Tour de Suisse 8-16 June 2013 [spoilers]

[rich p]

Roman K up there

?

 

[VamP]

?

I'd touted Kreuziger for a good result earlier in the thread, so was gratified to see him among the select group of dangermen within half a minute of the GC lead after yesterday's stage

 

[The Couch]

...
Is he the new Purito? Consistently high placings in the mountains but always falling just short when it really matters... He could certainly do with improving his time trialling too.

He is indeed someone who can climb well and has a nice punch to sprint to victory on race ending on (relatively) short climbs... but I think comparing him to the puncher/climber that Rodriguez is, is somewhat jumping the gun
He has had already some close finishes in the Ardennes Classics and the stages Cancellara and Sagan fought on in the first week of the Tour 2012. Which is why I would rather compare him to Vinokourov (the type, not the person/background )... but I am wondering what he can do in the Tour of this year (if he can avoid falls during the first week).

 

[rich p]

One could excuse Evans for being secretly squeakingly pleased that Teejay didn't perform too well.

 

[smutchin]

I'd touted Kreuziger for a good result earlier in the thread, so was gratified to see him among the select group of dangermen within half a minute of the GC lead after yesterday's stage

Yebbut your reputation is really hanging on Boonen doing well in today's stage.

 

[VamP]

Yebbut your reputation is really hanging on Boonen doing well in today's stage.

Luckily my reputation is not worth much I hope he's back to sufficient fitness to have a go.

 

[Crackle]

Blanco haven't had a an auspiscious season so far after the Tour Down Under Win and they've got some good riders.

 

[smutchin]

He is indeed someone who can climb well and has a nice punch to sprint to victory on race ending on (relatively) short climbs... but I think comparing him to the puncher/climber that Rodriguez is, is somewhat jumping the gun
He has had already some close finishes in the Ardennes Classics and the stages Cancellara and Sagan fought on in the first week of the Tour 2012. Which is why I would rather compare him to Vinokourov (the type, not the person/background )... but I am wondering what he can do in the Tour of this year (if he can avoid falls during the first week).

Maybe. I was just trying to think of someone who has been frequently mentioned as a GC contender over his career but never quite lived up to the billing, which is what I suspect Mollema is/will be. No doubt he has lots of potential though, and he had a rotten run of luck last year, so hopefully things will work out better for him this year.

 

[smutchin]

Ryder down. And out.

 

[The Couch]

Luckily my reputation is not worth much I hope he's back to sufficient fitness to have a go.

Ryder out, but then again other riders are giving it a go .... helping to salvage some reputations

 

[rich p]

Mollema docked 20 seconds for accepting a bottle in the last 20km yesterday which drops him to 9th on GC

 

[VamP]

It's a strong break today isn't it?

 

[VamP]

Boonen either hasn't got it, or he's betting the break has no legs and dropping back strategically...

 

[rich p]

@VamP - your pick of the day is struggling!

 

[VamP]

Yeah saw that. Oh well.