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

[dacooley]

Re:

Why? Because we all know riders never get ill after a week of hard racing in the cold, or because we all know being ill could never lead to a sub-par performance in any way?

without a doubt. i'm just suggesting that'll be interesting to watch the race in the light of the argument delivered here many many times after froome and contador crossed swords in the 2014 dauphine. if ones guided by this logic, bertie should beat froome hands down. I always found this theory quite debatable but i don't mind being wrong.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Why? Because we all know riders never get ill after a week of hard racing in the cold, or because we all know being ill could never lead to a sub-par performance in any way?

without a doubt. i'm just suggesting that'll be interesting to watch the race in the light of the argument delivered here many many times after froome and contador crossed swords in the 2014 dauphine. if ones guided by this logic, bertie should beat froome hands down. I always found this theory quite debatable but i don't mind being wrong.

My post was a reply to CheckMyPecs but yes I agree, normally Alberto should be stronger here.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

Why? Because we all know riders never get ill after a week of hard racing in the cold, or because we all know being ill could never lead to a sub-par performance in any way?

Because, even though I only registered last week, I've been lurking long enough on this forum to know Bertie fans always have an excuse up their sleeve for when he doesn't win.

 

[MortiroloForever]

The starlist is just amazing, but let's see how many of them are real contenders for the GC.

I don't think Quintana is going to compete at 100% of him. Movistar managers always hide a card for the biggest races.

Joaquim Rodríguez is always dangerous at home. He knows better than anyone the parcours and he'll be very motivated as well. That´s for sure.

Froome is a rider that always wants to show that is the stronger in the bunch. Port Ainé is such an appropiate mountain for him, but if the GC is close untill the last stage, Contador could hardly punish him in the sinuous Montjuic circuit. The last stage is what spanish people say "territorio comanche".

I'll go for Froome... although other riders should be in a better form.

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

Why? Because we all know riders never get ill after a week of hard racing in the cold, or because we all know being ill could never lead to a sub-par performance in any way?

Because, even though I only registered last week, I've been lurking long enough on this forum to know Bertie fans always have an excuse up their sleeve for when he doesn't win.

what else are they supposed to do? coming up with excuses is easier than accepting that froome has all the necessary qualities to damage bertie's last season.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Why? Because we all know riders never get ill after a week of hard racing in the cold, or because we all know being ill could never lead to a sub-par performance in any way?

Because, even though I only registered last week, I've been lurking long enough on this forum to know Bertie fans always have an excuse up their sleeve for when he doesn't win.

Fair enough, but it's not like this excuse was pulled out of thin air He said he was ill (just like Porte, Dumoulin, Wellens by the way) why does it bother you when fans use that illness as an excuse for a potential sub-par performance?

 

[Vasilis]

Let's first see how they go before drawing conclusions.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

With Porte still sick, Froome will take this.

 

[May0maniac]

Right now it looks like the weather will be ok for the 2 high mountain stages, so hopefully they won't use the EWP.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Quintana FTW. Unlike others, he doesn't really need to race himself into shape, see the 2013 Tour or 2015 T-A. The harder the mountain stages are, the better for him and he is backed 100% with Valverde out of the picture. Contador 2nd and a surprise 3rd. Looking forward to watch some Quintana-synergy in the mountains!

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Quintana FTW. Unlike others, he doesn't really need to race himself into shape, see the 2013 Tour or 2015 T-A. The harder the mountain stages are, the better for him and he is backed 100% with Valverde out of the picture. Contador 2nd and a surprise 3rd. Looking forward to watch some Quintana-synergy in the mountains!

A certain guy won Catalunya back in 2014 after one month training at Teide

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Quintana FTW. Unlike others, he doesn't really need to race himself into shape, see the 2013 Tour or 2015 T-A. The harder the mountain stages are, the better for him and he is backed 100% with Valverde out of the picture. Contador 2nd and a surprise 3rd. Looking forward to watch some Quintana-synergy in the mountains!

A certain guy won Catalunya back in 2014 after one month training at Teide

So lets say Rodriguez takes the 3rd as a surprise

 

[Tank Engine]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

Sounds official.

Well, he did say G would win P-N

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

Sounds official.

Well, she did say G would win P-N

 

[Tank Engine]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

Sounds official.

Well, she did say G would win P-N

Sorry, of course.

I'll return the favour. I don't think Nairo or Froome will have the race fitness to compete with Bertie here.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Quintana FTW. Unlike others, he doesn't really need to race himself into shape, see the 2013 Tour or 2015 T-A. The harder the mountain stages are, the better for him and he is backed 100% with Valverde out of the picture. Contador 2nd and a surprise 3rd. Looking forward to watch some Quintana-synergy in the mountains!

