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14 Jun 14
11:19
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11 Jul 11
The Tour de Suisse is another mini GT race used by riders as a tune-up for the Tour. It again features nine stages, and two of which remain being ITTs. There are four main mountain stages, but there is some form of climbing in every stage, in fact. For instance, the easiest stage looks to be stage 4, but it covers two cat.4s. To begin though, stage 1 is over 9.4 kms of which about a quarter is a hill climb.
World Champion Rui Costa will be looking to win for the third time in a row, but it is Wiggins who has shortened into a narrow favourite over the LAM rider, with the majority of the Books. This is surprising. I think that Wiggins should be the clear favourite here, since it appears that the Race Director may have looked to attract the Tour principals here to Switzerland over the Criterium Dauphine and Route du Sud for their pre-Tour tune-up -- with a much tougher parcours to last year, including more tougher climbing and doubling the amount of mountain stages.
I don’t think Rui Costa can win this race this year. Paris-Nice was a longer parcours since it didn’t include an ITT and had three stages over 200kms, but it also had much less climbing than what will be on offer here, and in France Rui could only finish in 2nd place on GC. Moreover, he made up time for this 2nd place on GC, on stages which were far easier than what he will encounter here, and I think since it looks more like an all-out climbers’ parcours in fact, he becomes disadvantaged as he’s more of a puncheur-type rider. He found the podium well in Romandie, but his gap to 2nd was significant, and Spilak can be quite an inconsistent GC rider. The thing is that Rui may very-well be leading or near the top of the GC for much of the race, which may shorten his price even more as the Books think they’re getting it right, however by the final two stages he may be losing a lot of time to more purer climbers in the race, and ultimately may lose the race with the two tough cat.HC mountaintop climbs to the finish.
Bradley Wiggins’ character suggests that he’ll want to win this race and win it well, in order to send a clear signal to management (and anyone else who might be watching, such as perhaps Froome;-) what he thinks of their decision and what they will be missing, now that he has been excluded for selection for the Tour team. The last thing he’ll want is to ride poorly here, and hear people talking behind his back that he wasn’t right for the Tour anyway. Especially since Froome has come out so impressively in the Dauphine and confirmed his Tour defending champion status. The way Wiggins was talking about news that he won’t start the Tour with SKY, suggested that he might be looking for another team next year in order to get a Tour start, and what better way to excite interest in such a possibility than performing well here. Moreover, the ITTs should really give him an advantage over his opposition, and he would be my clear short-priced favourite.
Roman Kreuziger has his best opportunity to repeat his 2008 victory on GC here, after having an excellent season so far. His podium place finish on GC in Tirreno-Adriatico when riding in service of Bertie is near career best form, and now reaching his prime as a pro-rider he will look to have a strong hit-out for the Tour. Management are expecting the win, and he may just deliver it.
Sergio Henao has his first ride since the irregular values caused his team to test him. He has only raced in Oman when 7th on GC at the start of the season, but is hoping to have a strong performance here in order to make selection for his Tour debut. Seems upbeat and confident, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be amongst the main moves and riding with the main contenders.
Very poor prices around. Pozzovivio may hold his Giro form for a podium, but I don’t think so. Mollema had a good ride in Norway recently and he’ll be a better chance for the win here than last year. It’ll be fun to see some of the spring classics riders back racing against each other, with the likes of Terpstra, Spartacus, Boonen, Sagan, Kristoff, and Sep Vanmarcke lining-up.
*** Bradley Wiggins. 2/1 (various) WIN ONLY. Looks in good form, parcours suits, and will have a point to prove. Holds strong claims for the win.
** Roman Kreuziger. 8/1 (various) E/W. No value. One of the main contenders. Strong showing expected. Do not discount lightly.
* Sergio Henao. 33/1 E/W. Some value. Won’t surprise with a strong podium performance. Take on trust.
* Rui Costa. 3/1 LAY. Priced to default setting on account of being the champion for the past two years, and that shortness in price appeals. Looks to be disadvantaged by the parcours. Others have stronger claims. May struggle to podium.
