2010 Schedules: Schlecks and Contador

by majope on Dec 10, 2009 8:01 AM EST Comment 18 comments

Andy and Frank Schleck

Both: Trofeo Mallorca, Ruta del Sol, Milan-Sanremo, Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour de Suisse, Tour de France

Andy: Monte Paschi Eroica, Tirreno-Adriatico, Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem, Pais Vasco, Tour of California

Frank: Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya, Tour of Luxembourg (his turn for the Lux jersey, I guess) From Cyclingnews

Alberto Contador

Volta ao Algarve, Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya, Pais Vasco, Tour de France. He's ruled out the Giro but the Vuelta is a possiblity depending on how the Tour goes. The Dauphiné isn't listed, but I'd be surprised if he went from April to July without racing somewhere. Otherwise, very similar to 2009. From Biciciclismo

As last season, the only time Andy and Alberto will go up against each other before the Tour is Pais Vasco, which Andy doesn't seem to take very seriously (at least based on his 2009 results). No Ronde or Criterium International for either Schleck. Andy is doing DDV, E3, and G-W as cobbles prep for the Tour--will be interesting to see if that pays off.

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hmmm, conta, no murcia or castile y leon? supposedly la is to race those two

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Dec 10, 2009 9:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, if the dates Chris posted in the VDS race schedule are correct

Murcia overlaps with Paris-Nice, so that’s out. And CyL starts just four days after Pais Vasco ends—he did them both in 2009, but there was over a week between them to recover. So it might just be practicalities keeping them apart.

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 10, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For what it's worth, I'm finding Catalunya for Lance, not Castilla y Leon.

If so, that will put them head to head early in the season.

Lance’s schedule, according to his press conference at the RS training camp the other day:
Tour Down Under, Vuelta a Murcia, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, possibly a spring classic, Tour of California, either Tour de Suisse or Dauphine, Tour de France. From CN

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 10, 2009 10:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even without De Ronde, Andy is at least being adventurous with his schedule...

I doubt he will do absolutely anything but at least he is doing it.

by Vlaanderen90 on Dec 10, 2009 9:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Catalunya

I’m noticing that several riders are mentioning this race, so it looks like moving it to this new date is putting it back to Major Stage Race status. Good.

Murcia is normally overlapping with P-N and T-A so fewer big names go there. Only Rabobank sent an A team last year of the pro Tour teams..

CyL moving it’s dates make it much less interesting as Pais Vasco is the ultimate spring stage race before the Ardennes and then Romandie/Trentino: Giro prep. I am wondering if this should be a cat 6 race?

by ursula on Dec 10, 2009 10:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sure.

~~All Spanish stage races should be Cat 6.~~ Your reasoning makes a lot of sense.

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 10, 2009 10:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

chuckle

by ursula on Dec 10, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A thought on Murcia

I see for your post that Lance/RS will be doing Murcia. If Menchov/Rabo do it again, it could be a nicely competitive race and we did have video last year for it. Hell, maybe Valverde will do it if he’s out of jail as he has done his home race in the past.

by ursula on Dec 10, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Catalunya moving to the end of March was definitely a good move

in May they became a unnoticed low tier PT race(note to Cali, don’t get advice from their organizers) and now they are in the Castilla Leon spot where a bunch of big names always raced and often raced to win. This time slot will allow them to get a great competitive race with a bunch of big names. Sucks for Castilla Leon but Catalunya is the bigger race so this is just. Let’s hope the route is a good one this year and that there will be some video available.

Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy

by Phil H. on Dec 10, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

video available for a spanish road race? surely you jest...

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Dec 10, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Video hasn't been available for Catalunya for the last few years

Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy

by Phil H. on Dec 10, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So this is what you do when it's freeeeeezing outside?

I like it. Will be interesting to see where Frank goes in May. I have a feeling he’ll go to Cali for more brother bonding time, but I would like to see him in Italia as well…

This kind of reminds me of this year, when HWMNBN and Conta didn’t race together except for Castilla y Leon. Will be interesting to see the speculation that goes on as the season progresses.

by dansel on Dec 10, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

and that lasted how long? until la went bump and broke a collar bone...

wonder if levi will defend his cyl title…

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Dec 10, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much the same race skedj for Bert as this year

replacing Catalunya for Castilla Leon. Seeing he raced to win in most of those early races this year we should see the same again next. Absolutely no surprise he skipped the Giro, after seeing what happened to Menchov and Sastre last year he wasn’t going to risk it. He surely wants to kick Lance and JB’s ass at the Tour next year and will put all his focus into doing just that this year, I think Bert will do some Giro’s later in his career(I HOPE!).

Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy

by Phil H. on Dec 10, 2009 12:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs