Tour of Oman

[euanli]

I think Cav and Goss get along well. Cav wants people in the team to win. He tried to get a win for Goss in the Vuelta and Cav admits that Goss is probably one of the few sprinters he is actually scared of racing again.

But they are essentially different animals.

 

[ingsve]

Yeah, but why is that? Shouldn't this be a more interesting race than Qatar? And aren't the same guys behind it?

Qatar has been going on for 10 years now and only recently got TV rights. Oman was new last year and it probably takes a while to get things organized to sell the rights to a race etc. Last year it was basically more of the same compared to Qatar but with this new course it can probably get TV coverage fairly soon I hope.

 

[ingsve]

yeah but as DT mentioned goss is superior in other areas. Heck Goss would be a chance for green and msr if cav wasn't in his team (imo anyway).
Surely there will come a point, where goss will want to be leader at the races he wants.

And cav's ego was a problem. agreed. If things continue like this, how long till cav starts to get jealous or defensive towards goss?

Ya, that's true. It will be interesting to see if Goss is in the MSR squad. If he is I wonder if he will be forced to help get Cav over the climbs or if he'l just do his own race and help Cav doesn't make it back.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I was certain oman was on tv last year tho... probably confused tho.

 

[will10]

Ya, that's true. It will be interesting to see if Goss is in the MSR squad. If he is I wonder if he will be forced to help get Cav over the climbs or if he'l just do his own race and help Cav doesn't make it back.

Goss is better suited to tougher races, expect he'll have a good crack at the classics this season. Would expect HTC to take Goss as a backup for MSR but then I said the same about Greipel last year

 

[ingsve]

I was certain oman was on tv last year tho... probably confused tho.

It was delayed just like this year.

 

[Faserr]

After last year, HTC should be smart enough to include Goss as a backup. Greipel wouldn't have weakend the team last year and it's the same with Goss this year. Cavendish is not at 100%, I think he has problems with tougher courses this year again.
So better line up two favorites than just one.

 

[taiwan]

Goss is better suited to tougher races, expect he'll have a good crack at the classics this season. Would expect HTC to take Goss as a backup for MSR but then I said the same about Greipel last year

I think the problem was that Greipel and Cavendish didn't get on and couldn't ride on the same team. Goss could ride for Cav, and then sprint for himself if Cav drops off.

 

[Christian]

Dammit Bennati ... reminds me of the late Zabel years at Milram. Always in the mix, never quite there. But it certainly shows he is motivated and in good shape. My hope is that he can win stages in the Giro or Vuelta.

 

[taiwan]

Maybe Goss will be the protected sprinter at La Vuelta this year, seems iikely. If there isn't an overlap with Cav this season, next year he could go to a new team-problem solved.

 

[ingsve]

Maybe Goss will be the protected sprinter at La Vuelta this year, seems iikely. If there isn't an overlap with Cav this season, next year he could go to a new team-problem solved.

Unless it's Cav that goes to another team. The Sky rumours around him still persist.

 

[taiwan]

Unless it's Cav that goes to another team. The Sky rumours around him still persist.

Good for Sky, because they don't have a potential GT winner, and I keep thinking Boasson Hagen's too young for major classics success. I could see them shelling out for Cav if they could possibly afford him.

 

[ruswilks]

Maybe Goss will be the protected sprinter at La Vuelta this year, seems iikely. If there isn't an overlap with Cav this season, next year he could go to a new team-problem solved.

I'd be surprised if Cav isn't at the Vuelta as Worlds preparation...

 

[taiwan]

I'd be surprised if Cav isn't at the Vuelta as Worlds preparation...

I just read somewhere he's doing the Giro.

Here we are.

Unless he rides all three GTs.

 

[roundabout]

Stage results now up. Apart from Casar who seems to be very much out of form no potential GC contenders lost meaningful time today.

http://s288581967.onlinehome.fr/res...etape=-1&type=0&menu_live=5&menu=1&race=51744

 

[Boardslide]

I just read somewhere he's doing the Giro.

Here we are.

Unless he rides all three GTs.

Cav has said that he'll be starting all three GTs this year.

 

[Winterfold]

There's a lot of names I'd have expected to contest the sprint in the big group at 10 minutes back. And quite a few hard men as well.

Anyone know why it split?

 

[theyoungest]

There's a lot of names I'd have expected to contest the sprint in the big group at 10 minutes back. And quite a few hard men as well.

Anyone know why it split?

Have you checked the profile?

 

[ingsve]

Have you checked the profile?

The climb didn't really seem that hard on the profile and it seemed like there would be enough time for stragglers to get back. I guess a lot of teams were happy with who they had left so they didn't bother trying perhaps.

 

[Winterfold]

you mean this one?

yes - I could get over that, and I would certainly expect a MSR winner, Boonen, Hammond, Arvesen etc to not get dropped on it.

Unless it there is a type and it is 1395m and not 395m

I think ingsve is right - they were happy with the selection and did not bother trying to get back on.

 

[theyoungest]

you mean this one?

yes - I could get over that, and I would certainly expect a MSR winner, Boonen, Hammond, Arvesen etc to not get dropped on it.

Unless it there is a type and it is 1395m and not 395m

It's 395 m in 4 kms. The math isn't very hard on that one: 10% average.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

It's 395 m in 4 kms. The math isn't very hard on that one: 10% average.

Too hard for you. Sorry.


Although you could be right. It's not clear is it?

 

[Winterfold]

Even allowing for your basic error - How much time can you put into someone on a climb like that?

No way 10 minutes ie 2.5 minutes a km

 

[theyoungest]

Even allowing for your basic error - How much time can you put into someone on a climb like that?

No way 10 minutes ie 2.5 minutes a km

No, of course not. At some point the chasing group didn't bother anymore, because they found it was a mission impossible. But you asked why it split, well, this is why it split.

And yes, I know the climb isn't 395 m, more like 365 m, but that still makes for a steep climb.

 

[Winterfold]

Ok, hill caused some gap, general happiness with selection so cannot be ar5ed explains the rest