Good luck to all,
SP
World Champion Rui Costa will be looking to win for the third time in a row, but it is Wiggins who has shortened into a narrow favourite over the LAM rider, with the majority of the Books. This is surprising. I think that Wiggins should be the clear favourite here, since it appears that the Race Director may have looked to attract the Tour principals here to Switzerland over the Criterium Dauphine and Route du Sud for their pre-Tour tune-up -- with a much tougher parcours to last year, including more tougher climbing and doubling the amount of mountain stages.
I don’t think Rui Costa can win this race this year. Paris-Nice was a longer parcours since it didn’t include an ITT and had three stages over 200kms, but it also had much less climbing than what will be on offer here, and in France Rui could only finish in 2nd place on GC. Moreover, he made up time for this 2nd place on GC, on stages which were far easier than what he will encounter here, and I think since it looks more like an all-out climbers’ parcours in fact, he becomes disadvantaged as he’s more of a puncheur-type rider. He found the podium well in Romandie, but his gap to 2nd was significant, and Spilak can be quite an inconsistent GC rider. The thing is that Rui may very-well be leading or near the top of the GC for much of the race, which may shorten his price even more as the Books think they’re getting it right, however by the final two stages he may be losing a lot of time to more purer climbers in the race, and ultimately may lose the race with the two tough cat.HC mountaintop climbs to the finish.
Bradley Wiggins’ character suggests that he’ll want to win this race and win it well, in order to send a clear signal to management (and anyone else who might be watching, such as perhaps Froome;-) what he thinks of their decision and what they will be missing, now that he has been excluded for selection for the Tour team. The last thing he’ll want is to ride poorly here, and hear people talking behind his back that he wasn’t right for the Tour anyway. Especially since Froome has come out so impressively in the Dauphine and confirmed his Tour defending champion status. The way Wiggins was talking about news that he won’t start the Tour with SKY, suggested that he might be looking for another team next year in order to get a Tour start, and what better way to excite interest in such a possibility than performing well here. Moreover, the ITTs should really give him an advantage over his opposition, and he would be my clear short-priced favourite.
Roman Kreuziger has his best opportunity to repeat his 2008 victory on GC here, after having an excellent season so far. His podium place finish on GC in Tirreno-Adriatico when riding in service of Bertie is near career best form, and now reaching his prime as a pro-rider he will look to have a strong hit-out for the Tour. Management are expecting the win, and he may just deliver it.
Sergio Henao has his first ride since the irregular values caused his team to test him. He has only raced in Oman when 7th on GC at the start of the season, but is hoping to have a strong performance here in order to make selection for his Tour debut. Seems upbeat and confident, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be amongst the main moves and riding with the main contenders.
Very poor prices around. Pozzovivio may hold his Giro form for a podium, but I don’t think so. Mollema had a good ride in Norway recently and he’ll be a better chance for the win here than last year. It’ll be fun to see some of the spring classics riders back racing against each other, with the likes of Terpstra, Spartacus, Boonen, Sagan, Kristoff, and Sep Vanmarcke lining-up.
*** Bradley Wiggins. 2/1 (various) WIN ONLY. Looks in good form, parcours suits, and will have a point to prove. Holds strong claims for the win.
** Roman Kreuziger. 8/1 (various) E/W. No value. One of the main contenders. Strong showing expected. Do not discount lightly.
* Sergio Henao. 33/1 E/W. Some value. Won’t surprise with a strong podium performance. Take on trust.
* Rui Costa. 3/1 LAY. Priced to default setting on account of being the champion for the past two years, and that shortness in price appeals. Looks to be disadvantaged by the parcours. Others have stronger claims. May struggle to podium.
Good luck to all,
SP
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why don't we have stage markets day by day on BF for this? Always offered in the past
I would've expected Wiggins to do much better, but apparently they were banking on the weather by starting him earlier, and wanted him to be careful throughout. It was a fair ride, nevertheless. If there was any doubt about Tony Martin developing his characteristics to relish some incline on the road, this stage again confirms it, although he would've started favourite, I believe.
