Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2018

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I hope Gaudu gets to race for himself. I mean, with Pinot also starting it obviously makes perfect sense for Gaudu to do domestique work for Pinot, if it's needed, I'd just like to see Gaudu's level of climbing compared to a WT field.

I believe Gaudu is their leader

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

What a weak field, this is not worthy of being World Tour.

No Froome, Nibali, Geraint Thomas, Porte, Bardet, Kwiatkowski, Poels, Landa, etc.

And Quintana is thinking of the Tour only this year, so he won't go for the victory here.

You lost me there!

 

[El Pistolero]

Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

Are you saying this has a good field then?

Just stating facts here.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Uran is replaced by Dani Martinez in EF Drapac lineup

 

[El Pistolero]

Re:

Uran is replaced by Dani Martinez in EF Drapac lineup

And the field just got even worse lol.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

Are you saying this has a good field then?

Just stating facts here.

Yes it is. Valverde, Quintana, Chaves, Yates brothers, Dan Martin, Aru, Pinot, Henao, Bernal, Kruijswijk, Van Garderen, Barguil. It is a very good field for a climbers race.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Re: Re:

I believe Gaudu is their leader

That would be very nice

 

[repre]

Re: Re:

Uran is replaced by Dani Martinez in EF Drapac lineup

And the field just got even worse lol.

"Its not a weak field if Valverde is racing", - every Valverde fan says.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

I believe Gaudu is their leader

That would be very nice

He is, Pinot said he'll be working for him.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

This seems to be typical of some people. I think at this point some people just don't like that Valverde can race from Jan to Oct and win races all season unlike anyone else in the field who is a GC rider.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

Did you expect anything else from Pisti, honestly?

The last 3 years or so, I think this has been a better race than Pais Vasco. Im a lot more hyped for Pais Vasco, but it has been rather disappointing for a while now and Catalunya has had some very good stages where you didn't necessarily expect great racing. La Molina is always a downer, despite Valverde probably winning, but apart from that Im pretty happy with the race.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Gaudu x Bernal and maybe Latour might be the best to watch...

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

This seems to be typical of some people. I think at this point some people just don't like that Valverde can race from Jan to Oct and win races all season unlike anyone else in the field who is a GC rider.

The fact you already assume Valverde will win says all I need to know about the quality of the field.

Weak. And unless you can argue otherwise it's best to remain silent.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

This seems to be typical of some people. I think at this point some people just don't like that Valverde can race from Jan to Oct and win races all season unlike anyone else in the field who is a GC rider.

The fact you already assume Valverde will win says all I need to know about the quality of the field.

Weak. And unless you can argue otherwise it's best to remain silent.

I hardly think you should be the one judging when it's best to stay silent. He hasn't been particularly beatable lately in the one-week stage races. Even your precious Contador got it handed to him three times last spring. Maybe that was due to a weak field as well, all the victories Valverde got.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

This seems to be typical of some people. I think at this point some people just don't like that Valverde can race from Jan to Oct and win races all season unlike anyone else in the field who is a GC rider.

The fact you already assume Valverde will win says all I need to know about the quality of the field.

Weak. And unless you can argue otherwise it's best to remain silent.

I hardly think you should be the one judging when it's best to stay silent. He hasn't been particularly beatable lately in the one-week stage races. Even your precious Contador got it handed to him three times last spring. Maybe that was due to a weak field as well, all the victories Valverde got.

In one week stage races he's been living up to his nickname El Imbatido pretty well recently.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

This seems to be typical of some people. I think at this point some people just don't like that Valverde can race from Jan to Oct and win races all season unlike anyone else in the field who is a GC rider.

The fact you already assume Valverde will win says all I need to know about the quality of the field.

Weak. And unless you can argue otherwise it's best to remain silent.

I hardly think you should be the one judging when it's best to stay silent. He hasn't been particularly beatable lately in the one-week stage races. Even your precious Contador got it handed to him three times last spring. Maybe that was due to a weak field as well, all the victories Valverde got.

Contador was far from his best last year, proving my point even further.

He still won 8 Grand Tours more than Valverde though.

And again, I hear no arguments how this field isn't weak, just personal attacks, I never even mentioned Valverde.

 

[Red Rick]

Honestly with Contador retiring, Froome, Nibali and Quintana ditching focus on 6/8 day stage races, and the young and upcoming stars not quite there yet I'd say the World Tour field in general is a bit weak in these races now. There's certainly depth, but the top GC dogs aren't really bothering this year.

