Amgen Tour of California - chat and ***Spoiler***
Comments
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Really sucks for Barguil after a crash took him out of Paris Nice as well.
Congratulations Cavendish, good to see you master of sprinting again.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Incredible how much speed Cav has lost the last couple of years.0
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He hasn't lost anything other than form. That seems to be peaking again at the right time. The thing about the second kick, is that he rarely had to use it because his acceleration was the best. I still believe that to be the case.0
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philbar72 wrote:He hasn't lost anything other than form. That seems to be peaking again at the right time. The thing about the second kick, is that he rarely had to use it because his acceleration was the best. I still believe that to be the case.
So you are saying, in form, he's as fast as 2-3 years ago.
That's obviously not true, just by watching races (and that's pretty much the only way we can judge..) he beats, but just barely, second-tier sprinters which he'd be all over when he was fastest.
He's 29. Predictable and normal to gradually lose speed.0 -
ThomThom wrote:philbar72 wrote:He hasn't lost anything other than form. That seems to be peaking again at the right time. The thing about the second kick, is that he rarely had to use it because his acceleration was the best. I still believe that to be the case.
So you are saying, in form, he's as fast as 2-3 years ago.
That's obviously not true, just by watching races (and that's pretty much the only way we can judge..) he beats, but just barely, second-tier sprinters which he'd be all over when he was fastest.
He's 29. Predictable and normal to gradually lose speed.
Apparently it was a stiff headwind and Cavendish had to go early - from the overhead it looks like he's out in the wind at least twice as long as Sagan, and has to come from behind him. I'd agree that Cavendish doesn't necessarily have the same top speed any more, but as Sagan's no slouch and had the better leadout in this instance I'd suggest that this stage isn't necessarily the best evidence. In fact, I'm fairly sure that a couple of years ago we'd be saying how this showed his dominance by beating Sagan despite having to go the long way around and put his nose in the wind much sooner. We'll get a better idea how his speed is holding up when he's taking on a fully-fit Kittel again.
ETA - Is it possible that being older and wiser, he's also becoming cannier by refusing to beat second tier sprinters by more than the minimum required?0 -
underlayunderlay wrote:ThomThom wrote:philbar72 wrote:He hasn't lost anything other than form. That seems to be peaking again at the right time. The thing about the second kick, is that he rarely had to use it because his acceleration was the best. I still believe that to be the case.
So you are saying, in form, he's as fast as 2-3 years ago.
That's obviously not true, just by watching races (and that's pretty much the only way we can judge..) he beats, but just barely, second-tier sprinters which he'd be all over when he was fastest.
He's 29. Predictable and normal to gradually lose speed.
Apparently it was a stiff headwind and Cavendish had to go early - from the overhead it looks like he's out in the wind at least twice as long as Sagan, and has to come from behind him. I'd agree that Cavendish doesn't necessarily have the same top speed any more, but as Sagan's no slouch and had the better leadout in this instance I'd suggest that this stage isn't necessarily the best evidence. In fact, I'm fairly sure that a couple of years ago we'd be saying how this showed his dominance by beating Sagan despite having to go the long way around and put his nose in the wind much sooner. We'll get a better idea how his speed is holding up when he's taking on a fully-fit Kittel again.
ETA - Is it possible that being older and wiser, he's also becoming cannier by refusing to beat second tier sprinters by more than the minimum required?
I wasn't really taking this stage as the only evidence. And if anything, Sagan has only gone slower sprinting wise than 2 years ago after turning into a more versatile rider with classics as main goals.
Also, I think Kittel has proven himself enough times against Cav the last two years that he's the faster rider of the two.0 -
I certainly wouldn't disagree that he has lost some speed although I don't think we've seen the best of him v Kittel in the last year or so. Last season I think he put everything into the Tour then crashed out on stage 1.
