Volta a Catalunya 2012 - Stage 5: Ascó "La vostra energia" - Manresa (207km)

[patrick767]

Pathetic. They get a cat. 1 climb before the final descent and still no one can gap the bunch sufficiently to avoid a mass sprint at the end? Why the hell not?

Any theories? Are the strongest climbers just horrible in this race? I would have thought that on a Cat. 1 some would be able to put significant time into Albasini and others before the descent, but it didn't happen. Have the top riders all just said "screw it" for the Volta a Catalunya? What a snoozer.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

these climbs are not hard enough they are all 5% average

the only col where they could have made the difference has been cancelled.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Pathetic. They get a cat. 1 climb before the final descent and still no one can gap the bunch sufficiently to avoid a mass sprint at the end? Why the hell not?

Any theories? Are the strongest climbers just horrible in this race? I would have thought that on a Cat. 1 some would be able to put significant time into Albasini and others before the descent, but it didn't happen. Have the top riders all just said "screw it" for the Volta a Catalunya? What a snoozer.

No. The strongest climbers went home a couple of days ago.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Pathetic. They get a cat. 1 climb before the final descent and still no one can gap the bunch sufficiently to avoid a mass sprint at the end? Why the hell not?

Any theories? Are the strongest climbers just horrible in this race? I would have thought that on a Cat. 1 some would be able to put significant time into Albasini and others before the descent, but it didn't happen. Have the top riders all just said "screw it" for the Volta a Catalunya? What a snoozer.

did you even see the climbs? :facepalm:

 

[jens_attacks]

well this was well above 6% average,still absolutely nothing barring some short attacks
what a crrap stage,albasini wasn't dropped even for a second

 

[Gloin22]

No. The strongest climbers went home a couple of days ago.

What ?

Best climbers stayed in the race as you could see from GC poosition 2 -10

 

[roundabout]

Yeah, it's harder than the last climb on stage 2 and harder than the last climb on stage 4.

When the last 30km were used 90's the race also finished in group sprints. Of course then it was one of the first contacts with the mountains while today was the last chance to gain time.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

stage design not helping, and the climbs allow pacing. unsurprising we haven't seen gaps. I think had s3 not been cancelled levi would have won.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Pathetic. They get a cat. 1 climb before the final descent and still no one can gap the bunch sufficiently to avoid a mass sprint at the end? Why the hell not?

Any theories? Are the strongest climbers just horrible in this race? I would have thought that on a Cat. 1 some would be able to put significant time into Albasini and others before the descent, but it didn't happen. Have the top riders all just said "screw it" for the Volta a Catalunya? What a snoozer.

To be honest, I thought Albassini had an armchair ride. It appeared like whenever anyone attacked Garmin chased it back for him.

He was only ever going to be in trouble if 5 or 6 GC men got away together. However, that just didn't happen.

In the end, it became a very, very dull stage. Compare that stage to E3 earlier.

 

[patrick767]

To be honest, I thought Albassini had an armchair ride. It appeared like whenever anyone attacked Garmin chased it back for him.

He was only ever going to be in trouble if 5 or 6 GC men got away together. However, that just didn't happen.

In the end, it became a very, very dull stage. Compare that stage to E3 earlier.

I think you're right. I was just expecting (wishful thinking) that the GC guys would do exactly that to give themselves a shot at the overall. Sure, we can say that the climb wasn't hard enough, but still I'd think with a strong effort the top GC guys could leave the other riders well behind. As you said, it just didn't happen.

 

[roundabout]

Morabito dropped, Leipheimer loses 10 seconds (not that he would care with practically zero chances of moving up on GC).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah... Jeanneson also dropped, he was up there in the earlier stages

 

[roundabout]

He didn't start yesterday.

 

[theyoungest]

Didn't Jeannesson abandon already?

 

[sucotash]

Stupid race :/

one week of racing, and the podium will be decided by meeningless places on the first stage Szmyd is riding a great race, but after he was 105 th on monday, no chance for him


Hope we do not see crashes tomorrow, it could be dangerous with GC guys trying to finish in a good place.

without the Albasini escape the whole race would be decided by stage places

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Didn't Jeannesson abandon already?

Ah.. I missed that. So that's why he wasn't there.. obviously

 

[Gloin22]

Stupid race :/

one week of racing, and the podium will be decided by meeningless places on the first stage Szmyd is riding a great race, but after he was 105 th on monday, no chance for him


Hope we do not see crashes tomorrow, it could be dangerous with GC guys trying to finish in a good place.

without the Albasini escape the whole race would be decided by stage places

Well Uran was 82nd on that day

 

[Christian]

Happy for Saur-Saujasun, great for them to get a World Tour victory. Also nice to see Brice Feillu in good shape again

 

[RedheadDane]

How many KoM points are up tomorrow?
I don't have to explain my reasons for asking this question, do I?

 

[roundabout]

2 3rd cat, 1 2nd cat so 22 points maximum

 

[ulrikmm]

How many KoM points are up tomorrow?
I don't have to explain my reasons for asking this question, do I?

 

[Mellow Velo]

What a contrast to the E3.
Hats off to VDB, Szmyd and Uran.
Pants down to the rest, giving Albasini an armchair ride.
Losing the MTF and having no bonuses turned the race into a sterile turd.
OPQ leading out Levi in the sprint.
As to the coverage: HD? WC more like, awesomely bad.

 

[Frosty]

Leipheimer got tailed off at the end there after his burst and lost 10 seconds meaning he moves behind all the other at 1.32.

Think i am right in saying that Carrara and Kruijswijck are still there from the breakaway group on stage 3 (someone else pointed this out yesterday).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Leipheimer got tailed off at the end there after his burst and lost 10 seconds meaning he moves behind all the other at 1.32.

Think i am right in saying that Carrara and Kruijswijck are still there from the breakaway group on stage 3 (someone else pointed this out yesterday).

Yep, they have been ****ed in the *** the most

 

[sucotash]

In biggest dreams I could never imagine Szmyd beeing third twice in a row in flat sprints from a ~ 30 riders gorup. More than shocking for all knowing Sylwester well

It is a great win for Sylwester.... a win over his weaknesses. He was always afraid of fast riding in traffic on the flat, of fast riding downhill. He never belived in himself, that he is able to fight on stages like that. What a change of mentality. I am sure that last year he would not even try to contest a sprint from such a group