A certain guy won Catalunya back in 2014 after one month training at Teide

So lets say Rodriguez takes the 3rd as a surprise

I like that

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Well, he did say G would win P-N

Exactly I pulled out my crystal ball again

 

[sir fly]

I really don't mind anybody winning as long as the racing is on the season's level (apart from Tirreno, naturally).

 

[rhubroma]

Given the climbing in this race, IMO those riders that did altituted training will be better prepared than those that did PN, which is Froome and Quintana.

Secondly, it sounds as if PN just wore Contador and Porte down with colds, without there having been much climbing on the course as a whole. I thus expect Froome and Quintana to be fresher and primed to go. Froome already showed fine form in Australia, while Quintana appears to be on TA form of last year, where he crushed it on Terminillo.

On the other hand, Contador and Porte were very good in PN and, if they are healthy (?) we should get a good fight from them.

Predictions??? Froome opens the gas on the first MTF and, head down like a bull keeps trying to beat and crush them, but Contador and Quintana are able to follow...then...BOOM!

I'll devilishly let others finish the narrative.

 

[cellardoor]

Re:

Given the climbing in this race, IMO those riders that did altituted training will be better prepared than those that did PN, which is Froome and Quintana.

Secondly, it sounds as if PN just wore Contador and Porte down with colds, without there having been much climbing on the course as a whole. I thus expect Froome and Quintana to be fresher and primed to go. Froome already showed fine form in Australia, while Quintana appears to be on TA form of last year, where he crushed it on Terminillo.

On the other hand, Contador and Porte were very good in PN and, if they are healthy (?) we should get a good fight from them.

Predictions??? Froome opens the gas on the first MTF and, head down like a bull keeps trying to beat and crush them, but Contador and Quintana are able to follow...then...BOOM!

I'll devilishly let others finish the narrative.

I know where you're coming from, but I just think the final climb will be too much for Lars.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Given the climbing in this race, IMO those riders that did altituted training will be better prepared than those that did PN, which is Froome and Quintana.

Secondly, it sounds as if PN just wore Contador and Porte down with colds, without there having been much climbing on the course as a whole. I thus expect Froome and Quintana to be fresher and primed to go. Froome already showed fine form in Australia, while Quintana appears to be on TA form of last year, where he crushed it on Terminillo.

On the other hand, Contador and Porte were very good in PN and, if they are healthy (?) we should get a good fight from them.

Predictions??? Froome opens the gas on the first MTF and, head down like a bull keeps trying to beat and crush them, but Contador and Quintana are able to follow...then...BOOM!

I'll devilishly let others finish the narrative.

I know where you're coming from, but I just think the final climb will be too much for Lars.

This forum really needs some kind of like button

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

Given the climbing in this race, IMO those riders that did altituted training will be better prepared than those that did PN, which is Froome and Quintana.

Secondly, it sounds as if PN just wore Contador and Porte down with colds, without there having been much climbing on the course as a whole. I thus expect Froome and Quintana to be fresher and primed to go. Froome already showed fine form in Australia, while Quintana appears to be on TA form of last year, where he crushed it on Terminillo.

On the other hand, Contador and Porte were very good in PN and, if they are healthy (?) we should get a good fight from them.

Predictions??? Froome opens the gas on the first MTF and, head down like a bull keeps trying to beat and crush them, but Contador and Quintana are able to follow...then...BOOM!

I'll devilishly let others finish the narrative.

I know where you're coming from, but I just think the final climb will be too much for Lars.

Well... that would be a surprise! All things considered...

 

[ILovecycling]

Very much depends on Quintana form, but apart from that I think Aru or Lopez might surprise. AC and CF are the favourites of course.

 

[rhubroma]

Re:

Very much depends on Quintana form, but apart from that I think Aru or Lopez might surprise. AC and CF are the favourites of course.

If Aru is good, he could capitalize on the fight and marking among others and opportunistically place a well timed move and win the stage. He won't win the overall though.

 

[Matteo.]

Re:

Predictions??? Froome opens the gas on the first MTF and, head down like a bull keeps trying to beat and crush them, but Contador and Quintana are able to follow...then...BOOM!

I'll devilishly let others finish the narrative.

Oh , i'm sure with that. I think La Molina isn't hard enough , but the only man who could break the favorite's group is Froome , on those slops. Two years ago , there were minimal differences between Purito , Contador and Froome(if i remember correctly)...so , in my opinion we need to wait Port Aine