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Volta ao Algarve Discussion
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 10-05-2010 23:04
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Starting soon after the Tour de San Luis will be the opening European race of the season, the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal. A bump route, which explains why we will see a weak sprinting field, but only the one official hilly stage - itself ending in a very steep climb. The other crucial stage of the race will be the time trial, which could have a significant bearing on the overall GC.
Mb2612's Preview:
Spoiler
This race is one for the time trialists, the hilly stage has a steep finish, which should give some exciting gaps which will then be shut down in the long individual time trial the next day. Lets look at some of the favourites:
Sprinters
Amazingly there are only 3 sprinters over 75 here and 2 of them are Milka's. Vanderaerden has easily the biggest kick here and should the hills be too tiring for him, Milka other sprinter, Dall'Antonia will be able to take up the slack, anything less than 3 sprint victories here will be a disappointment for the German team.
Hills
Expect Wiggle to dominate the hilly stage with 5 of the top hilly 8 riders here, Ignatiev will probably be their leader, although the 1-2-3-4 punch should make it impossible for any of the other challengers ( Craven, Velits and Van den Broeck) to get away.
Time trial
The slightly bumpy nature of this time trial means that Olman will struggle and leave the road open for Ignatiev to take victory. Elijzen and Kiryenka will do their best to stay close but are unlikely to be able to knock Ignatiev off the top spot of the podium.
Overall
Honestly, this race is Ignatiev's to lose, and the only way I can see him doing so is if Wiggle decide to bet on another rider for the hilly stage, even then I can't see a non-Wiggle rider winning this one.
Predictions
Top Ten:
1.Ignatiev
2.Kiryenka
3.Craven
4.Van den Broeck
5.De Gendt
6.Hermans
7.Velits
8.Ovechkin
9.Diggle
10.Elijzen
Points:
Vanderaerden
Mountain:
Barberi
Youth:
De Gendt
Full Startlist:
Spoiler Wiggle
1. M.Ignatiev
2. L.Bertagnolli
3. T.Diggle
4. B.Hermans
5. P.Locatelli
6. M.Pavarin
7. P.Scarponi
Benfica
11. J.Van den Broeck
12. F.Colorado
13. M.Krasnoperov
14. T.Machado
15. N.Ribeiro
16. A.Saldarriaga
17. F.Terciado
HighRoad
21. M.Elijzen
22. K.Boeckmans
23. B.Day
24. K.De Weert
25. J.Hivert
26. G.Meersman
27. R.Ruijgh
Milka
31. T.Dall'Antonia
32. T.De Gendt
33. L.Howard
34. A.Malori
35. Y.Nepomnyachsniy
36. R.Porte
37. M.Vanderaerden
Bimbo
41. D.Craven
42. A.Albourdainy
43. S.Barberi
44. G.Dockx
45. M.Olman
46. M.Portela
47. H.Sabido
Tinkoff
51. V.Kiryenka
52. A.Arekejev
53. A.Khatuntsev
54. S.Klimov
55. A.Ovechkin
56. B.Shpilevski
57. Y.Sobal
YouTwit
61. P.Velits
62. K.Barclay
63. S.Burke
64. J.McEvoy
65. M.Pozzo
66. A.Txurruka
67. F.de Romijn
Bacardi
71. G.Smukulis
72. G.Bagdonas
73. J.Kocjan
74. J.Nazon
75. F.Pacheco
76. A.Passeron
77. M.Perget
Intesa
81. J.Vansummeren
82. E.Girardi
83. D.Kozontchuk
84. P.Mertens
85. B.Monterastelli
86. R.Sentjens
87. B.Traksel
Falcon
91. T.Eltink
92. N.Aistrup
93. J.Holmkvist
94. T.Kristiansen
95. A.Lund
96. G.Rajala
97. T.Vangheel
I won't say any more, as I have actually already raced all of it, so know exactly what happens, and who does well.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 11-05-2010 16:36
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I said in Mb's preview that you could put your house on Ignatiev and I stick by my prediction.
Certainly a slightly stronger field in terms of TTers and Hilly riders than in Wellington. The likely winner there Craven should be a threat again with the likes of Van Den Broek and Kirylenko.
