Tour of the Basque Country 2012

[Eyeballs Out]

Don't fret, he'll win this. If today's final is the TT course, that's perfect for him. Incredibly technical.

Who knows what the weather gods will serve up ?

Martin will go off half an hour (?) before Sanchez - one of them may get lucky with the draw

I wouldn't be surprised to see Rodriguez put up a decent showing tomorrow either

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Normally Pais Vasco stage 4 and 5 are pretty pointless. The race needs a few city finishes, for money purposes.

Anyway, Sanchez looks stronger than ever. If he isn't gonna win this year, he'll never do it. He should be able to make it in the TT.

2011: Stage 4 to Arrate
2010: Stage 4 to Arrate, stage 5 to Orio (Aia).
2008: Stage 5 to Orio (Aia)
2007: Stage 4 to Lekunberri (Uitzi, Azpirotz), stage 5 to Oiartzun (Jaizkibel, Castillo del Inglés)

This year we had a pointless first 2 stages. This stage looked fairly pointless on paper, but was much better than I'd given it credit for.

As for city finishes, well, there are lots of cities you can finish in in Euskadi and still have major mountain stages without going the MTF route. Oiartzun after Castillo del Inglés as mentioned, Durango after Monte Oiz or Kanpazar, Azkoitia after Azurki, Gernika after Sollube, Bergara after Elosua, Tolosa after Santutxo, Donostia after Igeldo or Jaizkibel, Barakaldo, Sestao, Portugalete or Muskiz after La Reineta or Peñas Negras, Zarautz after Aia, and of course even Bilbao after Artxanda or El Vivero. In País Vasco, a city finish does not mean "got to go with a pretty flat stage" like the Güeñes one. Vitória-Gasteiz is a bit of an exception, however.

 

[hatcher]

At plataformarecorridosciclistas the tt course is described as technical with changes of rythm and also dangerous if it rains. They also described it as "muy ratonero”. Can somebody please translate this?

VERY ratonero.

Hope that helped!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

and Tony had an easy week in the grupetto previously...

but martin in this pais vasco was stronger than last year imo and more motivated

 

[hrotha]

VERY ratonero.

Hope that helped!

Hahaha, awesome

Seriously though, "ratonero" means it's narrow and with lots of sharp turns.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

General:
1. Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) 20:29:18
2. Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) a 9
3. Robert Kiserlovski (Astana) a 26
4. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky) a 33
5. Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) m.t.
6. Sergio Luis Henao (Sky) a 34
7. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) a 35
8. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) a 40
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) m.t.
10. Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nisan) a 44
11. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) a 45
12. Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R) a 45
13. Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar Team) a 50
14. Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) a 51
15. Simon Spilak (Katusha) m.t.
16. Rui Costa (Movistar Team) a 52
17. Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) a 56

Why did you highlight VDB?

 

[Mellow Velo]

At plataformarecorridosciclistas the tt course is described as technical with changes of rythm and also dangerous if it rains. They also described it as "muy ratonero”. Can somebody please translate this?

Unfriendly to big Germans and Rabobank riders.

Yes, I awoke from my "Kiserlovski's got it in the bag" coma, to see a familiar "wall" appear.
Certainly animated the protagonisti..................well, except for Saint Christopher Horner and Michael "whens the TT?" Rogers.

 

[Lupetto]

Seriously though, "ratonero" means it's narrow and with lots of sharp turns.

That's what I was hoping for.

 

[theyoungest]

Unfriendly to big Germans and Rabobank riders.;

Ouch, Grischa Niermann and Paul Martens are doubly cursed.

Why did you highlight VDB?

Since he seems to have found his TT legs again?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Has Sanchez ever proofen that he is good at technical TT?
In Prologues, which are technical", he 's not really good at all.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

true. also sanchez prefers more power courses and long in itt. but martin sucks so hard in technical rainy itt's that it should be no problem I'm afraid

 

[Flamin]

Hahaha, awesome

Seriously though, "ratonero" means it's narrow and with lots of sharp turns.

Comes from ratón (= a mouse), right? Funny word then, ratonero.

 

[cineteq]

Why did you highlight VDB?

He might have a shot to podium
The fact that he finished 7 sec. behind Purito and Samu is a good sign.

 

[Arnout]

true. also sanchez prefers more power courses and long in itt. but martin sucks so hard in technical rainy itt's that it should be no problem I'm afraid

You support Martin all of a sudden?

 

[hatcher]

Marcus Ljungqvist describes the TT thusly:

"We’ve just been looking at the course now and it’s not a normal TT – it’s going to be brutal; short, steep climbs, very narrow roads and tricky downhills.

"There is a section in the middle where you can really ride but it’s very technical and not the sort of TT we’re used to."

 

[Gloin22]

I don't know if you noticed but Sky is leading Team Classification at .... Pais Vasco. Never expected that from Sky

 

[step23]

Go Kiserlovski!!! you made those *favorites* work hard. Great solo and great will!!! still think someone stole his win if it wasnt for that f*king hill

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

You support Martin all of a sudden?

money reasons although I don't mind if smau wins. but both deserve it. I don't understand the martin hatred

 

[Climeon]

Has Sanchez ever proofen that he is good at technical TT?
In Prologues, which are technical", he 's not really good at all.

Surely, coonsidering Sanchez's downhill ability, technichal timetrials will suit him in the same way technical descents do

 

[Bavarianrider]

Surely, coonsidering Sanchez's downhill ability, technichal timetrials will suit him in the same way technical descents do

Riding on a street bike is different then a TT bike.
However, if it's really that technical Tony doesn't stand a chance anyway. However is willing to take the biggets risks will win it.

 

[Arnout]

money reasons although I don't mind if smau wins. but both deserve it. I don't understand the martin hatred

Ah

I don't hate Martin at all though. Don't care for him either.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

money reasons although I don't mind if smau wins. but both deserve it. I don't understand the martin hatred

I don't hate Tony Martin. I don't even dislike him.

I just don't want to see him winning País Vasco.

 

[maltiv]

Nordhaug: "We were going to set up the sprint for Appolonio when an insanely steep wall suddenly appeared. We had no idea that climb was going to be there!"

Seriously, Sky? There were people on this forum talking about it all day, and Sky, a team which focus on "marginal gains", didn't know it was coming. Luckily it didn't matter too much as they were all positioned nicely because they were ready to set up Appo for the sprint

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Nordhaug: "We were going to set up the sprint for Appolonio when an insanely steep wall suddenly appeared. We had no idea that climb was going to be there!"

Seriously, Sky? There were people on this forum talking about it all day, and Sky, a team which focus on "marginal gains", didn't know it was coming. Luckily it didn't matter too much as they were all positioned nicely because they were ready to set up Appo for the sprint

They were too busy this morning working on REAL marginal gains, such as setting the correct mood lighting on the team bus, selecting which members of the team get the privileged aero hole-free helmets and working out which Brian Eno record to play to set the right ambiance to do such frivolous things as study the route book.

 

[search]

Seriously, Sky? There were people on this forum talking about it all day, and Sky, a team which focus on "marginal gains", didn't know it was coming.

I had the impression most teams didn't know. Cunego for example predicted a stage non difficile