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

[rhubroma]

Re: 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

I'll second that, with only this difference: if AC is in stellar form he could break the group and, so could Quintana, if the attack is well placed and if he is in great shape, which I think he is. It's up in the air.

 

[yaco]

This is a seriously deep GC field, so expect many battles during the race - Every second gained will be hard earned - Think it will be a race in three - Froome Contador and Quintana.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Only one prediction is pretty safe: The queen stage will be cancelled.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Only one prediction is pretty safe: The queen stage will be cancelled.

No snow predicted for Thursday or the previous days. Snow on the ground isn't an issue obviously.

 

[SeriousSam]

Only one small time bookmaker offers odds on this race so we shouldn't put too much stock into this, but here goes. The favourites rank as follows in order of likelihood to win with gaps indicating .. a gap.

Froome
Contador
Quintana

Aru/Porte
Purito

Looking forward to this one. Has the potential to induce an early forum meltdown.

 

[del1962]

I think Froomey is the most likely to win this

 

[silvergrenade]

Quintana will win given there are no TTs
Froome second given the team he has around him.
Alberto Contador Third.

 

[Velolover2]

I don't think we will see some real action on La Molina. That is a stage for the likes of Dan Martin and Rodriguez. The favorites will be saving energy for stage 4.

It's all about Port Ainé where you can create some serious gaps. Tour-like gaps.

 

[Velolover2]

Froome should be the favorite unless stage 4 is cancelled. On Port Ainé, you can create a gap of a minute.

Contador lacks a strong team which is needed on a stage like that. Basically every rider on Froome's team except Swift can finish in top 10.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Port Ainé is perfect for Alberto to create a big gap, if he is recovered from his cold he will win. Maybe Superman Lopez could follow him.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Port Ainé is perfect for Alberto to create a big gap, if he is recovered from his cold he will win. Maybe Superman Lopez could follow him.

I hope that he is fit for the race. I want a close battle between the favorites.

One thing is sure, the won who wins stage 4, wins the race.

 

[Velolover2]

Swift is the favorite to get 2nd tomorrow.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Swift is the favorite to get 2nd tomorrow.

Well Bouhanni is there so this is probably true.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Swift is the favorite to get 2nd tomorrow.

Well Bouhanni is there so this is probably true.

Cimolai should be faster than Swift too.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

Only one prediction is pretty safe: The queen stage will be cancelled.

No snow predicted for Thursday or the previous days. Snow on the ground isn't an issue obviously.

Looking like it's goingto be cancelled according to this.

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/could_the_catalunya_queen_stage_be_cancelled/#F8vozu7tcLVziAr6.97

So deflating.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Only one prediction is pretty safe: The queen stage will be cancelled.

No snow predicted for Thursday or the previous days. Snow on the ground isn't an issue obviously.

Looking like it's goingto be cancelled according to this.

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/could_the_catalunya_queen_stage_be_cancelled/#F8vozu7tcLVziAr6.97

So deflating.

The roads can be cleared. As long as there's no snow falling, why should it be cancelled?

 

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

Only one prediction is pretty safe: The queen stage will be cancelled.

No snow predicted for Thursday or the previous days. Snow on the ground isn't an issue obviously.

Looking like it's goingto be cancelled according to this.

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/could_the_catalunya_queen_stage_be_cancelled/#F8vozu7tcLVziAr6.97

So deflating.

The roads can be cleared. As long as there's no snow falling, why should it be cancelled?

Hope you're right but after the TA debacle last week, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Only one prediction is pretty safe: The queen stage will be cancelled.

No snow predicted for Thursday or the previous days. Snow on the ground isn't an issue obviously.

Looking like it's goingto be cancelled according to this.

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/could_the_catalunya_queen_stage_be_cancelled/#F8vozu7tcLVziAr6.97

So deflating.

No snowplow in Spain? With hot and sunny 4 days ahead , it would be ridicolous

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Swift is the favorite to get 2nd tomorrow.

Well Bouhanni is there so this is probably true.

Cimolai should be faster than Swift too.

Meersman, Impey/Gerrans, Boeckmans/van der Sande, van Genechten, Barbero, maybe even Reijnen are all capable of 2nd, but I think Swift is the best of the rest after Bouhanni. He should also be motivated by the fact he might not be sprinting too much between now and the Tour.

 

[rick james]

Sadly i don't think Froome has the race miles in the legs, he might struggle a bit.

 

[RedheadDane]

Would be pretty awesome if Boeckmans could get second - or just get a top-10 - so soon after his comeback.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Meersman, Impey/Gerrans, Boeckmans/van der Sande, van Genechten, Barbero, maybe even Reijnen are all capable of 2nd, but I think Swift is the best of the rest after Bouhanni. He should also be motivated by the fact he might not be sprinting too much between now and the Tour.

Swift could beat all of those. But normally I think both Bouhanni and Cimolai are too fast.
Either way didn't Swift lose a sprint to Gatto a few weeks ago, I love the Cat but he isn't really Kittel or Greipel.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Sadly i don't think Froome has the race miles in the legs, he might struggle a bit.

He struggled last year and the year before and now he has had an even longer break.

 

[Põhja Konn]

Having a lot more racing in the legs should give Contador an edge over the other big two. Still, both Froome and specially Quintana have shown an ability to be on fire without much or any racing in their legs.

Also given the circumstances of his loss in P-N (narrow margin and cancellation of an important GC stage due to weather), he is in all likelihood hungrier for overall success in Catalunya than others.

So, for me, on the eve of the race Contador is the favourite. If Porte has recovered from his illness sufficiently , he is likely to push at least one of the big three out of the podium.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Swift is the favorite to get 2nd tomorrow.

Well Bouhanni is there so this is probably true.

Cimolai should be faster than Swift too.

Meersman, Impey/Gerrans, Boeckmans/van der Sande, van Genechten, Barbero, maybe even Reijnen are all capable of 2nd, but I think Swift is the best of the rest after Bouhanni. He should also be motivated by the fact he might not be sprinting too much between now and the Tour.

I wonder if Sky will work for Swift in the first couple of stages in order to drop faster guys like Bouhanni or save their climbers exclusively for Froome. Machines like Kiry and Geraint Thomas could be crucial for Swift but they might want to save them for later.

So far this year, he has been the Eternal Second of sprinters. Almost there without winning.