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

[May0maniac]

Re:

It would be hilarious if Froome dropped everyone like a bad habit tomorrow with one of his signature attacks, but it's unlikely.

Contador firm favourite now

It's Froome, so it wouldn't even surprise me, but he looks like 2014 Catalunya Froome, he has never been great in Catalunya.

 

[slosada]

Not sure I know all details on this weather report but seems 0% chances of precipitation.
Will drop to -3C overnight and will be sunny reaching 6C
However it will be windy at 18-20KPH from N NW

 

[del1962]

Re:

Not sure I know all details on this weather report but seems 0% chances of precipitation.
Will drop to -3C overnight and will be sunny reaching 6C
However it will be windy at 18-20KPH from N NW

What is direction of final climb, I hope it is not a headwind

 

[Gigs_98]

I think it will be Contador against Quintana tomorrow. AC obviously because he was very strong today and Nairo because he was at least better than I expected on this sort of finish.

Alberto is in a good position to win the race now, he just has to hang on to his strongest rivals, but he has to be cautious. With his terrible team he could get mugged by a number of riders: Tejay, Porte, Froome, Quintana.
Let's see what Martin can do. I don't expect him to hang onto his lead, but who knows.

Contador only cares about one rival: Froome.

What makes you think that. I would rather say that the only threat Contador cares about is loosing, and only because loosing has often something to do with Froome, thats rather because Froome is often the strongest rider, which probably wont be the case tomorrow.

This. Except for the spelling, of course. It's about winning with AC. It doesn't matter who it is. It just so happens Froome has been the guy to beat lately.

Hahaha, oops

 

[slosada]

Re: Re:

Not sure I know all details on this weather report but seems 0% chances of precipitation.
Will drop to -3C overnight and will be sunny reaching 6C
However it will be windy at 18-20KPH from N NW

What is direction of final climb, I hope it is not a headwind

From PCS (exactly as in the road book)

Looks like a mix between tail and crosswinds

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

It would be hilarious if Froome dropped everyone like a bad habit tomorrow with one of his signature attacks, but it's unlikely.

Contador firm favourite now

Hilarious?

It would be normal.

Tomorrow is a day for Froome and Quintana. Of course we have a lot of important contenders as Contador, Porte, Tejay, Purito, Aru, Urán or Dan Martin himself, but tomorrow is a day for a strong Froome attack. But froome has to drop almost everybody, even if he get the stage and 10 second bonus, he need to drop people as Quintana or Porte, and of course with some seconds Contador, Tejay and Dan Martin. If Froome attacks but one of those riders keep his wheel, he wont be leader... but there are more days to try to get bonus or to take some seconds.

Tomorrow is a better day for Mikel Nieve, I hope him to do a better job, but Froome needs later Poels or Thomas to make pain with an attack, he has not a very explosive attack, he need people really tired when he attack, or a 15 % gradient, when suckwheels is useless.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

It would be hilarious if Froome dropped everyone like a bad habit tomorrow with one of his signature attacks, but it's unlikely.

Contador firm favourite now

Hilarious?

It would be normal.

Tomorrow is a day for Froome and Quintana. Of course we have a lot of important contenders as Contador, Porte, Tejay, Purito, Aru, Urán or Dan Martin himself, but tomorrow is a day for a strong Froome attack. But froome has to drop almost everybody, even if he get the stage and 10 second bonus, he need to drop people as Quintana or Porte, and of course with some seconds Contador, Tejay and Dan Martin. If Froome attacks but one of those riders keep his wheel, he wont be leader... but there are more days to try to get bonus or to take some seconds.

Tomorrow is a better day for Mikel Nieve, I hope him to do a better job, but Froome needs later Poels or Thomas to make pain with an attack, he has not a very explosive attack, he need people really tired when he attack, or a 15 % gradient, when suckwheels is useless.

Y'all forget that Dan Martin won the stage in Port ainé in 2013 and proceeded to win that volta a catalunya!

 

[HelloDolly]

The Sky rider who would have done well today is Henao ....

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

It would be hilarious if Froome dropped everyone like a bad habit tomorrow with one of his signature attacks, but it's unlikely.

Contador firm favourite now

Hilarious?

It would be normal.

Tomorrow is a day for Froome and Quintana.

And Contador, and Van Garderen, and Porte.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Y'all forget that Dan Martin won the stage in Port ainé in 2013 and proceeded to win that volta a catalunya!

Tomorrow's stage isn't likely to be very similar, now is it?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Y'all forget that Dan Martin won the stage in Port ainé in 2013 and proceeded to win that volta a catalunya!

Tomorrow's stage isn't likely to be very similar, now is it?

I think the point is that people dismissing Martin as only a puncheur, it just goes to show that Martin obviously can climb well, but well enough? We don't know

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Y'all forget that Dan Martin won the stage in Port ainé in 2013 and proceeded to win that volta a catalunya!

Tomorrow's stage isn't likely to be very similar, now is it?

