Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 21/03/2016 - 27/03/2016 2.UWT

[Bushman]

Re:

This is the race of the truth for Purito. If he really was sandbacking in Tirreno (which i think he did for 50%), he will win this bike race. It's his home race, on a course which is almost similair to the edition he won back in 2014.

1. Purito
2. Contador
3. Porte

When has he shown he can consistently climb with the best since 2014? Purito really isnt on the same level anymore. He is still a very good cyclist he can win stages in the top races and perform well in the Ardennes, but he wont win a stage race against this field.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

This is the race of the truth for Purito. If he really was sandbacking in Tirreno (which i think he did for 50%), he will win this bike race. It's his home race, on a course which is almost similair to the edition he won back in 2014.

1. Purito
2. Contador
3. Porte

When has he shown he can consistently climb with the best since 2014? Purito really isnt on the same level anymore. He is still a very good cyclist he can win stages in the top races and perform well in the Ardennes, but he wont win a stage race against this field.

Why not? He won Pais Vasco against Quintana last year. And by a big margin. So it's possible, with a bit more agression and different tactics. In the Vuelta he was 2nd. In front of Quintana.

He can't win a GT anymore. And he will have some more off days during the season. But when he's on, he can win such a stage race with climbs which are suited to him.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

1 Bertie
2 Zaki
3 Rogla

Wishfull thinking doesn't hurt anyone

 

[Lequack]

This image is something we will never see with the new "Extreme weather protocol". From Volta a Catalunya 2014:

Source:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/volta-catalunya-analysis-rodriguez-wins-battle-will-win-war-119540

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

This is the race of the truth for Purito. If he really was sandbacking in Tirreno (which i think he did for 50%), he will win this bike race. It's his home race, on a course which is almost similair to the edition he won back in 2014.

1. Purito
2. Contador
3. Porte

When has he shown he can consistently climb with the best since 2014? Purito really isnt on the same level anymore. He is still a very good cyclist he can win stages in the top races and perform well in the Ardennes, but he wont win a stage race against this field.

Why not? He won Pais Vasco against Quintana last year. And by a big margin. So it's possible, with a bit more agression and different tactics. In the Vuelta he was 2nd. In front of Quintana.

He can't win a GT anymore. And he will have some more off days during the season. But when he's on, he can win such a stage race with climbs which are suited to him.

Pais Vasco is a different race with climbs that suit Purito perfectly. No surprise he can beat Quintana here. The Vuelta is a difficult measure. Yes, he beat Quintana, but he was also only 12 seconds in front of Majka and beaten by Aru. Quintana was probably more tired after riding gc at the Tour as well.

I think he can win a stage and ride a good gc, but I cant see him winning the race.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

This is the race of the truth for Purito. If he really was sandbacking in Tirreno (which i think he did for 50%), he will win this bike race. It's his home race, on a course which is almost similair to the edition he won back in 2014.

1. Purito
2. Contador
3. Porte

I don't think he can beat Porte.
1.Porte
2.J.Rod
3.Thomas

 

[Red Rick]

For a few years now Catalunya has gotten a stellar field and very little action. As I recall, there's no bonifications and the winner will likely be the winner of one of the 2 MTF's. There's no tt either, so gaining time is not really a necessity. As a result, action will likely be very brief. That on such a parcours, which is a shame.

 

[rghysens]

Sky to lay down a first marker for the TdF:

1) Froome
2) Contador
3) Quintana
4) Porte
5) Zakarin

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

For a few years now Catalunya has gotten a stellar field and very little action. As I recall, there's no bonifications and the winner will likely be the winner of one of the 2 MTF's. There's no tt either, so gaining time is not really a necessity. As a result, action will likely be very brief. That on such a parcours, which is a shame.

They had bonifications in 2015, that's the reason why Valverde was able to get 2nd.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

the most important question is as always if the weather allows to held all the mountains stages in full and broadcast them

It's Catalunya, the tv coverage will suck regardless of the weather.

