Vuelta al País Vasco 4–9 April 2016

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Dan Martin 25th at 43 seconds?

Probably just training for Ardennes

Many guys here are aiming for the Ardennes as well. Probably just didn't have it today. It happens.

One of the things that curtails Dan martin as a GT rider is he propensity not to recover well ...Imagine Catalunya took alot out of him and now he is hoping to keep it together and in shape for his biggest target of the year ..The ardennes

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Contador did good today considering its not his most favoured terrain when its that steep so did quintana aswell. Chapou!

No he didn't do good, and yes it's his terrain when he's on form! Remember stage 2 in this same race 2014 when he dropped Valverde in top form by 15sec in just 500m.

He also matched Rodriguez on MANY occasions in 2012 on the same gradients, sometimes even higher, so he is a lot more than just capable. Didn't seem to have it today, but it will be decided on the last 2 stages likely and he is still my favourite

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I don;t know why everyone thinks Landa will not be contesting the GC here ...He si in the lead and can;t see him letting it go easily...why should he

Yeah, I think you're right.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Contador is totally going far with this team... Don't get me wrong, some guys were already alone while he ''still'' had Roman there before the climb, such as Costa (surprise, surprise), but when Cannondale, Etixx, Кatusha and your rival team for your biggest objective of the season all have more than 4 guys in the end while you're virtually alone and, in some cases, not even getting help from your only domestique left, something is not right.

I think that Roman had trouble with the complicated start of the climb on narrow roads, I don't think that the Pais Vasco climbs suit him well.
Spilak to attack on Friday, if he gets back some time before the ITT he has a shot at finishing in the top 5 or even on the podium.

 

[SeriousSam]

Sky played that brilliantly. Not just on the climb but before it as well. Typical for Sergio that he was the strongest but didn't win! I really hope he can win Fleche but I just fear someone (probably Valverde) will have a bigger punch.

Valverde said he thinks he won't be at 100% at Fleche and LBL this year due changing his preparation from the tried and true recipe of 2014 and 2015.

His main targets appear to be GC at the Giro and the Olympic Road Race.

 

[blackmamba]

Re: Re:

Contador did good today considering its not his most favoured terrain when its that steep so did quintana aswell. Chapou!

No he didn't do good, and yes it's his terrain when he's on form! Remember stage 2 in this same race 2014 when he dropped Valverde in top form by 15sec in just 500m.

Its not his most favoured terrain period. That my little friend doesnt mean he cant perform on it, see the difference ?

 

[JRanton]

Re:

Bit of a greenedge Yates fail today aswell, not in top 26 and over 43 seconds down

Yeah, very surprising. I was expecting at least one to top 10 at worst.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

He also matched Rodriguez on MANY occasions in 2012 on the same gradients, sometimes even higher, so he is a lot more than just capable. Didn't seem to have it today, but it will be decided on the last 2 stages likely and he is still my favourite

When? All I can remember is him getting out-Purito'd and losing a handful of seconds on each finish.
Yes, in 2014 he did well, but he was in amazing shape, and Valverde was probably pooped after pulling for the entire climb.

 

[del1962]

Re: Re:

Bit of a greenedge Yates fail today aswell, not in top 26 and over 43 seconds down

Yeah, very surprising. I was expecting at least one to top 10 at worst.

Both almost one minute down, think they went too hard early

 

[HelloDolly]

Has Aru become the new Nibali....no show till the Tour

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

Contador did good today considering its not his most favoured terrain when its that steep so did quintana aswell. Chapou!

No he didn't do good, and yes it's his terrain when he's on form! Remember stage 2 in this same race 2014 when he dropped Valverde in top form by 15sec in just 500m.

Its not his most favoured terrain period. That my little friend doesnt mean he cant perform on it, see the difference ?

If he can perform really well on it when he's in great form, ask yourself what not performing really well on it indicates about his form.

Which is literally the entire point of the post race Contador hand wringing that has become such a regular feature of the cn forums.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Purito's perfomance is not that bad. For sure it's not good enough, but his form is starting to get better. But really slow.

I hope he can do something in the 2nd part of the season. Or maybe Liege with a longe range attack.

Landa is a beast!! He will win the Giro with ease.

It's bad. This was his type of climb, the pace was slow among the favorites, but he just don't have it. Things doesn't look good for the classics.

 

[Txrt]

I think this is great for Henao looking into later this week, and I believe he will win the GC.

