|
Criterium du Dauphine Libere Discussion Thread
|
| ember |
Posted on 23-03-2012 22:16
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7058
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
|
 Criterium du Dauphine Libere
France welcomes the riders for a major event in the ProTour. No, it's not Le Tour de France, but it's one of the most important preparation for July, it's Criterium du Dauphine Libere. The organizers have given us a great course this year, and we should be guaranteed an amazing race. It kicks off with a prologue, 6.4 kilometers long, containing a hill. The overall contenders will look to put as much time as possible into their rivals bags. A hilly 2nd stage is followed by the only real opportunity for pure sprinters in this year's edition. When 3 stages are done, there's no way back, the rest of the race belongs to the stage racers.
The 4th stage is a 49 kilometers long time trial. It will definitely put pressure on those of the favourites that handles climbing better than time trialing. The pure climbers can only limit their losses, and hope they'll be able to claw back the lost time on the 3 final stages. Stage 5 is flat and boring, except for the final 15 kilometers, where the riders face a nasty mountain, climbing their way to Risoul, which is well-known as a ski resort.
Stage 6 ends in Grenoble, but it's another mountain stage, despite a run-in consisting of descending and flats. The riders will climb to Chamrousse (another ski resort in the Alps), and from the top of Chamrousse there's only 34 kilometers left of the stage, where most of them are downhill, meaning an attack on the mountain could win the stage. Stage 7 is the Queen stage in this year's edition. The stage is only 141 kilometers long, but finishes on the epic Alpe d'Huez. If 3 consecutive mountain stages aren't enough to give us the overall winner, it could all be decided on the final stage, which ends with a circuit in Sallanches, containing Cote de Domancy. The riders will do 5 laps, meaning Domancy will be climbed 5 times.
It's a great course, but who's favourite? Last years winner,  Simon Spilak is back this year, looking to defend his title. He handles everything, be it time trialling, hills or mountains. Surely a big favourite for the race, but does he have the team to help him? He has Barredo, but except for him, there's not much to brag about. They can only cross fingers Spilak can cope with the lack of support.
 Thomas Dekker is another big name this year. He's actually given #1 of the organizers, Spilak is #11, is that a sign of Dekker being the man to beat? At least the organizers think so, but he, just like Spilak, lacks a great domestique.
 Alberto Contador put in a great performance in Vuelta a Espana, and he doesn't rest for long. He's back here in Dauphine Libere, looking to win the overall. On he contrary to Dekker and Spilak, he has brought a great domestique. Serpa proved outstanding in La Vuelta, and Contador can only hope he's able to do the same here in France. If they're able to co-operate well, they should be able to cause headache for pretty much everybody.
 Taylor Phinney must fancy this course, with more than 50 kilometers of time trialing in total. He could very well be the owner of the yellow jersey after stage 4, but will he then be able to hang on on the final 4 stages? Time will show, and with superstar/forum hero Cleaver amongst his helpers, he should have a good shot at taking the overall win.
 Rigobert Uran and  Andrey Amador are two great climbers, who also handle the time trial bike well. Amador proved his strength in this year's Giro, while Uran must be eager to show himself here, after Intxausti took a podium for Vesuvio in La Vuelta. He surely doesn't want Intxausti to be their undisputed leader, if that's not going to happend, he will have to show his capabilities in France.
 David Arroyo and  Andrey Kashechkin are two other great climbers taking part in this intense stage race, while  Rein Taaramäe and  Ruben Plaza are more complete riders who are looking for a good overall placing. Both will most likely struggle to achieve a top 5, but it isn't out of reach.
That's probably the biggest favourites for overall glory, but we don't lack other superstars. Pearl Adidas has sent their hilly superman,  Jan Bakelants, who will surely look for a stage win or two.
