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Thanks!
Thanks for the information. In fact, I was wondering what is he actually doing here.Sestriere said:DNS due to bronchitis, I'm afraid.klintE said:Degenkolb FTW
This type of climbs isn't ideal for valverde. It is too steep, this murito is for purito who would win with one leg.Velolover2 said:Too hard for Alaphalippe.
The stage was designed to Valverde, but now that he isn't here - it's Froome vs. Chaves. The rest aren't explosive enough to win it.
Maybe Woods can surprise a bit.
portugal11 said:This type of climbs isn't ideal for valverde. It is too steep, this murito is for purito who would win with one leg.Velolover2 said:Too hard for Alaphalippe.
The stage was designed to Valverde, but now that he isn't here - it's Froome vs. Chaves. The rest aren't explosive enough to win it.
Maybe Woods can surprise a bit.
yaco said:Alaphalippe or Bardet for me.
17:40 according to cyclingstage.Red Rick said:Anyone know the eta?
portugal11 said:This type of climbs isn't ideal for valverde. It is too steep, this murito is for purito who would win with one leg.Velolover2 said:Too hard for Alaphalippe.
The stage was designed to Valverde, but now that he isn't here - it's Froome vs. Chaves. The rest aren't explosive enough to win it.
Maybe Woods can surprise a bit.
Velolover2 said:portugal11 said:This type of climbs isn't ideal for valverde. It is too steep, this murito is for purito who would win with one leg.Velolover2 said:Too hard for Alaphalippe.
The stage was designed to Valverde, but now that he isn't here - it's Froome vs. Chaves. The rest aren't explosive enough to win it.
Maybe Woods can surprise a bit.
Not a fair comparison. Peak Purito was one of the best riders, if not the best in history, on these sorts of climbs.
Valverde is still one of the best on this type of climb. And has always been.
Contador used to be a top 3 rider on those as well.
Now that they are "gone", Froome should be the best with Chaves as his main challenger. The Yates bros are also really good on longer murs.
Laplaz said:For Nibali it would be good if the break could stay clear, for Froome and Chaves of course not.
Bolder said:Laplaz said:For Nibali it would be good if the break could stay clear, for Froome and Chaves of course not.
Just curious -- why do you think that? My read is that a breakaway up the road would be good or neutral for Froome/Chavez.
Not sure how it would affect their tactics, as they are racing amongst themselves either way. The only thing I can see is that teams with a rider in the break don't have to work as hard, but I can't imagine Sky would let Bahrain or Orica get in the break.
Nibali to win the stagebambino said:Bolder said:Laplaz said:For Nibali it would be good if the break could stay clear, for Froome and Chaves of course not.
Just curious -- why do you think that? My read is that a breakaway up the road would be good or neutral for Froome/Chavez.
Not sure how it would affect their tactics, as they are racing amongst themselves either way. The only thing I can see is that teams with a rider in the break don't have to work as hard, but I can't imagine Sky would let Bahrain or Orica get in the break.
No bonus seconds for GC guys if break stays away. That would be the benefit for Nibs.
Valverde was never that good on muritos. Hence why they are called muritos, and not a moniker related to Bala (mur de huy is a low level murito)pink_jersey said:Velolover2 said:portugal11 said:This type of climbs isn't ideal for valverde. It is too steep, this murito is for purito who would win with one leg.Velolover2 said:Too hard for Alaphalippe.
The stage was designed to Valverde, but now that he isn't here - it's Froome vs. Chaves. The rest aren't explosive enough to win it.
Maybe Woods can surprise a bit.
Not a fair comparison. Peak Purito was one of the best riders, if not the best in history, on these sorts of climbs.
Valverde is still one of the best on this type of climb. And has always been.
Contador used to be a top 3 rider on those as well.
Now that they are "gone", Froome should be the best with Chaves as his main challenger. The Yates bros are also really good on longer murs.
Purito was really superior to Valverde on Murito's only in 2012 when Valverde just came back after suspension. In 2013, both didn't have the best preparation for Fleche and LBL, and in Vuelta Purito only beat him on Naranco if I remember. Than in 2014, he destroyed'em all on that climb early in Vuelta where he set the pace for more 2km.
Don't get me wrong, I think Purito is better than Valverde on a Ezaro or Cumbre del Sol climb but by not much.
Purito legacy is exarcebated by his wins in Fleche 2012, Vuelta(2012) and his results in races where he didn't face Valverde(especially Pais Vasco).
Krokro said:Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step), Marc Soler (Movistar Team), Davide Villella (Cannondale-Drapac), Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin), Jérémy Maison (FDJ), Merhawi Kudus (Dimension Data), Lluis Mas (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Michel Kreder (Aqua Blue Sport) and Jetse Bol (Manzana-Postobón)
Edit: 20" ahead on a second group of 7 riders. 1'10" on the bunch. Nice names on it, not sure they will have the permission of the bunch.