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

[Arredondo]

Not too bad by Purito actually. In the same time as the number 10 (Uran), and in front of Aru, Chavito and Pozzo.

You have to look at the positive things

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Of course Martin can climb very well. He's just not one of the top three climbers in the world and Contador is. So all things being roughly equal in terms of form, which they probably are as both seem good without being at a peak, Contador should be very confident that he can get rid of him on a 20 km long climb. Just as Martin should be very confident that he can drop Contador on any puncheur type charge.

The only rider Contador will be wary of is Froome.

He maybe wary of Froome but TJ Van Garderen looked very good today as well

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

Not too bad by Purito actually. In the same time as the number 10 (Uran), and in front of Aru, Chavito and Pozzo.

You have to look at the positive things

How is that good on a stage perfectly suited for him? Declining is a graceful thing?

 

[Mr.White]

Quintana is a danger man tomorrow!

 

[Rollthedice]

Aru taking the Nibali approach to Le Tour?

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Hugh carthy?

Great perfomance.

 

[Escarabajo]

I am not sure what big conclusions can you make of this stage. Not really.

Let's wait for tomorrow's stage.

 

[JRanton]

Crazy that Nieve came in only 18 seconds down, level with Thomas and ahead of Poels despite working on the front for nearly the entire climb. Sky were working for the wrong guy!

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Of course Martin can climb very well. He's just not one of the top three climbers in the world and Contador is. So all things being roughly equal in terms of form, which they probably are as both seem good without being at a peak, Contador should be very confident that he can get rid of him on a 20 km long climb. Just as Martin should be very confident that he can drop Contador on any puncheur type charge.

The only rider Contador will be wary of is Froome.

I hope he listens to you and gets glued to his wheel all the time!

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Not too bad by Purito actually. In the same time as the number 10 (Uran), and in front of Aru, Chavito and Pozzo.

You have to look at the positive things

How is that good on a stage perfectly suited for him? Declining is a graceful thing?

It's not declining. From 2nd at La Vuelta to 16th in a stage suited to him in just a couple of months is not declining. It means he will peak later. I hope.

But maybe you're right, but i will wait till Pais Vasco and the classics to really judge. I think he's still got something left in the tank.

 

[Jakub]

Re: Re:

It have been a quite explosive end, it was a mistake from SKY to put Nieve all the climb working, there are some false flat and the descent, where Poels had to put a big pace.

Contador has 16 seconds now above Froome, so tomorrow SKY cannot speculate if they want to win this.

Congrats to Daniel Martin. i would have benn a god stage for Purito, but is getting his shape after his heath problems as I spected.

I can't see Froome challenging Contador tomorrow to be honest, he clearly lacks a bit of race sharpness which is understandable considering he hasn't raced for so long, whereas Contador is looking good and has raced recently.

Never say never. Froome has looked weak and then come back the next day to destroy the field. I hope your right, but with Froome you never know.

Over the years, Froome has developed sort of predictable patterns in his performance. Him failing at Volta a Catalunya is a regular pattern, and it only seem more likely to repeat itself after today (which was not bad, just meh)

I will not count out Froome yet. Last two appearance at Catalunya, he came after being sick (either his back or his chest infection). This year he is healthy. Last year, I thought Contador for sure win Route de sol, just to see the flailing Froome from the day before, destroyed Contador and won the jersey. There's is a possibility he might go full *** tomorrow. Maybe, today is just for him to ease in to the race.

Yes, maybe you, but Froome did chase very well and looked strong in that stage of Ruta del Sol, so the next stage was no surprise.

I can't see no connection to today though

 

[Põhja Konn]

Contador is certainly a favourite now. While Martin is not as good a climber as Contador himself, Quintana or Froome, they still need a high pace up Ainé to properly crack him.

I am quite sure Contador wants to make a statement tomorrow, not just simply win. Whether he is actually able to do it, we will see.

I believe Quintana will be a major player alongside Contador tomorrow. He was the best of those coming from a long break and tomorrow's final climb is much more suitable to him than today's. Unlikely to beat Contador, but could well be the best of rest.

Froome seems a step or two behind, which is entirely normal. If last years Dauphine is anything to go by, his day-to-day improvement during a race is gradual one rather than big jumps overnight. As such I see him racing conservatively, maybe using his teams strenght to dictate a relatively benign constant tempo up Ainé as long as possible, then riding at his own pace when others start firing.

At least one of the BMC duo will most likely end up in the podium, but I just can't see either of them beating an in form and fully motivated Contador.

 

[HelloDolly]

Crazy that Nieve came in only 18 seconds down, level with Thomas and ahead of Poels despite working on the front for nearly the entire climb. Sky were working for the wrong guy!

This shows they weren't working hard enough
We could all see how slow the climb was

Thomas will wear himself out before the Tour if he races too much

 

[Jakub]

Re:

Not too bad by Purito actually. In the same time as the number 10 (Uran), and in front of Aru, Chavito and Pozzo.

You have to look at the positive things

Yes, either you accept the situation as it is or you look at the positive things.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Not too bad by Purito actually. In the same time as the number 10 (Uran), and in front of Aru, Chavito and Pozzo.

You have to look at the positive things

Purito is not done yet

But I dont think we will see much from him till last week of the Tour, Olympics and the Vuelta

 

[SlickMongoose]

Re: Re:

Hugh carthy?

Great perfomance.

Wow, yeah. Great ride.

 

[LaFlorecita]

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.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

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.

 

[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 only because Froome is often the strongest rider, which probably wont be the case tomorrow.

 

[jaylew]

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.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

I hope Taxus is right about Purito, because it would be sad to see him struggle all year, and then retire.

He is the favourite for Basque country as well as Henao. he was today well, bepcuse the stage was goopd for hinm and he is at home, but if you have problems at the start of the season it i not easy to bewith the well in such level.

 

[Taxus4a]

By the way, I am always tolking about Verona, I have talked with him and his girfriend (who was cyclist) several times and I follow him by facebook and his blog, I know him since he was 17, when Mikelarri, the Landa friend, talked to me about him.

People maybe expect that a possible Tour winner at 23 has yet showed to be with the best several times or some victories, as people as Pinot, Quintana, Aru,or even Landa, and Contador in the past did. But I know Verona will be really good, not a rider for a lot of victories, but a man to be in the fight for GT. I dont know when he could do the step to be a leader, maybe net year, maybe at 25, but maybe some peo`ple ask, where this man come from, as some people did with Froome.

There are people at his same age as Formolo doing better in results today and with important victories already. I can understand people think Formolo is better for a GT than Verona. But it is easy to say that, and I think Verona will be better. With Froome I didnt say he would be a GT winner, But I said I was inmpressed in his first Tour and he could be a Tour winner in the future. I say now Verona will be a Tour contender.

Verona today has showed a quality point, he has showed that several time in the past, but more difficult to explain without result, today he has been 12th in a quite explosive end, when he is diesel, he did better than Thomas. Here are the best riders of the world.

He is now in the point where his follower expect him to be, he just need a step to fight with the best for the best races.

He is almost racing at home becouse he is from Madrid, but he lives at Cataluña.

He didnt write yet is summary of the stage, so I am not sure hopw much he worked for Dan Martin, but for sure he worked at least a little, for that reason it is a very good result.

 

[Taxus4a]

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.

 

[del1962]

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.

He won Tour of Korea (2.1) before his 20th birthday while riding at continental level

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Since no one is talking about it, I'm guessing it's not an issue, but what's the weather prediction for tomorrow's mountains?