Bad luck. Nothing to do about it. I think that the TT in this race is way too important. It is very hard to win the race if you lose much time in the TT.
Pellizotti2 wrote:
Bad luck. Nothing to do about it. I think that the TT in this race is way too important. It is very hard to win the race if you lose much time in the TT.
I should have done some races before the DL, so that the team would be in better form when the race started. So it is my fault he didn't win, I would say.
Q -> Voeckler - You had a great Tour last year with 3 stages and the polka jersey. What are your expectations for this year?
Repeating last year is near impossible, although I also had great results in 2004. The first two stages suit me well, and I hope I will do well on those. But after that my objective is to help Van den Broeck. So I will be more of a helper this year. But you shouldn't rule out attacks from me on some stages...
Q - > Sicard - Last year you were the captain of the team, how does it feel to have to work for Van den Broeck this year?
I have to admit that being captain in the Tour de France is a great feeling. But when you have a great rider like VdB in your team, I am more than happy to help him achieve his goals. I am still very young (24), so I will get more chances in the future.
Q -> Feillu - Just like Voeckler you did your best Tour de France ever, what are your thoughts about the next 3 weeks?
Last year our goals was to get as many podiums as possible on the flat stages, and it turned much better. And also I had Mondory and Offredo to back me up, while now I'm all alone in the sprints. So my thoughts are that I am happy with a stage win.
Q -> Feillu - What do you think about having to do all the work in the sprints yourself?
I am not all alone in the sprints. Voeckler did a great job last year as a first lead out man, and will have the same role this year. He will do his best to put me on the wheel on one of the great sprinters. And despite Gautiers climbing abilities, he is also quite capable in the sprints. And I understand the teams decision to focus on the overall classification, rather than the points jersey. Because it is possible to get good results in the sprints without a train, which McEwen has proved many times. And it is the opposite in the mountains, if VdB had no climbers with him, he would not stand a chance of getting a top 5.
Q -> Van den Broeck - You came 8th last year, do you think a top 5 is realistic?
If things go our way, then yes! We had a great DL, and I think I did good in the mountains. My form should also be quite a lot better for the TdF, so I expect some great results.
Q - Van den Broeck - Andy Schleck, Alberto Contador, Samuel Sanchez, Denis Menchov and Roman Kreuziger are all on the startlist, which rider do you think you will push out of the top 5? (I haven't got the startlist yet, so I don't know if all of the riders will start)
All of the aforementioned riders are considered to be both better in the mountains and better timetrialists. But I think I will prove the experts wrong. I don't stand a chance against Andy and Alberto, but the 3 others are beatable. We will use consistent riding and better tactical decisions to beat them.
Q -> Levarlet - While the rest of the team used the Dauphine Libere as a preparation, you rode the Tour de Suisse. Do you think that will have any effects on your performance?
Of course I would rather have spent my preparations in France and in the DL, but since there is a rider limit of 8 that wasn't possible. I also understand why I was chosen for the TdS as I am more of a allround helper, who will help on both flat on mountainous stages. Therefore there aren't any tactical choices for me in the stages. You could say I'm here as the waterboy.
Q -> Gautier - Besides VdB, you are considered the best climber in the team. Will you get any chances to go for the mountain jersey?
Thanks for believing in my abilites! But it isn't decided if we are going to go for the polkadot yet. So it will be decided during the race if we are to send a rider in breaks to gather some points.
GM - Thats all for today, wish us luck!
Edited by kissaha on 17-04-2011 00:54
1. Alberto Contador
2. Andy Schleck
3. Samuel Sanchez
4. Bradley Wiggins
5. Cadel Evans
6. Levi Leipheimer
7. Andreas Klöden
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck
9. Christian Vandevelde
10. Robert Gesink
Senoble - LOOK Squad
My Goals
As stated in the press conference, a top 5 with Van den Broeck is our primary goal. Stage wins is goal no. 2, and if Feillu can do something about the green jersey, that would be good too.
In my opinion only a technichal or a puncture at a critical point can take the victory away from Contador, Equal to Andy in the mountains, but is miles away in timetrialing.
Results 2012:
1st - Vuelta al Pais Vasco
1st - Criterium International
2nd - L-B-L
2nd - LFW
Andy Schleck
My prediction for second place. He is going to lose a lot of time in the time trials to the other contenders, but will gain more time in the mountains.
Results 2012:
1st - Amgen Tour of California
2nd - Tour de Suisse
4th - L-B-L
5th - AGR
Samuel Sanchez
My bet is that he will repeat his 3rd from last year, in a close race with Menchov. He is better than Menchov in the mountains, but not as good at TTs.
Results 2012:
5th - Tour du Suisse
6th - L-B-L
6th - LFW
Denis Menchov
Results 2012:
3rd - Tour du Suisse
5th - Vuelta al Pais Vasco
6th - Tour de Romandie
Vincenzo Nibali
From here it gets really close, with a lot of nearly equal riders. Nibali rode the Giro, which in my opinion isn't a plus, but I still think he will be there for the fight for 5th
Results 2012:
4th - Tour de Romandie
6th - Giro d'Italia
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Our hope for the overalls, and will happily improve his 8th from last year. He has a team only focusing on him in the race, which is a big plus.
Has improved his timetrialing a lot since his comeback, and is also one of the strongest in the mountains. But still I don't have any faith in him, and think he will have to settle for a top 10.
Results 2012:
4th - Amgen Tour of California
8th - Tour de Suisse
Roman Kreuziger
Skillswise he is top notch, but just as last year I think he will fail miserably. My bet is getting caught in one of the stages with a lot of wind.
Results 2012:
1st - GP di Lugano
3rd - L-B-L
4th - Vuelta al Pais Vasco
5th - Tirreno - Adriatico
Bradley Wiggins
The best timetrialer of the top contenders, but still lacks abilities in the mountains to fight at the top. Top 10 is realistic.
Results 2012:
1st - British Championship
5th - Amgen Tour of California
9th - Vuelta al Pais Vasco
Robert Gesink
Many will probably say that I am underestimating him, but he hasn't had results of any form so far this year. He also rode the Giro, and as previously stated, I don't think that will help him.
Results 2012:
7th - Tour de Romandie
***** A. Contador
**** A. Schleck
*** S. Sanchez, D. Menchov, R. Kreuziger, V. Nibali
** J. Van den Broeck, I. Basso, B. Wiggins, R. Gesink
* S. Spilak, A. Klöden, R. Hesjedal, M. Rogers
Maillot Vert Contenders
Mark Cavendish
Disappointed greatly last year, with only 1 stage win, and disqualification because he was outside the timelimit. I am very sure that he will redeem himself this year and win the jersey.
Results 2012:
1st in 3 stages, Tirreno - Adriatico
1st - Tirreno - Adriatico, Points jersey
1st in 1 stage, Tour de Suisse
Tyler Farrar
Chose the Giro and Vuelta last year, and is keen to show Cavendish who is the fastest.
Results 2012
1st - Tour of Qatar + points jersey and 2 stages
1st in 2 stages, Amgen Tour of California + points jersey
Andre Greipel
Matthew Goss
Romain Feillu
Daniele Bennati
***** M. Cavendish
**** M. Goss, T. Farrar
*** R. Feillu, A. Greipel
** D. Bennati, A. Davis
* A lot of mediocre sprinters
Pellizotti2 wrote:
Nice 5th places with Feillu, points jersey looks achievable. Also, nice to see Feillu in yellow.
I'm going to need better finishes than 5th to take the points jersey. But I have peaked the form to the second half of the race, so I hope he will do better then.
