Volta ao Algarve 2016, February 17 - 21

[Tonton]

We'll know a bit more tomorrow, although the finish isn't that hard. For Thibaut, one down, four to go...

 

[Miburo]

Re:

GC for Urán, IMO.

Uran, prob most overrated rider with tj on this forum

 

[Taxus4a]

Contador, as ussual, misleading, saying tomorrow is not an important day, and we must wait till the ITT. I think tomorrow is quite hard, not just the final climb an quite long. Not bad weather, but tomorrow we will see some differences. Malhao is harder, but is short, so I think tomorrow is evenmore important and Contador just want to relax some rivals.

 

[sir fly]

If there's a launchpad of, about, half a mile at 8+% Contador will, at least, stretch his legs, but nothing decisive will happen.
And I don't think he'll win this race.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

If there's a launchpad of, about, half a mile at 8+% Contador will, at least, stretch his legs, but nothing decisive will happen.
And I don't think he'll win this race.

He'll either be first or second.

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

GC for Urán, IMO.

Uran, prob most overrated rider with tj on this forum

Yeah, a guy who was runner up in two Giros is really overrated.
He may be no Contador or Froome, but is also not too far behind them.

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

GC for Urán, IMO.

Uran, prob most overrated rider with tj on this forum

Yeah, a guy who was runner up in two Giros is really overrated.
He may be no Contador or Froome, but is also not too far behind them.

that's a syndrom of supporting by far the strongest rider.

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

with strong field this race gets I am at a loss as to why they don't push to try get some sort of live coverage even for the last hour

Maybe they spent all their money on getting thr big names there, so they didn't have anything left for actual coverage.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

GC for Urán, IMO.

Uran, prob most overrated rider with tj on this forum

Yeah, a guy who was runner up in two Giros is really overrated.
He may be no Contador or Froome, but is also not too far behind them.

Exactly this. He's also a much, much better one day rider than either of them. Uran is rated about correctly I think - a challenger for a GT podium or a stage race and an outside bet in a hilly classic. I don't think I've ever seen anyone over-rate him.

Not sure Cannondale is a great team for him though. Possibly the worst WT team in terms of tactics, and I expect his TTing to go backwads now he has left Etixx.

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

GC for Urán, IMO.

Uran, prob most overrated rider with tj on this forum

Yeah, a guy who was runner up in two Giros is really overrated.
He may be no Contador or Froome, but is also not too far behind them.

Yea he is way behind them, hence overrated

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

GC for Urán, IMO.

Uran, prob most overrated rider with tj on this forum

Yeah, a guy who was runner up in two Giros is really overrated.
He may be no Contador or Froome, but is also not too far behind them.

Look at who he beat in those Giros, and his record apart from those two giros

Try saying he is not too far behind Contador or Froome again.

 

[Taxus4a]

http://voltaaoalgarve.com/direto/etapa-2/

The breakaway has now 2:15

Sete homens em fuga: Oliver Naesen (IAM Cycling), Sean de Bie (Lotto Soudal), Gregory Rast (Trek-Segafredo), Jonatan Lastra (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Alberto Cecchin (Team Roth), Jonas Koch (Verva ActiveJet) e Ricardo Mestre (W52-FC Porto)

Max difference was 3:40, but Gazprom-Rusvelo is working in the main field.

Jonathan Lastra is one of the best spanish young riders in CX, but now he is on the road, he is 22 in this first season as pro.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

If there's a launchpad of, about, half a mile at 8+% Contador will, at least, stretch his legs, but nothing decisive will happen.
And I don't think he'll win this race.

When he was able to win the Tour, he just not win in Algarve, he destroy everybody in Algarve.

He could not win any stage, becouse there are some people stronger for the ITT and maybe he cant win any of the 2 Mountain finish, it is hard to believe, but possible, but he is the clear favourite for the GC, becouse he is a complete rider. Aru is not very good in the ITT, PInot the same, Kiatlowsky finaly is not here, Tiago Machado is not so good, and Tony Martin isnot so good climber, although who know, if he do a good ITT, he can win.

For me the othyer two favourites are Uran and Henao, both of them made it well here with SKY, at least in Malhao http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=23954. I have just bet for Urán, but the favourite is Contador.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

If there's a launchpad of, about, half a mile at 8+% Contador will, at least, stretch his legs, but nothing decisive will happen.
And I don't think he'll win this race.

When he was able to win the Tour, he just not win in Algarve, he destroy everybody in Algarve.

