Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco, 4-9 April

[Cobblestoned]

You clearly have never watched Pais Vasco if you think everything will stay together and Martin will take it by winning the ITT...
Martin will face hell here, not one easy not so steep climb like in Paris Nice.

It's the only conclusion I can have after reading your post, cobblestoned. You simply never saw the race

Listen to me, son. I could nearly be your father.
So you are trying to tell me, that I never watch Pais Vasco ?

I even know how it smells there. Ahhhhhhhh. Nice, fresh, not too cold and always this nice special note in the air, like after fresh rain, and even when it was dry for 3 days.

Martin faced hell, man. That was on Ventoux 2009.

 

[theyoungest]

Martin faced hell, man. That was on Ventoux 2009.

Getting beaten by a mountain domestique doesn't really bode well for his chances among the best climbers of the world... he's really made a step up this year (at least I hope so for his sake).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Where he lost to Garate....your regular Pantani...

And Martin held in Paris Nice, but also look at who was there in the first few groups... GC riders of a caliber lower than he is going to meet here. He might still take it in the ITT, but I would be very suprised if Martin doesn't lose time anywhere along the way

 

[theyoungest]

Where he lost to Garate....your regular Pantani...

And Martin held in Paris Nice, but also look at who was there in the first few groups... GC riders of a caliber lower than he is going to meet here. He might still take it in the ITT, but I would be very suprised if Martin doesn't lose time anywhere along the way

Last year you had your Intxaustis and Pinottis staying within striking distance of the podium on the climbs... I'm not inclined to dismiss Martin straightaway.

 

[Havetts]

If Martin holds on in the mountains and hopefully even attacks and then wins the GC thanks / due (however you see it) to the ITT I'm fine with that. Doubt he'll be able to though, favorite for me is going to be Samu but there are so much people able to contend GC its amazing.

 

[Anonymous]

Gah! Sorry those profiles are terrible. Not sure I can be bummed fixing them yet though.

They are actually bigger than my screen

Heres some fixed ones.

CLICK THE PICTURE TO GO LARGE
Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

 

[Anonymous]

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

 

[Cobblestoned]

i am also looking for this race. martin has no chance. if he wins i will east my sofa and stream it live.

also cobblestone either you are making a poor atempt at trolling or you are just being childish. no need to bash other people's opinion

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I was just pointing out some trolling and childish posts.

It would even be funny if they were not that....predictable.

Martin has no chance. Wow. Getting better with every post.
Your only chance could be, that Velits could be the leader in this race and Tony helps him.

Well, in the end, chances are very very high, that Tony or one of the shacks will win - because they can TT and can't really be dropped at the climbs.

 

[theyoungest]

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I was just pointing out some trolling and childish posts.

It would even be funny if they were not that....predictable.

Martin has no chance. Wow. Getting better with every post.
Your only chance could be, that Velits could be the leader in this race and Tony helps him.

Well, in the end, chances are very very high, that Tony or one of the shacks will win - because they can TT and can't really be dropped at the climbs.

Wow, don't get overly confident there, Martin has shown he's more than capable of being dropped on climbs

 

[Cobblestoned]

Getting beaten by a mountain domestique doesn't really bode well for his chances among the best climbers of the world... he's really made a step up this year (at least I hope so for his sake).

I was just pointing out, that you are closer to hell, when in third week of TdF in breakaway fighting on Ventoux, than at Pais Vasco.

 

[taiwan]

They are actually bigger than my screen

Heres some fixed ones.

Heh, the ones I had up originally were too small, so I replaced them. Didn't think of doing anything with hyperlinks though.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You're completely underrating the Vasco climbs now cobblestoned. Like I told you the last 3 posts

Do you want me to show past results. Really?

Eibar-Arrate stage 2009 (same finish as this year)
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=10967

1. [ESP] CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto AST 4h16'30" 40
2. [AUS] EVANS Cadel SIL 08" 25
3. [ESP] SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel EUS 08" 15
4. [ITA] CUNEGO Damiano LAM 27" 10
5. [NED] GESINK Robert RAB 32" 5

ITT specialists:
6. [ESP] SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon GCE 35" 3 7. [CZE] KREUZIGER Roman LIQ 54"
9. [ITA] NIBALI Vincenzo LIQ 54"
16. [AUS] ROGERS Michael THR 01'11"
31. [SWE] LÖFKVIST Thomas THR 02'31" 0
32. [SWE] LARSSON Gustav Erik SAX 02'31"

Eibar Arrate stage 2010 (last year)

1. [ESP] SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel EUS 4h05'16" 40
2. [NED] GESINK Robert RAB 02" 25
3. [USA] HORNER Chris RSH 02" 15
4. [ESP] INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA Beñat EUS 33" 10
5. [FRA] PERAUD Jean-Christophe OLO 33" 5
6. [ITA] CUNEGO Damiano LAM 40" 3
7. [LUX] SCHLECK Andy SAX 40" 2
8. [FRA] CASAR Sandy FDJ 49" 1
9. [ESP] RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin KAT 49" 0
10. [ITA] PINOTTI Marco THR 49" 0

ITT specialist lose easily 30 seconds here... Klöden lost 1'11 (comparable to Martin uphill nowadays).


Zalla ITT 2009 (almost the same as this year)
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=10970

Sammy Sanchez beating LL Sanchez by 30 seconds...
A TT specialist like Vandevelde and Evans not winning time on Gesink
TT specialist as Lövkvist and Larsso nowhere near thhe top..

Want to compare more?
Here
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/tour.asp?tourid=3

good luck

 

[Cobblestoned]

Wow, don't get overly confident there, Martin has shown he's more than capable of being dropped on climbs

That, of course, can happen to anyone at any time.
Except Contador of course.