No prices around so not much point unpacking stage 2. Should be fun to watch though, maybe home-ground favourite Albasini from Tom Jelte-Slagter, Sagan, Rui Costa, and Mathias Frank. SP
No prices around so not much point unpacking stage 2. Should be fun to watch though, maybe home-ground favourite Albasini from Tom Jelte-Slagter, Sagan, Rui Costa, and Mathias Frank. SP
No markets, no bets. Tough, long, hilly stage 3 with three cat.2s, and a testing hilltop finish to Heiden. SP
And that's a big FU to SKY by Wiggins there. 
I talked about Wiggins' character in my preview, but in retrospect he is an individual far more likely to stick his finger up at SKY than race like a gentleman and show them what he's made of. No real wonder why SKY don't want him in the team with Froome, he's confirmed it there I believe, he's just a negative fuknuckle that would cause such disharmony in the team that Froome would question his role in the team. The only selfish move Wiggins has got left, is to win a mountain stage emphatically, in order to preserve his interests, for what must be a transfer out of SKY for next season.
Henao is now SKY's main man, and riding fairly well in still an open race. Kreuziger amongst it. Mollema riding positively and very well placed. Rui Costa also riding positively, but I just don't see him in the frame at the end, and am keeping him in red. SP
I talked about Wiggins' character in my preview, but in retrospect he is an individual far more likely to stick his finger up at SKY than race like a gentleman and show them what he's made of. No real wonder why SKY don't want him in the team with Froome, he's confirmed it there I believe, he's just a negative fuknuckle that would cause such disharmony in the team that Froome would question his role in the team. The only selfish move Wiggins has got left, is to win a mountain stage emphatically, in order to preserve his interests, for what must be a transfer out of SKY for next season.Henao is now SKY's main man, and riding fairly well in still an open race. Kreuziger amongst it. Mollema riding positively and very well placed. Rui Costa also riding positively, but I just don't see him in the frame at the end, and am keeping him in red. SP
Not really. They left him out of the Tour team so he started preparing for the track instead i.e. eating like a relatively healthy ahtlete rather than a flat jockey. There were reports he's been at the velodrome the past couple of weeks. Sky took away any real incentive to win Tour de Suisse
So if Wiggins attempts a stage win, or indeed gets one, where does that leave yr theory? SP
Can't see any reason why he wouldn't try to do well in the TT if it's dry, although he'll struggle to beat Martin. If he did try to win a stage for Sky, I don't really see how that would be "sticking his finger up" at them ??? If Henao gets into a position to win the race and Wiggins is able to help him but doesn't, then you would have a point
If Wiggins were to attempt a stage win than how could he possibly be working for Henao? A stage win promotes his credentials and raises his worth in the open market, not riding GC for SKY when he is a GC rider and is in the team to get a GC result, just says that he doesn't care about the team, and cycling is a team sport. SP
A stage win would do zero for Wiggins' worth in the open market or his credentials. His market value is pretty much set in stone and he won't be going elsewhere to be a stage hunter. I won't be backing him to win a stage that's for sure.
I accept that there's a certain amount of bankable value in Wiggins' past performances, his brand if you will, but that only goes so far for an ageing rider -- it is current good form of a rider which validates his promise and would be the primary factor for a manager soliciting high market value interest for services with a potential future team. Think of it as stocks on an exchange, some stocks, such as "blue-chips" have a recognized soundness from their past performances and are generally regarded as high-quality, and whilst they might maintain a substantial worth in the market with less risk than a 10p stock, they nevertheless fall and rise according to how they're performing in the current climate.
The same might be said of Wiggins, he has a high worth in the market by being a past Tour winner, for instance, however his stock will always be lower than what it might be if he is winning races such as the current one in Switzerland. Buzz and excitement are selling points which a manager will benefit from in pitching his client to a team. Sometimes current form can be a bigger selling point than past performances, because it shows a team that the rider has still got it.
I am not advising to back Wiggins for any stages here after what I've seen, but I am floating a theory in relation to what we might see given his personal character in retrospect. Additionally, he has crashed in today's stage, so it seems like he has the perfect excuse to get to go home if he so wishes.
