Vuelta al País Vasco 4–9 April 2016

[Taxus4a]

By the way, does somebody knows is something happen to Dani Moreno? A rider who won Fleche Valone and Neila should perform very well here and I dont see him close to Quintana. I am watching a video of a fan in Aia and he wanst very far, but no close to the best, and he was really suffering, not saving energy for tomorrow.

 

[Taxus4a]

When discussing Tibopino's chances, tomorrow's stage was the one that on the paper suits him best IMO: the first 2km of the climb to Arrate should be enough for Pinot to get his diesel engine going. If he can build up for another 2km, he can attack or follow attacks before it eases up. How early will the other GC contenders make a move? The more they wait,the more dangerous Thibaut will be.

Still, I think that Contador is the favorite. A podium for Pinot is all but secured. Can he win?

Tomorrow is not just Arrate, there are a lot of climbs on the route to make the last climb more for diesel engines.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Taxus I'll write my three points related to your comment and tomorrow's stage. Though I know you're going to write something not constructive to the dialogue we are making.
-If Kreuz attacks nobody will care coz he's 3:26 down.
-The only time Kreuz becomes important is if he's ahead and AC tries to gap the other riders. And I don't see this scenario happening in Arrate as I don't think AC can drop Henao there, au contraire.
-If Henao and Landa are together it will not be easy like you said (I don't know why you said that). It will be one two attacks.

I mean the first climb to Arrate, wich is the hardest, by Matsaria. If Kreuziger is ahead, or even if he is in a group of 20 riders after the climb, the race will get the second time arrate with that 20 riders, and not with a 100 riders peloton as most of the years.

This time likely the race is going to split in Matsaria, but that could mean a lot or not.

If Kreuziger is ahead, contador could even try to drop everybody from the first climb, I ont nmean to got it, I meanto try it,and with Kreuziger ahead if SKy has just Henao and if Quintana is alone, hecould try to go on with Kreuziger.

It is what I mean. (to be the same person, how some people said once here, I am discussing too much with myself )

 

[Tonton]

When discussing Tibopino's chances, tomorrow's stage was the one that on the paper suits him best IMO: the first 2km of the climb to Arrate should be enough for Pinot to get his diesel engine going. If he can build up for another 2km, he can attack or follow attacks before it eases up. How early will the other GC contenders make a move? The more they wait,the more dangerous Thibaut will be.

Still, I think that Contador is the favorite. A podium for Pinot is all but secured. Can he win?

Tomorrow is not just Arrate, there are a lot of climbs on the route to make the last climb more for diesel engines.

Indeed ...

 

[Jakob747]

Re:

Pello Bilbao is my friend. Same school, same town, he's a year older than me; but I've followed him and Haritz Orbe (who's a great friend of mine) since they both were very young. Orbe actually played football with me from 8-12, when he quit it for football. He always had more talent and potential than Pello, and was more of a winner. He barely rode these last two years due to back problems and now he quit cycling because he couldn't do it anymore, after seeing quite some back specialist doctors. A shame really.

Pello is doing very well, and even if I expected a bit more from him in the first stage, he's done fantastic the last two ones.

Beñat Intxausti is also from the same town as I am, Gernika-Lumo. His girlfriend is a friend of mine and was my classmate for years. Or now maybe she's his ex. Not sure.

I didn't mean to insinuate Bilbao had been poor so far in this race [even though maybe a little today] but more so his career in general as I had expected more. Maybe I had too high expectations. Just to clarify.

Of course, maybe its better to use disappointed about riders like, Pablo Lechuga, Ramon Domene, Igor Merino, Miguel A. Lucena [as a junior] Jordi Simon [even though he is still very decent] ect ect all those guys from 1990 and 1991 generation who for whatever reason never managed to make it big among the pros...

Of course, I remember H. Orbe as well. Good rider, sad to see he couldn't go on with his career, I remember him beeing a notable winner as a junior and very, very good rider in his 2 years at Bidelan-Kirolgi...

 

[johnymax]

Very nice stage. Samu Sanchez going back in time. Great acceleration and brilliant win.

