Tour Méditerranéen 2.1 (6th-10th February)

[Ryo Hazuki]

this is their first race. remember their first race last year?

besides they had snow, storms, rain. couldn't be worse yet they sitll performed well. all other teams have had one more stagerace in their legs at least. that's a big difference. see peraud who also did san luis

 

[janraaskalt]

see peraud who also did san luis

how about lofkvist?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

how about lofkvist?

in better shape right now then the colombians, nothing bad with considering they are to focus on the giro, not paris nice

 

[janraaskalt]

in better shape right now then the colombians, nothing bad with considering they are to focus on the giro, not paris nice

Yes, but now you are mixing things. Lofkvist did not ride (a stage race) this season and is in good shape. Ergo, that cannot be the main reason why Colombians did well/bad in Le Tour Med.

I agree that the important goals for Colombia are in the future. All considering, in that perspective, the results of them weren't of any importance. Don't try to make it look good though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yes, but now you are mixing things. Lofkvist did not ride (a stage race) this season and is in good shape. Ergo, that cannot be the main reason why Colombians did well/bad in Le Tour Med.

I agree that the important goals for Colombia are in the future. All considering, in that perspective, the results of them weren't of any importance. Don't try to make it look good though.

why not. I find them to be good for most riders

 

[Pentacycle]

And you're a fan of Rodriguez, wheelsucker extraordinaire

At least Rodriguez's won some decent races and podiumed two GT's, my comment had nothing to do with him. What I was trying to say was that Mollema doesn't have the best sprint most of the times(although it's often claimed he does have a good sprint) and that's why he should attack more often.

Purito on the other hand is one of the best punchers, he knows he can wheelsuck and win easily. He's pure class, so he can indeed wheelsuck until the last km, and then attack or sprint ftw. Mollema isn't as good, that's why he should use some better tactics.

 

[cineteq]

Purito on the other hand is one of the best punchers, he knows he can wheelsuck and win easily. He's pure class, so he can indeed wheelsuck until the last km, and then attack or sprint ftw. Mollema isn't as good, that's why he should use some better tactics.

+1
You forgot to address that wheelsucking uphill is overrated. theyoungest is jelous because he has no one to root for who can win.

 

[theyoungest]

+1
You forgot to address that wheelsucking uphill is overrated. theyoungest is jelous because he has no one to root for who can win.

Wheelsucking uphill isn't overrated at all, that's what Purito demonstrates time and time again. He wheelsucked his way to a podium in the Giro.

Of course he makes clever use of his capabilities, but that's not the point here.

At least Rodriguez's won some decent races and podiumed two GT's, my comment had nothing to do with him. What I was trying to say was that Mollema doesn't have the best sprint most of the times(although it's often claimed he does have a good sprint) and that's why he should attack more often.

Purito on the other hand is one of the best punchers, he knows he can wheelsuck and win easily. He's pure class, so he can indeed wheelsuck until the last km, and then attack or sprint ftw. Mollema isn't as good, that's why he should use some better tactics.

At Mollema's age Rodriguez wasn't as good as Mollema

It's just ironic that you should criticize him for wheelsucking. It's the only thing Mollema can do.

 

[ingsve]

how about lofkvist?

Löfkvist said in an interview that he has trained very well this winter without interuptions and that his test results during training has given him his confidence back and has gotten him excited about the new season. This probably had a lot to do with his win.

He also tends to be fairly good at the start of the year. He has finished top 10 in his first stage race of the year in 8 of the 10 years he's been a pro.

 

[Pentacycle]

At Mollema's age Rodriguez wasn't as good as Mollema

Mollema at 26:
>stage Tour of Poland
>Points jersey Vuelta, 4th place GC
>top 10 in the 3 Ardennes races

Purito at the same age(until 2005):
>stage Paris-Nice
>Mountain jersey and stage win in Vuelta
>Semana Catalana
>2 spanish one-day races

Purito wins more but has less endurance, Mollema is the better GC and classics rider.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

when purito was that young all his opponents were juiced pretty maximal.

 

[El Pistolero]

when purito was that young all his opponents were juiced pretty maximal.

Most likely including him(well not as much as the top riders of that time obviously). But Rodriguez was a domestique for most of his career, so you can't really compare him to Mollema.

 

[theyoungest]

Mollema at 26:
>stage Tour of Poland
>Points jersey Vuelta, 4th place GC
>top 10 in the 3 Ardennes races

Purito at the same age(until 2005):
>stage Paris-Nice
>Mountain jersey and stage win in Vuelta
>Semana Catalana
>2 spanish one-day races

Purito wins more but has less endurance, Mollema is the better GC and classics rider.

One is a 33 year old late bloomer (and former helper to Valverde), the other is a 26 year old late starter in cycling. Both of them like to wheelsuck, that's true