Tour du Romandie: 27 April - 2 May 2010

[Moondance]

Don't forget Brajkovic, the olympic champion individual pursuit and Kruijswijk and Van Winden are suddenly huge dutch talents?

You learn new things everyday

Well, they're definitely good prospects... But neither are the biggest talents we have walking around.... Michel Kreder

Speaking of him, Kreder might have a shot tomorrow too if Garmin is willing to put in the effort to try to shell out the likes of Cav & Ciolek and Hunter isn't up to scratch... A lot of ifs, but still.

 

[theyoungest]

Well, they're definitely good prospects... But neither are the biggest talents we have walking around.... Michel Kreder

Speaking of him, Kreder might have a shot tomorrow too if Garmin is willing to put in the effort to try to shell out the likes of Cav & Ciolek and Hunter isn't up to scratch... A lot of ifs, but still.

He wasn't great in today's TT, I think he's been racing a little too much for a neo pro.

 

[Moondance]

He wasn't great in today's TT, I think he's been racing a little too much for a neo pro.

Well... It depends on what you consider 'good.' I mean he was in the 70s yes; but he had the same time as Basso, and was only 7 secs slower than Menchov, 9 slower than Kreuziger. Not too bad for a guy who has never shown any TTing ability whatsoever.

 

[theyoungest]

Well... It depends on what you consider 'good.' I mean he was in the 70s yes; but he had the same time as Basso, and was only 7 secs slower than Menchov, 9 slower than Kreuziger. Not too bad for a guy who has never shown any TTing ability whatsoever.

True, but his Catalunya prologue was pretty decent. But never mind, Sagan will take tomorrow's stage anyway, so who cares what Kreder's form is

 

[kukiniloa]

Sagan = Gypsy, Cav

Well... On to tomorrow... I have a feeling it's going to be a Sagan day.

Better yet, i think every day is going to be a Sagan day.

I'm just saying, that's what his name means... gypsy.

I would agree, but Cav wants to prove himself on hilly stages such as tomorrow, in prep for the Grand Tours - he doesn't want another Green Jersey slip away this year. He has probably realized that whining doesn't help win it...
And HTC seems pretty strong.

On another note, what perverted soul has prevented us from getting to see Greipel and Cav one-on-one?? Granted they are different sprinters, but they are, in my opinion, the two best in the game right now. So why in the world are the on the same team?? They even have a little intra-team rivalry going...

Oh well, just another frustrating aspect of this crazy sport...

 

[sportzchick]

it will be interesting to see how Bobridge gets on, also Ben Swift.

Henderson could get this though.

all should be pretty pleased with their efforts IMHO

4th is great for Mick, and only 0.001 second stopped Jack from getting into the top twenty! (best of his teammates too!) 54th for Ben which is pretty good

Gotta give Michael Rogers a shot as well. He's had a really good year so far and with no mtn top finishes, that TT will loom large.

Hopefully he will have a good showing in this race - has the most awful luck with injuries!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yay for Pinotti! He seems like a nice guy. Rogers should be poised for overall honours.

 

[trompe le monde]

I'm just saying, that's what his name means... gypsy.…

I thought the Slovak word for gypsy was cigán?

 

[Sprite0309]

I thought the Slovak word for gypsy was cigán?

You're right

 

[karlboss]

22nd and 10 seconds back isn't too bad for bobridge, but for the guy who has the fastest non superman 4000, did anyone else expect more?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Marco Pinotti - 5.17
Jeremy Roy - 5.20
Rick Flens - 5.21
Haimar Zubeldia - 5.22

I did not think Zubeldia or Pinotti were good short tt'ers.

 

[El Imbatido]

22nd and 10 seconds back isn't too bad for bobridge, but for the guy who has the fastest non superman 4000, did anyone else expect more?

Maybe he got lost, didn't know which way to go since it wasn't round in circles

 

[python]

bobridge did ok

if the prlologue was held on a track, bobridge would win it. the biggest difference between yesterday and the track is of course the amount of soft pedaling time a rider has to spend negotiating turns and curves. something that takes, skill, experiences and balls.

though not overwhelmingly technical, the prologue had several curves. i dont consider it the true representation of the riders tt ability though pinotti is a pure tter.

