Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2018

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Pierre Latour is one of those guys who starts his career regarded as a great talent, but probably not as a future star and then surprises everyone year after year. He has the grit and panache to win some big races.
A mini-Nibali in the making?
 
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DFA123 said:
What was up with Dan Martin this week? He's normally really strong at Cataluña - even pushing for the win. He was awful at Paris-Nice as well. You'd think he'd be coming into decent form already with the Ardennes ony 3 weeks away.

I wonder if he's given up a bit mentally. He's got his last big contract at a weaker team than he was at before; perhaps the hunger and motivation isn't there any more.
He has moved away from Quickstep aka chavanelized.
 
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vladimir said:
Broccolidwarf said:
What a revelation Soler is (Bernal was too, but more expected)

Imagine Movistar at the tour, with Quintana, Landa, Valverde, Amador & Soler in the team

AG2R is also shaping up great

I was just thinking Sky will get a real run for their money in the mountains.... and then I realised, they can add Bernal to the tour team :D

BTW, is it just me, or are we seeing a lot more in-form GC riders than ever before?

Realistically, you could make a list of 20 starters, that all have a shot at top 5, which to me seems higher than before.

I am quite sure neither Soler nor Amador will ride TDF this year. I would assume that Movistar would bring Bennati, Erviti and Sütterlin for the flat and TTT and two experienced climbers (two from Valls, Betancur, Anacona, Dayer and De La Parte) for the mountains. However as Bennati, Erviti and Sütterlin all climbs quite well they might even add Rojas.

I agree about Soler and Amador not riding and also on Bennati, Erviti and Sütterlin being quite certain. No way Dayer goes though, Valls seems also very unlikely and is likely saved for the Vuelta. Betancur if in good form after the Vuelta and De La Parte could be options, but I think unlikely and I think the last 2 spots will be between Anacona as the most sure and then Rojas or Oliveira that are both very useful for all stages.
 
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SafeBet said:
Pierre Latour is one of those guys who starts his career regarded as a great talent, but probably not as a future star and then surprises everyone year after year. He has the grit and panache to win some big races.
A mini-Nibali in the making?
Again I disagree :p

Latour was up there in one of his first higher profile races in the Route du Sud against Contador. That was hugely impressive back then. He was always on my radar as high profile talent for me then
 
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LaFlorecita said:
Dani Martinez was 2nd behind Bernal at the intermediate sprint, so he takes 2 bonifications and enters the top-10.


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Celebrating a top 10, thought that was against the rules in here :lol:
 
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Red Rick said:
Rojas beating Valverde in that sprint

I also love to live dangerously


Rojas and Valverde are good friends and are both from Murcia. He's not going to have a problem with Rojas getting the spot over him on that sprint, esp since there weren't any bonus seconds on the line.