USA Procycling Challenge 2013 (2.HC)

[tomorrow]

I think Sagan will get dropped but not by enough he can't get back on on the descent.

Realistically, anyone solo or in a small group needs 30s to a min on him starting the descent. 2 mins if its Andy Schleck

it doesn't matter if solo, small group or big group, the descent is very technical, therefore the bigger the group, the slower they will be. In addition, the group will be dividing in the descent with sagan going through them like knife through butter.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Atapuma en Acevedo wil give a show tonight.

how is that downhil? acevedo and brenes are excellent descenders

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

thanks. yep very technical descend

so bachelor gulch according to my calculations, 8,5 km@6,9%. this is harder than hasliberg in suisse where sagan displayed his greatest climbing abilities until now. if there will be super hard pace, he won't make it for sure

i will go with andy schleck

it's WAAAY harder than the hasliberg because it starst 2200 metres altitude and goes to 2900. that is incredibley hard

 

[fraserhughes]

it doesn't matter if solo, small group or big group, the descent is very technical, therefore the bigger the group, the slower they will be. In addition, the group will be dividing in the descent with sagan going through them like knife through butter.

Ah thanks, hadn't realised it was that technical. Anyway, my thoughts are he still wins..

 

[SKSemtex]

As much as I want to see Sagan to give a try, I am afraid he will take it easy today. GC in Colorado is not the priority. I have a feeling today is Caruso´s day to show something from Cannondale side.

 

[SKSemtex]

Acevedo ftw

 

[Bushman]

it's WAAAY harder than the hasliberg because it starst 2200 metres altitude and goes to 2900. that is incredibley hard

I think Sagan has been there preparing for the last couple of weeks, maybe he will be used to the altitude.

 

[tomorrow]

As much as I want to see Sagan to give a try, I am afraid he will take it easy today. GC in Colorado is not the priority. I have a feeling today is Caruso´s day to show something from Cannondale side.

well, sagan cared about GC in stage 2, so he will care also today. An he wouldn't take it easy even if he didn't care, because he's doing these "hilly" races for being prepared to WC. He wouldn't prepare much if he was taking the hills easy, at least that's what seems logical to me. I am not cycling coach though, so it could be otherwise regarding my second point.

 

[royalpig180]

well, sagan cared about GC in stage 2, so he will care also today. An he wouldn't take it easy even if he didn't care, because he's doing these "hilly" races for being prepared to WC. He wouldn't prepare much if he was taking the hills easy, at least that's what seems logical to me. I am not cycling coach though, so it could be otherwise regarding my second point.

I'm not so sure. He probably cared on stage 2 because he was in yellow and felt that he had a chance to keep it.

I agree with the previous post, Sagan is likely to just take it easy today. That said, I sure hope I'm wrong.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

He will try, if he feels the legs are good and he can finish in Top 3. Otherwise he may finish outside of Top 50. It's victory or nothing for him.

 

[SKSemtex]

well, sagan cared about GC in stage 2, so he will care also today. An he wouldn't take it easy even if he didn't care, because he's doing these "hilly" races for being prepared to WC. He wouldn't prepare much if he was taking the hills easy, at least that's what seems logical to me. I am not cycling coach though, so it could be otherwise regarding my second point.

Well, Bechelor Gulch is neither Boreas Pass nor Fiesole . However, I would love to be surprised today.

 

[Afrank]

I'm just glad there are big races in the US like this and California, and that I can watch them live while I work or just hang out. Beautiful scenery and some good action on occasion. Beats...well not football...but everything else.

+1, Good to have some racing in the US that attracts top guys like Sagan. Beats even football IMO (of course I've never liked football). And as far as the racing goes it's been very good thus far, Stage one was kind of boring but had a good final, stage 2 was great, and yesterday Jens provided some good spectacle.


Re. Sagan, I think he'll probably get dropped today (but I'll still be cheering for him to hang in there ). And if he does get dropped hopefully he'll try hard to limit his losses. Acevedo for the win.

 

[SKSemtex]

http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/

This Cali tracker is f..g amazing. I still do not understand the European organizers why they do not "rent" it.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I think Sagan has been there preparing for the last couple of weeks, maybe he will be used to the altitude.

you are never really used to altitude unless you are born in it and have countles sgenerations before you life there.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/

This Cali tracker is f..g amazing. I still do not understand the European organizers why they do not "rent" it.

there's nothing amazing about that tracke.r it's more times wrong then it's right. see also utah

 

[Netserk]

+1, Good to have some racing in the US that attracts top guys like Sagan. Beats even football IMO (of course I've never liked football). And as far as the racing goes it's been very good thus far, Stage one was kind of boring but had a good final, stage 2 was great, and yesterday Jens provided some good spectacle.


Re. Sagan, I think he'll probably get dropped today (but I'll still be cheering for him to hang in there ). And if he does get dropped hopefully he'll try hard to limit his losses. Acevedo for the win.

You should 'thank' Cannondale for that...

 

[kanari]

you are never really used to altitude unless you are born in it and have countles sgenerations before you life there.

Do you have any scientific backup for this claim? Not saying you are wrong, I just think it sounds very strange.

 

[Afrank]

You should 'thank' Cannondale for that...

True, but I also think Cannondale doesn't force Sagan to do the American races as much as people say. I think he likes racing in the US.

 

[Netserk]

True, but I also think Cannondale doesn't force Sagan to do the American races as much as people say. I think he likes racing in the US.

Just look at Nibbles' program last year. I doubt he wanted to race any of them...

 

[Afrank]

Just look at Nibbles' program last year. I doubt he wanted to race any of them...

Yeah, they made Nibali do it, and they probably are making Sagan do it as well to a degree. Not disagreeing with that. But Sagan I think does like racing in the US. Just look at the success he's had and the fanbase he has here.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Do you have any scientific backup for this claim? Not saying you are wrong, I just think it sounds very strange.

the fact that european riders when on altitude camp are often sick and need adaptation time, while riders like colombians come at home and neither need adaptation to lower altitudes either.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

you are never really used to altitude unless you are born in it and have countles sgenerations before you life there.

Here's an article about scientific research about dealing with high altitudes:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130815133103.htm

I was astounded by the following statement from the article:

Interestingly, many humans living at high elevations, particularly in the Andes mountain region of South America, are maladapted and suffer CMS. The disease is characterized by an array of neurologic symptoms, including headache, fatigue, sleepiness and depression. Often, people with CMS suffer from strokes or heart attacks in early adulthood because of increased blood viscosity (resistance to blood flow that can result in decreased oxygen delivery to organs and tissues). Past studies of various populations show that CMS is common in Andeans, occasionally found in Tibetans and absent from Ethiopians living on the East African high-altitude plateau.

 

[Ney the Viking]

Just look at Nibbles' program last year. I doubt he wanted to race any of them...

True, but were there countless of people running around with Nibble headmask etc.?

Sagan does seem to enjoy himself, but then again, he also seems like a person to get the best out of any given situation. And actually cycling would be more enjoyable if more people rode some of the joy and recklessness a lot of the popular riders are famous for.

 

[Rollthedice]

True, but I also think Cannondale doesn't force Sagan to do the American races as much as people say. I think he likes racing in the US.

Well, he seems to get a lot of attention over there, I'm sure he enjoys to be a star. Hard day for him today.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 4 in progress.

Pretty good break with 2:45:

Gallopin, Rogers, Sioutsou, Pate, Duggan, Cooke and a few others.

Cannondale slotted in Villella.

Early days.