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Around SBN: The Worst Team Ever Projected?

Preview: Donostia/Donostia klasikoa or clasica San Sebastian/San Sebastian

Panorama_donostia_kontxako_medium

via upload.wikimedia.org

update: gavia's preview at Steephill.TV is excellent!

I love this race.

For me it's the perfect purgative.  Don't get me wrong. I love the Tour. I love the Giro. But three straight months of overwrought story lines is quite enough, thank you, and all I want now is a simple clean one day bike race. San Seb here fills my need. What you say, Txirla?

Txirla_small_mediumI say it's the best hilly Classic of all! Besides being in my beautiful Basque country, the race is unique because it's so hard to predict who will win! You have two types of riders here and you can't predict what their form might be. The riders fresh off the Tour might or might not be holding their form while the non-Tour riders here are just getting started their autumn campaign and you don't know how well they've trained. So you can list some favorites but unlike my two shells this race is not an open and shut case!

Right, Txirla. You never know who's gonna race well, or even who is gonna race, as the start lists are still incomplete. At least Kim Kirchen is not listed as riding for Katusha anymore! (Cycling fever start list here.) And then there's the matter of riders not actually racing.  Last year just 46 riders out of 150-odd riders finished the race. The rest gave up en masse way before the winner finished.  But one thing might be said with some certainty: last year the race added a new last climb to the race, the Alto de Arkale, just 15 km from the finish. That climb, along with the famous Alto de Jaizkibel 25 km further back, combined quite well to winnow the final selection to just 12 riders last year, hilly classic riders all. We'll probably see that size selection again...

Star-divide

Txirla_small_medium

Bah! Sprinters! (Txirla squirts out a nasty loogie.) Those parasites, always sucking the wheels of their betters! Yeah Arkale was added just to shuck 'em and it did its job. Great race last year! Great finish! Looking at that start list I see only three sprinters listed: Pippo Pozzato, Duque of Cofidis and OSCARITO! of Rabobank. If I had to choose two sprinters those would be one's. Don't think either of 'em will do much tomorrow though. Freire is showing his age ain't he? Duque will try but as soon as the Serious riders get busy he'll get dropped faster than you can say Cavendish. Pippo? I give him a slight chance; he's had a nice year. 2% maybe.

What's that she-bear? Who do I like? Climbers who can shift into a higher gear at the end. Al Valverde of course, last year's winner. Like last year, Caisse' d'Epargne is bringing a good team to support him too: J-Rod, Lulu (his last race of the year?) Baby Uran, Ivan Gutierrez, etc. Last year's second place finisher, Al Kolobnev, should also have a lot to say on who wins too. Unlike his now more famous teammates, the Schlecks, Kolobnev has a sprint in him. 

Then there's Dam Cunego. If he can make it to the final selection, which he didn't last year, he also has a nice sprint in him. He's got to do better than last year, right? Other guys? I like the Katusha pair of Ivanov and Pozzato, particularly the former. Pippo I give a slight chance to make the climbs and if he does he'll be in good position. Then there's Jani Brajkovic of Astana. His 2nd at Lombardia last year and his normal strong finish to the season make him a dark horse here. The question here is the shape he's in.

Finally we got Samu. Almost guaranteed to make the final selection, he lacks a finishing sprint. But who knows? Maybe he can decimate the field on the descent of Arkale and hold it to the finish? A Euskie winner. I'd like that.

Yeah a local winner would be nice. It's interesting to note that in the 28 years of the race, only nine winners were Spanish. Seven winners were Italian so this is definitely a wide-open race in that regard. Any final pre-race thoughts, Txirla?

My only wish...you know how the race ends right by the beach, right?

Yep.

Well...for once I would like them to extend the pavement into the water so the winner would race right into the ocean so I could wrap my shells around him!

Txirla! Are you a girl or a boy clam?

She-bear! A clam doesn't tell secrets! A nd don't let that bully majope near me with her smear tests!

Squirt!

Long Live the Clásica de San Sebastián!

Txirla_large_medium

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It would be fitting if some of those statements were translated into Basque :)

Then it would be a very fun read (although I neither read nor speak Basque).

by ncmussell on Jul 31, 2009 3:06 PM EDT reply actions  

Sorry!

My keyboard ran out of X’s and T’s.

by ursula on Jul 31, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm with you in loving this race!

After all the GTs or one week races it’s nice just to have something that’ll be wrapped up on the day and hopefully be pretty exciting!

It will indeed be Lulu’s last race of the season unless he suddenly changes his mind which I don’t think he will

"When he accelerates, he's like Superman emerging from the telephone booth!" La Gazzetta journo Paolo Condo talking about Edvald Boasson Hagen.

by Helsy33 on Jul 31, 2009 4:03 PM EDT reply actions  

Could be an interesting race, despite its unfortunate location.

But are you really going to give your previews over to a creature who’s prone to herpes and brown ring disease?

Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler

by majope on Jul 31, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions  

Oh its on girl!

Txirla has passed every test with flying colors!

For what its worth, if, sometime in your future, when if you are attacked and devoured by sharks and pieces of you are floating in the water available to be filter fed by any creature, Txirla will refuse to open its shells!

by ursula on Jul 31, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh

the barnicles are off now…

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 31, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, but imagine how bad ursula is going to feel

when I do get eaten by sharks.

Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler

by majope on Jul 31, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

I hear Indiana has a problem with sharks.

"I had a cameraman filming me on the back of a bike, I rode up to him and
said: 'hey, this is a pretty shitty situation, why don't you just leave me alone with my misery? I was close to punching him off his bike … but I didn't, of course."" Jens!

by jsallee00 on Jul 31, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Actually... Indiana... has a problem with...

