Tour of the Basque Country 2012

[Zam_Olyas]

Cool Down.
Dirty Sanchez is a common term used for many things. A TV show for example
It was just a word game

yea right!

 

[Bavarianrider]

yea right!

I like you, but you really should develop something called humor

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Why would you a mighty German who is wise called him after a tv show or sexual act? [/QUOT

Honestly i didn't know these to things. But i've heared the term "Dirty Sanchez" in various occasions before. Personally i think it sounds pretty cool actually.

I like you, but you really should develop something called humor

Ouch ...fick.. that hurt!!!...ok so, you can take potshot at southern europe whenever you want...sure..

 

[maltiv]

Nordhaug says he was dropped from the peloton on stage 1 because his allergies were so bad, so he has no chance to do a decent performance in the TT unless it rains. Even if it does, I highly doubt he has improved his TT enough to finish in the top 5 overall.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

are you belgian by any chance?

Ah, because only (/always) Belgians criticize Dutch cyclists?

He's Dutch, not Belgian.

I'm interested to see what JVDB can do in the ITT. Last month he made a very good impression, losing less than half a minute on Tony Martin in a 26 km ITT. Not too shabby.

I'm Belgian btw

 

[Frosty]

Well im english and i think today's stage is another one which we all know that JTL would have won if he was taking part so it was a bit of a hollow victory for Purito


There are only small gaps between most of the contenders. Peraud looks an obvious guy to make a big leap forward in the TT. Of the others who havent been mentioned, Spilak TT'ed well in Paris-Nice, maybe he could surprise a few.

 

[greenedge]

Congrats to JROD, he should get on the podium.

Surprised by Horner not going so well.

 

[greenedge]

Oh and hats off to GreenEdge for a nice tactical attempt.
Certainly livened proceedings up.

Yeah i was surprised as well. I thought Albasini was working for Clarke

 

[cineteq]

I'm interested to see what JVDB can do in the ITT. Last month he made a very good impression, losing less than half a minute on Tony Martin in a 26 km ITT. Not too shabby.

I'm Belgian btw

JVB performance has been subpar, he seems to hate cold weather. That's why he's not in my podium.

PS: Good to know you're Belgian...It might come handy next time I need to import my fave beers

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Congrats to JROD, he should get on the podium.

Surprised by Horner not going so well.

There are 19 riders within 1 minute and 29 within 2 minutes. At this point last year there were 11 riders within 1 minute and 18 within 2.

The time trial was hillier then, too.

J-Rod tumbled from 1st overall to 11th, losing 2'08" on the day.

 

[Richeypen]

There are 19 riders within 1 minute and 29 within 2 minutes. At this point last year there were 11 riders within 1 minute and 18 within 2.

The time trial was hillier then, too.

J-Rod tumbled from 1st overall to 11th, losing 2'08" on the day.

If Martin is in form he will lose more than that. Its a shame but everyone knows that Jrod doesn't stand a GC chance in a race with a TT.

 

[hatcher]

Only just got around to watching the final 2k. Exciting little finish that. Love love love seeing Nordhaug* up there again. He's been consistently up there on just about every climb this year. Good to see Poels looking strong; just misjudged the climb a bit.

*of course he is nothing compared to Henao. Nothing.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

JVB performance has been subpar, he seems to hate cold weather. That's why he's not in my podium.

PS: Good to know you're Belgian...It might come handy next time I need to import my fave beers

He's happy with his form, but he's suffering a bit from bad respirations due to a cold. And he's never been great "early" in the season from what i recall. But his ITT have surprised me so far, hence my curiousness.

 

[The Hitch]

He has indeed won a TT in the Vuelta, but he isn't quite at that level in TTs nowadays. Last year he lost 1:17 to Tony Martin in a TT which was much more hilly.

What, so riders are judged by their worst results now?

Samu was crap in the early races last year. He was even getting gapped on descents by his domestiques.

He came 7th in the Tour tt for example, and wasnt even fighting for anything.

 

[hrotha]

I just hope that before giro arrives sky realises henao is a bigger potential gc guy than uran.

So you've finally seen the light regarding Urán's true dominion being the hilly classics rather than the GTs?

 

[karlboss]

1 Martin
2 Sanchez (20 seconds not quite enough)
3 Poels (Westra surprised me so why not?)

 

[Swede1]

Martin should take this fairly easily. I still think Horner will take 2nd with Sanchez in third. Tony to show his GT potential once again!

 

[Euskaltel!]

I dunno about this.
Samu has something to fight for in the Basque Country - that's quite a big thing here. Also, with Samu's TT being pretty damn good and the TT not being flat I do see the possibility of him beating Martin, although you can be sure it'll be close.

As to the other spots? No idea. Horner was disappointing in TA, so maybe JVB who showed some TT prowess earlier this season? Although he's not at his best :/

 

[Roude Leiw]

1. Sanchez
2. Martin
3. Peraud

 

[offbyone]

Martin appears on form, he should win easily.

1)Martin
2)Horner
3)Hesjedal

 

[wirral]

1. Martin
2. Sanchez
3. Horner
4. Peraud (I just threw in an extra bonus place.)

 

[Sophistic]

Martins climbing shape is too good to lose this because of the hills in the ITT, Sanchez should hold 2nd place with the course favoring his skills and if VDB2 brings his new ITT strength he is gonna jump on the podium.

 

[maltiv]

What, so riders are judged by their worst results now?

Samu was crap in the early races last year. He was even getting gapped on descents by his domestiques.

He came 7th in the Tour tt for example, and wasnt even fighting for anything.

That's where I expect him to finish, but usually in a time trial the 2nd or 3rd placed guy is already 30 seconds behind Tony Martin.

Samu also lost almost 30 seconds to Horner in the ITT in 2010, but I guess as he's looking sharper this year.

 

[Red Rick]

Why doesn't Nibali ride? I must have missed that

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So you've finally seen the light regarding Urán's true dominion being the hilly classics rather than the GTs?

uran will never win a gt probably. but he can podium one for sure. so he's a great gt rider, however henao is better. also mentally for this