I'm a little disappointed Spilak lost those 8 seconds. It was nice to see him attack but that solo effort in the finale took enough out of his legs that he couldn't follow on that little climb where Samu and Berto attacked. It happened the same to Aru, not to Pinot though. He was strong again, he managed to stay with the leaders nonetheless.

It's still all up in the air for the final victory. Many riders look good. For tomorrow I'm almost sure Spilak is going to attack pretty early on the final climb. Aru possibly too. Then attacks will follow from Quintana, Pinot, Henao. Contador will mostly follow and control I think Purito will lose some seconds, Landa will lose even more. For Samu I'm not sure. He looks really in shape but tomorrow is the stage that suits him the least, that's why I think he'll lose a couple of seconds. Costa will be there. He is my pick for the win if a small group of riders come together to the line. I'm not sure for Gesink and Kelderman. It's incredible how much better they look here than in Catalunya. Ok Wilco was ill but it's just as incredible. Can he take the overall win? At this point I wouldn't be surprised. I was also impressed by Vervaeke today. He looked at ease on some steep sections at times. I don't know what to expect from him. As I don't know what to expect from Reichenbach. He's been great that's for sure. All I know is Kirby will mention him a couple of times.

 

[MADRAZO]

Re: Re:

Pello Bilbao is my friend. Same school, same town, he's a year older than me; but I've followed him and Haritz Orbe (who's a great friend of mine) since they both were very young. Orbe actually played football with me from 8-12, when he quit it for football. He always had more talent and potential than Pello, and was more of a winner. He barely rode these last two years due to back problems and now he quit cycling because he couldn't do it anymore, after seeing quite some back specialist doctors. A shame really.

Pello is doing very well, and even if I expected a bit more from him in the first stage, he's done fantastic the last two ones.

Beñat Intxausti is also from the same town as I am, Gernika-Lumo. His girlfriend is a friend of mine and was my classmate for years. Or now maybe she's his ex. Not sure.

I didn't mean to insinuate Bilbao had been poor so far in this race [even though maybe a little today] but more so his career in general as I had expected more. Maybe I had too high expectations. Just to clarify.

Of course, maybe its better to use disappointed about riders like, Pablo Lechuga, Ramon Domene, Igor Merino, Miguel A. Lucena [as a junior] Jordi Simon [even though he is still very decent] ect ect all those guys from 1990 and 1991 generation who for whatever reason never managed to make it big among the pros...

Of course, I remember H. Orbe as well. Good rider, sad to see he couldn't go on with his career, I remember him beeing a notable winner as a junior and very, very good rider in his 2 years at Bidelan-Kirolgi...

It has really been some dissapointing years for the spanish amateurs turning pro indeed, I recall having high expectations for all those names mentioned too and also climbers like Ibia Salas and Grijalba from 1991, and also the years before that had big dissapointments with riders like Bravo, Higinio Fernandez and Arturo Mora. And even a rider like Luis Mas Bonet that is now a decent breakaway-rider, used to be someone that looked like having a lot more potential than that as amateur. I recall all our discussions of spanish talents in the past, but saddly seems like it makes little sence to focus too much on the spanish amateur races these days if looking for future supertalents. If anything the spanish talents often blossoms later. Good to still se some doing well though like Bilbao, or for instance Lobato, that we followed from being almost as dominant as Valverde was back in the days in the spanish juniorscene and also doing great as u23 to now being a great rider. I recall also that Carlos Barbero was doing great as a spanish junior or that Ion Izaguirre was a very good amateur too, and they are doing fine too.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Pello Bilbao is my friend. Same school, same town, he's a year older than me; but I've followed him and Haritz Orbe (who's a great friend of mine) since they both were very young. Orbe actually played football with me from 8-12, when he quit it for football. He always had more talent and potential than Pello, and was more of a winner. He barely rode these last two years due to back problems and now he quit cycling because he couldn't do it anymore, after seeing quite some back specialist doctors. A shame really.

Pello is doing very well, and even if I expected a bit more from him in the first stage, he's done fantastic the last two ones.

Beñat Intxausti is also from the same town as I am, Gernika-Lumo. His girlfriend is a friend of mine and was my classmate for years. Or now maybe she's his ex. Not sure.

