Dauphiné 2012

[Christie]

Interesting to have a couple of the main tdf contenders racing in the same warm-up: Wiggins, Evans, Nibali, Schleck. Thursday is a long 53km TT, this race will be a good indication of who are the riders to watch.

 

Today's 5.7km TT already gave some hints: Wiggins looks like the #1 favourite, Evans does not have the form of a year ago, Schleck TTs the same as usual.

 

Nice to have it on TV

Edited June 3, 2012 by Christie

[Cav']

Wiggins my top pick as GC contender for 2012

[Cav']

Can't believe Wiggins missed out today with 1 second

Wiggins will take the Dauphine.

imo

[Cav']

Andy Schleck was 102nd on a 5.7km TT

pffft tjop

[Christie]

I see Chris Froome is also racing.

['Dale]

Nibali not too far off.

As a first time GC leader for Le Tour, I will watch his form with great interest here.

[Christie]

Imo Nibali should have done the Giro. This tdf has got too many TT kms, a TT expert will win this one. This could be Wiggins' year. Lets see how Nibali goes on Thursday, but I think he and Schleck will struggle to make the tdf podium this year. I wonder if the route was designed to make it a more "even" race should Contador have raced.

['Dale]

Imo Nibali should have done the Giro. This tdf has got too many TT kms, a TT expert will win this one. This could be Wiggins' year. Lets see how Nibali goes on Thursday, but I think he and Schleck will struggle to make the tdf podium this year. I wonder if the route was designed to make it a more "even" race should Contador have raced.

 

Based on your post, it's Evans vs Wiggo then.

Nibs is an above average TTer.

 

On another note, I would think that Nibs is still hungry for the Maglia Rosa.

The Italians love their race.

['Dale]

I see Chris Froome is also racing.

 

I read that him and a few other domestiques just spend 4 weeks training at high altitude with Wiggo.

They are ticking every box in training to race.

 

'sleep high / train low'

[ThaStig]

Andy Schleck was 102nd on a 5.7km TT

pffft tjop

Did you read his quote after the prologue on supersport news ?

"I've never been with the strongest when I race the Tour de Suisse but then I'm always stronger in July," Schleck told French television. "I'm going okay for now."

 

Yeah right

Edited June 3, 2012 by ThaStig

[Jakkals.]

 

 

I read that him and a few other domestiques just spend 4 weeks training at high altitude with Wiggo.

They are ticking every box in training to race.

 

'sleep high / train low'

 

And what happened to wiggons in the Vuelta? Froome had to wait and couldve gone for gold. I think Cadel will be watching both of them and think Qobo is also riding the tour, its gonna be awesome!!

['Dale]

 

 

And what happened to wiggons in the Vuelta? Froome had to wait and couldve gone for gold. I think Cadel will be watching both of them and think Qobo is also riding the tour, its gonna be awesome!!

 

Well, Twiggo had the wrong gearing that day and fatigued. Or so is reported.

 

:-0

[Zac.A]

Well, Twiggo had the wrong gearing that day and fatigued. Or so is reported.

 

:-0

 

But still, selfish to hold on to Froome for so long.

Like Voeckler at the tour, as soon as he cracked for real he let his man go and win the stage.

 

If you've got a team riding for you, then you have to ride like a team player, if there is someone in a better position than you on the day then they should go for it.

[Christie]

Stage 1 today has got a lot of smaller climbs, with a downhill finish. Could be Nibali vs. Sanchez at the finish, if a break does not take it, although for a one week race, the GC teams will control breaks more carefully.

No sprint finishes in the entire race, so those teams won't be helping with the pacing.

 

One of the things I am wondering about:

LA was rarely in peak form for the Dauphiné, and killed everybody a few weeks later at the tdf. Based on that, I think it is too early to write Evans off.

[Cav']

Stage 1 today has got a lot of smaller climbs, with a downhill finish. Could be Nibali vs. Sanchez at the finish, if a break does not take it, although for a one week race, the GC teams will control breaks more carefully.

No sprint finishes in the entire race, so those teams won't be helping with the pacing.

 

One of the things I am wondering about:

LA was rarely in peak form for the Dauphiné, and killed everybody a few weeks later at the tdf. Based on that, I think it is too early to write Evans off.

Cadel did good yesterday, we'll have to wait and see how his climbing is this season...

['Dale]

I laaik Cadel and his 'quiet' way of doing things.

It will be a Cadel vs Wiggins show in le Tour.

 

***

 

Something quirky during the HTC days:

 

http://cdn1.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2012/06/01/1/spz10.cav.tdw102912_600.jpg