TODAY was meant to be a day for the big bunch sprint and so it proved with Philippe Gilbert denying my pick, Edvald Boassen-Hagen.
Tomorrow however shouldn't see many of the quick men at the finish.
Starting at the town of Valls the riders will travel 169km in total to Castelldefels, just south of Barcelona.
The parcours will actually see the peloton roll through the finishing town after 108.7km. But it is the remaining 60km which will seal the fate of the sprinters.
There are two climbs en route, the first is the Coll de la Torreta, a 3rd category climb which starts just 13km into the stage.
At 10km long and with an average gradient of 5.8% it will be bit of a wake up call to the peloton but won't be hard enough, and comes way too early in the stage, to decide the destiny of the stage win.
It could well decide the make-up of the days break however.
The second climb will play a huge part in the outcome of the day.
The wonderfully named Alto del Rat Penat appears in front of the field with 54km to go. It is a mere 4.5km long and because of this it is only classed as a first category climb.
It's gradient however will strike fear into some. It has an average of 10.6% and hits ramps of between 14% and 16% in the middle two kilometres.
That will be more than enough to send the sprinters scurrying into the safety of the 'bus' and will see a very reduced field cross it's summit.
Expect attacks here. The likes of David Arroyo of Caja Rural and any of the Euskatel riders although Igor Anton seems the one with the most attacking intent so far in this race.
The big favourites will know there is a long run to the finish and with the race heading into the Pyrenees on Saturday they may not want to expend too much energy.
If one of them starts to suffer though, that could change.
The road then heads steadily downwards as we head back to the coast and Castellfedels. It may allow some to get back on and anyone with a half decent sprint may find themselves favourite for the win.
Into this bracket would be the likes of Gianni Meersman, Dominik Nerz and Reinhardt Janse van Renesburg.
The final few kilometres are along the sea front and so wind may be a factor, although current forecasts suggest only a slight breeze.
With 3km to go the road swings inland, past the 1992 Olympic Rowing strip and towards the final 300m.
I mention the final 300m for two reasons. One there is another roundabout to cross and once you have the road kicks up, not massively but enough to dull the legs.
It's going to be a fascinating stage and is really difficult to pick a winner.
I think there might be bid by someone like Alejandro Valverde. With bonus seconds on the line he may see this as an opportunity to win back some time on Vincenzo Nibali and the likes. Same applies for Nico Roche.
Don't be surprised to see the likes of Tony Martin or Fabian Cancellara contesting the finish. Martin had a little go today and they may see this stage as a chance to test their legs one more time prior to the world championships. Both will be dropped on the climb but both will be more than able to get back on.
Even prior to his win today my pick for the day would have been, and still is, the current world champion Gilbert. He hasn't had the best of years in the rainbow bands but there were signs he was improving before he unleashed that wonderful sprint today.
He was pipped to the line on stage 7 and this finish will suit him as today's did. If he can get over the climb in a fairly good position and then get himself into a good group, he could easily make it back on and spring a double celebration.
In fact don't be surprised if his major challenger may be the man he defeated today, EBH. It's definitely coming for Eddie and if he can use today's disappointment as motivation, then he will be close again.
Showing posts with label Philippe Gilbert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippe Gilbert. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Vuelta a Espana 2013 : Stage 9 Preview
STAGE nine is classed as a medium mountain stage. But the last kilometre will see gradients as high as most climbs across the entire Vuelta.
The stage itself is one of the shorter ones, at just 163.7km long, so could be one of the quicker ones. It takes the riders from Antequera to Valdepenas de Jaen and only crosses one categorised climb, the category 2 Alto de los Frailes.
That climb is around 6km long and averages in the region of 5.5% to 6%.
It is a steady climb and with it's summit just 16.2km from the finish it is the perfect place to soften the peloton up at the very least.
The descent is fairly quick without too many technical sections so anyone who can descend well will be able to put some under a whole lot of pressure.
One man who can descend well is Vincenzo Nibali. I wouldn't imagine he will put too much hurt on the other favourites but he will be at the front of them all come the final slog up Valdepenas.
Having said that he didn't look good up the final part of today's climb, although there were reports of a slipped chain which hindered his progress.