This field is a lot deeper than Paris Nice though.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Honestly with Contador retiring, Froome, Nibali and Quintana ditching focus on 6/8 day stage races, and the young and upcoming stars not quite there yet I'd say the World Tour field in general is a bit weak in these races now. There's certainly depth, but the top GC dogs aren't really bothering this year.

This field is a lot deeper than Paris Nice though.

Paris-Nice was a very weak GC field with most of the GC riders being up and coming GC guys. Catalunya has a stronger field.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Bernal is a good option for a top-10, maybe even top-5, but not more. De La Cruz is also in some fine shape and they also do have Henao, but he has regressed a fair amount since his Paris-Nice win one year earlier.

I think Nairo will domestique for Valverde, since the route obviously suits him better than Nairo, that Valverde most likely is in better shape and maybe that Nairo hopes he will pay that back in July. At least thats how I interpret the whole situation with being more calm and super-peaking for the Tour.

De la Cruz isn't going to start however; he prefers Itzulia in the run-up to the Giro.

I really don't see why Bernal can't fight for at least a top-5. The guy is a special talent, and special talents have a different growth pattern. Sky should pick him as a leader really, because Henao was poor in PN and isn't going to progress anymore at his age.

Maybe he can, but there's really only one good stage for him. I dont question the fact that he is special, he really, really is, but I just don't think this necessarily will be his big breakthrough on the WT-scene just yet (thinking Quintana Pais Vasco 2013, fx.) Lets see, Im certainly intrigued by not only him, but also his big rival, Gaudu!

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Pre-emptive strike: Let's degrade the race now, so when Valverde wins it convincingly, it wouldn't matter anyway

This seems to be typical of some people. I think at this point some people just don't like that Valverde can race from Jan to Oct and win races all season unlike anyone else in the field who is a GC rider.

The fact you already assume Valverde will win says all I need to know about the quality of the field.

Weak. And unless you can argue otherwise it's best to remain silent.

I hardly think you should be the one judging when it's best to stay silent. He hasn't been particularly beatable lately in the one-week stage races. Even your precious Contador got it handed to him three times last spring. Maybe that was due to a weak field as well, all the victories Valverde got.

Contador was far from his best last year, proving my point even further.

He still won 8 Grand Tours more than Valverde though.

And again, I hear no arguments how this field isn't weak, just personal attacks, I never even mentioned Valverde.

You don't have to.

And there's nothing at all wrong with this field. There are plenty contenders. And as Koronin mentioned, it's a much stronger field than at Paris-Nice.

 

[Tonton]

Blah, blah, blah...maybe Valverde is the only one with GC intentions, but if they feel good, fare well early on, others may take him on. Yes, too bad that some take it as a preparation race. But this is the World of cycling we live in (ah, ah, ah - Phil Collins). As always, some second or third tier riders will take it seriously, get a free pass and end up very high. Probably not enough to beat Valverde...so what? It's early in the season. What do you expect? Eddy Merckx?

There will be stories, and yes, Bernal and Gaudu can mix it up, nest week everybody will say the race sucked, and maybe ten years from now talk about it as the beginning of something...

Chill out! There will be racing, attacking, and yes, Sagan is not going to win. Or Cavendish. GVA. Froome. Contador retired. But as long as there's is good racing, I'm on.

I would hate for Valverde to win for reasons that don't belong here, but I will always find something to learn, be excited about.

Bunch of Squidwards you ...

 

[yaco]

I suspect if Valverde wins it will be a well deserved - The MS riders in Yates x 2 and Chaves have cards to play if they are in form - Actually think one of the MS riders will win.

 

[Jagartrott]

What's Chavez form?
He's @11 for a top-3 at Unibet, so they think he has very little chance.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

What's Chavez form?
He's @11 for a top-3 at Unibet, so they think he has very little chance.

Thats a good bet, he was obviously in good shape in P-N, but something went wrong. Maybe the cold in which case it probably won't get better in Catalunya, lol. But anyways, worth a shot.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Gaudu x Bernal and maybe Latour might be the best to watch...

Yes that could be interesting!
Don't expect much from this race, been pretty underwhelming for a while now.
But a lot of riders from my CQ team are racing so I am looking forward regardless