What can Sagan achieve in RIO in MTB race?

[3wheeler]

The Start loop looks wide and fairly long before it narrows out. So if he can jump through into the top 6 on this section anything could happen.. The trick sections are not to long so i could easily see Sagan hanging on to a fairly high placing...

 

[Thepirateisgood]

GL, Sagan - his starting position is his biggest obstacle - isn't he one of the last positions?

Big sprint to the narrows, and both ascents and descents should suit him judging from yesterday.

Hope he doesn't win, it will be too big a FU to the specialists. Sagan FTB.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Is it raining? Gonna be fun.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

Sorry Julien Absalon, I'm French but I will support Peter Sagan tomorrow !

Im czech and I will support Sagz too despite Kulhavy being last olympics winner.

One of the events I was looking forward to the most! Cmon Peter!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

wtf is this *** that Van Avermaet is a better climber than Sagan?

If Sagan really goes for it he has shown he can be a near sub-top climber. I remember a Tour de Suisse and a Tour of California where he was nothing short of amazing. Sort of results Van Avermaet would never get on similar mt stages

 

[DFA123]

Re:

wtf is this ****** that Van Avermaet is a better climber than Sagan?

If Sagan really goes for it he has shown he can be a near sub-top climber. I remember a Tour de Suisse and a Tour of California where he was nothing short of amazing. Sort of results Van Avermaet would never get on similar mt stages

Yeah, because they are of comparable quality with the Tour de France, Olympic Road race and hilly classics.

 

[Valv.Piti]

GVA has hands down been much better on mountainous terrain this year, no doubt. What he did in Le Lioran was pretty amazing IMO (I know, the break wasn't that good, but he really didn't lose that much time) and the Olympics speaks for itself.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

GVA has hands down been much better on mountainous terrain this year, no doubt. What he did in Le Lioran was pretty amazing IMO (I know, the break wasn't that good, but he really didn't lose that much time) and the Olympics speaks for itself.

Yep, it's not even close. Even in previous years. GVA has been challenging for wins at San Sebastian, top 10 at LBL, impressive showings at Lombardia. He's a significnatly better climber.

Sagan, going full gas, has finished top 10 a couple of times in a stage race that no-one is peaking for. Its just not comparable.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re: Re:

GVA has hands down been much better on mountainous terrain this year, no doubt. What he did in Le Lioran was pretty amazing IMO (I know, the break wasn't that good, but he really didn't lose that much time) and the Olympics speaks for itself.

Yep, it's not even close. Even in previous years. GVA has been challenging for wins at San Sebastian, top 10 at LBL, impressive showings at Lombardia. He's a significnatly better climber.

Sagan, going full gas, has finished top 10 a couple of times in a stage race that no-one is peaking for. Its just not comparable.

Give Peter some time, when he was his age, what had GvA accomplished in climbing races apart from finishing 12th in Lombardia once?

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

GVA has hands down been much better on mountainous terrain this year, no doubt. What he did in Le Lioran was pretty amazing IMO (I know, the break wasn't that good, but he really didn't lose that much time) and the Olympics speaks for itself.

Yep, it's not even close. Even in previous years. GVA has been challenging for wins at San Sebastian, top 10 at LBL, impressive showings at Lombardia. He's a significnatly better climber.

Sagan, going full gas, has finished top 10 a couple of times in a stage race that no-one is peaking for. Its just not comparable.

Give Peter some time, when he was his age, what had GvA accomplished in climbing races apart from finishing 12th in Lombardia once?

Sure, in the future he may well be as good a climber as GVA - maybe better if he loses weight. But that's all speculative - right now, he's not at the same level.

 

[KGB]

Sagan needs just a few week climbing preparation and he could be easy at the same GVA climbing level.Specially if we talking about just one day race.

 

[MacBAir]

Re: Re:

I understand he's got background in MTB racing but why did he choose to compete in this race when he might have competed for a win in the Road Race?

He probably had more of a chance in MTB than in the road race. I know GVA won after a huge amount of luck (making up for his luck earlier this season), but GVA is still a fair bit better as a climber than Sagan

Based on what? Not results. Not performances.

GVA is significantly better at climbing based on both results and performances. In the last month or so alone he's won a very hilly TdF stage, held the yelllow jersey comfortably on Col d'Aspin, finished 5th at San Sebastian and won arguably the most prestigious hilly one day race of the year. That's more than Sagan has done in hills in his whole career.

WTF? Who made second to GVA on tirreno, 1s away in the final GC? Who won California last year? Who shredded tirreno to pieces on the last few editions against GC contenders? Who was always there discussing strade?

GVA only won tirreno because he was wheelsucking Peter (like he does) when BMC was on the peloton and won that sprint.

What about all others amazing performances on TDF breakaways on past years, plus Suisse? GVA never did anything like that. and 3rd on amstel? 7th on the muur?

If Sags is going for it, he drops Greg like a stone on any hill, if on top shape.

 

[MacBAir]

But let's ignore that. Anyone has any info on the event? How much time to go?

 

[scurrrr]

ll

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

But let's ignore that. Anyone has any info on the event? How much time to go?

starts 17:30 CET apparently
Would be nice to have reliable feed

 

[Sykes]

Come on guys...lest's get back to the topic. I honestly don't expect too much from Sagan in this race. It's true that he made some great MTB races before changing to road race, but he doesn't have the the World Cup's rythm, neither skillset that riders like Absalon and Shurter have. These guys spent years preparing this race and they won't let it go to a guy like Sagan. I know, Sagan is a incredibly talented guy, but a Top10 would be a great result for him.

 

[SKSemtex]

Nino was claiming after preparation races that Sagan has no podium chance. SAGAN must like this type of statements.
Just proove him wrong. Go Peter.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Nino was claiming after preparation races that Sagan has no podium chance. SAGAN must like this type of statements.
Just proove him wrong. Go Peter.

Nino is right. Sagan will be happy if he finish in Top 20, and it is still a GREAT result considering the level of preparation.

You better lower your expectations or you'll be disappointed after the race.

 

[MacBAir]

Anyone knows anything about live feeds or coverage?

 

[SKSemtex]

Nino was claiming after preparation races that Sagan has no podium chance. SAGAN must like this type of statements.
Just proove him wrong. Go Peter.

Nino is right. Sagan will be happy if he finish in Top 20, and it is still a GREAT result considering the level of preparation.

You better lower your expectations or you'll be disappointed after the race.

I know these two (Nino, Julien) are untouchable. But I can still dream for .third. And I always love Sagan beeing underdog.

 

[BigMac]

Re:

Anyone knows anything about live feeds or coverage?

I second this inquiry.

We're sorta hopeless here.

 

[Poursuivant]

Its live on bbc one now in UK

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Don't ya just love rhythmic gymnastics - not

 

[TomLPC]

Don't know much about this sport but hope sags takes it down for a laugh, here we go

 

[SKSemtex]

Race is in