Shonak wrote:
If Ion is not going to Tour than who should instead? Ha.
And just not make it clear, as a Nairo and Ion fan, I definitely prefer Pologne - Olympics (where he is one of the favourites by now) - Vuelta. In the Tour, he will be 100% dedicated, where as in the Vuelta - especially now that Valverde isn't riding - he will have a protected role. He will only have to survive stage 14 to Aubisque.
The bolded is an important point to bear in mind about this year's Vuelta: there are barely any 'proper' mountains in the route apart from the Aubisque stage. I reckon that in the entire Vuelta there are probably 4/5 climbs that would get cat.1 status in a Giro: Covadonga, PSM, Marie-Blanque (borderline), Aubisque and Aitana, and three of those are in one stage. Added to that, the TTT this year is actually pretty long (longest in a GT since the 2012 Giro, in fact) and the ITT is actually pretty flat. Sure there, are loads and loads of short steep uphill finishes, but they're not going to create massive gaps. Could play nicely into the hands of riders like Izagirre, while not being a great route for Quintana.
Agree. And its absolutely a trash route for a rider like Kruijswijk, I have no idea if he shows up or he doesn't bother. He probably will tho. And thats exactly why Ion should stay home and try to concentrate on the Olympics and that Vuelta. I wouldn't be surprised to see him top-5 at all. And even though its hard to make a bad route for Quintana - a heavily TT based route would probably be good for him at this point considering who he is going up against (Lopez, Chaves, Aru etc.) - this one really isn't good. But he is still much, much more than just a diesel climber, much more versatile than Kruijswijk, but he needs to win it on Covadonge, Aubisque, the ITT and Aitana. Which definitely is possible.
Due to the route and no TdF, Chaves should probably be the favourite. He was a monster of these finishes in 2015. Had this been Purito 2012, we might as well had called it a race and went home. Ion isn't as explosive, but his achilles heel seems to be hard mountain stages.
If he wins a Tour stage, he has to go to Vuelta after Olympics. With a Vuelta stage win, he could be the first rider since Petacchi to win a stage at every GT in a year. And that as a non-sprinter.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Emanuel Buchmann, Paul Voß, Andreas Schillinger (GER), Patrick Konrad (AUT), Shane Archbold (NLZ), Jan Bárta (CZE), Cesare Benedetti (ITA), Sam Bennett (IRL), Bartosz Huzarski (POL)
Apart from them being doomed anyway because Nerz is not in there, I would've hoped for more than three Germans. That said, I'm hoping that Buchmann or Konrad can pull off a good GC result, a Top 15 could be possible if all goes well.
Emanuel Buchmann, Paul Voß, Andreas Schillinger (GER), Patrick Konrad (AUT), Shane Archbold (NLZ), Jan Bárta (CZE), Cesare Benedetti (ITA), Sam Bennett (IRL), Bartosz Huzarski (POL)
Apart from them being doomed anyway because Nerz is not in there, I would've hoped for more than three Germans. That said, I'm hoping that Buchmann or Konrad can pull off a good GC result, a Top 15 could be possible if all goes well.
Nerz, the once decent German GC-hope? Not exactly doomed cause he isn't here (they are pretty doomed anyways, hoping to see Buchmann in the mountains). Bennett can't win a sprint if 5-7 of the best sprinters don't end up crashing, they'd have to be lucky to get something from this race.
Konrad is a decent talent also, isn't it? Maybe a bit too soon to expect something from him. But overall, one of the most uninspiring teams in this year's Tour with Trek, Jumbo and Fortuneo.
Shonak wrote:
If he wins a Tour stage, he has to go to Vuelta after Olympics. With a Vuelta stage win, he could be the first rider since Petacchi to win a stage at every GT in a year. And that as a non-sprinter.
I don't really hope he goes for the Vuelta tbh, I'd like to see him in Canada or something, I think 3 GTs is a bit too much even for Don. I'd rather see Fernandez, Soler, Dayer and BETANCUR along with Malori and Amador. What I hope for is I get to see him in the yellow jersey again after stage 2, but I I think his shape will be pretty suspect.. but even tho its suspect, he can still win on finishes like that.
Riis123 wrote:
Nerz, the once decent German GC-hope? Not exactly doomed cause he isn't here (they are pretty doomed anyways, ...
That was my evidently ill-fated attempt at blind fanboyism, sorry
I agree that their line-up is rather weak on paper, but they have lots of riders to go into breaks (Barta, Huzarski and Benedetti have shown that in WT races this year already if I'm not mistaken) and on a very good day (and/or very bad days of others) Bennett could grab a podium in a sprint, plus maybe a good GC result for Buchmann or Konrad. I think there's a lot possible for Bora, from a complete no-show to quite a few pleasant surprises.
Shonak wrote:
If he wins a Tour stage, he has to go to Vuelta after Olympics. With a Vuelta stage win, he could be the first rider since Petacchi to win a stage at every GT in a year. And that as a non-sprinter.
I don't really hope he goes for the Vuelta tbh, I'd like to see him in Canada or something, I think 3 GTs is a bit too much even for Don. I'd rather see Fernandez, Soler, Dayer and BETANCUR along with Malori and Amador. What I hope for is I get to see him in the yellow jersey again after stage 2, but I I think his shape will be pretty suspect.. but even tho its suspect, he can still win on finishes like that.
