Volta a Catalunya 2013 - Stage 3: Vidreres → Vallter 2000 (180km)

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

To dominate

...the autobus

 

[Descender]

Looking at the forecast, I'd be surprised if this wasn't a shortened stage. And considering last year's shambles, they aren't going to take any risks.

No worries, the stage will be raced in its entirety.

 

[Miburo]

To dominate

I can't wait to enjoy D-T's meltdown.

"Gesink attacks" 10 minutes later "he lost 2 minutes..."

Hey man at least he attacked right?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I can't wait to enjoy D-T's meltdown.

"Gesink attacks" 10 minutes later "he lost 2 minutes..."

Hey man at least he attacked right?

he was sick in PN, he had a valid excuse to suck

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Jason I understand your point of view. After the stage to Lagunas de Neila in 2011 he looked like a in the saddle rider to me as well!

However I was intrigued and started study him a lot. On Youtube you can find footage of him accelerating like crazy on the climbs in Tour du Valromey.

I sadly never have been able to find footage of his stage-win on Superbagnères, but here is what he said before the stage.

Kenny Elissonde (CC Etupes) a confié à http://www.directvelo.com : « Hier (jeudi) je ne me sentais pas top, peut-être est-ce dû à la pression, peut-être au voyage. En plus nous étions plusieurs à nous marquer : Bennett, Warbasse et Romain Bardet. On a fait Liège-Bastogne-Liège et l’épreuve de la Coupe de Nations en Toscane, on se connait bien. La montée de Superbagnères doit bien me convenir. Elle est irrégulière et j’adore les changements de rythme. Je vais essayer de ne pas me poser de questions. Je vais attendre de voir si je me sens bien. Si c’est le cas je passerai à l’attaque. Les Trek-Livestrong seront très forts. Je ne pense pas que le col de Menté sera décisif car il y a trop de plaine avant le pied de Superbagnères. »

Here is another example from a French artical.

Le garçon ne souhaite ainsi pas être « catalogué grimpeur ». Mais c’est bien sur les longs cols qu’il se voit confier ses plus grandes responsabilités. « J’aime quand c’est long, et quand il y a de vraies grosses pentes. Des efforts de 45 minutes, une heure. Avec des à-coups, des changements de rythme. » Sur le Tour des Pays de Savoie, il trouve ce type de profil, mais la course est rendue dantesque par des conditions météorologiques exécrables. Il manque le coche. Sur le Tour de la Vallée d’Aoste, qu’il court avec l’équipe de France, il a en revanche bien plus de mordant. « Je n’avais jamais disputé de course aussi longue, c’était ma première sélection en Coupe des Nations. Une belle épreuve. » Il y accroche la septième place au classement général final, tandis que sous le même maillot, Nicolas Edet et Thomas Bonnin, plus âgés que lui et désormais professionnels chez Cofidis et Skil-Shimano, s’offraient chacun une victoire d’étape. Une expérience forcément fondatrice.

If you need more examples I be happy to provide you. He is a insane climbing talent. In Oman I know he was in the saddle on Green Mountain, but only because he was on his absolut limit. You have to remember he was up against Contador, Froome and Purito. He is still young being from 1991.

Thanks for the information. I kept him an eye after Aosta 2011. The last year, his first as professional rider, instead of win in Paris Correze and shine in Route Du Sud, dissapointed me a bit. But in this start of season he is showing all his potential. I like his climbing style, light grimpeur. Classy rider. I think he is already the second best climber of FDJ.

 

[Miburo]

he was sick in PN, he had a valid excuse to suck

He always has a valid excuse

Doesn't explain why he attacked to then get dropped hard, sick in the head?

 

[trevim]

I think he is already the second best climber of FDJ.

Yeah probably, he's a very classy rider indeed. Although Casar and Fedrigo are still betters riders to have on a tactical mountain break. Anyway, he seems like a true climber, a bit in the Quintana style I believe.

For tomorrow my dream is that a Saxo rider can score 1 WT point. Oh and Rafa Valls please, I'm a fan. Not likely I know
Best best: Machado left behind on crosswinds.

 

[Parrot23]

Haven't read the thread, but good article here:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...t-attack-in-the-mountains-at-catalunya_278361

Great to see them in a race without a TT.

Valverde's looked very strong this year. Should figure tomorrow.

