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Vuelta á España 2014
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 28-08-2014 19:41
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Tour de France Champion
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Dammit. That was really tough to watch. I really thought Martin was in good form, but it's looking like another downhill GT from Garmin. I'm even more disappointed because they've lost so often lately because of crashes, mechanicals, things you can't control. Today, they just were weak.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| niconico |
Posted on 28-08-2014 19:44
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Classics Specialist
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Dammit. That was really tough to watch. I really thought Martin was in good form, but it's looking like another downhill GT from Garmin. I'm even more disappointed because they've lost so often lately because of crashes, mechanicals, things you can't control. Today, they just were weak.
The Vuelta is always going to be so hard to predict! Dan Martin showed great form ahead of the Giro in Tour de l'Ain, while Fabio Aru who rode brilliantly today couldn't muster anything positive in Pologne.
Martin could've had a bad day of course, but it sure was surprising to see him go down like that.
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| Dusen |
Posted on 28-08-2014 19:49
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Protected Rider
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If i remember correctly Quintana isn't that good when its as hot as it is in the Vuelta atm. So i think he may have been suffering.
But wow. What a stage, I have so much respect for Valverde 
And the biggest "YES" for me is, that it looks like all the main guys is ready for a rumble  |
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| jacobjc88 |
Posted on 28-08-2014 19:56
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Domestique
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Great last climb today. Really made a mess in the GC already today. Sad to see Quintana couldn't hold up at the very end, he will be back later! And btw. is Rodriguez the worst tactician in the race? Holy moly, why did he attack with 800-700 meters left? So stupid <.<
Fantastic performance from Contador, he rode really well. Even though he didn't seem like one who could attack, but had to stay defensive. Let's hope the shape continues to get better.
And I completely forgot how much I hate seeing Froome racing. Always looking down at that SRM. Why don't they ban those powermeters? I think it would be more entertaining. Maybe it wouldn't in the beginning, cuz they would be a bit conservative about taking the chance, but eventually they would have to risk it if they want to gain some time 
Present:
Tinkoff-Saxo - AG2R - Colombian riders
Past:
Francisco Mancebo - Illes balears - Carlos Sastre - Kelme - Robbie McEwen
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 28-08-2014 20:50
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Grand Tour Specialist
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kadtagenero wrote:
you're right, Uran did well in FW and Lombardia... but speaking to him last month in Bogotá, he says long mountain stages are better to him because of his "diesel" engine... I also told him about those 2 hilly races and he said "el que es bueno es bueno papá..." something like, if you're good, you're good... but you have to be in a really great shape... which him, Quintana, Arredondo or Betancur aren't right now, all of them aim to third week and will try to lose the least time the two first weeks...
Really surprised about Contador's performance... did he eat a magic bean from Dragon Ball? that recovery is like a miracle...
Lol, have you actually been speaking to Urán? Great inside knowledge I must admit, would be happy to see that continue if you have so valuable information as you also had about Angel Lopez.
Im an optimist. Betancur is a lost cause for now, I highly doubt he will be able to do anything in this Vuelta, but may be able to pull something off in WC and Lombardia (he should really target that). Arredondo has been sick as you probably know, so I wouldn't worry about him. Personally I hoped to see him ride the GC, but either the sickness has taken too much of a tool on him or he simply is more interested in stage wins and mountain classification. Which, in this Vuelta, I think is a good choice. Hope to see him in the Giro, especially all the ill advised attacks, gotta love that.
About Uran, he hasn't really performed in the Vuelta when he also did the Giro, but it seems like he has lifted himself once again this season. I didn't really believe in him because of that history of under performing come August, but its definitely progress. I view Uran as a more classic stage racer, I think he will do fine when the gradients become a littler lower and the climbs longer. I predict at top-5 for Urán after the ITT on stage 10. If he can go into the top 6-8, I would say its a success tbh.
About Quintana, I dont think you should worry. There is a lot of things which plays in his favour of getting back and possibly winning the race: reportedly he doesn't like this warm weather (you can probably confirm this) and I suppose Rodriguez, Valverde and Contador are a lot more used to this. Secondly, this was possibly a little to short climb, maybe. At the end of the day I think Quintana is the better climber on longer (climb wise)and harder stages, kinda like a better and much more Sastre, but thats just my assessment of him. And I think he has proven in the two last GCs he has ridden that he probably is the rider with the best recovery in the whole field. I think he will win, although I kinda hope Contador to win after his this epic comeback. |
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| Anderis |
Posted on 28-08-2014 20:56
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Domestique
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Dammit. That was really tough to watch. I really thought Martin was in good form, but it's looking like another downhill GT from Garmin. I'm even more disappointed because they've lost so often lately because of crashes, mechanicals, things you can't control. Today, they just were weak.
Yeah. And Hesjedal pretending he is in GC form.