The last 2km sees the road climb at an average of 6% but with the final kilometre hitting parts above 10%.
It is a finish which shares a lot of characteristics to those in Belgium and Holland and that are seen along the route of some of the Northern Classics like Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Flanders.
Nibali will be a very good bet for this stage as would the Colombian pairing of Carlos Betancur and Sergio Henao.
Joaquin Rodriguez and Roman Kreuziger are another two who have both been victorious in the Spring Monuments and will like the look of this finish. Kreuziger though wasn't comfortable today and unless he was taking it easy he may not be up for this.
For outsiders the two contested the finish a few days ago, World Champion Phillipe Gilbert and Zdenek Stybar are both more than capable of doing something here as is Nicolas Roche.
Roche took the red jersey today after a superb effort to latch on to the Ivan Basso attack. He has looked in the best form of his career and after promising so much in grand tours over the last few years could this be the time he actually delivers?
I get the feeling though that a breakaway may contest the finish today. Always hard to predict who will manage to get in there but riders from Vaconsoleil (maybe Tomasz Marcynski) and Euskatel (Igor Anton or Egoi Martinez?) will want to be part of it and Caja-Rural will always look to put somebody in there.
It is another stage which won't decide the destiny of this Vuelta. But it will put the hurt on a lot of riders. And that could be crucial come the last week.
The stage itself is one of the shorter ones, at just 163.7km long, so could be one of the quicker ones. It takes the riders from Antequera to Valdepenas de Jaen and only crosses one categorised climb, the category 2 Alto de los Frailes.
That climb is around 6km long and averages in the region of 5.5% to 6%.
It is a steady climb and with it's summit just 16.2km from the finish it is the perfect place to soften the peloton up at the very least.
The descent is fairly quick without too many technical sections so anyone who can descend well will be able to put some under a whole lot of pressure.
One man who can descend well is Vincenzo Nibali. I wouldn't imagine he will put too much hurt on the other favourites but he will be at the front of them all come the final slog up Valdepenas.
Having said that he didn't look good up the final part of today's climb, although there were reports of a slipped chain which hindered his progress.
The last 2km sees the road climb at an average of 6% but with the final kilometre hitting parts above 10%.
It is a finish which shares a lot of characteristics to those in Belgium and Holland and that are seen along the route of some of the Northern Classics like Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Flanders.
Nibali will be a very good bet for this stage as would the Colombian pairing of Carlos Betancur and Sergio Henao.
Joaquin Rodriguez and Roman Kreuziger are another two who have both been victorious in the Spring Monuments and will like the look of this finish. Kreuziger though wasn't comfortable today and unless he was taking it easy he may not be up for this.
For outsiders the two contested the finish a few days ago, World Champion Phillipe Gilbert and Zdenek Stybar are both more than capable of doing something here as is Nicolas Roche.
Roche took the red jersey today after a superb effort to latch on to the Ivan Basso attack. He has looked in the best form of his career and after promising so much in grand tours over the last few years could this be the time he actually delivers?
I get the feeling though that a breakaway may contest the finish today. Always hard to predict who will manage to get in there but riders from Vaconsoleil (maybe Tomasz Marcynski) and Euskatel (Igor Anton or Egoi Martinez?) will want to be part of it and Caja-Rural will always look to put somebody in there.
It is another stage which won't decide the destiny of this Vuelta. But it will put the hurt on a lot of riders. And that could be crucial come the last week.
Monday, 15 July 2013
Tour de France 2013 : Stage 16 Preview
CHRIS Froome delivered a sensational ride on Sunday up Mont Ventoux to put some big time gaps into his rivals for yellow.
It is the third time so far in this Tour that he has done so, following his stage victory into Ax-3-Domaines and the individual time trial at Mont-Saint-Michel.
Yet on both previous occasions his rivals managed to put him under pressure and gain some time back, with his isolation in Bagneres-de-Briggore and through the crosswinds into Saint-Amand-Montrond.
Stages are running out for them to do this a third time and if they are going to make any impact at the top of the overall standings they are going to have to launch attacks at every opportunity.
Stage 16 gives them their first chance in this final week. It is 168km long and sees the riders head from Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap, and the foothills of the Alps.
