Spoiler : Tour of Oman. 11 - 16 Feb
- Thread starter thom
- Start date
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Oman is certainly lumpier than Qatar but it is still way down the list of places to go before you die. It looks like a giant quarry or, to be more polite, a landscape garden before they've planted it up.
Love the melodrama of the official highlights though.
Love the melodrama of the official highlights though.
Radchenister
Veteran
- Location
- Avon
Picking up on the photos from earlier:
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Lampre has a Scarponi-shaped hole that needs filling... he'd be a good fit, probably. But would he be allowed to move before the end of this season?
d.
There is no way (that I see) Purito leaving the Tour de France pass him by.
Last year (and it doesn't look bad this year) he is in the best shape of his career, he's not getting any younger and the TdF is less time trial kilometers this year... he's going to the TdF, with or without Katusha
Wiggins again not really in the mix it seems. While he (together with Nibali) is supposed to be much earlier in top-form for the Giro then the rest who are focusing on the Tour. Granted he might be hiding himself, but he didn't really did that last year, since he won everything he started. I have a feeling that my prediction HERE, might have some value
... but then again let's just wait and see then.
BTW (looking at the ToO before today's result) if Gallopin can maintain this form, do you think he should be considered an outsider for the Ardennes Classics?
Oh and what about Bouhanni, he has actually shown some nice form as well, could he take a nice step forward this year?
Last year (and it doesn't look bad this year) he is in the best shape of his career, he's not getting any younger and the TdF is less time trial kilometers this year... he's going to the TdF, with or without Katusha
Wiggins again not really in the mix it seems. While he (together with Nibali) is supposed to be much earlier in top-form for the Giro then the rest who are focusing on the Tour. Granted he might be hiding himself, but he didn't really did that last year, since he won everything he started. I have a feeling that my prediction HERE, might have some value
... but then again let's just wait and see then.BTW (looking at the ToO before today's result) if Gallopin can maintain this form, do you think he should be considered an outsider for the Ardennes Classics?
Oh and what about Bouhanni, he has actually shown some nice form as well, could he take a nice step forward this year?
OP
OP
thom
____
- Location
- The Borough
He was talking as if he'd be moving if Katusha didn't get pro status on appeal but I don't know the contractural position
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
I was thinking more of the transfer window - I thought riders were only allowed to switch teams in the close season (or after the World Championships, or whatever it is). Is that not right? Or is the rule only against transfers between Pro Tour teams?
If he's allowed to move by the UCI, I expect he'll find some way to wangle himself out of his Katusha contract if their appeal fails.
If he's allowed to move by the UCI, I expect he'll find some way to wangle himself out of his Katusha contract if their appeal fails.
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
I watched some old TdF footage last night after the brief show here, the commentary was by Ligget and Sherwin. I had to turn the sound off after a bit. The commentator here makes it all sound like fun which is far more motivating than the dire nonsense of the other two.
Radchenister
Veteran
- Location
- Avon
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
He's not supposed to be in the mix. He's just training / riding as a domestique for Froome here. And that was great riding by Froome - from the race write-ups it seems that had he timed it better he could have taken the stage too (not that he needed to).
I've been lucky enough to visit Oman, and it was simply amazing. The culture, the coast, it's great! There are some beautiful places to see as well, granted a fair bit of sand in between!
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Indeed. The fact that Froome is now race leader suggests Wiggins is doing exactly what is required/expected of him IN THIS RACE.
I'm not making any predictions about Wiggo's form or his chances of winning the Giro until we've seen how he does in the Tour of Romandie. (I'm assuming he'll be defending his title there. Or will he be more likely to use the Tour of the Basque Country as his final Giro preparation?)
Edit: Trying to work out the answer to my own question, I found this typically informative Irish peloton piece from a couple of years ago:
http://www.irishpeloton.com/2011/05/the-best-recipe-for-giro-success/
d.