That's just too much for me. GTs are my favourite cycling races and there hasn't been one in which my favourite team was doing well in the past 2 years. Maybe I should get a break from it. No reason to turn the TV on if the only emotion you can get is disappointment and broken hopes. And it's not like you can enjoy what the rest of the field is doing if your favourite team is not in the mix for something like 6th time in row. This lets me down so much.
Of course you can't expect your favourite to be doing well all of the time, but if it's turning into doing badly all of the time... I'm already in depression even without that. |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:06
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I also expected a lot more of Dan Martin today, obviously Garmin also did that since they wanted the stage win. The reason might be the heat (he is irish, right, would make sense), but on the other hand, he did absolutely fine on the stage Matthew won and even was sprinting yesterday.. what I saw from Hesjedal today, to be fair, I kinda expected. Talansky did absolutely fine and can maybe prove useful on the mountains for Martin once it really starts.
But really, I won't let this get me too down. There is a long way to go still. Hesjedal can probably win a stage someday and Martin still has good opportunities for at least top-10 imo. Could just be a bad day, but its still a little worrisome since the climb theoretically should suit him well. And Cardoso looks to finish in top-50. |
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:08
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Sprinter
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Martin always has a bad day in every GC so there's hope for you guys  .
Surprised about Ten Dam by the way, he's really good, way better than in the Tour's first mountain stage. |
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:08
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Sprinter
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Martin always has a bad day in every GC so there's hope for you guys .
Surprised about Ten Dam by the way, he's really good, way better than in the Tour's first mountain stage. |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:18
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TimoCycling wrote:
Martin always has a bad day in every GC so there's hope for you guys .
Surprised about Ten Dam by the way, he's really good, way better than in the Tour's first mountain stage.
The Garmin-approach of bringing a shitloads of top-10 material seems to be paying dividends. Not anything special by either of the guys, but still solid. Gesink did surprise me today.
And wait, you didn't mention Kelderman? Jesley hasn't either.
: P |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 23:39
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:21
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Kelderman not as strong as I thought but still decent, at his level at the moment. Hope he can improve a bit. But in this field top 10 in the GC atm is good. |
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| HerakleX |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:30
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Hopefully it was the heat that whacked Martin, not his form. |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:32
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A duo in top-10 would be the success criteria for Belkin right now, I suppose. They probably aren't even coming close to stage wins in the mountains like in the Tour, but I could possibly see two relatively anonymous Belkins in the top-10, you know, Zubeldia and Mollema 2014-TdF-style. |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:33
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World Champion
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I wasn't home, but glad that you missed me, Riis 
Kelderman decent. Steep stuff is not exactly his thing, tbh, but could've been better.
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:34
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World Champion
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Riis123 wrote:
And wait, you didn't mention Kelderman? Jesley hasn't either.
that's usual, once someone (Kelderman in this example) dissapoints, their fans go hide under rocks and try to divide attention from the rider (Keldermin in this example) bad preformence by mentioning somebody else that's surprisingly well (Ten Dam in this example)
just brace yourself when they do good.
10.4 on the scale of Richter
on a slow day
Edited by SSJ2Luigi on 28-08-2014 21:35
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:37
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Luigi, you know better, I always mention Kelderman
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:39
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World Champion
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but you just happen to be "not home" when he doesn't do as well as usual
coincidence I THINK NOT!
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| kadtagenero |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:39
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Domestique
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Well, Urán came to Bogotá last month to ride with people in a place called "Alto de Patios", there were thousands of people... Im a lawyer and had to join him earlier because of an advertising campaign, but he invited me to ride that they, so I could talk to him for like 4 hours because he also invited me and my little brother to lunch... is a really kind person... thats why I feel I can tell you guys this things...
About Lopez, that's different, i dont know him at all, but here (colombia) he gets interviewed 3 times a day minimun, so we have lots of info about him all day...
Betancur is a joke... Ag2r will trust him the leadership next year... I think it's a mistake, but hey... its not my money... so its up to them... Finally, Chaves, Nairo and Arredondo are having a nice quiet race, so We'll wait and see what happens...
Im a bit dissapointed about Yates, I was hoping he did better, but maybe in a next race he'll have a nicer performance...
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:41
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Grand Tour Specialist
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SSJ2Luigi wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
And wait, you didn't mention Kelderman? Jesley hasn't either.
that's usual, once someone (Kelderman in this example) dissapoints, their fans go hide under rocks and try to divide attention from the rider (Keldermin in this example) bad preformence by mentioning somebody else that's surprisingly well (Ten Dam in this example)
just brace yourself when they do good.
10.4 on the scale of Richter
on a slow day
I dont know why I have never asked you before, but why do you dislike the dutch riders and Belkin? You have never seemed particular fond of them, which truth to be told, I understand since they aren't exactly the most interesting riders to watch GT wise (Kelderman might be the exception here..)
But thats a fair assessment which seems kinda true, lol. |
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 28-08-2014 21:48
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Sprinter
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Not much to say about Kelderman today to be fair. |
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