Three climbs await them, the third category Cote de la Montagne de Bluye and two second category ascents, the Col de Macuegne and the Col de Manse.
The first two of these come within the opening 48km and while they will provide a chance for the breakaway to form, which might be allowed to go all the way by the peloton, they won't affect the GC riders.
The Col de Manse will however.
The climb itself is 9.5km long and has it's summit 11.5km from the finish. The average gradient is 5.2% but there are over 2km where that gradient rises to 7% and over. A tough climb and will see some attacks. But the climb is just the appetiser to the main event.
The descent off the mountain is infamous and will be crucial. It has it's place in tour history as it was on this descent that Joseba Beloki crashed in front of Lance Armstrong, effectively ending Beloki's career and forcing Armstrong over a field and ditch before rejoining the road.
It is fast, technical and will test Froome's descending skills to their limits. And I imagine there are some who will think they can gain anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute on the leader.
Alberto Contador isn't a bad descender and will hope he can use that to gain any sort of an advantage over the Brit.
Roman Kreuziger is probably the best of the bunch and could well try to link up with his team leader to force a move.
Bauke Mollema is an unknown variable to me when it comes to descending. We know he can climb and his time trialling is good but I'll admit to not knowing what he's like on the descents. I think he will have a go though, at the very least to ensure he retains his second place overall. Same goes for Nairo Quintana.
And for some that will become more and more central to their tactics as the days and kilometres roll by, defending their current position in the GC. Finishing on the podium in Paris is a massive thing and for the likes of Mollema, Contador, Kreuziger and Quintana it will eventually become more important to defend that position than attack Froome.
I do think that if the break gets caught then the winner will come from someone outside of the top 10 overall. The likes of Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde and Sylvain Chavanel will be favourites for the win simply due to their ability to go downhill very fast, their bike handling skills and time trialling ability.
Another man who can do that is the current green jersey holder (and most likely winner of that competition) Peter Sagan. He's already proven he can sprint, climb and pull wheelies halfway up mountains. expect his descending skills to be put on show here!
If Evans is not up to it then maybe BMC will finally let World Champion Philippe Gilbert off the leash. The Belgian had spoken to the press earlier this month about the fact he wasn't allowed to attack and had to work for his leader.
However if the breakaway does succeed, and under normal circumstances there should be no real reason for Sky to chase it, then all bets are of as to who will win. I do think Pierre Rolland will be in there as he will want the points on offer for the King of the Mountains competition. Vaconsoleil will also have a rider in there, and as both Juan-Antonio Flecha and Wout Poels have been very active so far, it wouldn't be a shock to see one of them in the break.
But whether they are at the front or following the break in, it is going to be the GC boys who will provide the entertainment.
And if you have never seen a cyclist go down a hill faster than a motorbike, then you may want to watch from behind a sofa!
It is the third time so far in this Tour that he has done so, following his stage victory into Ax-3-Domaines and the individual time trial at Mont-Saint-Michel.
Yet on both previous occasions his rivals managed to put him under pressure and gain some time back, with his isolation in Bagneres-de-Briggore and through the crosswinds into Saint-Amand-Montrond.
Stages are running out for them to do this a third time and if they are going to make any impact at the top of the overall standings they are going to have to launch attacks at every opportunity.
Stage 16 gives them their first chance in this final week. It is 168km long and sees the riders head from Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap, and the foothills of the Alps.
Three climbs await them, the third category Cote de la Montagne de Bluye and two second category ascents, the Col de Macuegne and the Col de Manse.
The first two of these come within the opening 48km and while they will provide a chance for the breakaway to form, which might be allowed to go all the way by the peloton, they won't affect the GC riders.
The Col de Manse will however.
The climb itself is 9.5km long and has it's summit 11.5km from the finish. The average gradient is 5.2% but there are over 2km where that gradient rises to 7% and over. A tough climb and will see some attacks. But the climb is just the appetiser to the main event.
The descent off the mountain is infamous and will be crucial. It has it's place in tour history as it was on this descent that Joseba Beloki crashed in front of Lance Armstrong, effectively ending Beloki's career and forcing Armstrong over a field and ditch before rejoining the road.
