Five Days Until San Seb!
by ursula on Jul 25, 2011 12:00 PM EDT
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Txirla here! What? You think you can just eat me and that's it? Stupid humans. I'm not a simple geoduck from Hood Canal. Let's look at the basics of the race on the jump.
We got the normal mix of riders coming off the Tour plus other riders who haven't raced for a month so its hard to predict just who will seriously contest this race and who will drop out when they see the Jaizkibel the second time around.
But regardless the view we get when the TV camera pans around to the sea at the top is one of the best views in all of cycling. That's if the weather cooperates. Right now, the weather looks o-kay, maybe.
This year, the race retains that last Cat 2 climb, the Arkale, about 15 km away from the finish, and which serves mainly to reserve the final selection to riders who can do some climbing but have some sort of kick in the end.
Who's gonna win? Look towards these guys: defending champ Lulu, Bobo who was getting better in the Alps, Barredo (Rabobank is stacked for this race) Zubes, Samu, Cunego, Porte, Sastre, Hesjedal, J-Rod and Killer. The Good Chavanel and Gilbert could contest if they feel like it. Marcato, Gerdemann, Foogs, and on paper Devo though we know that won't happen. Even JJ Rojas or Oscarito could. Jeez, There's loads of riders lining up who could win this thing if they put in the extra effort. Next year put your money on Valverde but this year?
My pick: Roman Kreuziger.
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I see Thomas De Gendt 's got the number one on the Vacansoleil squad.
He had jambes de feu in the last days of the TdF. He could have a chance here…
fantastic!
I’m betting on Boassen Hagen (will he even be there?) beating Gilbert in a sprint. Tough to tell though, depends who’s really going for the win. Go Sanchez.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
EBH is doing post-Tour crits in Norway later this week
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Jul 25, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Good question
I wonder if he ever got a date for last night
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Jul 25, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Looks like fun!
Cyclingstartlists says Bobo is resting until Utah, though.
You don't quit the Tour because of a thick lip--Laurens ten Dam
Intxausti's on the list, but your Basque Correspondant has it on good authority that he won't be there.
Not fully fit in time, but should be at Burgos.
"First you have to be cool, after you are cool then you can be strong" -- Davide Appollonio
Of course not, not with his current form.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
But seriously, dem sum tuff climbs for Thor.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
There's a crit in his hometown Grimstad on Saturday
He’s supposed to ride there.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Jul 26, 2011 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Peter Sagan FTW
I wish he was going, A sizzling attack by Cunego or Gilbert will have to do, I like what they did with the finish.
There are so many aspects to the sport that you have to take into consideration. Cycling is not like math. You can't plan things exactly. - Alberto Contador 24/07/10
Poland has a nice startlist too.
Nibs, Scarponi, Sagan, Ballan, Degenkolb, Ulissi, Kessiakoff, Kittel, GHH, Dan Martin, Machado…an intriguing list of folks gearing up for the Vuelta.
Sigh. I miss Lofkvist.
What year did he retire?
You don't quit the Tour because of a thick lip--Laurens ten Dam
Good for him!
Sadly, don’t Swedes get oodles of parental leave?
You don't quit the Tour because of a thick lip--Laurens ten Dam
You know- I believe you are right!
Let’s see…about to have a kid….parental leave until the kid is at least 35…so 2046 we can expect Lovfkfvist to return to the peloton?
He and Catrine got a son 2.5 weeks ago
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Jul 25, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Cool!
By my calculations, another three years and he should be right back in the swing.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 25, 2011 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Nibs, Scarponi, Sagan, Ballan, Degenkolb, Ulissi, Kessiakoff, Kittel, GHH, Dan Martin, Machado…
So this is where my team has been hiding out. I have six of those guys.
My second place behind Contador is worth a lot--Michele Scarponi
Ursula!
I picked Riccardo Ricco for my 2011 VDS team, and submitted said team well before the submission deadline. I fully understand the error of my ways, and plead with the VDS Gods to allow me to resubmit my team.
What chance does Nicholas Roche have here to break his donut streak?
