Volta a Catalunya 2013

[Duartista]

Haven't he already raced in Columbia?

Yeah, he started one race and won the first stage (I think), but was disqualified for not signing-in.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

not a bad route, the altitude might help.

 

[theyoungest]

Some people prefer the spectacle, some people prefer the talent level.

I'd rather watch an exciting free-for-all in the Tour of a small province of Bolivia than a tightly controlled ride in the Tour de France, but I am aware that it would mean far less and I would therefore find the Tour de France stage more tense and nerve-wracking, but that's more to do with how much is on the line and our investment in the personalities that duke it out than the race.

Wiggins vs. Hesjedal features two major protagonists, but it will, more than likely, be exciting through the value of the riders' palmarès only; neither are known as free-flowing, attacking cyclists who create those great stages where control completely breaks down. Most of us tend to value those stages where there is no control as the most exciting, because the range of potential outcomes is greater, and the period over which they develop is longer. Sky thrive on control. There's nothing wrong with that, after all, it's highly effective. However, it doesn't excite many fans who prefer a more unpredictable race. Therefore, a tense battle between them is not the equivalent of a chaotic 4-3 match between two big teams, it's a tense 1-0 between two giants. This has its place, but it doesn't necessarily make somebody wrong not to find it appealing. Hesjedal did attack a few times in the Giro and deserved the win just for that, because it was probably the most conservatively-raced Grand Tour ever.

I know you revere Txurruka, but Hesjedal managed to make the top-10 of the Tour while riding in a Txurruka-like manner. He was in the breakaway every other day.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I know you revere Txurruka, but Hesjedal managed to make the top-10 of the Tour while riding in a Txurruka-like manner. He was in the breakaway every other day.

Yes, and then everything else on his palmarès from that race until he won the Giro was achieved without me ever noticing, because he got into that awkward zone (let's call it the Cunego zone) of being too threatening to allow away but seemingly not strong enough to win the race without it, so he accrued a bunch of anonymous top 10s. I underestimated him for the Giro for this reason, because I simply hadn't noticed the actually pretty impressive palmarès he had accumulated.

Now that he's a Giro winner, no way does a well-oiled machine like Team Sky let Hesjedal get into any break. He isn't a Cunego anymore.

 

[TANK91]

lol sky fanboy alert

lol says's the drug cheat fan , your comments in tirreno amazed me by the way hinting at other riders , yet Bertie the saint - saviour to cycling. Since his ban he is not the same rider. Contador on the program would be dominant yet he's on a level we've never seen before a good level but not old level
And it scare's you lol

 

[TANK91]

Wiggo to ride people of his wheel and win by 20 secs on queen stage , you heard it here first lol

 

[Cyivel]

snip

Wrong forum buddy, keep all talk of that in the clinic, thanks.

 

[Parrulo]

Wrong forum buddy, keep all talk of that in the clinic, thanks.

i thought i had deleted that post

 

[HiCadence]

What will Hesjedal's form be like?

 

[iZnoGouD]

 

[Ruudz0r]

What will Hesjedal's form be like?

I think he will be riding for Dan Martin who is riding on his home roads, and wants to be good here.

 

[HiCadence]

That's kool i like Dan Martin too.

 

[TeoSheva]

a nice helper for Horner

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Very strong team for Purito at his home race: Purito, Moreno, Spilak, Losada, Menchov, Caruso, Kozonchuk, Trofimov

 

[Moviefan1203]

Anyone have a link to the suspected start list?

 

[Afrank]

Anyone have a link to the suspected start list?

http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM2Njg=

Purito for the win, Valverde and Horner to round out the podium. will be interesting to see where guys like Wiggins and Rujano are at heading into the Giro.

 

[shinoda13]

What will Hesjedal's form be like?

I can't see him having a significant role in this race as it is his first race of the season. In an interview he said he will start his season in Catalunya and then go full gas until the Giro, riding like last year Pais Vasco, Ardennes and Romandie.

 

[Moviefan1203]

http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM2Njg=

Purito for the win, Valverde and Horner to round out the podium. will be interesting to see where guys like Wiggins and Rujano are at heading into the Giro.

Thank you kindly.

 

[nevada]

Thank you kindly.

Wiggo is well overweight. Can't see him dng much until September if he's as big as the rumours.

 

[Sophistic82]

Wiggo is well overweight. Can't see him dng much until September if he's as big as the rumours.

didnt look fat at the tour of oman:

https://default.secure.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11141/000009b0c/a1c2/oman13st4-wiggins-finish.jpg

 

[jens_attacks]

look at wiggo,he's so fat and he didn't trained at all this winter:

 

[maxmartin]

a nice helper for Horner

on paper for sure
Horner should still have the good form carried over from TA

 

[pastronef]

I like it

the 3 Garmin guys are back for the Catalan race

DANIELSON Tom United States
FERNANDEZ DE LARREA Koldo Spain
HESJEDAL Ryder Canada
KREDER Michel Netherlands
MARTIN Daniel Ireland
STETINA Peter United States
VANDEVELDE Christian United States
ZABRISKIE David United States

 

[Gloin22]

Any place we can see the profiles ?

 

[Pentacycle]

Any place we can see the profiles ?

They're in fact on the first page of this thread.