Cheers,
SP
The same might be said of Wiggins, he has a high worth in the market by being a past Tour winner, for instance, however his stock will always be lower than what it might be if he is winning races such as the current one in Switzerland. Buzz and excitement are selling points which a manager will benefit from in pitching his client to a team. Sometimes current form can be a bigger selling point than past performances, because it shows a team that the rider has still got it.
I am not advising to back Wiggins for any stages here after what I've seen, but I am floating a theory in relation to what we might see given his personal character in retrospect. Additionally, he has crashed in today's stage, so it seems like he has the perfect excuse to get to go home if he so wishes.
Cheers,
SP
Wiggins sets goals and he's probably one of the best riders in the peloton at motivating himself and working towards those goals. Anything outside of that and he's not the same rider, not sure it is even a matter of effort it's something subconscious.
Not sure if he wants the TT here, if he does he'll have a good chance as TM will have worked himself into the ground keeping yellow. Not sure I'd put any money on him though.
Not sure if he wants the TT here, if he does he'll have a good chance as TM will have worked himself into the ground keeping yellow. Not sure I'd put any money on him though.
As for going back to the track I can't see it. My guess is he'll go for the late North American races and the Worlds.
The Manx Missile came here to win stages and into a head wind and a slight incline, he did just that in yesterday's stage 4. A few cat climbs on the road today, and OPQS are doing a great deal of work protecting Tony Martin in Yellow as CJ infers, in fact Martin has been seen going to the very front to give words, in some cases telling his team to ease off with the hard chasing -- so I would expect a bunch sprint again today with the Manx winning and making it two in a row. There's a couple of ninety-degree turns in the final few hundred metres, but with his explosive double-kick, a win looks good. His price is too short for me to get involved, though.
Good luck to all,
SP
Good luck to all,
SP
The Manx was involved in the inevitable crash the ninety-degree turns would bring in the finale, however he is looking like an increasingly reckless rider, and while this crash wasn't his fault he looks like he might cause them in the Tour. Good to see Kristoff up there, although he never threatened.
Stage 6 is made for the breakaway with the cat.2 preceding the cat.3 about 10kms from the finish, and Sagan is a deserving favourite. Albasini will want to win in front of his home crowd, and interestingly the crowds have been good at the finishing stages. Tom Slagter may pop-up and is worth a saver as he is some value, but I think his form is waning and he hasn't done enough here to suggest he'll be in it for a long way.
My selection for this stage is Laurens Ten Dam, who has been riding in an ancillary role for Belkin in order to find form for the Tour. He has been in the wilderness a bit this season, and is using this race as a genuine test.wouldn't normally be a stage for him, but he is giving every indication that it might provide a good test for him. 150/1 is excellent E/W value.
The Manx was involved in the inevitable crash the ninety-degree turns would bring in the finale, however he is looking like an increasingly reckless rider, and while this crash wasn't his fault he looks like he might cause them in the Tour. Good to see Kristoff up there, although he never threatened.
Stage 6 is made for the breakaway with the cat.2 preceding the cat.3 about 10kms from the finish, and Sagan is a deserving favourite. Albasini will want to win in front of his home crowd, and interestingly the crowds have been good at the finishing stages. Tom Slagter may pop-up and is worth a saver as he is some value, but I think his form is waning and he hasn't done enough here to suggest he'll be in it for a long way.
My selection for this stage is Laurens Ten Dam, who has been riding in an ancillary role for Belkin in order to find form for the Tour. He has been in the wilderness a bit this season, and is using this race as a genuine test. This wouldn't normally be a stage for him, but he is giving every indication that it might provide a good test for him.
Good luck to all,
SP
Stage 6 is made for the breakaway with the cat.2 preceding the cat.3 about 10kms from the finish, and Sagan is a deserving favourite. Albasini will want to win in front of his home crowd, and interestingly the crowds have been good at the finishing stages. Tom Slagter may pop-up and is worth a saver as he is some value, but I think his form is waning and he hasn't done enough here to suggest he'll be in it for a long way.
My selection for this stage is Laurens Ten Dam, who has been riding in an ancillary role for Belkin in order to find form for the Tour. He has been in the wilderness a bit this season, and is using this race as a genuine test.wouldn't normally be a stage for him, but he is giving every indication that it might provide a good test for him. 150/1 is excellent E/W value.
