Tour Méditerranéen 2.1 (6th-10th February)

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Its about licences. now 6 circuits of 25K. well hope it are either good circuits

It looks good on the (now outdated?) stage profile. I actually hope they will do the circuit 6 times instead as it looks like it will be harder.

 

[Unkown]

I agree, but these days Kreuziger will likely always get stiff competition in most races.



ok, but not sure why.



I think Roche have more upside in 1 week races than Kreuziger.



Boom's ambition level is too high to be a support rider. Not sure about Monfort, current top 5 domestique, but does he want more moving forward?

Monfort has gotten co-leadership at the Vuelta the past 2 years and is always the leader in a few small stage races early on. Think he is satisfied with his role.

 

[Ruudz0r]

It looks good on the (now outdated?) stage profile. I actually hope they will do the circuit 6 times instead as it looks like it will be harder.

Can you post the profile here?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Chris

chris juul-jensen ‏@JensenJuul
Catching your minute man after 5km can be deceiving..Thought I was flying..................Finished 3min down..... Ups ...

 

[Forunculo]

I agree, but these days Kreuziger will likely always get stiff competition in most races.
ok, but not sure why.
I think Roche have more upside in 1 week races than Kreuziger.
Boom's ambition level is too high to be a support rider. Not sure about Monfort, current top 5 domestique, but does he want more moving forward?

This is the first french race of season. So a good performance is always welcome for a french sponsor. IAM is a pro-conti team and their goals are very different from Saxo-Tinkoff

Good for Boom if his ambition is high but Blanco is not gonna find a sponsor because of Boom. He is a good piece of a very good team. Sometimes he have to work for a GC captain. True that Rabo GC captains are a joke most of the times.

Boom is no support rider. He's (co)leader in cobble races and also one-week races which contain ITT and no real climb (like eneco).

Cancellara is an elite cobble rider and had to work for the team captains at Tour de France. Boom hasn't got a strong GC captain in the team. The context of Blanco cycling favours him but you never know. If Blanco dissapear, or a very strong GC rider land on his team he sometimes has to work as a domestique

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You're clearly underestimating Boom.

 

[Forunculo]

You're clearly underestimating Boom.

No, I told he was sublime as always



‏@TourDeJose
Third stage in Tour de Mediterrannee cancelled. Reasons outside of organization cited (via @cyclismactu)

 

[cineteq]

Good for Boom if his ambition is high but Blanco is not gonna find a sponsor because of Boom. He is a good piece of a very good team. Sometimes he have to work for a GC captain. True that Rabo GC captains are a joke most of the times.

That's why Gesink is doing his best to get one.
https://twitter.com/RGUpdate/status/299424607285428224

 

[Ruudz0r]

This is the first french race of season. So a good performance is always welcome for a french sponsor. IAM is a pro-conti team and their goals are very different from Saxo-Tinkoff

Good for Boom if his ambition is high but Blanco is not gonna find a sponsor because of Boom. He is a good piece of a very good team. Sometimes he have to work for a GC captain. True that Rabo GC captains are a joke most of the times.




Cancellara is an elite cobble rider and had to work for the team captains at Tour de France. Boom hasn't got a strong GC captain in the team. The context of Blanco cycling favours him but you never know. If Blanco dissapear, or a very strong GC rider land on his team he sometimes has to work as a domestique

This is not the first french race of the season. There was the Etoille de Besseges (6 stages) and GP cycliste la Marseille

 

[theyoungest]

Good for Boom if his ambition is high but Blanco is not gonna find a sponsor because of Boom. He is a good piece of a very good team. Sometimes he have to work for a GC captain. True that Rabo GC captains are a joke most of the times.

In 2010 Menchov made the podium in the Tour, and Gesink finished 6th (5th). If this were Garmin the hype would know no end

Anyway, Boom isn't born to be a helper. Last year he didn't even want to ride the Tour because he'd be a pure domestique there. The Dutch Gilbert, as it were.

 

[maltiv]

No, I told he was sublime as always



‏@TourDeJose
Third stage in Tour de Mediterrannee cancelled. Reasons outside of organization cited (via @cyclismactu)

Cancelled as in not riding at all or changing route?

