Tour de Pologne (with SPOILERS, probably)

[Buddfox]

So I guess this won't get as much coverage as a certain other Tour going on at the moment, but I saw Sky's team announcement this morning:

Alex Dowsett
Juan Antonio Flecha
Mathew Hayman
Sergio Henao
Lars-Petter Nordhaug
Ian Stannard
Ben Swift
Rigoberto Uran

Given they've got another team on the road at the moment, that's some serious strength in depth!

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks - you've just reminded me to check Eurosport! (I wasn't going to because it is rest day on the TdF.)

PS Stage 1 coverage is 16:30 - 18:00.

 

[Buddfox]

Looks like an interesting first stage - four times round a mountain loop. Haven't yet had a chance to look into who might be in contention for the GC, will check tonight. It's a shame it clashes with the Tour this year!

 

[ColinJ]

Looks like an interesting first stage - four times round a mountain loop. Haven't yet had a chance to look into who might be in contention for the GC, will check tonight. It's a shame it clashes with the Tour this year!

It clashes every year, doesn't it?

Eurosport are showing coverage of the race immediately after the TdF coverage every day.

 

[Buddfox]

I thought it was usually later, but has been brought forward because of the Olympics... may be wrong.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

It's getting interesting already: a bit of a selection at the end of the first stage marked out the contenders, including my pre-season 'one to watch', Henao (plus Uran and Nordhaug also from Sky).

It was also nice to see Daniel Teklehaymanot (who I am just going to call D-Tek from now on...), featuring in the break and taking the KoM jersey.

 

[oldroadman]

I thought it was usually later, but has been brought forward because of the Olympics... may be wrong.

Spot on. Every 4 years this happens, but looking at the teams there is no lack of depth, practically all the non-selected for TdF riders who have teams in are riding, and these are likely to be the core of the Vuelta squads. It's not just Sky who have some serious contenders, plus the race level lets a national team (Poland), and Pro-Conti teams ride, so they get to play with the world tour riders..!

 

[ColinJ]

I thought it was usually later, but has been brought forward because of the Olympics... may be wrong.

I just checked and you are right. I got in my head that I was watching both races at the same time last year but I was probably thinking of Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

But what about the lack of info they had

'And a Liquigas rider has won, we don't know who!'

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Nice win for Ben Swift today, ironically with the kind of lead-out train that Cav would kill for in the TdF!

 

[Buddfox]

Yes I thought that too! Great to get the win - he looked like he enjoyed it!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Second stage win today for Ben Swift, and with Henao and Uran finishing just behind, I suspect that Sky will be banking on some fireworks from the Colombians tomorrow on what looks like a really evil mountainous circuit that they have to do 5 times...

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, Henao was pipped on the line by Moser, who also goes into the race lead with Henao up to 3rd overall. Henao is turning into a really interesting rider. I thought he was just going to be a top climber but he seems to be developing into a contender for the tough hilly day races (or similar stages) - I reckon we might see him up there in the (semi-)Classics next season.

 

[Buddfox]

Yeah this has been a real opportunity to show case his talent and gain more experience - very impressed!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Insane finish to the stage today - the rain is so heavy I could hardly make out who was winning, but I think Degenkolb just pipped Sky's Hayman and Swift to the line... amazing that there were no crashes in the run-in.