I don't expect anything in the WC from him though, he wanted to ride a good Vuelta with a good overall, when you want something like that you won't be in perfect shape for the WC.
He isn't in great shape right now and he won't be in the WC, season is too long for him.
Sorry, but I totally disagree.
He didn't want to ride a good GC. He wanted to look how it goes, and if he loses (a decent amount of) time just once, he would drop it instantly. He did not peak for the Vuelta.
And he isn't in an amazing shape.
This is what he said: (just in dutch, a bit easier lol) Ik kwam hier met ambities voor een goed klassement, maar na de eerste week wist ik dat het moeilijk ging worden, na een zware Tour de France. Vanaf dat moment richtte ik me op een ritzege en het is fantastisch dat dit is gelukt.
So yeah, in short, he wanted a good overall, after it was clear it wouldn't happen he switched his goal to a stage win.
He says it also, the Tour de France took too much energy and I really think that if you can't follow the best riders here, you can't win or even have a chance to do something at the WC.
Someone like Sanchez will be much better I think, not good enough maybe now but he is still improving.
Mollema won't improve anymore, you can't peak 3 times in a season.
He did ride classic races, the Tour, impossible that he will be in the shape he needs to be a big part of the race I think.
De Leeuwarder gaat dus opnieuw proberen een rol te spelen in het algemeen klassement. In 2011 werd hij vierde in het eindklassement. Verwacht hij nu weer mee te doen om de knikkers? ''Ik heb nog niet echt een bepaalde klassering in mijn hoofd. Ik ga voor het klassement en zo lang ik goede kansen heb op een top-vijf notering of nog beter, dan ga ik daar natuurlijk vol voor. Mocht dat er toch niet inzitten, is het nog steeds een mooie ronde met zoveel bergetappes. Dan ligt er altijd nog ergens een kans op een dagsucces'', klinkt het.
''Ik ga geen tiende plaats verdedigen''
Toch staart Mollema zich niet blind op een klassement. Helemaal omdat hij een week na de Vuelta als kopman van de Nederlandse ploeg zal starten op het WK in Firenze. ''Stel dat ik op een gegeven moment tiende sta, de top vijf is heel ver uit zicht en we moeten nog anderhalve week, dan weet ik niet of ik vol voor die tiende plek zal strijden. Dan is het WK veel belangrijker en zal ik proberen voor een dagsucces te gaan. Wanneer ik voor mezelf besluit dat ik het klassement mogelijk laat varen? Dat hangt van verschillende factoren af. Onder andere met de verschillen die er op dat moment zijn in het klassement en hoe ik me dan voel.''
(He said that he will give it a shot, but if the Top 5 is out of sight, he drops the GC without any problems and will go for stage wins. The WC is way more important than the Vuelta GC then.)
Edited by Jesleyh on 11-09-2013 18:21
De Leeuwarder gaat dus opnieuw proberen een rol te spelen in het algemeen klassement. In 2011 werd hij vierde in het eindklassement. Verwacht hij nu weer mee te doen om de knikkers? ''Ik heb nog niet echt een bepaalde klassering in mijn hoofd. Ik ga voor het klassement en zo lang ik goede kansen heb op een top-vijf notering of nog beter, dan ga ik daar natuurlijk vol voor. Mocht dat er toch niet inzitten, is het nog steeds een mooie ronde met zoveel bergetappes. Dan ligt er altijd nog ergens een kans op een dagsucces'', klinkt het.
''Ik ga geen tiende plaats verdedigen''
Toch staart Mollema zich niet blind op een klassement. Helemaal omdat hij een week na de Vuelta als kopman van de Nederlandse ploeg zal starten op het WK in Firenze. ''Stel dat ik op een gegeven moment tiende sta, de top vijf is heel ver uit zicht en we moeten nog anderhalve week, dan weet ik niet of ik vol voor die tiende plek zal strijden. Dan is het WK veel belangrijker en zal ik proberen voor een dagsucces te gaan. Wanneer ik voor mezelf besluit dat ik het klassement mogelijk laat varen? Dat hangt van verschillende factoren af. Onder andere met de verschillen die er op dat moment zijn in het klassement en hoe ik me dan voel.''
(He said that he will give it a shot, but if the Top 5 is out of sight, he drops the GC without any problems and will go for stage wins. The WC is way more important than the Vuelta GC then.)
Funny, your interview was before the Vuelta, mine was from today after his win.
But ok, we will see, I don't think he has enough form to do something great over there, he couldn't follow the best in the Vuelta in the first week when he really tried to do it and at the WC there will be even more great riders, only the best of the best.
Nin1388 wrote:
Tanel Kangart was on attack today. Why would Astana manager waste energy of their important domestique? Do they think Nibali is going to lose Vuelta and would rather salvage a win? Because, power numbers shows that Nibali has weakened since Giro and Astana might have changed plan, as ultimately strongest will win Vuelta due to types of stages remaining and no tactics and no team can save race if leader is weak.
It was to sneak away possible time bonus that Valverde could've sprinted for.
Valverde is not a big threat. Nibali will and can drop Valverde, as fatigue will be bigger factor for Valverde, plus there is more than a minute gap. It's Horner who is the problem.