Startlist
Spoiler Spyker
1. T. Dekker
2. F. Bellotti
3. S. Cohnen
4. J. Fuglsang
5. E. MartÃnez de Esteban
6. J. Pecharroman
7. D. Teklehaimanot
8. E. Weiss
Warner Bros
11. S. Spilak
12. C. Barredo
13. A. Castro Rodriguez
14. G. De Winde
15. J. Flecha
16. I. Mayo
17. T. Pinto
18. Y. Talabardon
Wikipedia
21. T. Phinney
22. B. Bookwalter
23. J. Casper
24. R. Cleaver
25. T. Pinot
26. A. Sebright
27. M. Sprick
28. T. Vangheel
Festina
31. A. Contador
32. L. Bøchman
33. A. Lavoine
34. J. Ljungblad
35. R. Navardauskas
36. D. Rijntjes
37. J. Serpa
38. N. Østergaard
UBS
41. A. Amador
42. M. Albasini
43. D. Champion
44. K. Lalouette
45. D. Lelay
46. C. Riblon
47. G. Signorini
48. D. Vorontsov
Vesuvio
51. R. Úran
52. C. Betancourt
53. B. Gastauer
54. M. Iglinski
55. M. Kittel
56. M. Kvasina
57. A. Moschella
58. M. Paterski
Webeffect
61. A. Kashechkin
62. O. Avelino
63. K. Boeckmans
64. T. Bontenackels
65. R. Bourdouxhe
66. I. Camaño
67. R. Nelson
68. C. Schmieg
Carmeuse
71. R. Taaramäe
72. B. Curfs
73. R. Di Gregorio
74. J. El Fares
75. T. Gallopin
76. G. Levarlet
77. J. Libert
78. O. Solis
Jack Wolfskin
81. R. Plaza
82. B. Giling
83. W. Jallays
84. W. Poels
85. S. Rosseler
86. J. Van Emden
87. D. Van Winden
88. K. Vandewalle
Santander
91. D. Arroyo
92. D. Allonca
93. F. Echarri
94. A. Galdos
95. P. Merino Criado
96. R. Serrano
Sony
101. W. Pedraza
102. S. Anza
103. S. Lang
104. M. Mortensen
105. D. Muravjev
106. M. Reihs
107. A. Wetterhall
108. R. van der Hugenhaben
Pendleton's
111. D. Menchov
112. T. Copeland
113. S. Duret
114. T. Faiers
115. M. Ladagnous
116. F. Mourey
117. K. Siutsou
118. D. Zabriskie
Saab
121. T. Lövkvist
122. N. Aistrup
123. J. Bjelkmark
124. N. Brolin
125. T. Eltink
126. T. Hushovd
127. M. Van Aelbroeck
128. M. Wyss
Colombia
131. M. Rogers
132. A. Ardila Cano
133. J. Baños Ballester
134. S. Ivars
135. S. Joly
136. H. Machado
137. F. Perez Sanchez
138. W. RodrÃguez Parra
Nestlé
141. J. Rodriguez Oliver
142. J. Fiedler
143. P. Fédrigo
144. D. Kupfernagel
145. I. Lo Cicero
146. M. Machado
147. H. Mottin
148. M. Sibilla
Pearl
151. J. Bakelants
152. E. Berthou
153. K. De Haes
154. S. Joseph
155. J. Mendes
156. G. Nizzolo
157. E. Popov
158. J. Vastaranta
Milka
161. T. Rohregger
162. M. Bouet
163. J. Coppel
164. A. Delaplace
165. L. Howard
166. Y. Hutarovich
167. E. Verbist
168. M. Vysna
Wiggle
171. T. Costagli
172. G. Bole
173. R. Hampton
174. A. Kunshin
175. P. Locatelli
176. M. Pavarin
177. R. Tanguy
178. J. Tiernan-Locke
Bacardi
181. S. Pardilla
182. G. Bagdonas
183. T. Butterfield
184. J. Ghyselinck
185. M. Heijboer
186. A. Kruopis
187. S. Mancuso
188. M. Perget
B&O
191. D. Klemme
192. M. Christensen
193. J. Drucker
194. R. Guldhammer
195. E. Hagen
196. T. Riber-Sellebjerg
197. K. Sobota
198. T. Vinter
The first report should be up sometime tomorrow.
Edited by ember on 23-03-2012 22:16
|
| |
|
|
| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-03-2012 22:23
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7366
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Stage win please or maybe a top 10 (at a stretch).
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 15:14
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 23-03-2012 22:34
|
World Champion
Posts: 13561
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
|
A top 10 should be achievable for Plaza here.
|
| |
|
|
| rjc_43 |
Posted on 23-03-2012 22:37
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6490
Joined: 13-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Wow, would you just look at the pure class I've fielded here... Erm, top 30 maybe? At a push?