I doubt he can drop likes of Sagan, GVA and other "hilly sprinters" there, but anything can happen and he certainly has the kick.
Lose early time
Help Quintana
Maybe a stage win
Maybe Vuelta
It would not help anything. When everything comes to all, must Quintana himself win and he can not, because Froome is best overall and much better than all other in the world the first two weeks.
I see also Landa better helper than Valverde + Henao, Poels, Thomas etc.
1: Froome
2: Quintana
3: ?
Team Sky have best rider and team. If you can accept that, we can have a nice debate over who is third best. I votes on Aru.
Edited by Arberg27 on 21-06-2016 08:18
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Uninspiring? Pff, wait for Bárta and Huszarski to go breakaway mad.
Yeah Riis only thinks the GC teams matter so it's not surprising he thinks those teams are uninspiring, those teams will constantly be in the breaks and attacking whenever they get the chance. Seeing one of the small teams trying to win a stage are some of the best moments in a GT.
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Uninspiring? Pff, wait for Bárta and Huszarski to go breakaway mad.
Yeah Riis only thinks the GC teams matter so it's not surprising he thinks those teams are uninspiring, those teams will constantly be in the breaks and attacking whenever they get the chance. Seeing one of the small teams trying to win a stage are some of the best moments in a GT.
Ugh, thats not really true at all Strydz..
I think of Etixx and Lotto very highly and I put Trek there despite their decent climb prowess. Simply but, its just the 3-4 worst teams in the bunch and that I could probably have phrased in another manner, bur if theres team there are truly uninspiring, it has to be Trek and Lotto. I mean, look at Lotto's roster. If what you said indeed was true, I'd put fx. Direct Energie there, but they are a very decent team with aging stars and Coquard.
Yes, Im more into the GC-battle, but what you wrote was blatantly false. No clue to why you did that when you know it isn't true
Shonak wrote:
If he wins a Tour stage, he has to go to Vuelta after Olympics. With a Vuelta stage win, he could be the first rider since Petacchi to win a stage at every GT in a year. And that as a non-sprinter.
I don't really hope he goes for the Vuelta tbh, I'd like to see him in Canada or something, I think 3 GTs is a bit too much even for Don. I'd rather see Fernandez, Soler, Dayer and BETANCUR along with Malori and Amador. What I hope for is I get to see him in the yellow jersey again after stage 2, but I I think his shape will be pretty suspect.. but even tho its suspect, he can still win on finishes like that.
I doubt he can drop likes of Sagan, GVA and other "hilly sprinters" there, but anything can happen and he certainly has the kick.
He doesn't have to drop them, he just have to outsprint them and he did so against Sagan on a similar finish in 2015 Vuelta, so it isn't impossible
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Uninspiring? Pff, wait for Bárta and Huszarski to go breakaway mad.
Yeah Riis only thinks the GC teams matter so it's not surprising he thinks those teams are uninspiring, those teams will constantly be in the breaks and attacking whenever they get the chance. Seeing one of the small teams trying to win a stage are some of the best moments in a GT.
Ugh, thats not really true at all Strydz..
I think of Etixx and Lotto very highly and I put Trek there despite their decent climb prowess. Simply but, its just the 3-4 worst teams in the bunch and that I could probably have phrased in another manner, bur if theres team there are truly uninspiring, it has to be Trek and Lotto. I mean, look at Lotto's roster. If what you said indeed was true, I'd put fx. Direct Energie there, but they are a very decent team with aging stars and Coquard.
Yes, Im more into the GC-battle, but what you wrote was blatantly false. No clue to why you did that when you know it isn't true
Then why not have more than the GC teams rosters in the OP?
Also I'm not attacking you at all, I'm just saying that it comes across that way
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I haven't updated that since I started and I thought I'd start out with the 6 biggest teams in the race - Movistar, Sky, Tinkoff, Astana, BMC and Etixx. That 5 of them are GC-teams is natural.
And after all, everything comes second to the winner of the race.
Riis123 wrote:
I haven't updated that since I started and I thought I'd start out with the 6 biggest teams in the race - Movistar, Sky, Tinkoff, Astana, BMC and Etixx. That 5 of them are GC-teams is natural. And after all, everything comes second to the winner of the race.
Maybe for you, but certainly not for me. I actually dont care much about Quintana vs. Froome battle, i like the other stories more.
Btw. Valverde outsprinted Sagan in Vuelta, yeah. But Valverde on Vuelta and Sagan at Tour are completely different riders compared to Vlaverde at Tour and Sagan at Vuelta if you know what i mean. But yeah, he can have a chance, as i said.
Btw. whya are you always so angry when someone makes fun of you, you are giving impressions all the time, that nothing besides climbing and GC does not interest you, but we cant make fun of it?
Riis123 wrote:
I haven't updated that since I started and I thought I'd start out with the 6 biggest teams in the race - Movistar, Sky, Tinkoff, Astana, BMC and Etixx. That 5 of them are GC-teams is natural.
And after all, everything comes second to the winner of the race.
We look at cycling differently which is perfectly fine, I also could of worded my post a little better so no offense was meant.
I just think that a pre TDF thread should be that and cover all the squads, I also don't think a squad is poor just because they don't have a real contender for a jersey. Bora wasn't a good example of a poor squad, they are actually bringing a pretty good team to the race.
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