Tour of the Basque Country 2012

[Vino attacks everyone]

Kiserlovski (and Kessiakoff for that matter) is unproven over 3 weeks. Kreuziger is a nailed on top 10 finisher in most GTs.

I know, I know, I know................ I just don't like they guy, he doesn't look like having the guts he should have to be a captain in team Vino...

 

[will10]

I know, I know, I know................ I just don't like they guy, he doesn't look like having the guts he should have to be a captain in team Vino...

Compared to Kiserlovski a.k.a. the invisible man?

 

[El Pistolero]

we have gilbert, VINO, greipel, tom, even evans (i know he is small)..

He's talking about climbers. Only Vino and Evans are climbers in your example.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Compared to Kiserlovski a.k.a. the invisible man?

here in basque, i can agree with you, but did you see last yrs Paris Nice for an example (before the fall ofc) he was very aggressive, while Kreuziger in this years Paris Nice sat on Horners wheel for 100000 km instead of attacking in the hills

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

He's talking about climbers. Only Vino and Evans are climbers in your example.

and only Vino is a good one

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Kiserlovski (and Kessiakoff for that matter) is unproven over 3 weeks. Kreuziger is a nailed on top 10 finisher in most GTs.

He got 10th in 2010 Giro

Since Kiserlovski keeps getting top 10 results in WT stage racce GC's, I reckon Astana should start the Giro with two captains, Kreuziger and Kiserlovski.

 

[search]

it's not flat at all. the climbing parts are 10-15% even. however I wonder does anyone have a route of the itt? is it technical?? I can't find anything

I was interested in that as well. took me a while, roadbook is quite confusing and some streets seem to be missing on google maps, so it's not 100% accurate but you might get an idea:

Google-Maps Link

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Martin, S.Sanchez and Peraud for top 3 in GC

 

[Angliru]

he didn't? i could swear i saw something different in TA

Nibali outsprinted him but I wouldn't define what occurred there as Horner being dropped.

 

[theyoungest]

Nibali outsprinted him but I wouldn't define what occurred there as Horner being dropped.

I think he means the stage Nibali won.

 

[Angliru]

Funny how attacking on the final climb and soloing to stage and ultimately overall victory doesn't count.

My bad. I was thinking of the stage Sagan controversially won. You're correct. Nibali dropped him. 16 seconds certainly constitutes being dropped.

 

[rghysens]

Sanchez for GC, Martin 2nd.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well, that was a nice, hard 700m. Shame the other 150km were far too easy to make it matter in the grand scheme of things.

is this the same climb purito won last year there?

No, that was in Zumarraga. That climb was only about 2km long but was very steep; this one was about 6km of false flat followed by 700 steep metres. The year before that J-Rod's annual País Vasco win was in Orio, after the Alto de Aia, one of the toughest climbs in the region.

Except that he isn't. He might even score another third but is never gonna win. Henao showed he can bid for the win.

What's the reason of Madrazo wearing glasses even in post race interview? He doesn't wear them in the race I hope?

Prescription sunglasses/lenses I think. He has very poor eyesight and I don't think I've ever seen him on the bike sans glasses of some kind.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It's starting to scare me the team that they're going to have in TdF .

their tour squad is not going to be impressive

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Well yes, it's not like you don't do anything unless your priority plan fails, just that Urán should be seen as their priority option.

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

 

[cycledan]

Martin's to win

In a 19 km TT, Tony Martin can bring back the 33 seconds on the climbers. The 3 hills on the ITT will cut into the margin that Martin can cut out of the leaders' times. Then again, he only needs to take big time out of Rodriguez and Sanchez. The rest are pretty close. I am hoping that Horner can ride a great ITT and at least hold on to his podium or even move up. He already finished 2nd this year in one race. Another 2nd in a race of this caliber would be great for the 40 year old.

 

[maltiv]

In a 19 km TT, Tony Martin can bring back the 33 seconds on the climbers. The 3 hills on the ITT will cut into the margin that Martin can cut out of the leaders' times. Then again, he only needs to take big time out of Rodriguez and Sanchez. The rest are pretty close. I am hoping that Horner can ride a great ITT and at least hold on to his podium or even move up. He already finished 2nd this year in one race. Another 2nd in a race of this caliber would be great for the 40 year old.

He sure will. Samuel Sanchez has a small chance to hold on, but I highly doubt it.

As for Horner, well, at least he looked human today. Bit surprised really, to see him finish behind Tony Martin. Nevertheless, the final podium will probably be:

1. Tony
2. Samu
3. Horner

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

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

can Henao tt?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

can Henao tt?

not very well on this level. but I still don't know what course it is? technical or long straight roads? if it's technical it suits him better. and the climbs suit him too. still also I am curious to see how he will do. he's not in topshape though yet. and usually he only delivers "good" itt's in great shape or if they are prologues

 

[Zam_Olyas]

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

Who do you think would win then rujano or henao?

 

[search]

not very well on this level. but I still don't know what course it is? technical or long straight roads?

there it is

 

[c&cfan]

He sure will. Samuel Sanchez has a small chance to hold on, but I highly doubt it.

As for Horner, well, at least he looked human today. Bit surprised really, to see him finish behind Tony Martin. Nevertheless, the final podium will probably be:

1. Tony
2. Samu
3. Horner

isn't samu a TT winner even in GTs?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Who do you think would win then rujano or henao?

rujano. no question. henao couldn't lick his boots if he wanted when it comes to real climbing. I also rate quintana higher then henao in real climbing. but I rate henao higher than uran and above all. henao is allround and very consistant. winning the vuelta of colombia at age 22 is something so rare, that only a very select few of colombians great have achieved that. martin cochise (former world champion and world hourrecord holder), rafael nino and fabio parra. and henao beat rujano in that vuelta. it was an incredible vuelta. raced very hard and at great level. he showed being a true leader. never once being in danger, despite him having to softpedal everywhere for sevilla until he got into leaders jersey by simply following the better riders.

if you ever want know check some of the vuelta colombia 2010 footage on youtube. admittedely rujano was not in the great shape that he was in 2009 but it was still impressive.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

isn't samu a TT winner even in GTs?

samu likes longer itt's

 

[maltiv]

isn't samu a TT winner even in GTs?

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.