The Manx was involved in the inevitable crash the ninety-degree turns would bring in the finale, however he is looking like an increasingly reckless rider, and while this crash wasn't his fault he looks like he might cause them in the Tour. Good to see Kristoff up there, although he never threatened.
Stage 6 is made for the breakaway with the cat.2 preceding the cat.3 about 10kms from the finish, and Sagan is a deserving favourite. Albasini will want to win in front of his home crowd, and interestingly the crowds have been good at the finishing stages. Tom Slagter may pop-up and is worth a saver as he is some value, but I think his form is waning and he hasn't done enough here to suggest he'll be in it for a long way.
My selection for this stage is Laurens Ten Dam, who has been riding in an ancillary role for Belkin in order to find form for the Tour. He has been in the wilderness a bit this season, and is using this race as a genuine test. This wouldn't normally be a stage for him, but he is giving every indication that it might provide a good test for him.
Good luck to all,
SP
150/1 is excellent value for a rider of his high quality.
Henao is out! He crashed in an ITT recon and has a broken knee. As expected Tony Martin won the ITT, however I didn't see much point in taking such a short price.
Stage 8: Verbier via Martigny is a long climb at 25.7kms, starting from 525m and finishing at 1488m. The last time it was used in a major race was -- I believe -- stage 15 of the 2009 edition of Le Tour de France, and Tony Martin finished quite well in 12th place some 2.13mins down to stage winner Contador, but only 0.07secs down to Kreuziger in 11th place, one spot better. Since then, Kreuziger is a much better climber having an excellent season, but Tony Martin has developed -- and continues to develop -- his climbing abilities and is well positioned for winning this race on GC.
The question in relation to the GC race therefore, is whether Kreuziger will go on the attack with someone like Bauke Mollema to destroy all but the pure climbers, and attempt to win the stage with considerable time margins, knowing that they'll be capable of doing the same thing in the next and final stage. I think both can take about a minute on each stage from Tony Martin on best form, but they haven't really been riding in such form where such time gaps are realistic, and there isn't much value in their prices. I therefore think that Tony Martin is looking increasingly like he might hang on for the GC win, but looking at Laurens Ten Dam, he is certainly not a 400/1 shot at some 3mins down with two mountain stages to come. He didn't deliver much in the previous stage as I expected he might, and in fact he hasn't dome much in this race, and whilst he doesn't have a "beast mode" he does have good climbing credentials and if feeling good is well worth a couple E/W on him.
Rui Costa rode well in the ITT, his best ride in a long while and he appears to be improving on that performance, however his price is ludicrous and I will lay him a little more, since 1.) being a minute behind Tony Martin is still substantial, 2.) Mathias Frank is only a handful of seconds back on him, and the Swiss rider looks strong, improving, and excited in front of home crowds to have a good performance, and 3.) I think even in mediocre form such as Kreuziger and Mollema are in, they can still gain about 30secs on each stage on Rui Costa. I therefore still think he is up against it, and is way too short to ignore for limited liability.
Cheers,
SP
Stage 8: Verbier via Martigny is a long climb at 25.7kms, starting from 525m and finishing at 1488m. The last time it was used in a major race was -- I believe -- stage 15 of the 2009 edition of Le Tour de France, and Tony Martin finished quite well in 12th place some 2.13mins down to stage winner Contador, but only 0.07secs down to Kreuziger in 11th place, one spot better. Since then, Kreuziger is a much better climber having an excellent season, but Tony Martin has developed -- and continues to develop -- his climbing abilities and is well positioned for winning this race on GC.
The question in relation to the GC race therefore, is whether Kreuziger will go on the attack with someone like Bauke Mollema to destroy all but the pure climbers, and attempt to win the stage with considerable time margins, knowing that they'll be capable of doing the same thing in the next and final stage. I think both can take about a minute on each stage from Tony Martin on best form, but they haven't really been riding in such form where such time gaps are realistic, and there isn't much value in their prices. I therefore think that Tony Martin is looking increasingly like he might hang on for the GC win, but looking at Laurens Ten Dam, he is certainly not a 400/1 shot at some 3mins down with two mountain stages to come. He didn't deliver much in the previous stage as I expected he might, and in fact he hasn't dome much in this race, and whilst he doesn't have a "beast mode" he does have good climbing credentials and if feeling good is well worth a couple E/W on him.