I didn't mean to insinuate Bilbao had been poor so far in this race [even though maybe a little today] but more so his career in general as I had expected more. Maybe I had too high expectations. Just to clarify.

Of course, maybe its better to use disappointed about riders like, Pablo Lechuga, Ramon Domene, Igor Merino, Miguel A. Lucena [as a junior] Jordi Simon [even though he is still very decent] ect ect all those guys from 1990 and 1991 generation who for whatever reason never managed to make it big among the pros...

Of course, I remember H. Orbe as well. Good rider, sad to see he couldn't go on with his career, I remember him beeing a notable winner as a junior and very, very good rider in his 2 years at Bidelan-Kirolgi...

Beñat girfriend: Nice girl, a little bit "pija" for me, but good people.

Peio has a girfriend as well, I met him and his friends in an October in a pub in Vitoria (not drinking alcohol). My friend Mikelarri recognize him, he was very surprised I ask a friend of him if he was a cyclist...

Ask him, maybe he remerber that, he was at Euskaltel and just finished the season by riding Paris Tours. He looks quite shy, and with normal dress, really thin.

 

[gunara]

Re: Re:

Pello Bilbao is my friend. Same school, same town, he's a year older than me; but I've followed him and Haritz Orbe (who's a great friend of mine) since they both were very young. Orbe actually played football with me from 8-12, when he quit it for football. He always had more talent and potential than Pello, and was more of a winner. He barely rode these last two years due to back problems and now he quit cycling because he couldn't do it anymore, after seeing quite some back specialist doctors. A shame really.

Pello is doing very well, and even if I expected a bit more from him in the first stage, he's done fantastic the last two ones.

Beñat Intxausti is also from the same town as I am, Gernika-Lumo. His girlfriend is a friend of mine and was my classmate for years. Or now maybe she's his ex. Not sure.

I didn't mean to insinuate Bilbao had been poor so far in this race [even though maybe a little today] but more so his career in general as I had expected more. Maybe I had too high expectations. Just to clarify.

Of course, maybe its better to use disappointed about riders like, Pablo Lechuga, Ramon Domene, Igor Merino, Miguel A. Lucena [as a junior] Jordi Simon [even though he is still very decent] ect ect all those guys from 1990 and 1991 generation who for whatever reason never managed to make it big among the pros...

Of course, I remember H. Orbe as well. Good rider, sad to see he couldn't go on with his career, I remember him beeing a notable winner as a junior and very, very good rider in his 2 years at Bidelan-Kirolgi...

Beñat girfriend: Nice girl, a little bit "pija" for me, but good people.

Peio has a girfriend as well, I met him and his friends in an October in a pub in Vitoria (not drinking alcohol). My friend Mikelarri recognize him, he was very surprised I ask a friend of him if he was a cyclist...

Ask him, maybe he remerber that, he was at Euskaltel and just finished the season by riding Paris Tours. He looks quite shy, and with normal dress, really thin.

To a wider public, the disappointment towards Bilbao, I think, has more to do with his younger days as a big hope in Euskaltel. However, since he's in the current team, I think some have adjust their expectations and think he's doing well. Always look like a quite versatile rider to me, decent climbing, decent speed, and I cheer on his every move all the time.

Btw, how is Txoperrena now?

 

[cellardoor]

Re: Re:

Taxus I'll write my three points related to your comment and tomorrow's stage. Though I know you're going to write something not constructive to the dialogue we are making.
-If Kreuz attacks nobody will care coz he's 3:26 down.
-The only time Kreuz becomes important is if he's ahead and AC tries to gap the other riders. And I don't see this scenario happening in Arrate as I don't think AC can drop Henao there, au contraire.
-If Henao and Landa are together it will not be easy like you said (I don't know why you said that). It will be one two attacks.

I mean the first climb to Arrate, wich is the hardest, by Matsaria. If Kreuziger is ahead, or even if he is in a group of 20 riders after the climb, the race will get the second time arrate with that 20 riders, and not with a 100 riders peloton as most of the years.

This time likely the race is going to split in Matsaria, but that could mean a lot or not.

If Kreuziger is ahead, contador could even try to drop everybody from the first climb, I ont nmean to got it, I meanto try it,and with Kreuziger ahead if SKy has just Henao and if Quintana is alone, hecould try to go on with Kreuziger.