He could not win any stage, becouse there are some people stronger for the ITT and maybe he cant win any of the 2 Mountain finish, it is hard to believe, but possible, but he is the clear favourite for the GC, becouse he is a complete rider. Aru is not very good in the ITT, PInot the same, Kiatlowsky finaly is not here, Tiago Machado is not so good, and Tony Martin isnot so good climber, although who know, if he do a good ITT, he can win.

For me the othyer two favourites are Uran and Henao, both of them made it well here with SKY, at least in Malhao http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=23954. I have just bet for Urán, but the favourite is Contador.

Wtf Wrong Henao maybe.

 

[Ricco']

Yeah, the only thing an Henao will win this year is the youth jersey.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

If there's a launchpad of, about, half a mile at 8+% Contador will, at least, stretch his legs, but nothing decisive will happen.
And I don't think he'll win this race.

When he was able to win the Tour, he just not win in Algarve, he destroy everybody in Algarve.

He could not win any stage, becouse there are some people stronger for the ITT and maybe he cant win any of the 2 Mountain finish, it is hard to believe, but possible, but he is the clear favourite for the GC, becouse he is a complete rider. Aru is not very good in the ITT, PInot the same, Kiatlowsky finaly is not here, Tiago Machado is not so good, and Tony Martin isnot so good climber, although who know, if he do a good ITT, he can win.

For me the othyer two favourites are Uran and Henao, both of them made it well here with SKY, at least in Malhao http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=23954. I have just bet for Urán, but the favourite is Contador.

Wtf Wrong Henao maybe.

Yes, I was wrong, is Sebastian Henao who is here.

The other man is of course Geraint Thomas, complete rider and the other big favourite with Contador.

Zakarin, we dont know how is he. The same Taaramae

Luis Leon is in good shape and he is another favourite except he just work for Aru.

But Contador here has not excuse to lose except we see a very strong Thomas.

 

[sir fly]

Re: Re:

If there's a launchpad of, about, half a mile at 8+% Contador will, at least, stretch his legs, but nothing decisive will happen.
And I don't think he'll win this race.

When he was able to win the Tour, he just not win in Algarve, he destroy everybody in Algarve.

He could not win any stage, becouse there are some people stronger for the ITT and maybe he cant win any of the 2 Mountain finish, it is hard to believe, but possible, but he is the clear favourite for the GC, becouse he is a complete rider. Aru is not very good in the ITT, PInot the same, Kiatlowsky finaly is not here, Tiago Machado is not so good, and Tony Martin isnot so good climber, although who know, if he do a good ITT, he can win.

For me the othyer two favourites are Uran and Henao, both of them made it well here with SKY, at least in Malhao http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=23954. I have just bet for Urán, but the favourite is Contador.

Wtf Wrong Henao maybe.

Yes, I was wrong, is Sebastian Henao who is here.

The other man is of course Geraint Thomas, complete rider and the other big favourite with Contador.

Zakarin, we dont know how is he. The same Taaramae

Luis Leon is in good shape and he is another favourite except he just work for Aru.

But Contador here has not excuse to lose except we see a very strong Thomas.

I fully agree, and stay by my opinion that he won't win.
I don't think he'll chase the victory. He'll take it if the opportunity arises, off course, but the others will chase it.

 

[Matteo.]

Meanwhile, Tinkoff in front of the group...100km to go

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

GC for Urán, IMO.

Uran, prob most overrated rider with tj on this forum

Yeah, a guy who was runner up in two Giros is really overrated.
He may be no Contador or Froome, but is also not too far behind them.

Yea he is way behind them, hence overrated

He's certainly not in the elite top tier of GT riders - he's in that 2nd group along with a bunch of other guys. But he's also got two monument podiums and an Olympic rr podium, none of which the likes of AC and Froome have. Uran seems to be rated correctly around here to me.

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Meanwhile, Tinkoff in front of the group...100km to go

Keeping things safe, the others are satisfied there's someone willing to pull.

 

[Taxus4a]

km 100, long stage, small gape, strong pace in the peloton, closing up the mountains.

 

[dacooley]

thomas has nothing to oppose even against out-of-shape bertie's kick, so any other result but contador win will be a little sensation.

 

[sir fly]

Is there headwind?
The breakaway is fairly capable of gaining more than they maximally had, not to mention the current gap, and they're fairly harmless when the road rises. Can't see other reason than the wind for the situation on the road at the moment.

 

[Scarponi]

Its 1am here in Australia and I am staying up in anticipation just to here how Contador is going to go.

Live Andulucia will help though

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

thomas has nothing to oppose even against out-of-shape bertie's kick, so any other result but contador win will be a little sensation.

I am not 100% convinced Berto is in good enough shape to win but I hope you are right