… snakes… why does it have to be… snakes…

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

Lots of spiders out here on the back porch.

What do brown recluses look like again?

Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler

by majope on Jul 31, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

:|

Brown, have a violin on their back, and are about the size of Tony’s ass. You can always tell which spider is a Brown Recluse because those are the ones that bring their own utensils to the picnic.

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

lake sharks!

It’s coming. As soon as someone smuggles one back from Uruguay.

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 31, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

It's not the years... it's the mileage.

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Albertina... I think it's a requirement that you Basqueify all commentary by Txirla...

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions  

I suppose that should be "Euskify", huh.

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

May I point out that I don't ACTUALLY speak Basque!

Only a few random bits, which are totally unuseful….!

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Jul 31, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Not for what we need...

… we need you to Eusky it… not translate it…

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

And all Cs become Ks.

All Vs become Bs…what fun

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Jul 31, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

Which is another reason CVV will never transfer to EE.

Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler

by majope on Jul 31, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, he could change his name

to Kristian Bandebelde. That would work I feel.

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Jul 31, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

That's actually very cool--I mean, bery kool.

Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler

by majope on Jul 31, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hmm, maybe, not sure about that one...

can’t say I’ve ever seen a double o in Basque so yes, probably!

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Aug 1, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

Txirla

watch out for Swedes…

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 31, 2009 5:36 PM EDT reply actions  

Psst... Chris... the tour is over...

… you can change your avatar!

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maybe he'll keep poor Tourbecco up until they find the body.

Sort of the internet equivalent of a milk carton.

Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler

by majope on Jul 31, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

Cunego

should go better than last year – he was still a bit wacked from kissing pavement at the Tour.

I heart this race. It has hills and it finishes near the beach. What’s not to like?

by Jen See on Jul 31, 2009 6:12 PM EDT reply actions  

the lack of cobbles?

"I had a cameraman filming me on the back of a bike, I rode up to him and
said: 'hey, this is a pretty shitty situation, why don't you just leave me alone with my misery? I was close to punching him off his bike … but I didn't, of course."" Jens!

by jsallee00 on Jul 31, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

Purist!

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

gav- Great preview on Steephill!

I’m gonna go back and link to it above.

by ursula on Jul 31, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

thanks :-)

except the part about the start list that sucked.

by Jen See on Jul 31, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

This race has Enrico Gaparotto written all over it!!!!

oh he’s not on the startlist? The Tour of Poland has Enrico Gasparotto written all over it!

"On a personal level, I have never had admiration for him and I never will"
~AC about LA, me about Johan "drama queen" Bruyneel

by Phil H. on Jul 31, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions  

Judging by his results, I'd say the Tour of 64th Place has Enrico Gasparotto written all over it.

Throughout the stage all I kept on thinking was: ‘don’t finish second, you can’t finish second again’.--Heinrich Haussler

by majope on Jul 31, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well I can't argue with that

"On a personal level, I have never had admiration for him and I never will"
~AC about LA, me about Johan "drama queen" Bruyneel

by Phil H. on Jul 31, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

oh dear, poor Txirla, using a semi-colon instead of an apostrophe.....

"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 Jul 31, 2009 6:49 PM EDT reply actions  

Are you one of the snakes majope's talking about?

You better come up with some good links tomorrow!

Oh and wiped out the semi-colon, your worship

by ursula on Jul 31, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

so lovely

If I could attend one classic a year… OK, it’d be Flanders. But if I put it to a family vote, this would DEFINITELY be it. Yes, Flanders has the atmosphere for purists like me, but who beats San Seb if the judging is based on:

racing
scenery
cuisine
culture
recreation
weather

??? This race is a 4 or 5 in every category.

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 31, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions  

Was at the opera again tonight....

….long interval, strayed into the Quiksilver shop next door, BIG Kelly Slater picture ;-)

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Jul 31, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

wait...

they have a quicksilver store next to the opera in london?

holy crap. that’s just bizarre.

by Jen See on Jul 31, 2009 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yep, just by the door out onto Covent Garden Piazza.

Next shop along is the Build a Bear Workshop. An interesting mix ;-)

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Jul 31, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

that's even more bizarre!

long way from so cali, that’s for sure.

by Jen See on Jul 31, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

hey Gav

a quibbecco about the steephill preview: “Brajkovic hasn’t done especially well in one-day races”: 2nd in GdLombardia???

I know the picture of his Kate-Moss-esque chest is enough to induce traumatic image repression in most people, but that’s a pretty good result . . . Not to mention his u-23 results at Worlds.

by R Mc on Jul 31, 2009 7:20 PM EDT reply actions  

Quibbecco?

Oh lord…

"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi

by crashdan on Jul 31, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

eh

you don’t think i actually look up the results of everyone i write about do you?

actually, i forgot all about that result. probably blinded by that silly crush i have on cunego. like, there were other riders in that race?

by Jen See on Jul 31, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

"look up results"???

I wasn’t aware that research would be required.

by R Mc on Jul 31, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

you'd be surprised

even obvious results become pretty hard to remember after churning out a few thousand words a week about various bike races, especially under deadline.

i do try to double-check all the results for riders i mention in previews. i tend to make mistakes if i don’t. like, say, that one.

by Jen See on Jul 31, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

Aupa Samu.

Heck, Euskie need something to cheer them up. And I need something to cheer ME up.

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on Jul 31, 2009 8:01 PM EDT reply actions  

Puppy

better do something here…..

by rbjhan on Aug 1, 2009 2:16 AM EDT reply actions  

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