Volta a Catalunya 2013 - Stage 5: Rialp → Lleida (156 kms)

[Descender]

A day for the sprinters... except there are no sprinters.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Port d'Àger (9,6 km @ 5,0%, max. 8,0%)

Looks like a break to me.

 

[the asian]

Hope Meersman can win again.

 

[GP Blanco]

A break seems likely, after all the sprinter's department is reduced to guys like Dumoulin, Fenn, Haedo, Hofland and Meersman. Maybe OPQS will ride for a third Meersman victory.

 

[Parrulo]

machado from the breakaway

 

[Lexman]

Meersman of Fenn FTW...

are there bonus seconds during intermediate sprints? maybe a nice battle between places 8 - 10...

 

[Gloin22]

A break seems likely, after all the sprinter's department is reduced to guys like Dumoulin, Fenn, Haedo, Hofland and Meersman. Maybe OPQS will ride for a third Meersman victory.

They will, nothing better to do anyway for them

Although this finish is totally flat unlike his 2nd win on a slightly hilly circuit so Fenn might have a go too possibly.

Can Guardini make it over the 2nd category ?

 

[CraZyCaLL]

They will, nothing better to do anyway for them

Although this finish is totally flat unlike his 2nd win on a slightly hilly circuit so Fenn might have a go too possibly.

Can Guardini make it over the 2nd category ?

Guardini DNF today

 

[Dazed and Confused]

They will, nothing better to do anyway for them

Although this finish is totally flat unlike his 2nd win on a slightly hilly circuit so Fenn might have a go too possibly.

Can Guardini make it over the 2nd category ?

Guardini DNF'ed today.

 

[will10]

Breakaway win is 90% certain.

 

[cineteq]

Breakaway win is 90% certain.

I'm rooting for this. Rujano to prove everybody wrong!

 

[danlindfield]

Not sure a break can possibly stay away on predominantly downhill terrain with only a Cat 2 launchpad. Omega, AG2R and GreenEdge will easily bring that back IMO.

 

[wirral]

Dan Martin sprinting for bonus seconds.

 

[Sasquatch]

Not sure a break can possibly stay away on predominantly downhill terrain with only a Cat 2 launchpad. Omega, AG2R and GreenEdge will easily bring that back IMO.

OGE will have Gerrans in the break

 

[greenedge]

Breakaway and if not Meersmann.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Hope for Kashechkin winning from a breakaway, as he did in March 2006 in Paris-Nice.

 

[HiCadence]

De Gendt to win from a break

 

[vladimir]

First hour should be insane today, with slight downhill and half the peleton wanting to come in the right break. Average speed for first hour close to 55km/h?
Ratto to win from the break BTW

 

[manafana]

this could really be anything, garmin just need to let the right break go and with the team riding well they will control it easy enough. COuld see wiggins trying something on the downhills if their not too testing.

 

[happytramp]

Bonus seconds at intermediate sprints and finishing place could well be important.

Who would be better in a sprint Martin or Rodriguez? I know Valverde just piped Martin for 3rd in the sprint on stage 1.

 

[wwabbit]

this could really be anything, garmin just need to let the right break go and with the team riding well they will control it easy enough. COuld see wiggins trying something on the downhills if their not too testing.

I doubt it will work again. Quintana, Rodriguez and Martin should know to be alert and be in the position to respond if Wiggins try anything like that again.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Bonus seconds at intermediate sprints and finishing place could well be important.

Who would be better in a sprint Martin or Rodriguez? I know Valverde just piped Martin for 3rd in the sprint on stage 1.

Martin lost the sprint against Basso in Japan Cup 2012, but I had suspisions this might have been category "bought victory" (last Liquigas race).

By the way, question to the forum:

Valverde crashed out, also Capecchi. AFAIK, Valverde also crashed out (on day 2 or so) in last year´s Catalunya, didn´t he? Maybe even also taking another teammate with him??

 

[hoerpi]

In a field like this Ahlstrand got a shot, epsecially since Guardini DNFed, but he has a nasty habit of falling.

 

[theyoungest]

In a field like this Ahlstrand got a shot, epsecially since Guardini DNFed, but he has a nasty habit of falling.

Ahlstrand DNFed as well...

 

[willbick]

Last year valverde fell over a bottle in the feedzone and was unable to get backk to the peleton, losing a few mins on the stage