Tour of Oman

[boomcie]

EBH was 7 seconds ahead in the overall standings. So he only needs 37 seconds in the TT. Or where there bonifications in this stage also?

 

[auscyclefan94]

*** edited by mod ***

 

[Contre la montre]

You heard it here first: "Gesink manages to retain his lead after finishing ninth 'contre la montre' only losing 24 seconds to his rival EBH."

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Yup, should be doable on a hilly course.

Also take in mind that they race the TT on normal bikes, not TT bikes. This could be a real advantage for Gesink.

i was about to say this.

he might do it, but ebh did well on the climbs today, not like he wont tomorrow. will be interesting.

 

[will10]

Yup, should be doable on a hilly course.

Also take in mind that they race the TT on normal bikes, not TT bikes. This could be a real advantage for Gesink.

Agreed. The UCI bike regs give Gesink a massive disadvantage when it comes to getting a TT bike to fit him in a decent position, road bikes should narrow the gap to himself and EBH

 

[Moondance]

EBH was 7 seconds ahead in the overall standings. So he only needs 37 seconds in the TT. Or where there bonifications in this stage also?

Certainly. 10 secs for first, 6 for 2nd. So 41 secs should be EBH's advantage.

 

[Frosty]

Denis Devenyns third

 

[Jamsque]

What races is Gesink targeting to be on such good form so early in the year? I'm surprised none of the other climbers in the race managed to follow him.

The time trial should indeed be an interesting show-down, I suspect Gesink will be able to hold on. Remember, though, that he needs a few seconds buffer left at the end of the stage because EBH could well pick up a few bonus seconds on the last day.

 

[Contre la montre]

Considering EBH was second I just realized that other people (better timetrialists then EBH) might still be in with a shot at taking the GC.

 

[theyoungest]

And if (just if) Gesink manages to hold on to his lead tomorrow, he'll have to lean heavily on Theo Bos in that final stage to snatch away some bonus seconds.

EBH won the time trial last year ahead of Cancellara, it had one of the two climbs of this year in it.

 

[boomcie]

Denis Devenyns third

Dries that is.

 

[will10]

Denis Devenyns third

Dries .

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Can you others show some consistency in your posts and actually learn to read. You are acting like a moron. I was just stating what I thought happened in the race and guess what? I WAS RIGHT!!!!!!!!! So get lost!


Again you mis interpret my post. The fact EBH, a sprinter (who can climb alright) finished 2nd on a climb like this says that guys like Fuglsang, Pinotti, Rodriguez and others either didn't have the legs or didn't really try. We must remember that this is February. Now you dutchies always have a go at me for being defensive but I think some of you are acting like little babies.

lol there is only one baby here

what the youngest said was correct, you over praise the littlest achievement of bmc and belittle everything else.

EBH form will naturally be better then those guys considering the time of the season were at. It is more a case of lack of form, then timid riding and not trying to catch gesink

 

[Lanark]

Hagen absolutely demolished the competition last year in the time trial: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=16871

I certainly think he is the favorite for the GC, but still a great ride by Gesink.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

What races is Gesink targeting to be on such good form so early in the year? I'm surprised none of the other climbers in the race managed to follow him.

The time trial should indeed be an interesting show-down, I suspect Gesink will be able to hold on. Remember, though, that he needs a few seconds buffer left at the end of the stage because EBH could well pick up a few bonus seconds on the last day.

His first main goals I suspect are the ardennes, Gesink is the type of rider with consistent form tho, one of his biggest strengths. Almost good in every race he does.

 

[ingsve]

Yup, should be doable on a hilly course.

Also take in mind that they race the TT on normal bikes, not TT bikes. This could be a real advantage for Gesink.

Well, is it really an advantage for Gesink? I would think that if they have TT bikes the diffrence between a specialist and a 2nd tier TTer would be less than if they have road bikes? On the climbs I'm sure Gesink will do better with a road bike than on a TT bike but overall I would think that EBH could push a road bike faster over a TT than Gesink relative to if they had TT bikes.. Also EBH did really well last year in a similar TT where they were also using road bikes.

 

[roundabout]

Dries .

Woah. I mean he's not a bad climber but yet another somewhat surprising result.

 

[theyoungest]

What races is Gesink targeting to be on such good form so early in the year? I'm surprised none of the other climbers in the race managed to follow him.

The time trial should indeed be an interesting show-down, I suspect Gesink will be able to hold on. Remember, though, that he needs a few seconds buffer left at the end of the stage because EBH could well pick up a few bonus seconds on the last day.

Gesink has a very good base form. He's pretty good all year round. And of course he had a point to prove today. Look, I'm still there, even after some difficult personal circumstances.

 

[sublimit]

edit, stating the obvious.

 

[hrotha]

What races is Gesink targeting to be on such good form so early in the year? I'm surprised none of the other climbers in the race managed to follow him.

The time trial should indeed be an interesting show-down, I suspect Gesink will be able to hold on. Remember, though, that he needs a few seconds buffer left at the end of the stage because EBH could well pick up a few bonus seconds on the last day.

Gesink is always in decent form, and this climb suited him perfectly. It was a great performance by EBH, but he can't be a match in this kind of stage.
edit: damn, people, stop posting so fast.

 

[Contre la montre]

Hagen absolutely demolished the competition last year in the time trial: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=16871

I didn't realize last years time gaps were that big.

 

[boomcie]

Considering EBH was second I just realized that other people (better timetrialists then EBH) might still be in with a shot at taking the GC.

Like whom? Apart from Cance? EBH is massively gifted as a time trialist.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hagen absolutely demolished the competition last year in the time trial: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=16871

I certainly think he is the favorite for the GC, but still a great ride by Gesink.

I see, those are pretty big differences. And I only see rouleurs in the top 20

Doesn't seem promising for Gesink. But hey, he got what he wanted, the stage win in the mountains

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

yeah gesink wont win, no need to stress about it

 

[Jamsque]

With the form EBH has I'll be surprised if he isn't top 3 in the time trial, and he has a very realistic chance of winning it. It's just a question of how well Gesink can ride. Cue three pages of 'Gesink sucks at ITT' 'NO HE DOESNT' etc.