I think the point is that people dismissing Martin as only a puncheur, it just goes to show that Martin obviously can climb well, but well enough? We don't know

Yes I agree he is more than just a puncheur, but he won that stage from a long range attack. So he didn't ride Port Ainé directly against the other climbers.
I think tomorrow he won't be able to follow Contador, Quintana, Porte&Tejay and maybe Froome, but I'm not sure.

 

[Tonton]

LaFlo is in good spirits, I see . Yes, Berto fans can feel good. It's way too early to compare with previous vintages, i.e. '14, but he does look great...Malhao...superb attacks in PN...now this. More to come tomorrow...

 

[Taxus4a]

After the stage, Froome was philosophical about his performance but keen to stress the positives.

He told TeamSky.com: "The team were super strong all day but unfortunately we didn't finish the job off in the final. This is my first race back at WorldTour level and I'm still finding my legs.

"Tomorrow is a new day though and we've still got a lot to race for with myself, Geraint and Wout still in contention.

"It's been great being back with the guys again. There's a great atmosphere in this team and hopefully we can build on that. We've still got a few days to go and we want to play a part in this race."

Read more at http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/home/article/75556#W60xcIyTmIMHlYTP.99

 

[Taxus4a]

LaFlo is in good spirits, I see . Yes, Berto fans can feel good. It's way too early to compare with previous vintages, i.e. '14, but he does look great...Malhao...superb attacks in PN...now this. More to come tomorrow...

The rest I agree.

 

[Metabolol]

I don't think Martin will be able to hang with Froome, Alberto, Van Garderen, Porte, Zakarin, Quintana. I expect Froome to be stronger tomorrow as today he was finding his speed and rhythm. Will it be enough to drop the others? I hope not as a Contador fan, but if he does it will be a big mental blow for Alberto.

 

[manafana]

Martin was superb today, bit different to his usual wins where he will catch people out and get gap then hold it, he just blew it up here, bit like in Liege when he killed off Purito boy he can dig deep

 

[manafana]

Re:

I didnt know this rider...http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=21014&year=2015&all=1&current=0

Another one to follow, what he did today at 21 is something to take into account.

Hugh is a beast, he took step to move to Spain a step most english speakers would never consider, he can climb with anyone on his dayy going get better

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Y'all forget that Dan Martin won the stage in Port ainé in 2013 and proceeded to win that volta a catalunya!

Tomorrow's stage isn't likely to be very similar, now is it?

I think the point is that people dismissing Martin as only a puncheur, it just goes to show that Martin obviously can climb well, but well enough? We don't know

Dan Martin is a climber, but he has a good explosive end.

He won Cataluña in Port Aine, in a long and hard stage. it was one of those epic attacks with a very good team work and the big help of Hesjedal, with a long attack from far. Dan has a big endurace, he is really good in long stages, he has won Lieje in fact. But his problem for GC is recovery, he is not superb in that, there are better riders for that, and he is not very good on the flat and ITT.

Tomorrow he should lose the leader, but if he is not far he has some stages later to fight for the victory.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

It would be hilarious if Froome dropped everyone like a bad habit tomorrow with one of his signature attacks, but it's unlikely.

Contador firm favourite now

Hilarious?

It would be normal.

Tomorrow is a day for Froome and Quintana.

And Contador, and Van Garderen, and Porte.

Likely

 

[peloton]

If Sky sets a frantic pace, won't be many riders left. Will be interesting to see what the BMC duo does

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Martin would have had a better shot at GC and for tomorrow's stage if he hadn't ended up in the leader's jersey today. No way anyone lets him up the road now. Against a field including the three best climbers in the world, his best shot would be to attack because all other things being equal Contador and Co should be able to get rid of him over 20 km.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Martin would have had a better shot at GC and for tomorrow's stage if he hadn't ended up in the leader's jersey today. No way anyone lets him up the road now. Against a field including the three best climbers in the world, his best shot would be to attack because all other things being equal Contador and Co should be able to get rid of him over 20 km.

But didn't Dan Martin say in an interview recently that he has being training on the long climbs all winter ...This is a departure from his previous training it seems

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

But didn't Dan Martin say in an interview recently that he has being training on the long climbs all winter ...This is a departure from his previous training it seems

Maybe so, but in the Tour of Valencia he won on the punchier finish and then cracked on the long climb a couple of days later. And that was against a weaker field than this.

Of course that's a race in February, while he should be in much better condition now. We will see. I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a step forward, but on balance I still think he's more likely to finish seventh or something on the climb.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

But didn't Dan Martin say in an interview recently that he has being training on the long climbs all winter ...This is a departure from his previous training it seems

Maybe so, but in the Tour of Valencia he won on the punchier finish and then cracked on the long climb a couple of days later. And that was against a weaker field than this.

Of course that's a race in February, while he should be in much better condition now. We will see. I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a step forward, but on balance I still think he's more likely to finish seventh or something on the climb.

Verona feels great and he said he is ready to help him. Allaphillipe looks well too.