Rui Costa rode well in the ITT, his best ride in a long while and he appears to be improving on that performance, however his price is ludicrous and I will lay him a little more, since 1.) being a minute behind Tony Martin is still substantial, 2.) Mathias Frank is only a handful of seconds back on him, and the Swiss rider looks strong, improving, and excited in front of home crowds to have a good performance, and 3.) I think even in mediocre form such as Kreuziger and Mollema are in, they can still gain about 30secs on each stage on Rui Costa. I therefore still think he is up against it, and is way too short to ignore for limited liability.
Cheers,
SP
Good thread guys. I haven't been around enough to have taken any interest in this. Pinot must have ridden a good TT today, and isn't far back. He could make time up on Martin today on the final climb as well. Bet £3.65 are 13/1 for the outright, but I haven't seen any of this so far so will leave it.
Welcome Chaves to the WT for OGE! Young Colombian can climb, that's for sure.
Good showing by Laurens Ten Dam to drive the selective peloton forward -- thought for a minute he might do something special, but the plan was always for Bauke Mollema to attempt stage honours, as anticipated. Chaves was just too good though and Mollema and Kreuziger never really threatened.
Ride of the day goes to Tony Martin. I think some people on this forum during the spring were thinking me mad for suggesting that Tony Martin was being developed as a climber in order to prolong his career in the pro ranks, but he has finally shown -- without any doubt whatsoever -- that he has the characteristics to punch-out a decent rhythm on a steep uphill gradient. It was obviously important that he didn't respond to attacks which would've changed his pace, but kept a one-dimensional rhythm instead, which he did throughout the climb. If he can repeat such a smart and patient ride in today's final stage 9 mountain climb, then he should be able to hold on for the GC win quite comfortably.
Being involved in the GC market, no major bets for me in this stage. Mathias Frank will attempt the win, but no matter how hard he rides and he did ride well yesterday, heart in front of his home crowd won't be enough, I don't believe. Pinot came out before yesterday's stage quite vocally that he'd be going for the win, but he finished some 2mins down, so I don't anticipate a much better performance again here, and his price is poor value in any case.
One clear difference between top climbers and riders that can climb and gain the occasional mountain climb win, is how they respond to another day's climbing. Chaves looked to me like he has the talent to back-up his stage winning performance, and 6/1 (betvictor) offers some W/O interest.
Good luck to all,
SP
Good showing by Laurens Ten Dam to drive the selective peloton forward -- thought for a minute he might do something special, but the plan was always for Bauke Mollema to attempt stage honours, as anticipated. Chaves was just too good though and Mollema and Kreuziger never really threatened.
Ride of the day goes to Tony Martin. I think some people on this forum during the spring were thinking me mad for suggesting that Tony Martin was being developed as a climber in order to prolong his career in the pro ranks, but he has finally shown -- without any doubt whatsoever -- that he has the characteristics to punch-out a decent rhythm on a steep uphill gradient. It was obviously important that he didn't respond to attacks which would've changed his pace, but kept a one-dimensional rhythm instead, which he did throughout the climb. If he can repeat such a smart and patient ride in today's final stage 9 mountain climb, then he should be able to hold on for the GC win quite comfortably.
Being involved in the GC market, no major bets for me in this stage. Mathias Frank will attempt the win, but no matter how hard he rides and he did ride well yesterday, heart in front of his home crowd won't be enough, I don't believe. Pinot came out before yesterday's stage quite vocally that he'd be going for the win, but he finished some 2mins down, so I don't anticipate a much better performance again here, and his price is poor value in any case.
One clear difference between top climbers and riders that can climb and gain the occasional mountain climb win, is how they respond to another day's climbing. Chaves looked to me like he has the talent to back-up his stage winning performance, and 6/1 (betvictor) offers some W/O interest.