My glass is always half full, you know, although I am German.
I prefer to write positive things, instead of things like, "he will crash", or "he will be dropped in the mountains", "that race sucks", "this rider sucks".

You must know that most Germans usually no more recognize sentences like "he will be dropped in the mountains" .
This sentence was read and written so often, that we just handle it like not existent and we learned to just think positive.

 

[theyoungest]

You're completely underrating the Vasco climbs now cobblestoned. Like I told you the last 3 posts

Do you want me to show past results. Really?

Eibar-Arrate stage 2009 (same finish as this year)
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=10967

1. [ESP] CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto AST 4h16'30" 40
2. [AUS] EVANS Cadel SIL 08" 25
3. [ESP] SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel EUS 08" 15
4. [ITA] CUNEGO Damiano LAM 27" 10
5. [NED] GESINK Robert RAB 32" 5

ITT specialists:
6. [ESP] SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon GCE 35" 3 7. [CZE] KREUZIGER Roman LIQ 54"
9. [ITA] NIBALI Vincenzo LIQ 54"
16. [AUS] ROGERS Michael THR 01'11"
31. [SWE] LÖFKVIST Thomas THR 02'31" 0
32. [SWE] LARSSON Gustav Erik SAX 02'31"

Eibar Arrate stage 2010 (last year)

1. [ESP] SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel EUS 4h05'16" 40
2. [NED] GESINK Robert RAB 02" 25
3. [USA] HORNER Chris RSH 02" 15
4. [ESP] INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA Beñat EUS 33" 10
5. [FRA] PERAUD Jean-Christophe OLO 33" 5
6. [ITA] CUNEGO Damiano LAM 40" 3
7. [LUX] SCHLECK Andy SAX 40" 2
8. [FRA] CASAR Sandy FDJ 49" 1
9. [ESP] RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin KAT 49" 0
10. [ITA] PINOTTI Marco THR 49" 0

ITT specialist lose easily 30 seconds here... Klöden lost 1'11 (comparable to Martin uphill nowadays).


Zalla ITT 2009 (almost the same as this year)
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=10970

Sammy Sanchez beating LL Sanchez by 30 seconds...
A TT specialist like Vandevelde and Evans not winning time on Gesink
TT specialist as Lövkvist and Larsso nowhere near thhe top..

Want to compare more?
Here
http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/tour.asp?tourid=3

good luck

You're making the mistake of thinking that the climb on the Eibar stage is always the same, but it isn't. Last year they took the longer route (hence the bigger differences). This year they'll take that very same route.

But take Luis Leon's result: do you consider Tony Martin to be any worse on that kind of climb at the moment? If anything, I think he's stronger than Lulu.

 

[Anonymous]

Heh, the ones I had up originally were too small, so I replaced them. Didn't think of doing anything with hyperlinks though.

To be honest ive only recently realised you can do it.

I think i need a bigger laptop screen, this 15" 1280x800 really isnt cutting the mustard

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sorry I just don't see it happening on the Vasco roads... but we'll see.

I can see him finish at 35 seconds yes... but still that ITT, it's very hilly.. Much harder than the PN ITT, which was already hard. It's not logical he take 30+ seconds there. Not on Samuel Sanchez anyway

 

[Cobblestoned]

You're completely underrating the Vasco climbs now cobblestoned.

dude, I don't underrate anything.
Again: I like this race and don't have any problem with it.
I just see some overhyping.
Old results, editions and seasons are as interesting as newspapers from yesterday, when its about upcoming races.
If Martin or the shacks keep their current level they will win this race. It's as simple as that.

Just go on teaching me cycling. It's amusing for me.
Since you are just 50km away, we should perhaps have a ride one day. I would even buy you a happymeal for consolation prize afterwards

 

[taiwan]

To be honest ive only recently realised you can do it.

I think i need a bigger laptop screen, this 15" 1280x800 really isnt cutting the mustard

I sort of figured the forum would just resize them, but I don't know how that works on everyone else's screen.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Just because you are older and watched more, still doesn't automatically mean you see it better or are right..
That's such a losers argument I'm not even going to answer that

Stop being so condescending towards younger people. Ever considered they may be smarter than you?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Wow! having Cobblers on ignore is a big mistake on this thread.
I can only read half and the quotes are choice.
Can't imagine this being another Paris-Nice, the parcours this year look very enticing, with a tough climb near most of the finishes.
Very hard to call, even with a 24km TT to finish off.
One month on, it will be interesting to see if Martin still has the climbing form.

Given the unpredictable nature of weather and those Vasco roads, I think this race will be much more difficult to control.

 

[taiwan]

One notable difference between this and Paris Nice is that there are two (just about) MTFs as opposed to one (just about).

The chronos in the two races actually look comparable.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Just because you are older and watched more, still doesn't automatically mean you see it better or are right..

That's such a losers argument I'm not even going to answer that

Experience and age can compensate many deficits.

Young man, with all respect, it was you who started with "you never watched that race before".
Ok, thats some variety compared to the usual "you don't hate Lance, because of that you know nothing and I disagree", so I appreciated it.

You forgot to mention that it is also a poor argument, to challenge you for a ride and crush you.

 

[El Pistolero]

The difference is in Spain they don't ride the same way as in France.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Cobblestoned, I say that, because the way you talk about Pais Vasco doesn't make sense to the editions the last 10 years I saw...

There's always a lot of action and the winner is almost never a rider like the type of Tony Martin.
It's usually a more naturally gifted puncheur or climber.

 

[Arnout]

Euskal Herria The weekend races are nice warm-ups for the spectacle we'll get during the week days.