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
| |
|
|
| mb2612 |
Posted on 24-03-2012 00:41
|
Team Leader
Posts: 5535
Joined: 18-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Top ten would be nice.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
| |
|
|
| Smowz |
Posted on 24-03-2012 06:26
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6386
Joined: 09-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Should be a fascinating battle between the likes of Phinney,Spilak, Dekker and Contador. The route is a really good one, should build up nicely towards that Alpe D'Huez climax.
Phinney is the best TTer, Contador is the best climber but Spilak and Dekker are the better all rounders. These four get a chance of something before having to compete with Cunego and Madrazo at the Tour.
First stage ... will be interesting to see if Bakelandts can take the leaders jersey - it looks a good TT for him.
|
| |
|
|
| Heine |
Posted on 24-03-2012 06:50
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4467
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
My guess is Phinney taking this, or Spilak.
|
| |
|
|
| SotD |
Posted on 24-03-2012 09:47
|
World Champion
Posts: 12631
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
|
Hopefully Contador can continue his great climbing season. If he hadn't crashed out of the California Tour he would have been among the season best.
He doesn't have much racing left though. Here and the GP of Liechtenstein, so he really have to put a solid performance here to end up with the best. Serpa could do well here also, and I hope he can keep pushing for top 15 results.
|
| |
|
|
| CrueTrue |
Posted on 24-03-2012 10:00
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
Well, it does seem like my team has to rely solely on Dekker to save us this season, so I really he steps up and makes another great result in this race. |
| |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 24-03-2012 15:58
|
World Champion
Posts: 13561
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
|
Expected a little bit more from Plaza.
|
| |
|
|
| niconico |
Posted on 24-03-2012 16:00
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3926
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Shame Hagen couldn't quite win the prologue, that would have been an amazing result for him after a dismal season.
He has a god chance of taking yellow in stage 2, but will then most likely lose it again in the time trial. If he gets the jersey that is 
|
| |
|
|
| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 24-03-2012 16:27
|
Team Manager
Posts: 31706
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Will be interesting to see if Coppel can beat Phinney in the longer TT aswell. But this is the only French Yellow jersey Coppel will get this season - he's missing from the Tour
|
| |
|
|
| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 24-03-2012 16:39
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4726
Joined: 06-12-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
I suppose Rogers was due a bit of a flop in a TT. Been doing quite well. Hopefully, will do better on stage 4. |
| |
|
|
| CrueTrue |
Posted on 24-03-2012 16:43
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
Good start by Dekker. As I said, he's very much needed |
| |
|
|
| SotD |
Posted on 24-03-2012 17:03
|
World Champion
Posts: 12631
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
|
Decent performance from Contador here. Hopefully he can take a little bit of time on the mountains.
|
| |
|
|
| viking90 |
Posted on 24-03-2012 17:52
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3836
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hope too see any Saab riders in screen at any time.
Maybe in some breakaway, or Lökvist can hang on quite long in one stage. |
| |
|
|
| Roman |
Posted on 24-03-2012 21:26
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4279
Joined: 29-05-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Really, really great start. With national bonus and maybe a really good day, Coppel finally managed to win a TT this season. 
And as SN said, no TdF for Coppel this year. I decided to let him ride Vuelta instead of Tour as I though Vuelta would sit him better. And as he is riding only TTT and ITT after Dauphine this season, I am keen on seeing what he can do here. A repeat of this win would be awesome.
|
| |
|
|
| CountArach |
Posted on 25-03-2012 11:36
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8205
Joined: 14-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
This game is absolutely ridiculous. Great report ember.
|
| |
|
|
| CrueTrue |
Posted on 25-03-2012 11:42
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
Weird stage... The race leader in the early breakaway - don't remember seeing that before.
Not a great performance by Dekker on this stage, but somewhat expected given the terrain. |
| |
|
|
| viking90 |
Posted on 25-03-2012 12:02
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3836
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
A lot of action some wierd in this stage.
And three riders from wildcard Saab trying there luck, nice too see them try! Maybe Hushovd can show something on stage 3 if its´s not to hard climb, but he has 50 km after the top to get back if so and take a rest. |
| |
|