It is what I mean. (to be the same person, how some people said once here, I am discussing too much with myself )

Kreuziger has been decent but not great in my view. I don't think he has the legs to attack from far out or to pull for a long time and whittle the group down. I don't think he can do more than hang in there until the final climb and then give a short burst on the front to set up a Contador attack. As for the rest of the team, they are MIA.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Pello Bilbao is my friend. Same school, same town, he's a year older than me; but I've followed him and Haritz Orbe (who's a great friend of mine) since they both were very young. Orbe actually played football with me from 8-12, when he quit it for football. He always had more talent and potential than Pello, and was more of a winner. He barely rode these last two years due to back problems and now he quit cycling because he couldn't do it anymore, after seeing quite some back specialist doctors. A shame really.

Pello is doing very well, and even if I expected a bit more from him in the first stage, he's done fantastic the last two ones.

Beñat Intxausti is also from the same town as I am, Gernika-Lumo. His girlfriend is a friend of mine and was my classmate for years. Or now maybe she's his ex. Not sure.

I didn't mean to insinuate Bilbao had been poor so far in this race [even though maybe a little today] but more so his career in general as I had expected more. Maybe I had too high expectations. Just to clarify.

Of course, maybe its better to use disappointed about riders like, Pablo Lechuga, Ramon Domene, Igor Merino, Miguel A. Lucena [as a junior] Jordi Simon [even though he is still very decent] ect ect all those guys from 1990 and 1991 generation who for whatever reason never managed to make it big among the pros...

Of course, I remember H. Orbe as well. Good rider, sad to see he couldn't go on with his career, I remember him beeing a notable winner as a junior and very, very good rider in his 2 years at Bidelan-Kirolgi...

Beñat girfriend: Nice girl, a little bit "pija" for me, but good people.

Peio has a girfriend as well, I met him and his friends in an October in a pub in Vitoria (not drinking alcohol). My friend Mikelarri recognize him, he was very surprised I ask a friend of him if he was a cyclist...

Ask him, maybe he remerber that, he was at Euskaltel and just finished the season by riding Paris Tours. He looks quite shy, and with normal dress, really thin.

I must be missing something. I thought pija was Spanish slang for penis.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

I don't think he can do more than hang in there until the final climb and then give a short burst on the front to set up a Contador attack. As for the rest of the team, they are MIA.

In a sense I'd be glad to see the Tinkoff team end: they have two world class leaders yet have been terrible at supporting them for several seasons now. I guess because of financial constraints there just hasn't been the necessary investment in fresh and hungry domestiques, just sticking with the declining powers of the incumbent ones, or signing guys already in their 30s (Trofimov, Brutt, Basso, etc) - Tinkoff has 9 riders over 32 years old - the joint most in the peloton (alongside AG2R). Majka of course has the capability to be a great helper but obviously he wants to be a leader in his own right.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Re:

What i've taken from the race so far is Contador and Quintana are in form amd foxing with each other

Agree. Even though it's been fun to watch them in the mix with the others...

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Pello Bilbao is my friend. Same school, same town, he's a year older than me; but I've followed him and Haritz Orbe (who's a great friend of mine) since they both were very young. Orbe actually played football with me from 8-12, when he quit it for football. He always had more talent and potential than Pello, and was more of a winner. He barely rode these last two years due to back problems and now he quit cycling because he couldn't do it anymore, after seeing quite some back specialist doctors. A shame really.

Pello is doing very well, and even if I expected a bit more from him in the first stage, he's done fantastic the last two ones.

Beñat Intxausti is also from the same town as I am, Gernika-Lumo. His girlfriend is a friend of mine and was my classmate for years. Or now maybe she's his ex. Not sure.

I didn't mean to insinuate Bilbao had been poor so far in this race [even though maybe a little today] but more so his career in general as I had expected more. Maybe I had too high expectations. Just to clarify.

Of course, maybe its better to use disappointed about riders like, Pablo Lechuga, Ramon Domene, Igor Merino, Miguel A. Lucena [as a junior] Jordi Simon [even though he is still very decent] ect ect all those guys from 1990 and 1991 generation who for whatever reason never managed to make it big among the pros...