It should be interesting to see how much the race explodes on stage 3 - I am going to go for quite a lot with a small group at the end. Those five to do battle in the TT!
Predo:
1) Ignatiev
2) Kireylenka
3) Craven
4) Velits
5) Vansummeren
Though with the lack of sprinters perhaps a breakaway may have more of a chance to stick. |
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| SotD |
Posted on 11-05-2010 16:40
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My guess is for an uphill sprint that won't cause too many timegaps. I would have brought a very solid sprinter to this race, if I had one 
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| Kami |
Posted on 11-05-2010 17:29
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Smukulis shouldn't do bad here with a good TT/Hill/Sprint skill, besides that, Pacheco should get a top10 spot in the harder stages, Passeron might aswell.
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| pangare |
Posted on 11-05-2010 19:16
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Domestique
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Quite a nice stage for Bimbo, Young riders jersey with Dockx's second. |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 11-05-2010 22:07
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I'll take that. Thanks very much.
So SN, Pavarin's the new Rovny eh? He's done better than Ivan did so far!
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| Smowz |
Posted on 11-05-2010 22:09
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As if Ignatiev needed those bonus seconds! What a coup, though of course the next stage will be the real test for Wiggle. Looks like they are well focussed. |
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| pangare |
Posted on 11-05-2010 22:24
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Domestique
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2 Jerseys ! |
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| Kami |
Posted on 12-05-2010 06:35
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First win of the season, and by Nazon! Beautiful. Following Ignatiev and actually dominated the sprint more or less.
Just fantastic, i didn't expect he could manage a podium due to the harder course, but i'm really happy. Also credits to Pacheco who got 9th.
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 12-05-2010 10:48
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50 second gap... hmm... I don't know if that's doable or not. But a win in the TT should be possible.
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| pangare |
Posted on 12-05-2010 12:05
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Domestique
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Not bad for us. I expect a 4th overall from Craven and maybe Dockx can win Points jersey. |
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| Vosken94 |
Posted on 12-05-2010 12:18
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Young & KoM doing good =D |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 12-05-2010 12:32
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Having seen that VdB has 75 TT, I am now worried. I would quite like Ignatiev to win every race he enters. In fact, that is one of the reasons I bought him. The other being he's the best rider in the game... 
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| Vosken94 |
Posted on 12-05-2010 13:00
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Elijzen lost 1'09 on the first mountains this predicts, he needs one hell of a TT for a top 10. |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 12-05-2010 13:46
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Sport Lisboa seem the flavour of the month now.
So 2nd GC Eltink is TT 63 and 3rd GC Txurruka is TT 60, so we can forget about them!
Ignatiev very unlucky to get a time gap there, 50 seconds is going to be a lot to make up on a good TTer even if the distance is quite lengthy. But should at least finish second I reckon.
Elizen could possibly squeak in top 5 I would say behind VDB, Ignatiev, Craven and Kireylenka. Vansummeren and Hermans will be difficult to overtake but the others have some quite low TT stats.
I will be interested to see the gaps here
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| viking90 |
Posted on 12-05-2010 15:32
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2nd by Eltink is a very good results for us, we didn´t know what to hope for but a 2nd place in a stage is good for our team. Don´t think he will hold on too his GC place thought will be exicting to see the TT. |
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| jack888 |
Posted on 12-05-2010 16:21
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what a finish  |
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| Kami |
Posted on 12-05-2010 17:09
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Damn Kiryienka for taking over the point jersey on the uphill finish and TT :<. Bagdonas 10th in the TT did surprise me.
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 12-05-2010 17:53
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Woop! A stage win is just what I want. A good sign for all the other races Ignatiev is in - mostly stage races with hills and time trials!
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| Smowz |
Posted on 12-05-2010 18:10
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That really was an awesome TT performance there. So let me think Ignatiev will be racing 4 days of Dunkirk, Bayern Rundfaht, Tour of Belgium, Tour of Missouri, Isle of Man TT and.... Euskel Bizikla?
Wiggle (4 guys in the top 16) and Sport Lisboa (all 7 riders in top 22  ) definately on the rise after this race. (Sport Lisboa having a nice race at the moment in San Luis as well)
A good performance by the Highroad men as well here two guys in the top 8 also. |
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