Vuelta al País Vasco 4–9 April 2016

[blackmamba]

Last year Henao lost only 17 sec to a Dumoulin in good shape, thats respectfully considiring that TT was very well suited for Tom aswell.

And this year Henao seem stronger and with a TT he himself says suits him better than last year, its gonne be a dog race and more importantly a real test! Really looking forward to it, hoping for dry roads although that is probably unlikely.

 

[Taxus4a]

The second climb suits Henao very well, and after 2 Km very good for ITT specialist there is a corner, so that flat part is no so bad for him. I think the ITt suits the same Contador and Henao, the one stronger or the one take more risk in the descent will win.

 

[liamito]

Re:

The second climb suits Henao very well, and after 2 Km very good for ITT specialist there is a corner, so that flat part is no so bad for him. I think the ITt suits the same Contador and Henao, the one stronger or the one take more risk in the descent will win.

Taking risks doesn't mean you are faster though.

 

[Tour_de_Calvados]

Re: Re:

Kirby posed the question "Will Reichenbach win a GT with FDJ or will he have to move to another team?"

Genius

Reichenbach's win at l"Alpe d'Huez was a classic...

Possibly outstripping his 3rd in the Tour GC the previous year?

 

[Tour_de_Calvados]

Re: Re:

Kirby posed the question "Will Reichenbach win a GT with FDJ or will he have to move to another team?"

Genius

I think that someone e-mailed that question to him, which I interpreted as a brilliant wind up that CK didn't recognise as such.

Yeah, perhaps his sarcasm detector was switched off - his Reichenbach obsessions hasn't got quite as annoying as last year's Vuelta when he couldn't shut up about Darwin Atapuma, to the extent of ignoring most of the action on one of the stages...

 

[Velolover2]

How important is the downhill section? How much can a good descender gain? 10 seconds? And who is the best of the GC riders?

Pinot seemed to stuggle a bit on the descent of Arrate climb. Maybe he could get in trouble on the downhill section?

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

Last year Henao lost only 17 sec to a Dumoulin in good shape, thats respectfully considiring that TT was very well suited for Tom aswell.

And this year Henao seem stronger and with a TT he himself says suits him better than last year, its gonne be a dog race and more importantly a real test! Really looking forward to it, hoping for dry roads although that is probably unlikely.

Well last year there were roughly 10km of (false) flat which is less than the flats of today so I think Henao wasn't lying or hiding anything in that statement.
Totally agree. It's going to be a close battle.

 

[Wallenquist]

Probably the best chance for Henao to finally win this race. He was close each year he started but the TT was always against him promoting the specialists. Last year was even closer with Aia climb but Purito was in great shape and Henao couldnt do much more.

Finally this year the TT should suit the Colombian. The downhill section shouldn't cause much differences and Henao is clearly the strongest rider here, especially on climbs with 10% or more (like the TT climb is). If not today then maybe never. Unless they made a MTF TT which is unlikely

Watch out for Pinot, he can really surprise here and even win the whole race.

 

[Velolover2]

Are they riding on TT or regular bikes like last year?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

CET Start Times
16:08 Spilak KAT
16:09 Landa SKY
16:10 Reichenbach FDJ
16:12 Rui Costa LAM
16:14 Kelderman TLJ
16:16 Craddock CPT
16:18 Quintana MOV
16:20 SamuSanchez BMC
16:22 J.Rodriguez KAT
16:24 Thibaut Pinot FDJ
16:26 Contador TNK
16:28 Henao SKY

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Are they riding on TT or regular bikes like last year?

I remermber most of the people changing the bike, the first Km were the ownhill they did the other day with Verona break and Quintana, Henao and Contador behind. it is a downhill when you have to pedal.

Today there is no much flat for specialist, that climb of the end, with 9 % average, and maybe 12 % maximun is important, and it suits climbers.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

The second climb suits Henao very well, and after 2 Km very good for ITT specialist there is a corner, so that flat part is no so bad for him. I think the ITt suits the same Contador and Henao, the one stronger or the one take more risk in the descent will win.

