Tour of Murcia - 4th to 6th March

[Ryo Hazuki]

yeah that is average but there are steeper parts in it. there's even little downhil in it so don't know what steep[est parts are.

 

[The Hitch]

Geox can really put out a decent line up when they put all eggs in one race:

1 MENCHOV Denis Russia
2 SASTRE CANDIL Carlos Spain
3 BLANCO RODRIGUEZ David Spain
4 COBO ACEBO Juan Jose Spain
5 DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres Colombia
6 DURÁN AROCA Arkaitz Spain
7 VALLS FERRI Rafael Spain

If they send that to the Giro then it will be awesome. Unless they all just have to put in shifts for Menchov.

But half those guys can on good form finish with heads of states or just behind on climbs.

I hope its true that theyll let Duarte do what he wants.

 

[rantanplan]

Stage 1
San Pedro del Pinatar - Alhama de Murcia 178,7km

Stage 2
Estrella de Levante (Murcia) - Centro de Interpretación de Sierra Espuña 183,2 km

Stage 3
Murcia - Murcia 12,4km Individual time trial.

[Startlist][Official Site][Previous Winners][Weather

Daily roundup videos here

Last years top 3
Rabon (HTC-Columbia), 2nd Menchov (Rabobank) +38s, 3rd Wiggins (Sky) +53s

No live coverage, text tickers daily at Biciciclismo. Evening highlights.

That profile are no very realistic.

See those better:

http://plataformarecorridosciclistas.org/2011/03/02/vuelta-a-murcia-2011/

(with analisis and participation, sorry in spanish)

 

[rantanplan]

Hmm, the hill on the 1st stage is not what it seems, 1,9% average over 15km

Even Bos must survive that

This is the profile



http://www.cicloturistas.org/altimetrias_murcia/perfiles/coladelcaballo.html

No hard at all

 

[jaylew]

Thought I'd post them. Thanks for the link, rantanplan.

These look a lot different.

 

[Descender]

Stage 1: mass sprint
Stage 2: mountain stage, very nice actually, not only the climb but also de descent is very tricky:

Climb:

Descent: http://unavueltamejor.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/aerea-herraduras-bermejo.png

Stage 3: ITT


A là Criterium International.

 

[Kazistuta]

Considering race form I don't think guys like Menchov will show anything. The same goes for Nieve, who would have been a great outside pick. Contador is known for having a high lower level and should never be left out of the equation.

Riders how've shown some form and might do well in this race:

The aforementioned Duarte
JuanJo Cobo (sigh!)
Sergio Pardilla
Jerome Coppel

@TSF: Possoni would be my Sky pick for this race.

After evaluating the start list, there's actually not so many highrollers enlisted, but a decent amount of B-range climbers/TT'ers. Might reconsider my thoughts about a not-in-form rider not being able to win this race.

My personal top5:
1. Contador
2. Pardilla
3. Slagter
4. Possoni
5. Nieve

 

[Anonymous]

Thought I'd post them. Thanks for the link, rantanplan.

These look a lot different.

looks not nearly so scary.. to be fair, the ones at the start of the thread were taken straight from the official site

that site is actually completely scathing of the official road book saying its full of mistakes.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't think Contador will win here, it's too short in stages.

So, my guess is Geox will do something here? If they're going, I don't know what squad they'll send.

 

[Jakob747]

I remember Pablo Lechuga dropping everyone on Collado Bermajo (a selective front-group later formed after the decent) yet he still managed to snatch the win in the decimated group sprint. Vuelta a Cartagena back in 2009.

I hope the sweet memories of the climb triggers something within him and he puts on a decent showing. It would be nice to see him blossom among the professionals. As a junior he was right up there potential wise with Peter Sagan and Michal Kwiatkowski.

It most probably won’t happen though!

I am also excited to see Jordi Simon and Carlos Verona on the big scene as well, some of Spain’s finest talent right there. No need to mention Jesus Herrada as he already has landed his pro-tour contract.

Enough about the young guns.

Among the established names : Sergio Pardilla - Morris Possoni - Fabio Duarte - Steven Kruijswijk - Jerome Coppel. These are the five I am most looking forward to follow.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Duarte showed nice form on the weekend. He is one of the few colombians I don't find overrated here (or not succeding in europe might be a better way to put it). Could do well here no doubt.

I'll be keeping tabs on Kruijswijk, had an excellent debut season, while staying quite low key. Not sure he'll do much here tho.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Duarte showed nice form on the weekend. He is one of the few colombians I don't find overrated here (or not succeding in europe might be a better way to put it). Could do well here no doubt.

I'll be keeping tabs on Kruijswijk, had an excellent debut season, while staying quite low key. Not sure he'll do much here tho.

that's because he's all you have seen until now

I've been talking about duarte since many years before I came here you were sure to find him overrated then as well(last year). but now you just can't ignore it anymore. as with the coming ones.

 

[Havetts]

Ryo, do you get a hard one everytime you or someone else mentiones a colombian. Just a question.. =/

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Ryo, do you get a hard one everytime you or someone else mentiones a colombian. Just a question.. =/

not only then

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

that's because he's all you have seen until now

I've been talking about duarte since many years before I came here you were sure to find him overrated then as well(last year). but now you just can't ignore it anymore. as with the coming ones.

dude the guy was espoirs wc in 08'. An indication the guy might have what it takes in europe. Admittedtly I don't passionately follow the s/america circuit but I am aware (and was before I even knew of your exsistance) of it.
It was long before last year I thought the guy had talent. I've never said a negative word about this particular colombian.
I don't need you to bring any rider to my attention. Your idea that colombia is going to dominate cycling is delusional. Winning in S/america, is not a given success in Europe. I understand you have difficulty understanding the difference between higher standard and better entertainment

I'm sure a few of these guys will do well in europe (I maintain that a lot of them will probably be invisible on the big scene). But your biased and constant whinning about colombians has not convinced me whatsoever

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dangerous ground Timmy, why did you have to go and do that for

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

because, clearly the dutch are gonna dominate cycling not colombia
I kid of course.

 

[Anonymous]

live text feed (spanish)
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=36291

translated
http://translate.google.com/transla...6291&hl=en&langpair=es|en&tbb=1&ie=ISO-8859-1

 

[Jamsque]

Break of the day is away and has nearly a four minute gap:

Verona (Burgos 2016-Castilla y León), Lechuga (Andalucía-Caja Granada), Mangel (Saur Sojasun), Timmer (Skil-Shimano), Keizer (Vacansoleil), Alcaraz (KTM-Murcia).

 

[bohino11]

Is there any streams available for this race today?

 

[The Hitch]

Unfortunately no.

No live coverage, text tickers daily at Biciciclismo. Evening highlights.

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately no.

I do wish people would learn to read threads. Im sure the first page of all race pages are spent telling people what has already been said

 

[El Pistolero]

Break of the day is away and has nearly a four minute gap:

Verona (Burgos 2016-Castilla y León), Lechuga (Andalucía-Caja Granada), Mangel (Saur Sojasun), Timmer (Skil-Shimano), Keizer (Vacansoleil), Alcaraz (KTM-Murcia).

That's a cool name

 

[Ferminal]

Km 106 (at 72 km from target). The squad is known master of the situation and drive the difference to your whim. Last reference to the 6 escapees: 2:36 after provisioning.

Thanks for the translation.

 

[sublimit]

Km 106 (at 72 km from target). The squad is known master of the situation and drive the difference to your whim. Last reference to the 6 escapees: 2:36 after provisioning.

Thanks for the translation.

Poetry!? Very nice.