Who do you see the squad being?

Porte, TJVG, Caruso, de Marchi, Roche, Teuns, Kung, GVA

 

[Leinster]

Do you think Porte is going to have a teammate alongside himself later in the day than Bardet or Yates in the high mountains?

 

[Breh]

Re:

Do you think Porte is going to have a teammate alongside himself later in the day than Bardet or Yates in the high mountains?

I expect Froome, Poels and maybe Bernal to be there

 

[MADRAZO]

Re: Re:

l[/quote]

Who do you see the squad being?[/quote]

Porte, TJVG, Caruso, de Marchi, Roche, Teuns, Kung, GVA[/quote]

Porte, Van Garderen, GVA, Küng and Caruso are certain

Cant see De Marchi riding the TDF also having ridden Giro and Suisse, if he was an option he would normally have skipped Tour De Suisse. I also doubt there will be room for Teuns, leaving Roche, Bookwalter, Schär, Bevin or Gerrans to fight for the last 3 spots.

 

[RedheadDane]

Kragh Andersen referring to himself as a "little fat Dane" to Danish television.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Kangert and Gatto down the road

I will bet you Fuglsang is attacking the last climb early, to try and make up the 1,30 he is behind

 

[Frankschleck]

Re:

Kangert and Gatto down the road

I will bet you Fuglsang is attacking the last climb early, to try and make up the 1,30 he is behind

Nah Kangert has a better chance. BMC might have trouble controlling this.

 

[search]

Re:

Kragh Andersen referring to himself as a "little fat Dane" to Danish television.

sounds better than "the big wheelsucker", what he proved to be yesterday

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Kragh Andersen referring to himself as a "little fat Dane" to Danish television.

sounds better than "the big wheelsucker", what he proved to be yesterday

He had a perfect alibi, in Keldermans and Omens position on GC, and Monfort being in virtual yellow.... and every time the others started looking at him, he took the lead for a few seconds, to keep the peace

Smart ride by the kid

 

[Frankschleck]

Re: Re:

Kragh Andersen referring to himself as a "little fat Dane" to Danish television.

sounds better than "the big wheelsucker", what he proved to be yesterday

hahahhahaha pretty funny. The danish gerrans.

 

[search]

even with a 5 minute lead in GC after yesterday's stage, Monfort would still have managed to finish behind them somehow. If there's any rider no one needs to worry about at all, it's him

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Kangert and Gatto down the road

I will bet you Fuglsang is attacking the last climb early, to try and make up the 1,30 he is behind

Nah Kangert has a better chance. BMC might have trouble controlling this.

A lot of the guys out in front, are there to be of help on the last climb, for a captain attacking from behind...... so they won't let the gap grow too big.

Halfway to the climb, if the gap grows too much, you will see a lot of the GC teams guys in the break. stop to pull and leave it to the guys going for the stage win.

I say they hit the last climb with 2-3 minutes max.

In the case of Fuglsang, the only way he is not attacking, is if he is having a bad day.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Broccoli, comma rules in Denmark: place as many as possible. The more the merrier! In English, however.. your sentences get weird to read.

Porte to destroy them all today

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Broccoli, comma rules in Denmark: place as many as possible. The more the merrier! In English, however.. your sentences get weird to read.

Porte to destroy them all today

Too bad - here are some more for you ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

If Porte has timed his form too early, as suspected, he will destroy them all today - so I think you are right

 

[Robert5091]

"little fat Dane"

Too many Danish pastries?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

"little fat Dane"

Too many Danish pastries?

Blasphemy!

One can NEVER have too many danish pastries!

 

[Yingge]

Don't get too excited about the final climb, even though the profile suggests otherwise, its only the last few kilometres that will decide things, the HC beats me, probably the distance from base to top. I remember going up there by train some years back, and the railway (adhesion, not rack) only curves around for the last few kilometers into town.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Don't get too excited about the final climb, even though the profile suggests otherwise, its only the last few kilometres that will decide things, the HC beats me, probably the distance from base to top. I remember going up there by train some years back, and the railway (adhesion, not rack) only curves around for the last few kilometers into town.

Looks like a climb which is steep at first - and in the end - with a big "flat" section in the middle.

That suggests to me, that a captain needs to attack the first section, and then have guys out in front, to pull on the flat, to then go solo up the final ramp.

However, I have not been there, like you, so the first part may not be steep enough for an attack?

 

[Robert5091]

final climb

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Love seeing Albasini riding this well, with his grey beard for all to see

 

[Broccolidwarf]

1 K to the start of the climb for the favorites - EF and Lotto J pulling the peloton.