It is fast, technical and will test Froome's descending skills to their limits. And I imagine there are some who will think they can gain anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute on the leader.
Alberto Contador isn't a bad descender and will hope he can use that to gain any sort of an advantage over the Brit.
Roman Kreuziger is probably the best of the bunch and could well try to link up with his team leader to force a move.
Bauke Mollema is an unknown variable to me when it comes to descending. We know he can climb and his time trialling is good but I'll admit to not knowing what he's like on the descents. I think he will have a go though, at the very least to ensure he retains his second place overall. Same goes for Nairo Quintana.
And for some that will become more and more central to their tactics as the days and kilometres roll by, defending their current position in the GC. Finishing on the podium in Paris is a massive thing and for the likes of Mollema, Contador, Kreuziger and Quintana it will eventually become more important to defend that position than attack Froome.
I do think that if the break gets caught then the winner will come from someone outside of the top 10 overall. The likes of Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde and Sylvain Chavanel will be favourites for the win simply due to their ability to go downhill very fast, their bike handling skills and time trialling ability.
Another man who can do that is the current green jersey holder (and most likely winner of that competition) Peter Sagan. He's already proven he can sprint, climb and pull wheelies halfway up mountains. expect his descending skills to be put on show here!
If Evans is not up to it then maybe BMC will finally let World Champion Philippe Gilbert off the leash. The Belgian had spoken to the press earlier this month about the fact he wasn't allowed to attack and had to work for his leader.
However if the breakaway does succeed, and under normal circumstances there should be no real reason for Sky to chase it, then all bets are of as to who will win. I do think Pierre Rolland will be in there as he will want the points on offer for the King of the Mountains competition. Vaconsoleil will also have a rider in there, and as both Juan-Antonio Flecha and Wout Poels have been very active so far, it wouldn't be a shock to see one of them in the break.
But whether they are at the front or following the break in, it is going to be the GC boys who will provide the entertainment.
And if you have never seen a cyclist go down a hill faster than a motorbike, then you may want to watch from behind a sofa!
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Tour de France 2013: Stage 3 Preview
STAGE three waves goodbye to Corsica with a short but tough ride along the coast to Calvi. It is only 145km long but most of the route is rolling and includes four categorised climbs.
Like stage two a breakaway will go away early and the likes of Blei Kadri and Lars Boom will probably appear in it as they attempt to take an early lead in the King of the Mountains competition.
However their hopes of success are limited.
Again a climb towards the end of the stage will make the difference. The 2nd Category Col de Marsolino comes 13km from the finish and will severely thin the peleton out.
It is 3.3km long and has an average gradient of 8.1%. That will be enough to shell the majority of the big sprinters out and will undoubtedly provide a springboard for somebody to launch an attack for the stage win.
Once over the top the road descends all the way to the finish and could give someone like Slyvain Chavanel a big opportunity. He tried his luck on stage two and will definitely see this as an opportunity for himself. He has the explosive power to get up the climb and can descend with the best of them.
Europcar were very animated on stage two and will definitely be so again. Thomas Voeckler will definitely have a go at some point as will Pierre Rolland.
FDJ were also very animated during stage two as they looked to get French champion Arthur Vichot into position. Expected the same again this time around.
It was also great to see World Champion Philippe Gilbert at the front end of the race. BMC did a lot of work on the front yesterday, predominantly to keep Cadel Evans and Tejay Van Garderen safe but that could also work in his favour.
However it is a big ask for escapees to evade the clutches of a peleton who will be at full tilt and determined not to let a breakaway make it this time. So if it does all come back together it will be a very reduced field that enters Calvi.
Peter Sagan will be there again as will people like Francesco Gavazzi, Edvald Boassen-Hagen and Tony Gallopin, if he can avoid team duties defending the yellow jersey.
Jan Bakelants shocked everybody with his attack and won a completely deserving stage. He has a great chance to retain that jersey as well. RadioShack will work their socks off to pull back any break and with no time bonuses on offer at the finish line all he has to do is finish with the leaders.
For an outsider go for Daryl Impey. He finished well on stage two and could well be up there again.
Well it's not as if Orica Green Edge have been mentioned much so far this Tour is it so they could do with some publicity!
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