Ian Butler wrote:
Kruiswijk winning the Giro would be the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Go for it, man
Could be great but his team is very vulnerable in the mountains so hopefully he can defend it alone.
Astana and Movistar need to be allies for the upcoming stages and I bet they'll attack Kruiswijk left and right..
Gonna be historic anyway - first dutchman to win the giro..
“When it’s hurting you, that’s when you can make a difference”
Arberg27 wrote:
[quote]Stromeon wrote:
Is off-days and weakly team the same, in your opinion?
Ruben has the right, it's about having the strongest legs, not the strongest team.
No, but a strong team can be of great use on an off-day, an asset that Kruijswijk does not have if Astana/Movistar try to take advantage of that, though he has looked steady so far.
Stage 16 is dangerous, if Astana play it smart, they will put pressure on Kruijswik early on (or at least his team). Too bad Fuglsang isn't better, or Amador for that matter, then it would have been interesting.
It doesn't look as bad when played in real time, it's funny that some people are using this gif as proof of moto doping by ignoring the fact it's played in double time
Is Gazprom dodgy? Yes of course they are with some real dodgy back room staff.... Much like OGE have some real dodgy back room staff and lets not forget Etixx, Astana, Movistar, Katusha and so on
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Stromeon wrote:
All building up to what should be a very exciting final week. Kruijswijk has a very weak team even if Roglic starts climbing like he time-trials, but Astana have the firepower of Kangert, Fuglsang and Scarponi to bring to bear to try and isolate him. Nibbles needs to go on a crazy descent at least once somewhere and Astana put the hammer down on the Bonette for example and try and isolate Kruijswijk.
Nibali can have all the help in the world. If he climbs like this and Kruijswijk keeps climbing like this it doesn't matter. They are leagues apart.
Chaves is the only one riding on par with Kruijswijk uphill but also has no team to speak of.
It does matter. Especially if Astana and Movistar decide to collaborate and put Amador and Fuglsang on attack mode.
Telling you, it really doesn't. Not if comparing relative strengths of the leaders.
IF one is too dominant or too strong this type of attack can't work.
With dumoulin last year it worked, because Dumoulin was relatively one of the weakest climbers in the top 10. With Kruijswijk, who, above all, is known for his recuparation and endurance.. well. I wish them good luck with that. Attack all you want. Chance is he follows and even counters. And then what? Amador and Scarponi chasing it down? They can't.. Then Nibali and Valverde have to follow themselves.Again, good luck with that.
I only give Chaves a chance because he's the same strength in climbing, maybe a tad better.
I was more thinking in vein of putting an early attack so Kruijswijk has a decision - counter as you say far from finish and go alone with Astana and Movistar chasing or following and sitting with whoever attacked from those teams and wait till rest catch up which would induce new attacks by Nibali and Valv. If you repeat this few times, we could see similar scenario to that Paris-Nice from distant past (sorry that was the first thing that came to my memory) when Contador was clearly strongest but attacks by Chava, LuLu and Colom just exhausted him.
It's not that I don't want to see Kruiswijk winning, it's just that it's gonna be really hard week without proper team to support him and the race is far from over.
I_Mayo wrote:
we could see similar scenario to that Paris-Nice from distant past (sorry that was the first thing that came to my memory) when Contador was clearly strongest but attacks by Chava, LuLu and Colom just exhausted him.
No Contador forgot to eat and drink. He had won it easily, if he remembered it.
I remember that! Contador certainly went hunger flat that day, he's done it a few times during his career
Edited by Strydz on 23-05-2016 09:53
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I_Mayo wrote:
we could see similar scenario to that Paris-Nice from distant past (sorry that was the first thing that came to my memory) when Contador was clearly strongest but attacks by Chava, LuLu and Colom just exhausted him.
No, Contador forgot to eat and drink. He had won it easily, if he remembered it.
Kruiswijk and Chaves, becomes 1 and 2, if they does not get disease, remember to drink/eat and not to crashes.
Attack Nibali will Kruiswijk, Chaves, Valverde, Zakarin, Majka defense.
Attack Valverde will Kruiswijk, Chaves, Nibali, Zakarinn Majka defense.
Etc. No one will help each other and no one would let each other runs away intentionally.
Edited by Arberg27 on 23-05-2016 11:07
It really is a day for the breakaway to gain a big gap and the just hang on with Astana trying to break Kruijswijk but failing, I'll say De Marchi or Busato
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