Good luck to all,
SP
Not had a chance to watch all week, but like MC i got tempted to back Pinot for the outright before yesterdays stage. I sat down to watch yesterday expecting a big attack from Pinot after reading what he had to say, but nothing. What happened to him yesterday, any explanations? He lost 2 mins on his own team mate Jeanneson, why was he not waiting for his team leader?
Today have decided to have a little on Frank to win the outright at 8/1. It looks a big ask for anyone to beat Martin now the way he climbed yesterday, but with the likes of Costa and Frank in particular really wanting the win, i'm expecting some big attacks today. Think we could see Lampre, IAM, Belkin, and Saxo try to blow the race apart on the penultimate climb to try to get rid of Martin. We could see a final stage like that in the Dauphine, lets hope so!
Aside from this yesterday, there was a great performance from Roche to win at Roue du Sud, and great team performance from Saxo, with Rogers second ahead of Valverde. It is looking like Saxo are going to have an unbelievably strong team in the TDF, with Roche, Rogers, and Kreuziger all now looking like they are in top form. There is no doubting they are starting to look much stronger than Sky, surely they need Wiggins in the team? With Porte still out of form and Henao now injured, I can see Froome being very isolated in the mountains, while Contador will probably still have 3 or 4 very strong teammates with him.
Today have decided to have a little on Frank to win the outright at 8/1. It looks a big ask for anyone to beat Martin now the way he climbed yesterday, but with the likes of Costa and Frank in particular really wanting the win, i'm expecting some big attacks today. Think we could see Lampre, IAM, Belkin, and Saxo try to blow the race apart on the penultimate climb to try to get rid of Martin. We could see a final stage like that in the Dauphine, lets hope so!
Aside from this yesterday, there was a great performance from Roche to win at Roue du Sud, and great team performance from Saxo, with Rogers second ahead of Valverde. It is looking like Saxo are going to have an unbelievably strong team in the TDF, with Roche, Rogers, and Kreuziger all now looking like they are in top form. There is no doubting they are starting to look much stronger than Sky, surely they need Wiggins in the team? With Porte still out of form and Henao now injured, I can see Froome being very isolated in the mountains, while Contador will probably still have 3 or 4 very strong teammates with him.
Wow, what a race! Tony Martin got ambushed on the penultimate cat.1 climb, and isolated he could only rely on occasional help from Tom Dumoulin, which was never going to be enough. He still climbed well at the head of this reduced peloton, and was in fact making some inroads (gaining then losing 10secs) on the lead group of an isolated Rui Costa, Bauke Mollema, Mollema's team-mate Stef Clement, Mathias Frank, and Frank's team-mate Wyss, who eventually turned himself inside-out to set up Frank for the attack on Rui Costa late up the final climb, and whilst Frank got delivered perfectly, he didn't have enough to set a solid gap to Rui Costa, who looked very cool and calm in the breakaway all day, covered Frank's move and powered away for the stage win and the win on GC. Fair play to him, that's three in a row and he now looks very good for stage wins in the Tour. SP
Pinot was suffering from a cold since last week, and even though he had a good top-10 result in the ITT, it would appear that the effects of a course of antibiotics caught up with him. He is obviously better than that performance, and his ITT shows that he is treating his preparation for the Tour quite seriously. SP
Played out as i said it would, and for a while i did think i would collect on Frank, as thought he was looking the most likely winner. Got to say IAM and Belkin had there tactics spot on, but fair play Costa proved the stronger rider. Also hats off to Martin that was a monster ride, and also a great effort from Wyss to pull the leading group for so long.
After praising Saxo earlier on, i must say they got things badly wrong today or at least Kreuziger did. Yesterday he followed Frank and Mollema all the way, but today looked like he was sleeping, way to far back in the group when they attacked and went up the road. It was game over for him then and he knew it, must be kicking himself.
After praising Saxo earlier on, i must say they got things badly wrong today or at least Kreuziger did. Yesterday he followed Frank and Mollema all the way, but today looked like he was sleeping, way to far back in the group when they attacked and went up the road. It was game over for him then and he knew it, must be kicking himself.
Very disappointing ride from Kreuziger, yes. Obviously no interest in working hard today, he looked in very poor condition, so it's either illness or injury because it was unlike him to ride like that. SP
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