Great showing by Landa, a stage close to his hometown, with 0 pressure on himself after being talked about as out of form and most people believing his goal for the stage should be a top20 finish.

The GC contenders didn't move, and that opened the door for them, which they took greatly. I still believe Landa won't be able to hold on to the jersey until Sunday.

 

[jens_attacks]

amazing landaaaaa _O_

also the hitch should be thrilled, his boy is back in business

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Contador did good today considering its not his most favoured terrain when its that steep so did quintana aswell. Chapou!

No he didn't do good, and yes it's his terrain when he's on form! Remember stage 2 in this same race 2014 when he dropped Valverde in top form by 15sec in just 500m.

He did what he could do. 2014 is about two years ago! Almost none expected a win today , and at the current shape, it was very lokely he could be outsprinted from Henao....and so it was. No surprise indeed

 

[JRanton]

Re: Re:

Purito's perfomance is not that bad. For sure it's not good enough, but his form is starting to get better. But really slow.

I hope he can do something in the 2nd part of the season. Or maybe Liege with a longe range attack.

Landa is a beast!! He will win the Giro with ease.

It's bad. This was his type of climb, the pace was slow among the favorites, but he just don't have it. Things doesn't look good for the classics.

I agree. The way it was ridden, even a 95% Purito would have won that (or at least best of the favourites).

 

[Der Effe]

Re: Re:

Contador did good today considering its not his most favoured terrain when its that steep so did quintana aswell. Chapou!

Quintana, Contador, Kelderman or Pinot is gonna win this. Kelderman needs to hang on on friday's stage though and Quintana needs a gap for the time trial.

Wouldn't underestimate Quintana in the TT. And maybe Landa and Henao will be able to do a great TT as well

Damn you, nuance. You're obviously right but to make a statement you need to be a little black and white. The way I see it Contador, Kelderman and Pinot are the best TT'ers (at the moment) at the top of this race but Kelderman is the worst climber of them. Quintana doesn't have a bad TT - same for Henao and Landa probably too now he is riding for Sky - but they need a 20 second gap at least to beat Kelderman/Pinot/Contador.

I'll probably be proven wrong though. Especially Henao looks crazy strong lately.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

He also matched Rodriguez on MANY occasions in 2012 on the same gradients, sometimes even higher, so he is a lot more than just capable. Didn't seem to have it today, but it will be decided on the last 2 stages likely and he is still my favourite

When? All I can remember is him getting out-Purito'd and losing a handful of seconds on each finish.
Yes, in 2014 he did well, but he was in amazing shape, and Valverde was probably pooped after pulling for the entire climb.

He was getting out Purito'ed on some occasions, yes, Rodriguez was just the best climber of that race period. One performance specifically stands out, the stage to Mirador, somewhat similar to that of today, but even steeper and shorter. Contador lost, i dno, 5-10 seconds, and got 2nd comfortably ahead of Valverde in monster shape.

Anyways, this is just my opinion. I agree with Serious Sam's post above mine, I think he hit it right on the money.

 

[dacooley]

Re:

Contador did good today considering its not his most favoured terrain when its that steep so did quintana aswell. Chapou!

victory at arrate by 10-15 sec?

 

[TomekA]

What do you think of tomorrow stage? Is there any chance for gaps between top guys?

 

[Velolover2]

28YATESSimonOrica GreenEDGE 0:52
29MORENODanielMovistar Team 0:58
30YATESAdamOrica GreenEDGE ,,

I expected more.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Has Aru become the new Nibali....no show till the Tour

Aru became...Aru! He never shows anything outside of GT's

 

[Matteo.]

Re: Re:

Contador did good today considering its not his most favoured terrain when its that steep so did quintana aswell. Chapou!

victory at arrate by 10-15 sec?

pff. He didn't do it in 2014 ...how he can do it now?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

He was getting out Purito'ed on some occasions, yes, Rodriguez was just the best climber of that race period. One performance specifically stands out, the stage to Mirador, somewhat similar to that of today, but even steeper and shorter. Contador lost, i dno, 5-10 seconds, and got 2nd comfortably ahead of Valverde in monster shape.

Anyways, this is just my opinion. I agree with Serious Sam's post above mine, I think he hit it right on the money.

He was 4 years younger, maybe he is not as strong on steep gradients anymore. Who knows? All I know is that it's nonsense to take this performance and conclude he's past it, or in poor shape, or whatever else. He performed as expected.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

pff. He didn't do it in 2014 ...how he can do it now?

Yeah, I don't think he can take time there. Everything depends on the TT.