Tour du Romandie: 27 April - 2 May 2010

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Libertine Seguros

Libertine Seguros

Feb 20, 2010
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Especially since he was on SL Benfica and Liberty Seguros Continental in '08-'09. Perfect opportunity to get rid of him on the bio-passport while he's still remembered (5th in the '05 Vuelta, remember) but not a big enough name to damage the sport much, tucked away on Portuguese continental teams as he was. I have no idea how he's still riding without ANYthing against his name (in a legal sense).

See, Liberty Seguros pulled sponsorship last year with the "we can't be associated with scandal" line (whoops!) after 3 riders test positive, that gave them a while before the end of the season to test and analyse the rest of the team, looking for evidence of team doping and so on (Xacobeo fired their ex-Liberty Seguros doctor in the Vuelta on the day after Guerra/Nozal/Ribeiro's positives were announced). And yet, far from being ostracised, the rest of the team have had no trouble - Plaza and Cardoso have moved up to the ProTour, while LA-Paredes Rota dos Movéis (part sponsored by the ex sponsors of the disgraced LA-MSS!) sought to improve their reputation by getting rid of all of their ex-Puerto names, only to replace them with ex-Liberty Seguros names!

Oh, and Liberty couldn't stay out of cycling for long, they bought out an amateur team and are still on the Portuguese roads today. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times?
 
T

theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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Dekker_Tifosi said:
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 :)
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Of course it's a bit of a surprise. He hasn't done much in an international TT since. Cycling isn't maths, you know. But it seems he's finally coming into his own this season. He seemed the strongest in KBK, too bad Traksel simply has a much better sprint.
 
F

Ferminal

Jul 3, 2009
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Jamsque said:
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.
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Scenarios for today.

1) Bunch Sprint - Cavendish
2) Select Sprint - Valverde, Sagan
3) Crazy attack from a select group - Sagan, Gilbert

I think it will be a bunch sprint. Can't see any of the 2nd tier sprinters outdoing Cav... Davis :rolleyes:
 
tgsgirl

tgsgirl

Feb 18, 2010
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Ferminal said:
3) Crazy attack from a select group - Sagan, Gilbert
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I don't think Gilbert will be doing much. He only asked for a slot in Romandie as he was afraid he wouldn't have the number one UCI spot after the Ardennes with Rodriguez doing so well, and he really wanted to be numero uno. But he has it now even without doing well in Romandie, so I expect him to just be cruising in the bunch.

He'll probably win a stage or three now that I've said that.
 
TRDean

TRDean

Mar 18, 2009
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theyoungest said:
Of course it's a bit of a surprise. He hasn't done much in an international TT since. Cycling isn't maths, you know. But it seems he's finally coming into his own this season. He seemed the strongest in KBK, too bad Traksel simply has a much better sprint.
Click to expand...

Too bad nothing...Traksel was simply stronger.
 
sportzchick

sportzchick

Apr 8, 2009
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auscyclefan94 said:
I thought Bobridge may of been a little higher being a great pursuiter at the current time.

Can anyone tell me about Rick Flens?
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I wouldnt of thought so Aus

Note to other forumers making similar silly satements - the kid is only what 18?, 19? Give him a chance to get some experiance and allow him to learn his cycling lessons first for Christ sake!
 
TRDean

TRDean

Mar 18, 2009
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sportzchick said:
I wouldnt of thought so Aus

Note to other forumers making similar silly satements - the kid is only what 18?, 19? Give him a chance to get some experiance and allow him to learn his cycling lessons first for Christ sake!
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I thougt ACF was correct is guessing that Bobridge would have a better time in the prologue..you must not know much about the guy...It would not have surprised me if he had podiumed in the prologue. He is a world class TT rider, in the shorter events. Granted, he is still honing abilites such as cornering and such...but none the less ACFs comment was at least rational!
 
DJ Sprtsch

DJ Sprtsch

May 14, 2009
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Three non-starters today: Froome, Novoa and Duran.
The break had a 2.25 advantage, but that was 30 minutes ago.In the break Andrey Zets from Astana (but shouldn't it be Zelits?), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ - 20 next month) & Chad Beyer (BMC).
 
sportzchick

sportzchick

Apr 8, 2009
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TRDean said:
I thougt ACF was correct is guessing that Bobridge would have a better time in the prologue..you must not know much about the guy...It would not have surprised me if he had podiumed in the prologue. He is a world class TT rider, in the shorter events. Granted, he is still honing abilites such as cornering and such...but none the less ACFs comment was at least rational!
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is it - expecting a 17 or 18 old to just step in and be invincible? I know alot thanks very much - a great tallent but is young and needs time to put potential into practic

Give the kid some time before we say 'oh he should of done this or that' Far out....

I cant see that as being reasonable
 
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issoisso

Mar 18, 2009
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Not invincible, but prologues are usually a good indicator of who can develop to be very good in the future.

Great riders tend to start out by showing well in prologues and nothing else. Even pure climbers, amazingly!
 
TRDean

TRDean

Mar 18, 2009
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sportzchick said:
is it - expecting a 17 or 18 old to just step in and be invincible? I know alot thanks very much - a great tallent but is young and needs time to put potential into practic

Give the kid some time before we say 'oh he should of done this or that' Far out....

I cant see that as being reasonable
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First of all...he is not 17 or 18...he is not a junior any more. And nobody said anything about invincible? Those are your words.
 
sportzchick

sportzchick

Apr 8, 2009
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and they were everyone elses insinuations

and hes not a junior anymore - big deal....doesnt mean you automatically know it all

now am i be able to find out where i can find the race online before the insults fly - which im sure they will since i dont agree with everyone

thank you
 
python

python

Sep 25, 2009
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issoisso said:
Not invincible, but prologues are usually a good indicator of who can develop to be very good in the future.

Great riders tend to start out by showing well in prologues and nothing else. Even pure climbers, amazingly!
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generally true but a lot depends on the course layout and altimetry. occasional climbers do excell in prologues but powerfull sprinters show themselves more frequenly as the anaerobic effort proportion becomes more pronounced the shorter the effort.

as i said above, aerobic fitness, experience, bike handling skill and big balls all play an important role.

don't know anything about bobrige's big balls, but at 19 and coming from track he certainly lacks road experience and skill.

under the circumstance, 10 seconds back in a 5 minute twisty ride is fine in my book. just 1 or two longer coasting/soft-pedaling turns can knock out your average power by 5-10%.
 
sportzchick

sportzchick

Apr 8, 2009
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that is a more diplomatic answer than what I can give

Like I said, we should give the kid a chance to develope -wouldnt that be logical
 
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Sasquatch

Sep 16, 2009
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I don't think the Bobridge comments are over the top in regards to his prologue performance.

Let's remember he has a brilliant 4000m record and he is the reigning Under 23 World Time Trial champion, in which he blitzed the field. Granted, it was a longer race, but still, he has the results on the board and there are nothing wrong with the comments that he didn't put in a good performance.

If he doesn't come top 20 in the time trial later in the week, then he's underperformed. Top 10 and podium is definately not out of the question for a man of his skills. In fact, Top 10 would be where he expects to finish. He is certainly capable of it.

The comments are rational and not over the top. Let it go.
 
DJ Sprtsch

DJ Sprtsch

May 14, 2009
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The breakaway rolls along steadily 9 minutes ahead of the peloton.
Yvon Madiot (FDJ) wants to put Roy in yellow, but expects a bunch sprint today.
Roy took the remaining KOM points at the first summit ahead of Casar (Casar lead out?).
 
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