 

[Moondance]

if the prlologue was held on a track, bobridge would win it. the biggest difference between yesterday and the track is of course the amount of soft pedaling time a rider has to spend negotiating turns and curves. something that takes, skill, experiences and balls.

though not overwhelmingly technical, the prologue had several curves. i dont consider it the true representation of the riders tt ability though pinotti is a pure tter.

Lol.... Precious

 

[karlboss]

I know it was on the road...but 21 guys were better than him. Before it would you have thought he'd be there?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I know it was on the road...but 21 guys were better than him. Before it would you have thought he'd be there?

I thought Bobridge may of been a little higher being a great pursuiter at the current time.

Can anyone tell me about Rick Flens?

 

[Moondance]

I thought Bobridge may of been a little higher being a great pursuiter at the current time.

Can anyone tell me about Rick Flens?

What do you want to know?

 

[theyoungest]

I know it was on the road...but 21 guys were better than him. Before it would you have thought he'd be there?

He'll probably be stronger in the longer TT, later this week.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I thought Bobridge may of been a little higher being a great pursuiter at the current time.

Can anyone tell me about Rick Flens?

It's not the first time Flens had a good performance you know. 2nd in Kuurne Brussel Kuurne, last year he was 6th in the Driedaagse vd Panne TT, 3rd in the Delta Tour prologue (behind Farrar and Elijzen), 3rd at the Dutch National ITT championships.
In 2008 already 6th in the GC of the Driedaagse vd Panne, and in 2007 5th in the GC of the Tour of Belgium.
But in 2007, he was already good in short ITT's, Tour of Denmark 2005 TT:

1. NED FLENS Rick RAB 14'48" 25
2. CZE KREUZIGER Roman LIQ 02" 15
3. ITA PINOTTI Marco TMO 06" 10
4. DEN STEENSEN André GLU 06" 5
5. NOR ARVESEN Kurt Asle CSC 06" 3
6. BEL CORNU Dominique PRL 07" 0
7. SWE BACKSTEDT Magnus LIQ 09" 0
8. GBR CAVENDISH Mark TMO 12" 0
9. BEL ROESEMS Bert PRL 13" 0
10. CZE RABON Frantisek TMO 13" 0

So this TT, 3 years later, can hardly be called a big suprise

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Flens is a strong TT'er. Roy's ride on the other hand..mind boggling.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Roy is having a really good season so far, he won Tro Bro Leon and was a very suprising 21th in La Fleche Wallone

 

[Libertine Seguros]

After burying himself in the pack non-stop at Castilla y León and being in no other televised races, maybe I can finally see the return of the Caisse d'Epargne 'flying fireball' Spanish champs jersey this week, since Plaza has got himself up in the top 10 after the prologue. This is about the first time he's been conspicuous in any way, shape or form since the Volta a Portugal last year. Then again, he's been a dead man walking for about four years now.

 

[craig1985]

Roy is having a really good season so far, he won Tro Bro Leon and was a very suprising 21th in La Fleche Wallone

Call me naive, but I certainly believe Roy is clean.

 

[craig1985]

After burying himself in the pack non-stop at Castilla y León and being in no other televised races, maybe I can finally see the return of the Caisse d'Epargne 'flying fireball' Spanish champs jersey this week, since Plaza has got himself up in the top 10 after the prologue. This is about the first time he's been conspicuous in any way, shape or form since the Volta a Portugal last year. Then again, he's been a dead man walking for about four years now.

How has Plaza not been busted by the Bio Passport? He's hardly a big name in the sport compared to a couple of his team mates.

 

[Jamsque]

I would imagine Plaza will be working for Valverde for most of this race.

So what do we think will happen today, big bunch sprint? There's quite a field of fast men, it could be fun, but the run-in isn't exactly flat. I'm expecting Gilbert to attack in the last 30/40km pretty much every day.