La Vuelta a Espana departs from the city Burgos, host of yesterday's stage finish, and journeys 186.5km to the first category climb of the Peña Cabarga. Today's stage should see another battle between the General Classification favourites for time gaps to their rivals. Should a breakaway not survive, they could also be fighting for the stage victory and bonus seconds available.
Travelling northwards the peloton will encounter headwinds, however, currently the wind is forecast to be relatively light in strength. When the stage route changes direction to cycle southwards for the ascent of the Peña Cabarga the peloton should receive the help of a tailwind. The wind should the most of the peloton's worries; with the weather predicted to be sunny, clear, and warm.
With five categorised climbs and 3,836 metres of accumulated ascending, Stage 18 will firmly deserve the classification “Mountain Stage”. With the first of the categorised climbs arriving 75.3km into the stage, as the peloton tackle the 3rd Category Alto de Bocos. Measuring just three kilometres in length, the climb feature an average gradient of 6.6%.
Roughly 20km later the peloton will scale the 3rd Category Alto Estacas de Trueba. Which features a lower average gradient of 3.2% over a distance of 10.9km. Followed by a 14.5km descent in to the foot of the 3rd Category Puerto de Braguía. With the slopes of the Puerto de Braguía some 6.1km in length and at an average gradient of 6.2%.
Again the peloton will descend in to the foot of the next climb after crossing the summit of the prior climb. With an 8.2km descent in to the foot of the 2nd Category Alto del Caracol, to begin the 10.6km ascent featuring an average gradient of 5.6%. After which the peloton begin another descent, featuring some small uncategorised hills, of some 33.7km in to the foot of the 1st Category Peña Cabarga.
1st Category - Peña Cabarga (5.9 KM @ 9.6%)
The ascent of the Peña Cabarga features an average gradient of 9.6% over a distance of 5.9km. Whilst only a short climb in comparison to some of the monumental climbs seen during the Pyrenees, the Peña Cabarga's gradient only ever dips below 7.8% once. There will be no warming up for the Peña Cabarga, as the climb begins with gradients around 9-10% and rises to as high as 12% within the first three kilometres.
Final Kilometre
The riders will get a brief respite as the climb flattens out at 1.2% for a few hundred metres in the fourth kilometre of the climb. However, the gradient will soon begin to rise as the gradient rises up to 7.8% and eventually 11% before the final kilometre. Anyone not feeling on form today will surely encounter difficulties during the final kilometre. With the gradient for the majority of the 1000 metres at 18%, 20%, 15%, before finishing for the last few hundred metres at 9%.
Stage Contenders
Should the breakaway be caught before, or during the final climb, Team Katusha must be massive favourites to claim the stage victory. With Joaquim Rodriguez and Daniel Moreno the Russian team has two aces up its sleeve. Daniel Moreno has been allowed to pursue personal glory in the 2013 la Vuelta a Espana. However, the team may focus all its resources on Joaquim Rodriguez in a bid to claim both the stage victory and close the time gap to Alejandro Valverde in third position of the General Classification.
By virtue of being one of the strongest climbers at the 2013 Vuelta a Espana and current Maillot Rojo (Red Jersey) wearer, Vincenzo Nibali will also be a major contender during the stage. The Italian showed some signs of weakness during Stage 16, losing time to his rivals. The second rest day will have given him an opportunity to recharge the batteries however. Whilst the strong team Astana have brought to support the Italian will also be a factor.
Several people would not have expected Chris Horner of Radioshack-Leopard to be quite so strong and Nibali's closest rival for the overall race victory. Should Nibali once again show signs of weakness we could see the veteran American cyclist attack on the final climb in an attempt to claim the Maillot Rojo. Though Horner has struggled on some of the shorter punchier ascents compared to some of the longer Pyrenees climbs.
Meanwhile, Team Movistar's Alejandro Valverde will also be seeking opportunities to reduce the time advantage of Horner and Nibali. The Spaniard will be able to use his explosiveness to punch his way through the steepest of gradients, where on longer climbs he may otherwise falter. The punchy sprint that Valverde posses makes him one of the favourites for the stage if the result comes down to a “sprint”.
Two potential dark horses for the stage victory are Thibaut Pinot of FDJ.fr and Domenico Pozzovivo of AG2R Le Mondiale. Though the Frenchman shall have to first overcome the descents and his recently reawakened fear of speed. Whilst the Italian (Pozzovivo) has surprisingly shown consistent form so far this 2013 Vuelta a Espana. These two strong climbers could, if feeling great on the day, attack from the group of the General Classification contenders and cycle to victory ahead of their more renowned opponents.
Epilogue
On paper Stage 18's finale is set-up for a massive showdown between the General Classification riders and stage victory contenders. However, first the breakaway will have to not spoil the day. Will the breakaway win? Or will the peloton catch them?
While the question on everyone's minds and lips, will Vincenzo Nibali display any more signs of weakness?
Even if I dislike both, it was one of the most epic finishes in the last decade definetelly. As long as Horner doesn't win, I'll be happy. Betting on Piti tough.
FFS like the first stage I miss this Vuelta and an awesome Dutchman wins! So much for me thinking it was just another sprint stage... Great work by Mollema!
sutty68 wrote:
Just seen the highlights and i have to say that was a Great win by Mollema
Indeed.
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
