Vuelta a Espana Stage 1: Benidorm TTT 13.5km

[sublimit]

It has to be HTC with Sky or the Shack second depending on how well Wiggins is going. Froome can do a reasonable TT so will have to do plenty of pulling also.

 

[virandociclista]

Leopard will be in dificult.. Cancellara is sick... he found a bee in the middle of the way while training...

http://www.wielerland.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17987&Itemid=284

 

[theyoungest]

Any thoughts on Rabobanks chances? Their team looks good overall - but will it do any good in the TTT?

They can finish anywhere from 1st to 15th, none of them (except Breschel) is really bad at time trialing, but none of them is really great either. Some good engines though, with Freire and LLS. The hill might help them.

 

[goggalor]

Garmin will want a top ten here.

 

[dlwssonic]

Phinney will drag the entire BMC team to victory!
But seriously their team is a decent TTT squad they should be able to do a top 5 and surprise some people just like they did in the tour.

 

[Descender]

Where is the 'stage 1' (or is it 'prologue'?)in the title?

 

[The Hitch]

Where is the 'stage 1' (or is it 'prologue'?)in the title?

Its not a prologue.

 

[theyoungest]

Phinney will drag the entire BMC team to victory!
But seriously their team is a decent TTT squad they should be able to do a top 5 and surprise some people just like they did in the tour.

They don't have Evans here, they'll do fine but nothing special. Evans basically dragged them to the 2nd place in the Tour TTT by himself.

 

[jobiwan]

Shack or HTC for me, I'm leaning towards HTC.

 

[Richeypen]

So, when on3m@n@rmy said "Phinney for the win", what he meant of course, was that the great Taylor Phinney will do an ITT and drag his worthless teammates along in his slipstream to the first place on the stage.

None of the BMC guys will be able to stick with him

 

[Moondance]

GeriatricShack FTW

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

GeriatricShack FTW

Yeah, lineup looks ideal for this.

The traditional sprinter led TTT teams are going to struggle using that approach when the hill right at the start means you either drop those guys or pace to keep them with you and lose too much to catch up.

 

[ferryman]

I'm just hoping Euskatel's legendary TTT training finally comes good

 

[icefire]

To ACF:

I expected a bit more flair with the OP

There are no big climbs to talk about and put pictures of, but there are some nice beaches...

...a new boulevard...

...and nightly life...

...to get lost

Andy would have enjoyed the stage. I'm sure Fabo will.

Expected temperature is about 30ºC, so significantly lower than last year in Sevilla. I wish we had a nightly TTT this year as well.

 

[LandEscape]

To ACF:
There are no big climbs to talk about and put pictures of, but there are some nice beaches...

I've been in Benidorm and i can grant you there's nothing "nice" in those beaches
...

 

[Parrulo]

an uncle of mine went on vacations with a few friends to benidorm when he was single and he calls it "bebidorme" which a word play for drink and sleep in portuguese

 

[icefire]

I've been in Benidorm and i can grant you there's nothing "nice" in those beaches
...

You didn't drink enough

I know the crowds are awful and there are better places further to the north. But we've got used to OP for GT stages with something more than just a map and a stage profile. Even if it's only a dead flat boring sprint stage

As for the TTT course, there are quite a few corners and U-turns. They should have done a downhill TTT like Vuelta a Burgos.

 

[Papparrazzi]

There's going to be a lot of Benidorm Tourists shocked Saturday cuz they can't get to the beach

 

[Descender]

Wasn't there a British TV series called Benidorm?

 

[ferryman]

an uncle of mine went on vacations with a few friends to benidorm when he was single and he calls it "bebidorme" which a word play for drink and sleep in portuguese

Yep. That's pretty much how it was for me when I was there And believe it or not there were a lot of guys (locals) out on their bikes in serious cycling gear and on good bikes. I remember being surprised about that.

 

[Tank Engine]

That hill doesn't look so bad (3k at 4-5%), so HTC FTW.

 

[auscyclefan94]

That hill doesn't look so bad (3k at 4-5%), so HTC FTW.

The hill will pop a few riders off the back in the TTT.

 

[The Hitch]

Is that Contador in the lower middle with a cigarette

I wish we had a nightly TTT this year as well

Same

 

[LukeSchmid]

Radioshack seem to have the best team for the course. HTC and Garmin will be their main threats.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Radioshack seem to have the best team for the course. HTC and Garmin will be their main threats.

Go RS! Klodi for the leaders jersey!

That has to be fanboyism at its best (or worst)