Minor Races 2013

[threenewpadlocks]

For all non WT race discussion this year. First up the Tour of San Luis in Argentina. Cav gets his first win in OPQS colours, our Leigh Howard gets fourth for OGE in the first stage.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Not on Eurosport, unfortunately. Plenty of big names, more than TDU. Cav, Sagan, Contador, Nibali, Purito. The race also has some nice stage profiles with some decent climbs.

 

[monty1104]

Not on Eurosport, unfortunately. Plenty of big names, more than TDU. Cav, Sagan, Contador, Nibali, Purito. The race also has some nice stage profiles with some decent climbs.

Stage 6 in particular looks juicy. climbs 600 odd meters in 7km. Not sure on avg gradient, but the profile makes it look steep

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Stage 6 in particular looks juicy. climbs 600 odd meters in 7km. Not sure on avg gradient, but the profile makes it look steep

One would think that's a touch under 10%, whatever 6/7 is.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

The Champ takes out stage 6, first win of many for 2013.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Tour of Qatar starting ... oh the joys of watching riders go through desert.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Good reminder. Not on Eurosport unfortunately, it is normally a surprisingly exciting race because of cross winds and echelons, which can be brutal in this race. You will get bunch sprints won by Cav, but the winner will be a strong man sprinter, like Degenkolb, EBH or maybe even Haussler.

 

[monty1104]

Good lineup of sprinters, should result in some exciting finishes.

 

[monty1104]

Bookwalter wins stage 1 for BMC. Judging by Daniel Lloyd's tweets, he won in a late breakaway of 3 that included Gregory Rast and Martin Elmiger

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Urgh this looks like it has been a shocker. No decisive echelons, and Cav dominating the sprints. He looks set for the overall win, barring a disaster tomorrow.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The sprints themselves as well are pretty uninteresting to go on top of that.

 

[monty1104]

Aidis Kruopis has continued OGE's good start to the season with 2 podiums.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Garmin-Sharp's bikes and other equipment got stolen from their team bus at the Tour of the Mediterranean. Shocking and profoundly stupid thing to do.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Huh, Vaughters must have forgot to lock it.

Schleck dropped out of the Tour of Med, that makes it 5 DNFs from his last 5 stage races. Second best stage racer in the world?

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Tour of Oman coming up this week, and it is a decent route with plenty of top riders. Stage 4 is the pick:

Contador, Froome and Wiggo, Cadel, Nibali, Purito, Pozzovivo, and Boonen, Sagan, Goss, Kittel make this one worth watching.

30 minute highlights, 8pm every night on Eurosport.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Sagan in super form already, he will surely win a Classic this year.

Algarve starts up tonight, it is a shocking route with an ordinary start list.

 

[monty1104]

Sagan in super form already, he will surely win a Classic this year.

Algarve starts up tonight, it is a shocking route with an ordinary start list.

Awesome, looking forward to it

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Sagan in super form already, he will surely win a Classic this year.

Algarve starts up tonight, it is a shocking route with an ordinary start list.

Sagan is quick becoming one of the best riders in the world - him and EBH will be genuine superstars.

 

[MW Zoo]

Evans gets third in Tour of Oman queen stage (4). 1.Rodriguez 2.Froome 3.Evans 4.Contador 5.Nibali.
Now in second place overall.

 

[monty1104]

Evans gets third in Tour of Oman queen stage (4). 1.Rodriguez 2.Froome 3.Evans 4.Contador 5.Nibali.
Now in second place overall.

That is an ominous top 5.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Sagan is quick becoming one of the best riders in the world - him and EBH will be genuine superstars.

Sagan is already a superstar, he got there in the TdF last year. He is ahead of EBH now, who has been stifled at Sky. Bad move in hindsight to go there.

That is an ominous top 5.

Did Wiggo ride for Froome? 7 minutes down for the sideburns.

 

[monty1104]

Sagan is already a superstar, he got there in the TdF last year. He is ahead of EBH now, who has been stifled at Sky. Bad move in hindsight to go there.



Did Wiggo ride for Froome? 7 minutes down for the sideburns.

Not sure TBH, I forgot it was even on

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Good Friday night watching some Oman cycling.

• Sagan is ridiculous, his wins were just immense, especially stage 2. He made the rest look like they were standing still.
• Green Mountain was a fun stage, top 5 were Purito, Froome, Cadel, Contador, Nibali. Good chance we will get 3 GT wins from those 5 this year.
• Porte rode very well, dropped back at the base of the climb to tow a struggling Froome back up. Shut down an early Contador attack.
• Contador unable to make his attacks stick, as in the Vuelta. Still the best to watch.
• Cadel looks good, as does Froome who put in a good acceleration.
• Wiggo not interested, lost time stage 1 and hasn't fired a shot since.
• Purito with a standard ride, hung on and then launched in the final km.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

http://www.youtube.com/user/TourofOman

They have a couple minutes of highlights for each stage, watch stage 2 and 3 for Sagan.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Impey having a beast of a tour. He is a very strong leadout man who is also tough when the gradient becomes rolling. He could very well be the difference between a good and bad Tour for Gossy and by extension the entire Orica-GreenEDGE Team.