Volta a Catalunya 2012: Stage 1, Calella - Calella (139 km)

[Lupetto]

Map & Timetable

Startlist

Eurosport International starts at 16:00 CET. You can watch it also here.

 

[TeoSheva]

Domoulin FTW

 

[will10]

Should be an interesting stage. Valverde from a reduced group is obvious choice but could well be a survivor or two from a break.

 

[roundabout]

Sprint all the way. I mean sure, they can go nuts in the first 80km, but the last climb is nothing for pro riders.

 

[taiwan]

Appolonio FTW.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

oh I hope not the movistar sprint train for the entire stage and then see valverde fail as his sprint has gotten weaker imo

 

[Lexman]

Should be an interesting stage. Valverde from a reduced group is obvious choice but could well be a survivor or two from a break.

yes very well possible, expect some pro-conti spanish teams to attack and take all publicity possible...

 

[Gloin22]

Sky starts with 6 riders. Danny Pate and Rogers not listed in startlist. That's quite serious blow if uran won stage 3, controlling peleton with 5 men over such hard race won't be fun.

 

[hatcher]

Sky starts with 6 riders. Danny Pate and Rogers not listed in startlist. That's quite serious blow if uran won stage 3, controlling peleton with 5 men over such hard race won't be fun.

4 hours ago the Sky twitter feed listed them both as starting, but they didn't answer a question from steephill about Pate + Rogers being left off the startlist.

Very tough if it isn't just an admin error. They (and other teams too) are stretched very thin at the moment. Every other rider on their roster is riding elsewhere.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

oh I hope not the movistar sprint train for the entire stage and then see valverde fail as his sprint has gotten weaker imo

Well, the Movistar sprint train at least more or less guarantees us that the break makes it.

 

[Beech Mtn]

oh I hope not the movistar sprint train for the entire stage and then see valverde fail as his sprint has gotten weaker imo

I'm interested to see what kind of shape Valverde is in for this race. Rojas missed MSR with that fever/illness that is going around, and now Gutierrez is out of Catalunya w/ same thing. Rojas was Valv's roommate at PN. Just wondering if AV managed to escape the illness completely and is 100%. I guess we will soon see.

 

[Flamin]

I'm interested to see what kind of shape Valverde is in for this race. Rojas missed MSR with that fever/illness that is going around, and now Gutierrez is out of Catalunya w/ same thing. Rojas was Valv's roommate at PN. Just wondering if AV managed to escape the illness completely and is 100%. I guess we will soon see.

Valverde didn't completely escape from illness, as he was a bit sick the last 3 days in PN. A week has gone by, so he's probably past it by now.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

one look at the climbs though and it doesn't get any steeper than 6%? will be massprint then

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

I was going to predict Hushovd to get BMC's first win today, but since he's pulled out I'm going to go with an equally unlikely outcome... Jeremy Roy to win from a breakaway.

 

[wirral]

If one of the big teams wanted to force a selection on any of the climbs to eliminate the sprinters, I reckon it is easily doable. However the big names will be looking for the GC and will probably leave it to the sprinters. It is only day one.

My hope is that a break of lesser names stays away till the end to give somebody their first World Tour win today.

 

[manafana]

looks steep enough at end to stop pure sprinters in my view, valverde has a chance depends on race pace as those 2climbs could knock out a few too.

 

[Ruvu75]

*** Gavazzi

 

[dlwssonic]

What Thor out again!?!? Is a fever really that bad

 

[Skyver]

Dumoulin, obviously.

 

[hatcher]

twitter:
the Inner Ring ‏ @inrng
Rein Taraamae of Cofidis is out with mononucleosis / glandular fever


The Peloton is not a healthy one.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

twitter:
the Inner Ring ‏ @inrng
Rein Taraamae of Cofidis is out with mononucleosis / glandular fever


The Peloton is not a healthy one.

I never thought I'd say pro cyclists need to spend more time with a doctor...

 

[hatcher]

Sky really are down to 6 starters. Rogers and Pate not going.

 

[wirral]

Sky really are down to 6 starters. Rogers and Pate not going.

How will that affect UCI rules which mandate all ProTour teams turn up for all World Tour events.

I mean Euskatel could send a depleted team to Harelbeke or all teams could send the bare minimum to the Tour of Beijing along with sick notes for their missing riders.

Will they get fined?

 

[theyoungest]

How will that affect UCI rules which mandate all ProTour teams turn up for all World Tour events.

I mean Euskatel could send a depleted team to Harelbeke or all teams could send the bare minimum to the Tour of Beijing along with sick notes for their missing riders.

Will they get fined?

I think there's a minimum number of riders, 5 riders IIRC.

 

[hatcher]

Even if not, I'd have to imagine it would only be a problem if they continually turn up with shortened squads without reason. I'm sure the UCI accept the fact that Illness/injuries happen.

BMC also riding one man short (Hushovd) due to illness.
Lotto-Belisol also (Brian Bulgac).