Of course, I remember H. Orbe as well. Good rider, sad to see he couldn't go on with his career, I remember him beeing a notable winner as a junior and very, very good rider in his 2 years at Bidelan-Kirolgi...

Beñat girfriend: Nice girl, a little bit "pija" for me, but good people.

Peio has a girfriend as well, I met him and his friends in an October in a pub in Vitoria (not drinking alcohol). My friend Mikelarri recognize him, he was very surprised I ask a friend of him if he was a cyclist...

Ask him, maybe he remerber that, he was at Euskaltel and just finished the season by riding Paris Tours. He looks quite shy, and with normal dress, really thin.

I must be missing something. I thought pija was Spanish slang for penis.

I thought so too, looked it up and found in Spain it also means "Preppy"

 

[hfer07]

so...........

General classification after stage 4
# Rider Name (Country) Team Result
1 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 17:52:48
2 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky 0:00:04
3 Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Team Sky 0:00:07
4 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:00:08
5 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff Team 0:00:10
6 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:00:12
7 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida 0:00:14
8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team

looking at the current GC and speculating ahead to the remaining ot the race- i'd say is between Contador & Quintanita down at the MTT for the Overall title - Samu can well crack 3rd- Henao's TTing can harm his options... we'll see

 

[jens_attacks]

stop with this cycling madness and post some pics of benat's girlfriend.

 

[SafeBet]

Henao was 4th in last year ITT. Of course different route but I don't understand people writing him off, especially considering the monster shape he has.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Henao was 4th in last year ITT. Of course different route but I don't understand people writing him off, especially considering the monster shape he has.

Agreed. I think Contador and Henao will take 1st and 2nd in GC.

 

[jonan92]

In Spain pija is mainly used as "posh", it's rarely used as slang por penis, that's more in south america

 

[jonan92]

BTW I live quite close to Eibar and since yesertday afternoon it's been raining a lot, currently it's raining also and everywithing is soaking wet. The temperature dropped quite a bit tonight, there was some snow at 800m, so rider could face a cold, rainy, unpleasant day

 

[LaFlorecita]

Taxus is a cyclist girlfriend connaisseur, amazing

 

[Miburo]

Re:

Henao was 4th in last year ITT. Of course different route but I don't understand people writing him off, especially considering the monster shape he has.

I think there's only one who said that. No one else is underestimating Henao, he's the big favorite

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't think Henao can be written off but IIRC the ITT last year included Aia and Arrate is quite different. And he only has 4 seconds on Samu, 6 seconds on Contador and 8 on Thibaut (fingers crossed he doesn't take any time today) I don't think it'll be enough.

 

[jonan92]

A video of the climb 35kms before the end today: http://vueltapaisvasco.diariovasco.com/noticias/201604/08/subida-arrate-20160408083137.html

 

[Ataraxus]

Re: Re:

Taxus I'll write my three points related to your comment and tomorrow's stage. Though I know you're going to write something not constructive to the dialogue we are making.
-If Kreuz attacks nobody will care coz he's 3:26 down.
-The only time Kreuz becomes important is if he's ahead and AC tries to gap the other riders. And I don't see this scenario happening in Arrate as I don't think AC can drop Henao there, au contraire.
-If Henao and Landa are together it will not be easy like you said (I don't know why you said that). It will be one two attacks.

I mean the first climb to Arrate, wich is the hardest, by Matsaria. If Kreuziger is ahead, or even if he is in a group of 20 riders after the climb, the race will get the second time arrate with that 20 riders, and not with a 100 riders peloton as most of the years.

This time likely the race is going to split in Matsaria, but that could mean a lot or not.

If Kreuziger is ahead, contador could even try to drop everybody from the first climb, I ont nmean to got it, I meanto try it,and with Kreuziger ahead if SKy has just Henao and if Quintana is alone, hecould try to go on with Kreuziger.

It is what I mean. (to be the same person, how some people said once here, I am discussing too much with myself )

Lolz.

I rememeber very well. It was the end of Giro 2015.
Blind Contador fanboys used to say I was the same person with Taxus just because I used to state that Landa is stronger in the mountain stages of the Giro.
You just reminded me how ridiculous and wrong they were.