 

[Breh]

Re:

This image is something we will never see with the new "Extreme weather protocol". From Volta a Catalunya 2014:

Source:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/volta-catalunya-analysis-rodriguez-wins-battle-will-win-war-119540

Well, it's not snowing. If you think the Brouilly stage shouldn't have been cancelled you're delusional. San Vicino was more of a fckup but not as bad as some of you depict it. Extreme weather was predicted. Take into consideration the complaints from the riders in P-N and no wonder they're looking for a balanced take on this EWP thing. You can't expect it to work 100% fine the first few times.

Just let it go and stop bitching about it.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

One problem with Catalunya is that a lot of the time the climbs are of the gradual and relatively consistent kind, and so the selectivity isn't that great. There are some really great climbs in Catalunya, but many of them would have to be placed some way from a finish (eg Coll de Pradell, Collada de Collfred) or are at high enough altitude that it could be trouble to arrange at them (Rassos de Pegüera); others simply aren't able to or interested in hosting (Mont Caró). The Port-Ainé stage is better this year with Enviny in the middle to ramp up the difficulty rather than ensuring a final climb showdown; similarly they could get to La Molina via some more interesting routes than they do, and the constant choice of the unthreatening and uninteresting Alt de Lilla in the Valls stages instead of having a not necessarily super challenging but longer climb like, say, Mont-Ral is grating. I'd also like maybe fewer circuits of the Montjuïc circuit and Tibidabo near the end or something to enliven the final stage.

 

[Red Rick]

In after Libertine.

Do you know why they haven't had a tt in years in Catalunya?

 

[Angliru]

Re:

This image is something we will never see with the new "Extreme weather protocol". From Volta a Catalunya 2014:

Source:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/volta-catalunya-analysis-rodriguez-wins-battle-will-win-war-119540

It couldn't have been too cold with Purito and Quintana riding with no gloves on.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

This image is something we will never see with the new "Extreme weather protocol". From Volta a Catalunya 2014:

Source:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/volta-catalunya-analysis-rodriguez-wins-battle-will-win-war-119540

It couldn't have been too cold with Purito and Quintana riding with no gloves on.

Quintana also climbed Monte Terminillo without gloves.

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

Sounds official.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

This image is something we will never see with the new "Extreme weather protocol". From Volta a Catalunya 2014:

Source:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/volta-catalunya-analysis-rodriguez-wins-battle-will-win-war-119540

It couldn't have been too cold with Purito and Quintana riding with no gloves on.

Quintana also climbed Monte Terminillo without gloves.

The funny part is that those pictures are the ones used by UCI and specialized websites to promote the sport.
Just look at this : https://twitter.com/UCI_cycling/status/709492632033087488

Yet I heard this is "excellent news for the professionalization of cycling" from pro riders in order to praise the overly-cautious decision made by RCS.

 

[damian13ster]

Porte is going to win this one. Froome will not be in great shape yet imho

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

This is the race of the truth for Purito. If he really was sandbacking in Tirreno (which i think he did for 50%), he will win this bike race. It's his home race, on a course which is almost similair to the edition he won back in 2014.

1. Purito
2. Contador
3. Porte

When has he shown he can consistently climb with the best since 2014? Purito really isnt on the same level anymore. He is still a very good cyclist he can win stages in the top races and perform well in the Ardennes, but he wont win a stage race against this field.

in 2015!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

Sounds official.

It is!

 

[sir fly]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

Sounds official.

It is!

Healthy reasoning.

 

[Poursuivant]

Good OP.

Really looking forward to this, the field is stacked.

 

[del1962]

I am not sure we can read to much into Froome's previous two editions of this race, he had health problems prior to this race in both seasons

 

[HelloDolly]

This is a difficult race to call as we haven't seen Quintana yet this year and hardly saw Froome..
Aru was not in top shape either when we saw him last but could have improved

I think it will be between the riders we know have form like Contador, Porte, Thomas, Poels ,TJvanG
I also think Purito & Dan Martin will be up there as both have a very good record in this race
And I think Uran will do well

 

[Brullnux]

Quintana was at San Luis...