Anyway, really happy about Löfkvist's performance today! He was a good TT'er before Sky, but somehow did virtually zero good ITT's there. So it's great to see him back in the top 5 of an ITT, even if it's a small race.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Can you post the profile here?

You posted it yourself.

Tomorrow

Rebellin

The last 50 kms are on the circuit. Triple that and you'll have the alternative stage.

edit: but it seems like they canceled it altogether

 

[Dazed and Confused]

This is the first french race of season. So a good performance is always welcome for a french sponsor. IAM is a pro-conti team and their goals are very different from Saxo-Tinkoff

Good for Boom if his ambition is high but Blanco is not gonna find a sponsor because of Boom. He is a good piece of a very good team. Sometimes he have to work for a GC captain. True that Rabo GC captains are a joke most of the times.

Race in France today, Italy next etc. Same difference. There will always be a bunch of riders who will target a race for various reasons.

IAM a pro conti team and therefore doesn't count in the competition? ok, but surely we can find similar scenarios in most races. To recap: I think Kreuziger belongs around 10 in a TT. Lets see where he lands as the season moves forward. P-N next I believe?

Boom.
My point is he would want a race schedule as captain. Could be on Blanco or another team, but there should be space for it. Monfort is more flexible I think.

Cancellara is a Champion today and I am pretty sure he can decide most of his race schedule.

 

[Forunculo]

This is not the first french race of the season. There was the Etoille de Besseges (6 stages) and GP cycliste la Marseille

You can't compare Etoille and Marseille with Tour Méditerranéen, it's the first time where the french teams are racing against an international peloton at least at high level

 

[Ruudz0r]

Tomorrows stage cancelled.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Tomorrows stage cancelled.

What, why?

 

[cineteq]

What, why?

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=56171&tp=n

 

[will10]

The race is not allowed to start in the suburbs of Marseille, apparently. Weird.

 

[theyoungest]

I think Boom would rather have the Mont Faron stage cancelled

Seems he did the climb on a normal road bike. Smart thinking.

 

[will10]

Hope we get a video of his bike change.

 

[Forunculo]

In 2010 Menchov made the podium in the Tour, and Gesink finished 6th (5th). If this were Garmin the hype would know no end

Anyway, Boom isn't born to be a helper. Last year he didn't even want to ride the Tour because he'd be a pure domestique there. The Dutch Gilbert, as it were.

I'm not a fan of Vaughters but he won il Giro with Hesjedal

The second part wasn't my point. I was talking about Blanco dissapearing at the end of the season, an hypothetical scenario where top teams could offer him a different role (and big money). My point was he would be an excellent superdomestique. Of course depends of his will but it depends of the market too (Financial crisis, LA and Puerto sagas, etc). While he finds the right team where he is no less than a co-captain everything is ok and my point meaningless.

Race in France today, Italy next etc. Same difference. There will always be a bunch of riders who will target a race for various reasons.

IAM a pro conti team and therefore doesn't count in the competition? ok, but surely we can find similar scenarios in most races. To recap: I think Kreuziger belongs around 10 in a TT. Lets see where he lands as the season moves forward. P-N next I believe?

Boom.
My point is he would want a race schedule as captain. Could be on Blanco or another team, but there should be space for it. Monfort is more flexible I think.

Cancellara is a Champion today and I am pretty sure he can decide most of his race schedule.

IAM depends of wild cards so they, more or less, have to be alert (in form) most part of the calender. Kreuziger knows since December what races Saxo goes. Yes, Paris-Nice is the next big goal. With Contador, Evans, Nibali, Wiggo, Froome going to Italy. There are chances for many riders.


I agree Monfort is more flexible and his bank account is glad for that

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

The race is not allowed to start in the suburbs of Marseille, apparently. Weird.

Directvelo says that the finish (circuit around St. Remy), not the start, is the problem.

 

[Lexman]

What, why?

logistical problems ...

 

[Lexman]

here's a very short summary of stage 1 posted by le tour med organisation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oT6ISS5LG0

 

[Ruudz0r]

It really sucks that the stage is cancelled, was looking forward to a stage like this, with this field.