I do think that he hasn't had a team fully dedicated to him since leaving HTC though. Sky got it right a few times but generally concentrated on protecting their GC man and QS have been very hit and miss, particularly in the final km. Kittel by contrast has a superb lead out team that have taken on the mantle from HTC.
Despite all this Cav has won 4 stages in Turkey and 2 from 2 at ATOC in recent weeks so he's not doing badly!0 -
D Parks
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Exactly this. his form has been up and down but he's still strong enough to beat all the present competition (Kittel being sick Helps). I'm pretty sure he's not lost a lot, just that he's been injured more and absolute peak form is very difficult to maintain.Pross wrote:I certainly wouldn't disagree that he has lost some speed although I don't think we've seen the best of him v Kittel in the last year or so. Last season I think he put everything into the Tour then crashed out on stage 1.
I do think that he hasn't had a team fully dedicated to him since leaving HTC though. Sky got it right a few times but generally concentrated on protecting their GC man and QS have been very hit and miss, particularly in the final km. Kittel by contrast has a superb lead out team that have taken on the mantle from HTC.
Despite all this Cav has won 4 stages in Turkey and 2 from 2 at ATOC in recent weeks so he's not doing badly!0 -
Well it looks like a day for the break - can't see the peloton catching the lone escapee. More interesting is some of the descending - very twisty roads and loads of people overcooking the corners.0
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Toms Skujins, Hincapie Racing Team wins after 55k solo. Sagan 2nd as usual.0
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Great win by him and now leading the GC by 30 secs. 50km solo = respect.
Sagan, Alaphilippe and Diez got 3 secs on the bunch of 24 riders (which contained my future man Tao and Gesink). Sagan 2nd in GC.
Henao and Kennaugh still there for Sky. Craddock 3 secs behind Alaphilippe.
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Michael Woods and Tao Geoghegan Hart. Nice to see some different kit.
TGH riding well.0 -
Suck it in boys !frenchfighter wrote:D Parks0 -
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A lack of a good lead out man has been the Cavendish problem.
The most experienced man is MARK RENSHAW and Cavendish could even have taken a Pay cut for QS to get him on board.
The other "Train" members lost themselves in T.O.T and left Renshaw with a kilometer to go and he took Cavendish half way at speed for him to try to win with 500 meters to go.
Not quite but nobody else could either.
Now the pair are together again and starting to rack up the wins.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
Sagan wins, Cav 3rd.Contador is the Greatest0
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Cav's finished
Truth is the finish was tailor made for Sagan yesterday.0 -
Contador is the Greatest0 -
:roll:Critical race update!
LOS ANGELES (May 13, 2015) – Due to the forecast of snow and low temperatures, the Amgen Tour of California organizers have determined that race day conditions will not be safe for riders, teams, partners, fans or staff participating or attending the Individual Time Trial events scheduled for Friday, May 15 at Big Bear Lake.
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/news/81/90/FRIDAY-S-MEN-S-WOMEN-S-INDIVIDUAL-TIME-TRIALS-WILL-BE-RELOCATED-TO-SANTA-CLARITA-DUE-TO-WEATHER-CONCERNS
Nice to see Tyler giving it everything in a desperate doomed fight for fourth....a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.0 -
Sagan at last corner
Good video from bike mounted cam here
https://www.facebook.com/AmgenTourofCalifornia?fref=nf0 -
That's really super.Contador is the Greatest0
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Nice to see him pulling moves again. He's looked jaded as hell all spring.
Couple of chipper wins is exactly what he needs. He's been beating himself in the euro events.0 -
Hopefully we'll see Kennuagh lighting it up on stage 7 in his British Champ jersey.0
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Was amusing the change in pronunciation of Skujins name from Quigley and Smithy last night, they must have been guessing the night before as no one had heard of him.0
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Raining today, it hasn't rained in California for years!0
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El Niño innit. Or something...0
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Really really impressive ride by Geoffrey Curran today. Only 19 yrs old.0