Taking risks doesn't mean you are faster though.

Of course if you take risk and you dont crash you will be faster than if you dont take. It is the only thing I meant.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Ha ha KIrby " A hugh day and dominated by one man Si Clarke...what a guy he is " OMG

For all the mistakes he makes, let's be fair to him: he was talking about Rosa, and then his heartthrob Clarke came onto the screen (as he thought: it was of course Craddock).

He may have meant differently but that is exactly what he said ....unbelievable

Not exactly what he said: he would have said 'huge' rather than 'hugh' (or 'Hugh').

Spoken language is subject to interruption, and punctuation is not always vocalised. He can indeed be very stupid, but be fair to him in trying to identify evidence of such stupidity.

I had a typo in my spelling of huge and that somehow shows how I am unfair to Carlton Kirby ?...come down off your pedestal...The man actually said what I wrote and without any punctuation or indeed taking a breath and it not only shows what an idiot he is but the last gasp efforts of those defending him ..Just listen to the replay and he has plenty of time to correct what he said but he did not

I think that is amble evidence of his stupidity

Anyway I would rather be fair to the listener who has no alternative but to listen to a man who not only lacks the ability to call a race but also demonstrates bias, mendacity and ridiculousness ...In any other sport he would not be given air time...If you are so interested in fairness write to Kirby

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Are they riding on TT or regular bikes like last year?

I remermber most of the people changing the bike, the first Km were the ownhill they did the other day with Verona break and Quintana, Henao and Contador behind. it is a downhill when you have to pedal.

Today there is no much flat for specialist, that climb of the end, with 9 % average, and maybe 12 % maximun is important, and it suits climbers.

Alright. Do you think the gaps are going to be bigger this year?

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Are they riding on TT or regular bikes like last year?

I remermber most of the people changing the bike, the first Km were the ownhill they did the other day with Verona break and Quintana, Henao and Contador behind. it is a downhill when you have to pedal.

Today there is no much flat for specialist, that climb of the end, with 9 % average, and maybe 12 % maximun is important, and it suits climbers.

Alright. Do you think the gaps are going to be bigger this year?

I dont Know, maybe similar, the climb is really hard, but 2 times Aia is not less.

 

[Taxus4a]

I am watching it and it is wet (i think raining a litlle and they go as expected with normal bikes.

 

[Taxus4a]

A man who did the ITT has just said that you can get more time today descending if you have the skills that climbing, altough he said the climb was really hard. With the rain he said the Eibar part is difficult , end he mentiones the "pave" streets.

 

[Taxus4a]

It is the perfect ITT for Samu, with rain I think he will win today.


At the moment, best times:

1 105 DEBESAY, Mekseb DDD 32' 31"
2 183 BENITO, Miguel Angel CJR 33' 44" +01' 13"
3 163 FAIRLY, Caleb TGA 34' 00" +01' 29"

 

[Red Rick]

Wait, average is about 30kph?

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Wait, average is about 30kph?

Why?

In flat this will be 50, so it is normal with this route and the rain is about 30, the winners little bit more, thaere are some Kms to go to 60 on the falt, and the same on the descent.

it is the average expected...

 

[Samamba]

Is there a possibility to see the intermediate times?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Is there a possibility to see the intermediate times?

http://www.itzulia.eus/en/2016/6/results/

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Wait, average is about 30kph?

Why?

In flat this will be 50, so it is normal with this route and the rain is about 30, the winners little bit more, thaere are some Kms to go to 60 on the falt, and the same on the descent.

it is the average expected...

Well, I expected mid 30's tbh, but Contador and Henao may still do that

 

[HelloDolly]

Zubeldia gets loads of air time but not at his strong discipline....looks very cautious

 

[Taxus4a]

Cataldo best time, and this is a time to take into account...31:03.. not a lot of people will do lees than 31.