 

[Jakob747]

Thanks for the information. I kept him an eye after Aosta 2011. The last year, his first as professional rider, instead of win in Paris Correze and shine in Route Du Sud, dissapointed me a bit. But in this start of season he is showing all his potential. I like his climbing style, light grimpeur. Classy rider. I think he is already the second best climber of FDJ.

He is a fantastic talent. He won the TT in Loire-Atlantique Espoirs 2011. He was 1min faster than Bryan Coquard for-example.

In Tour du Pays de Gex - He was second in the TT. He beat Emilien Viennet into third!

Or this TT http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/13165-mareuil-et-verteillac-et-2-classements.html in Mareuil et Verteillac. You can recognize he beat some solid names!

Of course more than anything he is a phenomenal grimpeur. But I still think these results give testament to his potential.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He always has a valid excuse

Doesn't explain why he attacked to then get dropped hard, sick in the head?

That's tring 'tegen beter weten in'. It's a very common thing for top sportsmen to do. For example Rujano attacking and giving up in the same stage in the Giro when he was riding for quick step

 

[cineteq]

he was sick in PN, he had a valid excuse to suck

If you are, in particular, hopeful, I have some hope too. He showed good signs on the 1st stage.

 

[manafana]

really hoping this goes ahead with near enough the route. Hard to look past j rod or valverde with this finish, wiggins doesnt win stages like this he just hangs around.

 

[Netserk]

That's tring 'tegen beter weten in'. It's a very common thing for top sportsmen to do. For example Rujano attacking and giving up in the same stage in the Giro when he was riding for quick step

He never rode the Giro for Quickstep

 

[happytramp]

Is there something i'm missing? Why is Thomas Gesink constantly being talked about on every single thread on this forum?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He never rode the Giro for Quickstep

you are right..
Same year, yeah he rode with androni up until may,but you get the point

 

[jaylew]

Wiggins ftw

Wiggins takes it easily.

Not sure why anyone would pick Wiggins. He doesn't win road stages. He's won a stage at Romandie and the Brit road title. And he's never won a mtf that I can remember.

Is there something i'm missing? Why is Thomas Gesink constantly being talked about on every single thread on this forum?

I've never heard of that guy, but Bobby G gets a lot of run because there are a bunch of Dutchies here, several of which are among our most prolific posters. That, combined with the fact that he promises much but has a tendency to disappoint, makes him fodder for much discussion.

 

[cineteq]

Not sure why anyone would pick Wiggins. He doesn't win road stages. He's won a stage at Romandie and the Brit road title. And he's never won a mtf that I can remember.

I can't remember either, however your comment is yet another good argument for this thread in favor of Nibali:

 

[Ferminal]

rujano will go ballistic already on pista forestal
good luck cataldo and david lopez catching him

Ryo please go away and bring back jens

 

[pdluz7]

Not sure why anyone would pick Wiggins. He doesn't win road stages. He's won a stage at Romandie and the Brit road title. And he's never won a mtf that I can remember.

Wiggins will win his first MTF or ....

 

[Afrank]

Skyborg to ride the skytrain all the way until 1 km to go, before they unleash Wiggins...who cracks under pressure and has to watch Purito, Piti, and whichever other climbers are there at that point ride away for the win.

 

[hfer07]

Skybots to escort Wiggo to 500 mts to the FL where he incredibly will lose the stage against Purito... unless of course Joaquim gets choked up by the cyborgs nasty tempo....

 

[the asian]

Old man Horner has pulled out of the race. Apparently he's been suffering from knee pain.

 

[manafana]

Least Gesink has won a moutain top finish, over people tipping wiggins just because he has a train to get him their, no way he beats both valverde and rod to the line.

 

[airstream]

Not sure why anyone would pick Wiggins. He doesn't win road stages. He's won a stage at Romandie and the Brit road title. And he's never won a mtf that I can remember.

He has matured to start winning.

 

[theyoungest]

He always has a valid excuse

Doesn't explain why he attacked to then get dropped hard, sick in the head?

The guy never comes up with an excuse, he's just had a lot of bad luck in his career so far. Some guys descend into alcoholism at the first stroke of misfortune, others just soldier on.

For this stage I don't rate him, he's been sick for a week preceding this race, so it would be quite surprising if he's suddenly up there.