(Note: I am now actually, officially, desiring that he finishes a donut this year. At a certain point it is “earned”.)
Here? Seems dubious.
But surely he can straggle in with the top 5 in some anonymous Vuelta stage. I have faith.
My second place behind Contador is worth a lot--Michele Scarponi
Ursula, don't go away anymore. This place has been taken over by rabble-rousers and trouble makers.
Besides, I like your eye on the cycling world.
by sebastiandeluded on Jul 25, 2011 4:06 PM EDT reply actions
Well, thanks.
I’ll be more around again come winter I think. It hurts to be as far away from this sport as I am with other duties. I’ve missed too many races.
Ah Txirla
glad you could make it. Did you bring the lemon and cocktail sauce?
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 25, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions
You better watch it bub or up from Olympia-way will come...SPEEDY
The Geoduck Fight Song
words and music by Malcolm Stilson, 1971
Go, Geoducks go,
Through the mud and the sand,
let’s go.
Siphon high, squirt it out,
swivel all about,
let it all hang out.
Go, Geoducks go,
Stretch your necks when the tide
is low
Siphon high, squirt it out,
swivel all about,
let it all hang out.
That
is 10 different shades of awesome.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 26, 2011 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions
That's too much awesome for a filter feeding bivalve.
There are so many aspects to the sport that you have to take into consideration. Cycling is not like math. You can't plan things exactly. - Alberto Contador 24/07/10
what would be the best place to view this race?
if one were to be in San Seb?
one would figure either on the Jaizkibel, which is climbed twice, or on the Arkale
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Then there's the finish line
Right across from the beach…
But seriously, if form holds there will be some sort of contested sprint by anywhere from 2-10 riders. Then again a nice day on top of the Jaizkibel has to rank as one of the sport’s all-time best places to be.
Ooooh!
I hope the theoretical person has a fantastic time!
by Sarah Connolly on Jul 26, 2011 4:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Oohh...
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 26, 2011 1:43 AM EDT reply actions
Hm
Only one Belgian winner, Criquelion. Something must be done about this. Can Leukie get over the Jaizkebel?
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 26, 2011 1:45 AM EDT reply actions
Leukie...meh
Van Avermaet…yay (he is on form and doing well at Wallonie)
Other interesting ones are Ben Hermans and Vanendert (if Gilbert lets him have a leash)
but who am I kidding…if a Belgian should win, it should be Crazy Thomas
by Vlaanderen90 on Jul 26, 2011 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Vanendert
Three crits and one celebration in his hometown this week. Not the best preparation for San Sebastian IMO.
Gilbert is even riding 4 crits I think , so I don’t expect too much rom him either.
He did say he was going to take the crits easy so he'd have something left for SanSeb
so things may depend on how much Achelse Trappist they give him at the hometown celebration.
I am ready to hug the world - Tony Martin.
Who's riding where (Belgium only)
Roeselare (tuesday): Gilbert, Hushovd, Sanchez, De Gendt, Meersman
Peer (wednesday): Vanendert, Vansummeren, Farrar, De Weert
Herentals (thursday): Gilbert, Nibali, Basso, Farrar, De Gendt
Sint-Niklaas (friday) Evans, McEwen, Gilbert, Vanendert
Wolvertem-Meise (saturday): Cavendish, Renshaw
Lommel (monday): Gilbert, Vanendert, Vansummeren
So Phil and Vanendert are even riding a crit on friday evening. San Sebastian starts saturday at noon…
They've got a private jet, paid by the organisers
Well, Phil does, I’m assuming Jelle gets a ride. Only way Phil agreed to start in Sint-Niklaas.
I am ready to hug the world - Tony Martin.
Now I'm trying to find out if this is shown on one of the channels available to me...
I’m picking Sastre.
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi.
"If I couldn't play for the Colts, I would probably stop playing football." - Peyton Manning.
I will be there 1 week late
but hope to inform my parents, sister, brother in law and nephews that they should check it out. Does David Millar still live in Biarritz? I wonder if there’s a chance of running into him on the Basque Coast?
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