Volta Catalunya 2012

[Ryo Hazuki]

I mean decent length as in 20km or so. The one in 2006 was 12 something. De Panne has a longer TT than that.

17km in 2005
18km in 2004
and 23km in 2003

me I can't remember anythign else than catalunya having a good itt in it. only since recent years it doesn;t

 

[hatcher]

Horner out

twitter:
Chris Horner
No Catalunya for me. Taking care of a little injury and getting ready for Pais Vasco.

 

[Panda Claws]

Could Van Garderen win this?

 

[Parrulo]

Could Van Garderen win this?

no.

characters

 

[jens_attacks]

Could Van Garderen win this?

 

[Panda Claws]

Okay thanks everyone.

 

[maltiv]

Hushovd out, still sick.

Thus BMC will remain winless for at least another week.

 

[Lexman]

Horner out

twitter:
Chris Horner
No Catalunya for me. Taking care of a little injury and getting ready for Pais Vasco.

that's a pity, he could have gone for the podium...

 

[cineteq]

Just quickly browsing through the participants and profiles, these are my choices:

Valverde, S. Sanchez, Gesink *****
Van Garderen, Van den Broeck ****
Hesjedal, Danielson, Leipheimer, Wiggins, Cunego ***
Menchov, Basso, LL Sanchez, Vandevelde, Fulgsang, Kruijswijk **
A. Schleck, De Gendt *

 

[Mambo95]

Just quickly browsing through the participants and profiles, these are my choices:

Valverde, S. Sanchez, Gesink *****
Van Garderen, Van den Broeck ****
Hesjedal, Danielson, Leipheimer, Wiggins, Cunego ***
Menchov, Basso, LL Sanchez, Vandevelde, Fulgsang, Kruijswijk **
A. Schleck, De Gendt *

You might want to consider Dan Martin. 3rd last year, 2nd in 2009 - he likes this race.

 

[Parrulo]

Just quickly browsing through the participants and profiles, these are my choices:

Valverde, S. Sanchez, Gesink *****
Van Garderen, Van den Broeck ****
Hesjedal, Danielson, Leipheimer, Wiggins, Cunego ***
Menchov, Basso, LL Sanchez, Vandevelde, Fulgsang, Kruijswijk **
A. Schleck, De Gendt *

 

[cineteq]

You might want to consider Dan Martin. 3rd last year, 2nd in 2009 - he likes this race.

Ok, but all I've been reading about him lately is his allergies in the spring are bad...I hope he can something about it. Go Irish

 

[Richeypen]

Just quickly browsing through the participants and profiles, these are my choices:

Valverde, S. Sanchez, Gesink *****
Van Garderen, Van den Broeck ****
Hesjedal, Danielson, Leipheimer, Wiggins, Cunego ***
Menchov, Basso, LL Sanchez, Vandevelde, Fulgsang, Kruijswijk **
A. Schleck, De Gendt *

No to Wiggins. No TT miles and has said he riding it as training in a support role.

 

[cineteq]

No to Wiggins. No TT miles and has said he riding it as training in a support role.

So should I downgrade him at par with A. Schleck?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Looking forward to seeing what André Cardoso can do on Port-Ainé.

 

[FujiAnton]

I'm looking for Quintana to do a great race, the route suits him.

And no way for Gesink to be favorite to this. He hasn't show nothing for that. Maybe he can do a Top10.

 

[Froome19]

Ok, but all I've been reading about him lately is his allergies in the spring are bad...I hope he can something about it. Go Irish

Yeh but the pollen thingy only kicks in later on so this is the last race he can properly go for, as he showed last year, also he has said he has improved his breathing so we may even see him in the ardennes.
btw he is about as Irish as Froome is British

I'm looking for Quintana to do a great race, the route suits him.

And no way for Gesink to be favorite to this. He hasn't show nothing for that. Maybe he can do a Top10.

Gesink will do very well, mark my words I'am willing to stake my reputation, avatar or anything that Gesink will come top 5 here.
The reasons being that at Murcia he came i think 8th overall and a 6th in the TT, which was already an improvement since Andalucia. Considering that he has just been coming back from a femur break or something he will certainly have improved significantly since then, certainly more so than Sanchez who came similar position in Murcia.
Also Gesink was in brilliant form this time last season and i think he shows he can do that again, even on a slightly lower level.
Also he is on my cq team so he has to do well

 

[maltiv]

Just quickly browsing through the participants and profiles, these are my choices:

Valverde, S. Sanchez, Gesink *****
Van Garderen, Van den Broeck ****
Hesjedal, Danielson, Leipheimer, Wiggins, Cunego ***
Menchov, Basso, LL Sanchez, Vandevelde, Fulgsang, Kruijswijk **
A. Schleck, De Gendt *

You forgot Uran, who most likely will be Sky's leader here. I'd also add Pinot to 1 or 2 stars.

 

[Richeypen]

So should I downgrade him at par with A. Schleck?

Not quite that bad

 

[manafana]

Valverde is strong favourite justified, he can probably just hang in on big day but are other finishs suited to him?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeh but the pollen thingy only kicks in later on so this is the last race he can properly go for, as he showed last year, also he has said he has improved his breathing so we may even see him in the ardennes.
btw he is about as Irish as Froome is British

Gesink will do very well, mark my words I'am willing to stake my reputation, avatar or anything that Gesink will come top 5 here.
The reasons being that at Murcia he came i think 8th overall and a 6th in the TT, which was already an improvement since Andalucia. Considering that he has just been coming back from a femur break or something he will certainly have improved significantly since then, certainly more so than Sanchez who came similar position in Murcia.
Also Gesink was in brilliant form this time last season and i think he shows he can do that again, even on a slightly lower level.
Also he is on my cq team so he has to do well

Hmm I hope you're right but I doubt it. the field in Murcia was that much worse, which means Gesink would still has to improve considerably since then to do a top 5 here. I guess we'll found out soon enough, the queen stage is already wednesday